Congratulations to the lovely Erin Jackson on being our Spotlight Artist for the month of September. Erin's self portraits have such depth and mood to them that is truly inspiring. So happy that we get to honor and celebrate her work for this month!!
Tell us a little bit about your photographic journey.
I have always loved photography, but once my son was born in 2017 I realized that I was struggling to remember all the little moments of his life in my sleep-deprived early motherhood days and wanted a way to remember all of the details. I have since then used photography to capture my memories of him, and now my daughter, in an authentic way.
I started to take self portraits with my children as a way to get in the pictures too in a way that made me feel confident. My husband is great about taking the camera to include me in our family memories, but travels a lot for work and isn't always around to take the photos. What started as something that felt very vulnerable evolved into a fun creative process of including myself and my children in photos just doing what we normally do together- snuggling, reading, or playing.
Recently I've also found that as my children grow and I start to explore who I am again as an individual as well as a mother, I really enjoy the creative expression of solo self portraits.
Tell us a bit about your style.
I think my style is something that I’m still trying to define, but usually varies between lifestyle and documentary. I take photos to capture memories of my family and our day to day life and try to incorporate storytelling elements. I usually create self portraits with my children in our quiet moments, with a focus on connection and feeling. I like to play around with blur and multiple exposures too to add a layer of interest.
What gear do you use?
I use a Canon 6d Mark ii, usually with a Sigma 35mm 1.4 lens. I occasionally swap out my lens for my Lensbaby Sol 45 or Canon 85mm 1.8. For self portraits, I also use a Pixel Pro intervalometer and an old hand-me-down tripod that my dad used in the 80s.
What’s your go to lens and why?
My go-to lens is my Sigma 35mm 1.4 because it allows me to get in close without sacrificing storytelling aspects of the environment. I especially love this lens indoors because I work with tighter spaces and often in low light. I have also lately been really loving my Lensbaby Sol 45 for self portraits. It is a little tougher to nail focus but I really love the emotion that it conveys through the creative blur.
Who and what inspires you?
I am inspired by the little moments- how my son plays with my hair while he falls asleep, how my daughter flashes me a sly smile before she climbs the furniture, how my husband holds them both upside down and tickles their bellies to make them laugh. These are the memories that I don't want to fade over time and I want my kids to remember that I was there too.
What tips do you have for shooting for self portraits?
Don't overthink it. Most of my self portraits come from opportunity and sudden inspiration and are the result of very little planning. Just think about the emotion or story you are trying to capture, and work from there.
If your camera is compatible with an app like Canon Camera Connect, it is much easier to set up your composition and focus and press the shutter remotely than to run back and forth with a timer. Lately, though, I’ve been loving my intervalometer as a remote shutter because I can take a series of photos at once, which allows me to move around and try different angles, or just play with my kids and capture the moment more naturally.
What self portrait image are you most proud of &/or love the most and why?
My favorite self portrait is one I took with my daughter by my bedroom window. I noticed some harsh morning light falling in a lovely pattern through my bedroom curtains while I was home with my kids. I hadn’t showered or put on makeup but I set up my camera quickly on an interval and played with my daughter. She was interested in the click of the shutter and I caught her looking straight at the camera with the light catching her eye, while I snuggled into her neck. I love it because looking at it brings me right back to when she was so much smaller and I can vividly remember how I felt in the moment, how soft her skin was and how she smelled like lavender baby lotion.
留言