Keywords
Therese Brown
Fine Art
Photographer
Abstract
Flickr
Black & White
120 Film, Medium Format
CK Interview
San Francisco
Creative Process
Holga
Pinhole
Double Exposures
Polaroid
Practice

CK → You can change the world with the art you create. At the time I came across Therese Brown's photos on Flickr, I was having doubts about why I was posting images to the internet. I wasn't making any money off it and I thought it was something I did to stroke my ego and inspire myself to keep creating. Then I saw Therese's photos. She seem to capture the life around her in a "real" and personal way. Her sense of capturing the light as she saw it, was inspiring to me. A walk through a local park, making herself lunch or practicing her Akido, all became an extension of her love for photography. Like all artist, we strive to make a living off our craft and sometimes wonder why we keep creating art if we're never going to see a "return" on our investment. In my opinion Therese's love for photography and sensitivity for light and the life around her, makes for inspirational photography. Photos that make you think and ponder about your own life and connection to others.

CK

Therese

All artists have some sort of starting point in their lives. When did you realize that photography was going to be a part of your life and what were some of the first tools you used?

While I would say my first experiments with photography came when I was a pre-teen, I didn't really consider it a part of my life until after I had my children. I spent a lot of time with a camera in my hands during my children’s younger years and not all the pictures I took were of them.  Other things eventually caught my eye.  Living in the Sonoran desert, especially during the monsoon season, gave me a lot of interesting subject matter. 

After a few years of doing this, I began to understand that this was my creative path.  Other people started to notice the interesting quality of my snapshots.  At one point, on a lark, I decided to enter a couple images into a local weekly A & E publications “photo contest.”  Mind you, at that time all I had going for me were the hundreds of pictures I’d been taking of my kids and my surroundings.  Much to my surprise, I actually got honorable mention…this out of 1500 or so entries (if I remember right, the winning photo was probably more like what I’m doing now…evocative rather than literal).

After that I knew I had to take a photo 101 course.  If I was going to really understand and practice the art of photography, I figured I needed to have the skill to perform all the steps myself.  And while there were still years in between then and now that photography was put on the back burner, I knew I’d always return to it.

CK

Therese

You sometimes take pictures of things you're doing during the day, like making your lunch or preparing a soup for your family. The simple act of preparing a meal all of a sudden becomes art. Please tell me about how photography finds its way into your day-to-day life and what do you think about these photos when you look back on them.

The camera is always with me…and in fact when I look at something there’s always at least a subconscious evaluation of what kind of picture it will make.  I am a stay at home mom…still…even as my children are now in college and high school.  I think I am very fortunate regarding this.  And while there is part of me that feels awkward about the role, I know it has helped maintain our household and aid in my children becoming the wonderful individuals they have.

I have heard on many occasions…shoot what you know.  I know this home and my place in it…the various things I do that not only nurture others but give me great joy at the same time.  It seems only a natural progression that I would express this part of my life (in essence, what my life actually is) with photography.

And when I look back on these images…I love them.  They make up the visual fabric of my life.

CK

Therese

A while back I was having some doubts about my involvement in Flickr and why I posting images to my photostream. I remember having a conversation with you via email about why you posted to Flickr. You told me you treated your photostream more like a "photo journal" than an online gallery. You also told me that you didn't go "looking" for images to photograph, you let them "come to you." Can you tell me more about why you post images online and what keeps you motivated to keep at it?

I started my account at Flickr so as to house images for my first blog.  At that time I couldn’t upload directly to the blog.  It quickly became apparent that I got more feedback on Flickr than on the blog…owing to the nature of how flickr works. I was hooked.

What I had wanted was a place to share my images…period.  I wasn’t ready to send them out in the physical world yet, but I needed to see what interest they would generate. Soon, I realized that I could learn from others as well, get ideas and inspiration.

Now, after nearly three years of photosharing online, things have changed a bit. I  don’t upload as many pictures as I used to, and most of what I do upload is film based. My images have gone out into the real world in solid form and I’ve learned a little bit about how to make that happen more.  Yet, I still value very highly the community at flickr and hope that one or two people might read my blog as well.  I still learn…and in fact become more inspired every day by others who share their images.
There’s also still the appeal of sharing in the lives of others…and allowing them to share in mine.  I think as human beings we all crave connection and this is a one of the wonderful things the internet has allowed us to do…to connect with people from all over the globe, different cultures and backgrounds.  Perhaps we see how much more alike we are, than different.

I have met some truly marvelous individuals who have influenced me in some very profound ways through this medium.  It still holds appeal for me.

CK

Therese

Now a days it seems that there are more and more photographers online trying to get people's attention with their work. What is it about your work that you feel is different than anyone else?

Anyone who practices photography (or any art form) and does it from a genuine place within themselves, will have something unique to share.  I met the editor of a small art publication once, and what he said was that he didn’t care so much whether he actually liked someone’s artwork, that it was far more important to him that it had integrity and was genuine.

