Project Educate: Interview - `pahness

Today, as part of Project Educate's focus on darkroom photography, I'm presenting an interview with JillAuville. She is an icon in the film photography and digital darkroom communities on deviantART, and a vocal proponent of experimenting with the medium and having fun.

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Why did you join dA? Were you into photography before joining, or was it a passion that developed later?

i joined dA to display my photography; which at that time was a new found love... sort of. i did dabble in darkroom photography for a short while in art school YEARS ago but found it too technical and frustrating so i gave it up . i have always been doing art in some form though; i think i was born with a crayon in one hand and a piece of paper in the other; i was always drawing and painting when i was younger... and taking pictures of ponies and sunsets with my family's kodak instamatic (yes, we are talking about the 70's here; i'm THAT old)

What are some positive and negative experiences you've had as a photographer? How do you feel about people who say photography isn't "art"?

the negative thing about photography for me is that it's hard for me to create sometimes, because photography often requires you to be
out in the open, viewable for people to see. i am extremely camera shy (ha!) and i am somewhat phobic around people as well, so i don't
always feel comfortable being outside in public with my cameras. because people with cameras get noticed, and i don't like being noticed (which is why i don't do street photography ).
another negative thing is money (or the lack of it rather): i mostly shoot film, and film in the most expensive form at that (Impossible Project film) and it is SO expensive
the most positive thing with photography has for me for sure been dA and all the incredible artists/people i've met here during my 6 years...
photography isn't art? who said that? no, really... people think that? that's just odd to me; why wouldn't photography be "art"?

Where do you find inspiration? Is there anyone (on or off dA) whose style you strive to incorporate, or just really look up to?

nature inspires me, and not in some cheesy kind of way... i like the vastness of nature, the loneliness of it... and this is what inspires me.
i don't feel there is a specific artist's style i strive to re-create, but there are TONS of people on dA that i look up to, but more on a mental level than an artistic one i think. although i do find inspiration in their methods of creating art, and some of those people are: Evil-e33, weltengang, chocomalk, OmahaNebraska, Birgit-Zartl-Photo and her painting alter ego Birgit-Zartl-Art  and jierumi, to name but a few...

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Photography purists abound on dA, people who feel anything past taking a photo and posting it is improper. Have you dealt with them much, being a digital darkroomer, and if so how do you usually reason with their viewpoints?

i am not as much of a digital darkroomer nowadays as a few years back, and i haven't personally been attacked by any photography purists per se, but i've certainly met a few here on dA .
i tend to ignore any ranting on dA, it honestly doesn't bother me what people think either way; people are entitled to their opinion and in the end it's all about what i like when it comes to my own art. "pure" photography tends to bore me a little (on a creative/work level i mean, no offense to anyone who does this type of photography): i often feel unfinished with an image unless i add some of "me" in it (either by adding my own texture to it or fooling around with the color adjustment tools). i do mostly leave my film images alone though, especially the instant ones; they already have so much of a life of their own you really don't need to add anything to them.

What do you feel the merit of film is in the digital age?

film excites me more than digital photography, probably becase of the uncertainty of film... you do not know what you will get, until you physically have the result in your hand. digital is more of a quick fix, and it's so much easier getting that one good shot digitally than it is with film, which makes it worth so much more when you actually DO nail that one shot with film.
shooting digital is easy, very easy.
but it is also a very good learning tool; learn how to master a d-slr (doesn't have to be a fancy one!), and then move on to a film camera or at least something that requires manual shooting... and watch yourself GROW.

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Do you have any pointers for getting noticed on the site?

join groups that suit your style of photography and submit your art there for more viewers to see. try to think twice before submitting art to dA; do not spam peoples inboxes with 10 images of almost identical things; critique your own stuff long and hard and submit what you think is your absolute best shot, try to not upload more than 2 a day. dA is not photobucket or facebook; showcase your ART here, your party pics and test shots can be uploaded elsewhere.
doing journal features (showcasing other artists) will get you noticed. bring the artists you're showcasing to your journal by sending them notes... they will come and thank you, and they may even stop by your own gallery to take a peek.

Which piece of yours is your personal favourite? Why?

this is still my favorite shot :thumb67224549:, and it's still one of my least pieces. this is in my opinion my best bird shot EVER, but no one seems to agree with me .
i like this image so much i even have it tattooed on my leg.
yup.
i'm THAT person.


why i like it?
BECAUSE IT'S AWESOME