Chroma
Photographer: Caitlyn Bell
1. What significant life experiences or events have influenced and shaped your artistic vision?
Not so much a life event but, ‘The Devil Wears Prada.’ This film really shaped my artistic vision. I had a bit of a break from photography for a while because I wasn't sure about it, however, watching this film helped me realise this was what I truly wanted to do. I wanted to be part of the creative industry, part of the fashion world and I wanted to be in Paris for Paris fashion week at some point in my life! Despite the fact that it wasn’t anything majorly exciting that sparked my creative vision, it still did and I truly don't think I would be where I am today if it didn't reignite the love for fashion in me.
2. Collaboration often sparks fresh creativity. Can you share an example of a collaboration that led to an unexpected and exciting artistic outcome?
I did a recent collaboration with a team on one of my most recent shoots, and this was something very new for me as I’d never done it before. It was so interesting to see a fresh perspective and get an opinion on things I would have probably never thought about. But by doing this shoot it enabled us to play around a lot with techniques, and find lighting styles we hadn’t even thought about until right in the moment and I think that was really beneficial for all of us involved.
3. Walk us through a specific project that challenged your creative boundaries. How did you approach it, and what did you learn from the experience?
As part of a project with other courses in my university, we had a mini task of working with some music students and creating some promotional material. We had to read a synopsis of each person, which was around three lines long, and come up with a photoshoot plan from that. We had never seen the students before, or really knew what they liked other than what we knew from those few lines. When we got into the studio we had to make snap judgements based on how they presented themselves, how they dressed, what they wanted out of these images. I think I took away a lot of valuable experience from these shoots, and I’ve learnt to never expect working in studios, and working with people to be smooth sailing. I think it comes with a lot of random challenges and you have to expect the unexpected.
4. In the ever-evolving art world, what do you believe sets your work apart and makes it unique or groundbreaking?
I think, in this industry I’m surrounded by such talented individuals yet, I find it hard to ‘relate’ to them. There's nobody I really know who does anything like me, and in some ways I think that's a blessing. I'm not subconsciously comparing myself to other people. I'm working on what I love and I want to do. And I feel as though that is what sets my work apart from other peoples, I’m making what I think is interesting and I’m making it for the people who sometimes feel the same way I do. It’s unique because I’m never going to make something that ‘fits in’ . I love my fun use of colour and style, and I love experimenting with that and sometimes coming up with crazy concepts that fit my style is what it's all about for me.
5. As you reflect on your journey, are there any specific goals or milestones you've set for your artistic career in the coming years?
I’ve always said I have wanted to be part of a fashion magazine, and see my images on front covers, and now that I've been given that opportunity I know that this is what I want to do with my future. I hope at some point in my career I get the opportunity to go and photograph in Paris or New York, and being able to organise and be a part of a big fashion shoot in one of these places would be a dream of mine.
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Model: Brook Ogden
Photographer: Caitlyn Bell
Makeup Artist/Hair Stylist: Ellie Evans
Model: Lily-Mae
Model: Eva Kiss