It’s very difficult for me to say what is different about my work than anyone else’s.  Perhaps it would be easier for you to say what is different.  I make the effort to express myself genuinely…that’s really all I know. 

It’s important that I am mindful not to copy the work of those who inspire me. Most of the time I just can’t anyway. It’s also important that I keep trying new things…that I don’t get caught in a rut (although sometimes that’s inevitable…and it’s better, in my opinion, that I do something even if I’ve done it before, just maybe a little different, than I do nothing at all).

CK

Therese

Being a mother of two, how do your children feel about your passion for photography?

They've gotten used to it. They're actually very supportive...in their own way. I don't shove every new image in their faces, but when I think I have something they might find interesting, I show them. Their responses range from "that's really cool" to "that's very disturbing, mom (but in a good way)."

In truth, it was my thing to do with them when they were little...they were my main subjects. I had a creative outlet that I could pursue, which actually enhanced my ability to keep an eye on them!

Both offspring are very creative individuals...but only Julian has an interest in photography, which at this time is far outstripped by his interest in music. Laurel has done some wonderful painting and sketching in the past, as well as played violin, but now her creative outlets are a bit more domestic (owing, I think, to her heavy academic work load). I think more important than a specific creative outlet, is the ability to think creatively, which both Laurel and Julian do.

Art and life are forever intertwined in my mind, therefore my photography has always encompassed my other vocations (motherhood) as well. I think for this reason, my kids are tolerant and even accepting of my passion for photography.

CK

Therese

You have poetically titled
your photo blog "Practice- Photography, Aikido, Life". You obviously understand that by practicing something, you improve it. Please tell me about how these words come to balance each other in your life.

When I think of practice, it has less to do with the thought of getting better (although that's certainly part of it) and more to do with coming to a deeper understanding. Whatever the subject, aikido, photography, or life, the more I do it with mindful awareness, the deeper the understanding of myself and meaning of what I'm doing. It becomes a matter of subtlety, of nuance. Does that make sense?

No matter how long I continue to take photographs, or get on the mat, no matter how long I live I can't see that I won't be learning something. There is no end to this process in my mind and that's a good thing. And with all that in mind, I think that viewing my art making as a practice is very appropriate for me.

CK

Therese

I understand you're going to be planning a road trip across country while taking pictures along the way. What inspired you to do this and what do you hope to achieve from this trip?

Makes me laugh…what did inspire me to come up with this idea anyway???  I think there were a variety of factors involved with the inception of this idea.  One was looking at some road trip pictures of some of my  flickr contacts.  Then the thought of my turning 50 relatively soon came into my head.  Also, I thought about how little of this country I’ve actually seen…and since I’d like to also travel to other countries, I may as well see a little bit more of my own first.
I don’t know…it’s kind of a coming of age sort of thing.  But for me, it will be that age around/after menopause, which can be a really profound time for women.



Oh…and lastly…I’m almost always inspired by places I’ve never seen before.  I figure a cross country overland trip would give me lots of opportunities for seeing previously unseen-by-me places.

CK

Therese

There probably have been some people in your life that have inspired you. Please tell me about some of these people.

Well, I’ve never really followed an artist over the course of years…and to be honest there are few that I could say I’m intimately familiar with their body of works. But there are those that I come across on this journey of mine who do inspire me for a while. I would say Flor Garduno and Martha Casanave are two professional photographers who have been very inspirational to me.

Flor Garduno’s nudes are breathtaking in my opinion. The tones are so rich and the women (all of whom are friends of hers) are very real. There’s a lot of female power and symbolism in her images and I think that’s what struck me most.

Martha Casanave is probably the first pinhole artist of her caliber that I came to be aware of. Again, her work is deeply rich and symbolic. I was also fortunate enough to take a three day workshop with her last May and came away with a lot of motivation for pursuing the pinhole form.

And then there are all the other artists on flickr and online that really blow me away. There is incredible talent at my fingertips and I can say that I’m inspired by one person or another on a daily basis. I must tell you that if it weren’t for the encouragement and support of my peers (some of whom have become close and dear friends) I wouldn’t have taken the course I have with this work and progressed nearly as much.

CK

Therese

In ten years from now, what images of yours do you think you'll feel the most about and why?

Oh, gosh, that’s a tough one. So far, it’s been weird, but I haven’t become overly attached to any of my images. I’m still learning a lot and have yet to delve deep into subjects and even specific techniques, to feel I’ve produced an ever lasting image.  Someone else may feel that about certain images of mine, but it’s just really hard for me to.

I will say that I’ve done some groundbreaking stuff (for me) with my multiple exposures, be they with my Polaroid Spectra or any of my toycams. And of course I’m very endeared to the pinhole format as well. I guess I would have to say that perhaps some of the seminal ventures into these genres will probably remain quite important to me.

