HOME | DD
devInterviews — devInterviews - RockStarVanity (Horror and Macab
Published: 2009-09-01 01:44:46 +0000 UTC; Views: 579; Favourites: 15; Downloads: 0
Redirect to original
Description
body div#devskin0 hr { }
This particular devInterview was done by pullingcandy .
What made you want to become a volunteer for deviantART?
I've been in love with/addicted to dA since I first found my way here in March 2005 so being able to volunteer and help other people to have the same positive experience that I've had feels great. Being able to support and encourage other horror photographers is awesome too, especially since the genre is quite a misunderstood one.
You don't just partake in delicious horror photography. If you could pick your favorite genre next to that, what would it be?
Portraiture. I know that's really vague but I always have trouble defining the type of photos that I like to shoot. Subversive fashion, alternative glamour, conceptual portraiture...I think I'll just stick to portraiture and stay vague.
:thumb61616650: :thumb92173144: :thumb134342388:
You say you dislike the tomato in pre-packaged sandwiches. What would you rather have there instead?
Not sweetcorn or cucumber. I never understood the need to fill sandwiches with ingredients that aren't even mentioned on the packaging apart from in tiny text somewhere on the back. Lettuce is alright though, if there absolutely has to be salad component. My ideal sandwich is bacon and brie. Just thinking about that makes me drool. I get really excited about cheese.
Have you ever felt ostracized by choosing to photograph and participate in the darker side of art?
Frequently. I think horror as a genre is an easy and obvious thing to pick on. Some people have real issues with horror in art or entertainment. The ones who say I'm a psychopath for shooting horror photos tend to also believe that horror films and computer games are responsible for all the world's evil, so I don't lose too much sleep over what people like that think.
The other side of that is that I've received a few emails from people who aren't into horror art (yet!) but are curious about the motivation behind it. I love getting those emails because it means that someone has been inspired to actually think and learn about art which falls outside of their usual taste and I am always happy to talk about horror art to anyone who is interested.
:thumb133992522: :thumb130857746: :thumb127330313:
How do you time manage, being a gallery moderator, and having your own studio, as well as a husband and kitties to take care of?
My time management strategy involves coffee. Lots of coffee. And I couldn't live without iSync, which allows me to synchronise my calender and contacts on my phone and computer. I'm compulsively organised but I need my tools in place to make sure I remember where I'm supposed to be and when. Being self-employed is perfect for me because I tend to work at pretty unsociable hours and mornings don't exist in my world.
My husband is an IT engineer and a total domestic god. I don't know what I'd do without him. He keeps me sane when I get all manic and obsessive too. He's a very patient man. The kitties aren't quite so good at fixing computers or building shelves, but nothing beats cuddling up to a fluffy cat at the end of a stressful day.
Besides photography, what else are you interested in?
Is it really tragic that I've been trying to think of an answer to this for 5 minutes now and I still can't come up with anything that isn't related to photography? I seriously live and breathe photography to the point where I start craving a methodical and logical activity to shake my brain out of art-mode. I find hanging laundry up to be a very relaxing thing to do, especially if I'm feeling a bit frazzled.
The sea makes me happy. I love being at the beach, regardless of the weather. It puts things into perspective. When it comes to socialising, I really don't do clubs or bars unless it's absolutely necessary. I'm happy in someone's house, whether mine or a friend's, just hanging out and eating nice food, drinking wine (although I hardly drink these days), talking and listening to good music.
I love watching films. There's something about beautifully shot films...when I see a perfect frame, a precise moment that could be lifted out of the film and stand alone as an amazing photograph, it makes me really emotional.
:thumb102942945: :thumb132254299: :thumb102942759:
What made you come to deviantART?
After I was diagnosed with M.E. a few years ago, I couldn't do anything at all. I couldn't get out of bed by myself and slept for 20 hours a day, and when I was awake everything hurt. It was a really unpleasant situation but the internet was a saviour. It was a connection to the outside world and when I saw a link to someone's deviantART page on another website and checked it out, I fell in love.
dA not only kept my brain busy, but also inspired me to start taking photographs. I eventually had to leave my job because of the illness and that was when I decided to go back to college to study photography. Getting through two years of full-time college classes and then setting up my own business while running on about 30% of my previous physical ability was really difficult and the people I know on dA helped me in ways that they can't even imagine, just by being there and being themselves. If it wasn't for dA, I wouldn't be a photographer right now.
