Laura Joy Photography
| July 27, 2011 | Posted by Jo Penso under culture, interviews, lifestyle |
Day 45 of the 100 days of summer project
With 270 likes on her Facebook page already since Christmas, aspiring photographer Laura Patrick is churning out amazing photographs and getting the deserved recognition for all her hard work and dedication. Being a 17-year-old girl who also has A-level commitments to tend to alongside her photography shows fierce independence and drive; I met her in a coffee shop in York to discuss how she does it all, and where she wants to go next.
What got you started with photography, did you have any particular influences?
Well, I started using my mum’s camera and got a bit carried away sometimes, and then when we went to America she bought a snazzy one for the family and I really got into it. She’s an interior designer so I guess I get my creative side from her really; I realised I was quite good at photography after just playing around with a program called Photoscape and I got quite addicted. I started following other photographers on their blog and flicker sites, in particular Kitty Gallannaugh Photography who has been doing a project called 365, which involves taking a new photo every day of the year.
Is that where you got the idea for the 100 days of summer project then?
Well, I’d already been asked to be a partner to someone who was doing a similar thing last summer but I thought that and GCSEs might be too much so I decided to pursue it this year, which has forced me to push myself – producing a photo every single day has been quite daunting. Sometimes the inspiration comes in a flash, others it’s a bit of a drag; usually the best things come without me searching for them.
It must have been hard to continue this project during your AS exams – it shows you have dedication to your subject.
Yeah it was a commitment, but at the same time it has forced me to keep doing it, and I’ve started to find my own styles, in particular I’m enjoying playing with layering photos to create depth.
Day 3 of the 100 days of summer project
What is your main focus then? Most of your photos seem to feature natural form in one way or another.
Yeah, even when I try to sway from it I always tend to end up shooting natural form, however I have been trying to experiment with portraiture and this has gone quite well so far. I’ve started doing projects with themes like my Alice in Wonderland theme and I’m hoping to do a tribal one soon. It’s hard to make my subjects relax sometimes though, I’ve even resorted to shouting silly quotes from children’s’ films at them to make them genuinely smile and relax.
It sounds like you’re quite a personable character then, have you been commissioned to do any events yet?
Yeah I’ve been asked to do a couple of jobs, a wedding in August, which will be exciting, some headshots for an aspiring actor and portraits for presents and stuff - it’s fun and exciting that people like my work!
So what’re your future plans – university? Is it a course in photography that you’re after?
Well, I’d quite like something to fall back on so I’m hoping to study fashion at uni, with a specific photography focus. I have a particular interest in fashion and modelling anyhow, Textiles is one lesson I’d happily go running to! I suppose it’s all interlinked, my art work and textiles.
Thanks!
With poetic lines and profound comments sometimes featuring in her work, Laura Patrick demonstrates how versatile and creative a person she is. Preferring to focus on the creative side rather than the technical in her work, she produces images that are aesthetically pleasing, as well as interesting. To see more visit her Facebook page – Laura Joy Photography.
