Martene Rourke & Sarah Faraday
Two photographers from London are taking part in today’s ‘The Swap’ by the name of Martene Rourke and Sarah Faraday http://theswap.info/mrsf.html
Laura Plageman & Tabitha Soren
Two photographers from Oakland and San Francisco are taking part in today’s ‘The Swap’ by the name of Laura Plageman and Tabitha Soren http://theswap.info/lpts.html
Anne Kathrin Greiner & Torsten Schumann
Two photographers from Berlin are taking part in today’s ‘The Swap’ by the name of Anne Kathrin Greiner and Torsten Schumann http://theswap.info/agts.html
Anne Kathrin wrote “We met at an opening in May last year, so we haven’t actually known each other for a very long time. Still, this portraiture project was a great way to challenge ourselves and to work together. At first, we both felt a little awkward in front of the camera but it was also very interesting to find out how another person sees you, as opposed to how we’d like to see, or present, ourselves…so the task to figure out how our respective viewpoints and approaches could be best reconciled was a very valuable experience.Having worked more in the realm of street photography than portraiture, Torsten didn’t have a specific idea from the outset and looked for an interesting moment that would present itself.In comparison, Kathrin already had some idea of how she wanted the final image to feel, aiming to capture Torsten at his most natural and relaxed.After we had overcome the initial sense of uncertainty in front of the lens, eventually we both became more relaxed and enjoyed being a bit more playful and embracing unforeseen possibilities, such as the surroundings and light. Both of us feel that we wanted to convey an interior emotion whilst also responding to (and incorporating) the exterior environment, to allow for a sense of self-reflection and presence in the final image.”
Liene Leonovica & Nora Vrublevska
Two photographers from Riga are taking part in today’s ‘The Swap’ by the name of Liene Leonovica and Nora Vrublevska http://theswap.info/llnv.html
Nora Vrublevska and Liene Leonovica study together at ISSP, a photography school based in Riga, Latvia. Participating in the Swap was an interesting opportunity. Nora says that being the subject of a photograph as opposed to the photographer felt odd because she much more enjoys being the photographer. Liene mentions that she is not used to being pointed at with a camera either, though she saw it as an opportunity to feel what her subjects usually feel. She adds that with Nora directing her she felt comfortable being a subject despite some thorns from the bush piercing her back. Before taking the pictures, they had discussed it only to make arrangements for location of the shoot. Both photographers enjoyed the process, and to create these portraits they were open to the process of working together. Liene did not have any plan for the shoot. In a way she just jumped in and kept her eyes open to see what the place offers. Nora says that she doesn’t think there ever is a singular approach when photographing people. When asked if the two portraits relate to each other, Nora and Liene say that to them, because of the surrounding greenery, both portraits seem very intimate.
Grant Scott & Matthew Murray
Two photographers from London are taking part in today’s ‘The Swap’ by the name of Grant Scott and Matthew Murray http://theswap.info/gsmm.html
They answered some questions about their experience:
How do you know each other?
G: We are both senior lecturers on the Editorial and Advertising Photography BA HONS course at the University of Gloucestershire and we share an office.
M: Alongside my own photography practice I am a Senior Lecturer on the Editorial and Advertising BA/Hons Course at the University of Gloucestershire, I teach on a fractional basis, Grant is a colleague.
How did you feel being the subject of a photograph as opposed to the photographer?
G: Awkward
M: It didn’t bother me, I’d feel pretty comfortable in a cafe with a cup of tea having a chat, whether I was behind the camera or in front of it.
Did you discuss the shoot prior to taking the images?
G: No
M: We only discussed where we would photograph one another.
Did you enjoy the process?
G: Yes, as it was so dark that I couldn’t see Matthew at all. I could guess at
what he was doing and why he had created the lighting set up but I had no
firm idea. I liked that sense of not knowing.
M: Yes
Did you experiment with a new style of photography or did you reflect your normal approach?
G: I can only take pictures in one way and this is it. Its a visual language
based on my background as an art director. I like to be in control of the
environment and the light. Everything else is chance.
M: I shot Grant in the studio using a very minimal set up, pretty similar to how I shoot my portraits.
How do you think the two portraits relate to each other?
G: I have no idea as I have not seen Matthew’s of me and I have not shown him
his. I guess it will be two extremes of the way in which light is captured.