 

CK

Therese

I noticed you enjoy shooting different kinds of cameras. How do you decide from one day to the next which camera you will be using?

Sometimes I’ll get an idea ahead of time for which camera I might be using on a certain day. If I want some interesting images consisting of motion, I’d probably opt for the pinhole for example.  But usually, if I’m out for shooting, I’ll have a variety with me and often use a variety of cameras on the same subject.  I think it’s really interesting to see how differently a subject can appear when imbued with the quality of a many tools.

Perhaps the one exception to this is with self-portraits.  I did a lot of self portraits when I first got my digital camera four plus years ago.  When I started shooting film again, and particularly with the toycams, it just wasn’t practical.  Now that I have a Spectra, though, since it has a timer I’m once again doing self portraits.  I can also use the pinhole with a long exposure for these as well.

CK

Therese

We all have high hopes for our creative endeavors, what do you hope for your own photography?

You know, I just want to be able to continue to create.  It’s like breathing…I can’t help it.  And if I’m going to do it, I want to do it thoughtfully and well.  If, along the way, something that I create resonates with someone else…if we can connect in that way and share in the human experience, so much the better.

On a more pragmatic note, it would be nice to generate enough income from my work to at least cover the costs of my materials!  That’s another aspect of this journey that I’m learning about and willing to put more effort into.

CK

Therese

You mentioned that you "slowed down" on the amount of photos you posted to the internet and when you do, they're mostly film based images. Please tell me about your feelings on digital and film photography.

I think there’s room for both film and digital photography.  Digital gave me the opportunity to shoot a tremendous amount volume-wise over the course of a couple years, before I returned to film.  What that experience gave me was a sharper eye and an ability to develop an intuitive sense (owning to the repeated practice) of light and framing and, maybe most importantly, the knowledge of what subjects with which I really liked to work.  I still shoot digital, but just not as much.  For me personally, I would say the use of that format is more for documentary sake than anything else.  That’s not to say it can’t be used artfully and exclusively within the fine art realm, that’s just saying how I use it.

Film, for me, is where my artistry is given the chance to really blossom.  It’s what excites me.  I love the anticipation of not knowing exactly what’s going to appear in the images.  Quite frequently the things that I haven’t accounted for in an image, will be the things that people notice and are meaningful for them.  Once they’re pointed out to me, it’s like, “Oh, yeah…that’s what that was about.”  And in writing all this, I have to wonder if I do actually notice these little things after all, that I think I don’t notice…that is, I’ve trained myself well enough that I see things on a subconscious level.  Hard to say. 

But for now, film is really where I am as far as my art making goes.  The intense hands-on nature of film photography is, to me, like growing my own food and then cooking it…like making my medicine from herbs…like anything I might do from the ground up.  There is a very deep sense of satisfaction in working with film for me and I anticipate that will stay the same for quite some time to come.

CK

Therese

You once told me "you didn't go looking for photos, you let them come to you". Please tell me more about what you meant by that statement.

Well, I guess my original answer is only partially true.  Certainly, if I’m going to a specific place (Pt. Isabel, for example…or Tilden Park) and I’m taking along my cameras, I have every intention of finding images.  Many times, however, I only have vague ideas of what exactly I’d like to come through in those.  And to be quite honest, something that I have on my to do list, is to work in a series, to set out and deliberately create something in my imagination and transfer it to film.  I guess what I’m talking about here is more aimed at studio work.

All that being said, I do believe quite strongly in serendipity and allowing the moment to happen.  In this case, a scenario for an image will present itself to me in a very natural way, giving me the opportunity to receive it with my camera. 

The idea of receiving an image, by the way, was given to me by Martha Casanave at the pinhole workshop I took with her in May.  Both she and Chris Patton (the other instructor) took the approach of being receptive in art.  They discouraged the thinking of capturing, shooting and taking…and emphasized instead the concept of allowing the images to come you (we, the photographers).

Therese is one of those people you meet in life that makes you feel good about what you're doing with your own life. From talking with her and looking at her creations, you soon find that it's OK being you and that sometimes things just don't work out the way you hoped them to. I know that was the case for me when I first met her. She quickly convinced me that creating art was something you had to practice and work at and sometimes when you're practicing, you fall down. That's life. I have come to admire Therese's passion for creating art and have learned that it's the process of creating art that matters most. And if you're not happy with that process, well, you probably should find something else to do. Therese has also taught me that there is art wherever you go... from the simple task of making your lunch, to talking a walk through the park. Art doesn't always have to be something hanging in a museum to appreciate. So I want to say, "thank you Therese" for reminding me about of these facts of life. And thank you for putting so much of yourself into this interview. -Chris

All Images © 2007 Therese Brown, reproduced by permission