Nostalgia

What pieces or projects have you been working on lately?
If I look at the last year of film, it really has been about reestablishing myself as a creative person again. I have been capturing moments around me, but also really working on improving my technical skills by rethinking composition, trying different film stocks and using some fun filters. I can’t wait to start some new projects I have been dreaming up!

What did you learn (or unlearn) while working on them?
I think I spent a lot of time unlearning negative self-talk. It’s easy to compare yourself to others and it puts a dampener on any creativity. Also, I encouraged myself to shoot with a little more… tenacity? Taking the photo and not overthinking things!

What words, ideas or emotions were going through your head?
It’s often not until after the film is developed that I start to see a pattern in what I must have been feeling and where the idea was going. Nostalgia is an emotion that always leaves a heavy impression on me. I never strive to replicate it, but I see it in the way I photograph my children, roses that look like they belong on a hand cream from the 90s and the places that were once vibrant and thriving now dim with age. It’s such a powerful emotion.

Were there any conversations, movies, music, or books that made their way into that work?
Music is the biggest inspiration for me. Not necessarily a song or artist, but the way it builds emotion in me and the way that is transferred through film. Over the last year I’ve been listening to a lot of female-fronted indie rock; feminine, dreamy and punchy where it counts. I love pairing photos with a song — it really makes the viewing experience so much more powerful.

What's been the most difficult thing you've faced recently in your creative process?
Time! I’m a full-time teacher with two small children and the school year just started which leaves minimal time for creative endeavours. I’ve been writing down ideas as they come so I can explore them when I have time.

What is your favorite restaurant and what do you recommend we order?
I don’t have a favourite restaurant, but I love dumplings! There is a place in the town I live in that I enjoy going to. Extra chilli sauce.

If your life were a movie this month, what would it be called and who would write the soundtrack?
The soundtrack would probably be by the band Momma. I saw them this month and they were so good. Come to think of it, that is probably the title of my movie too.

Recommend one or more artists you follow who inspire you, and tell us what you like most about their work or their way of working.
Chloe Ireland is a phenomenal wedding photographer. She takes the dreamiest photos — think gorgeous, ethereal girls with soft edges and a pastel palette. Holly Hang has always been an inspiration to me; she has the best eye for detail. She is also everyone’s biggest cheerleader — something we need to do more of in our community. Tamara Lichtenstein's pictures, especially from earlier in her career, are such a beautiful reflection on teenage girlhood. Charlotte Beers 's photography is as inspiring as her drive and creativity.