What would you like to see yourself doing in 5 years?
Still taking photos and loving it. Earning a bit more money would be good. Apart from that, I'm open to anything. I used to be obsessed with making these big long-term plans and then things would come along and mess everything up, so I decided not to make long term-plans any more. I have goals and I have direction, but its a more organic process now and I'm much happier.
:thumb84415760: :thumb122782623: :thumb67778251:
You work a lot with models. Do you have a favorite type to work with?
People who are self-aware and comfortable in their own skin are brilliant to work with. I do love shooting with people who are new to modelling and helping them to find their feet in front of the camera, but for recreational art nothing beats a relaxed, informal session in the studio with bizarre props and loud music, doing weird things and giggling a lot.
What are some common misconceptions people have about you, especially if they see your work?
People mistakenly believe that my self-portraits are an accurate representation of how I look on a day to day basis. They aren't. My self-portraits are pictures of concepts that I am in rather than pictures of me, if that makes sense.
Apart from that, there's the usual pervert/psycho thing which makes me laugh now. People seem surprised when they meet me and I'm chilled out and happy. I've heard "You're actually really nice" on a number of occasions. Actually, that's kind of disturbing, if you think about it.
People seem to use you as inspiration quite a bit. How does that make you feel?
I just stuttered in my head for a couple of minutes trying to think of a way to answer to this question. I'm not very good with compliments and never know how to respond. The thought of anyone being inspired by what I do is very humbling.
You're currently involved in many projects around the site, but the one that stands out to me is the Global Tutorials Project. Do you speak more then one language yourself?
I studied French at school for 5 years and German for 2. I can barely remember any German and although I dream in French sometimes (seriously, I have no idea why) I'm far from fluent when I'm awake. I understand enough to grasp the jist of a conversation, understand basic instructions and ask for directions.
Are you inspired at all by music? What band or song would you say inspires you the most?
Music inspires me constantly. I've just discovered Tom Morello's solo album, released under the name The Nightwatchman, and I've been listening to it on repeat for the last two days. I look up to Keith Caputo as an artist because he is a shining example of DIY promotion and his music is so intensely beautiful. I love Chris Cornell's solo work too because it has that brilliant combination of uplifting music and viciously negative lyrics. His voice is made of sex and awesome.
I also adore Nine Inch Nails, Tom Waits, Pearl Jam, Mars Volta, 30 Seconds to Mars, Ludovico Einaudi, Disturbed, Lady Gaga, Man With No Name...that list could go on forever. I'm one of those annoying people who likes pretty much everything.
Do you have an idol, somebody who you looked up to that made you particularly interested in what you are now? Or in general?
Artistically, I admire Joel-Peter Witkin, Bob Carlos Clarke and Robert Mapplethorpe for shaking things up a bit, creating art that made this increasingly sterile society gasp and look away in disgust and disapproval. They all did it in a very genuine and meaningful way, not like an attention-seeking 15-minutes-of-fame thing. There's a fine line between accepting that your work may be controversial and choosing a style or subject matter simply BECAUSE its controversial. They walked the right side of the line, and I admire that.
How does your husband like being a model for you, when chances are it could get sticky, messy and red?
He doesn't like it but he's kind enough to tolerate it. He definitely goes above and beyond the call of duty, and I appreciate it so much. At least I help provide him with interesting profile photos for Facebook.
Do you have a dream, goal or particular inspiration that you're striving towards, and what will you do once you get to it?
I have short-term goals, stuff I'd like to do, ideas I'd like to work on, but I don't really have anything specific that I'm aiming for right now. Paying the bills doing something I enjoy and having time for some recreational art is enough to keep me happy at the moment.
At some point in the future I would really like to help other people with disabilities or chronic illnesses progress with creative business ideas. I've had to fight a lot over the last few years and the actions of the people who have supported me are a thousand times more meaningful that those who stood in the way.
If you have a certain kind of illness or disability, there's a lot of help out there already. But certain conditions don't fall into the categories that the government or whoever else deems deserving of assistance. I want to help those people - the ones who fall through the cracks but come up fighting - with practical resources and support to kick-start their career.
That concludes this week's interview with EveryNextDream.