I like soft, flat light, he’s more dramatic.
M: I don’t know how they relate as we both made a point of not showing the finished portrait to each other.
Alban Lécuyer & Laurent Chéhère
Two photographers from Nantes and Paris are taking part in today’s ‘The Swap’ by the name of Alban Lécuyer and Laurent Chéhère http://theswap.info/allc.html
Sara Morris & Sue Parkhill
Two photographers from London are taking part in today’s ‘The Swap’ by the name of Sara Morris and Sue Parkhill http://theswap.info/smsp.html
Emli Bendixen & Emma Nathan
Two photographers from London are taking part in today’s ‘The Swap’ by the name of Emli Bendixen and Emma Nathan http://theswap.info/eben.html
Amiko Li & Rachel Herman
Two photographers from Chicago are taking part in today’s ‘The Swap’ by the name of Amiko Li and Rachel Herman http://theswap.info/alrh.html
Alison Turner & Brandy Trigueros
Two photographers from Long Beach and Los Angeles are taking part in today’s ‘The Swap’ by the name of Alison Turner and Brandy Trigueros http://theswap.info/atbt.html
They answered some questions about their experience:
How do you know each other?
Alison: I met Brandy at the Julia Dean School of Photography, which is now the Los Angeles Center for Photography. We ended up in a few classes together and I knew we would be friends right away. Since we met four years ago, she has been one of my closest friends. I look forward to each time we are together. I know it will be full of laughter, creative brainstorming and inspiration.
Brandy: When Alison and I met we became fast friends after making each other laugh heartily. We still share this laughter and camaraderie as if we’ve known each other since we were kids.
How did you feel being the subject of a photograph as opposed to the photographer?
Alison: I hate being the subject. Whenever someone points a camera in my direction, I hide anyway I can. I did this just because it was for Brandy. There are very few people I trust to take such an intimate photo of me.
Brandy: One of my most recent series involves narrative self-portrait work so I’m (mostly) comfortable being the subject. I have to let go of any self-consciousness even when I may look ridiculous or comedic as in a Buster Keaton skit while making a self-portrait. However, Alison’s quick-handed style of shooting and our close familiarity and kinship instantly put me at ease.
Did you discuss the shoot prior to taking the images?
Alison: Sort of. I did my shoot of Brandy for my Equivalence series so I knew what I wanted and she knew the overall “look” of the series. As for what she wanted to do with my image…well, lets just say that she mentioned several scenarios that she wanted to lean towards. All of them required dresses, wigs, props or anything fantasy related. I didn’t say no but maybe a slow, “ooookkayyyy” was heard. I trusted that she knew what she wanted so I went with it.
Brandy: A favorite pastime of mine is perusing flea markets and thrift stores. Originally I wanted to make a zeitgeist portrait of Alison transporting the viewer to another era. However, I took a more naturalist approach and photographed her while we were spending time together at Mono Lake.
Did you enjoy the process?
Alison: Our shooting styles are so different from each other. I shoot fast. In fact, I think we were finished in less than 10 minutes. Let’s just say that she is a bit more particular about her shoots and takes more time with them.
Brandy: Yes! Any time spent with Alison is a joyful one. Her uneasiness in front of the camera as well as our different styles of shooting was a good challenge for me. I’m much more methodical and like to sculpt an image while letting happenstance come into play. It made me work much quicker than I normally would.
Did you experiment with a new style of photography or did you reflect your normal approach?
Alison: Her portrait was taken with my iphone with the hipstamatic app to match my other portraits of my (http://alisonturnerphoto.com/equivalence) Equivalence series.
Brandy: Normally my image-making involves some brainstorming, oftentimes a bit of vintage styling and costuming and/or some sort of prop which we played with a little. In the end I chose an image that reflected both Alison’s intimacy with the outdoors but for me had a strange stillness and oddity to it.
How do you think the two portraits relate to each other?
Alison: I think we both were willing to be vulnerable with each other and do things we wouldn’t normally do with just any other photographer. Since we are so close, it made the shoots fun. I would do it again in a heartbeat.
Brandy: I completely agree with Alison. I am so thankful for the opportunity you’ve presented us with and to be able to collaborate with my close friend.
