This month, our featured artist is Janelle Cordova. All of the photographs in this post are by her.
Janelle started shooting when she was 13 years old, during a transitional period in her life when her family moved from California to New Mexico. Inspired by the New Mexico sunsets, Janelle began a life-long journey as a student of light. She is currently attending NAU, studying both photography and English, and is set to graduate with both degrees in December.
One of the first things we noticed about Janelle's photography is that it seems very real, very raw, and generally very unadulterated. There is very little post production, and what is done is generally done with a light touch. Part of that is because Janelle doesn't like depending on technology and computers - the other is because she shoots a lot of film instead of spending her time in the digital realm. Film? Yes, you read that right. 35mm and 120, though she prefers 35mm. Why does she shoot film instead of just re-create the "film look" in post production? "Because film is more genuine... if you want the look of film, you should use film." Janelle also firmly believes in getting the image right in-camera, rather than spending a lot of time on the computer in post production.
Want to ask her about gear? For film gear, she doesn't have much of a preference. For digital, Janelle shoots Canon. We won't hold it against her ;-)
All photographers have some constant source of inspiration - something or someone that pushes them to create. For Janelle, it's light. If you've spent any time around a photographer, you know that we are always talking about how beautiful the light is, even going so far as to give it attributes like warm, cold, hard, and soft. Janelle is no different. She seems to be drawn to a few types of light - something that becomes more and more apparent as you go through her photographs. She is also inspired by photographer Alexis Mire, and we understand why.
Recently she has embarked on two projects - of sorts. One is official, a 365 day project of which she has so far completed 151 days. The other seems like an unofficial project, but is likely one she is more recognized for: Janelle makes a lot of self-portraits. She doesn't hide from the camera, even though she professes to be very awkward in front of the lens, she finds a way to express herself by photographing herself. She says it keeps her learning and it keeps her from making excuses - she doesn't need a model to do a photoshoot, all she needs is her camera, a tripod, and the drive to create art.
Of course, she's also photographed many other people. She prefers to photograph friends and family instead of working with professional models - though she has done a bit of both.
We also see a fair number of headless portraits throughout her collections, many of which feature at least partial nudity. Janelle says that some things are universally human, and that clothes often complicate the image and thus the viewer's judgement of the subject. She cuts all that out by photographing her models in underwear.
Her dream job? Traveling, photographing, and using photography as a medium to give back to the world around her. Perhaps as a war/conflict photographer, but perhaps not. She cites the James Nachtwey film "War Photographer" as a huge inspiration.
(haven't heard of it, check out a quickie preview below)
Watching that preview, or watching the entire film, it's easy to understand how Janelle is drawn to this type of photography - to a way to give back and make a difference through our craft.
Does she have any advice for other creatives? Anything she wish she had heard from someone when she started shooting, seven years ago?
"Never stop shooting, don't be afraid that what you're doing is wrong, don't be too harsh on yourself, and do what speaks to you."
Also: "Being a teenager is weird...."
Janelle has 14 images hanging at the Flagstaff Soap Factory, next to Pita Pit during the month of June. Some prints are for sale.
Despite her insistence that "technology is terrifying," Janelle has a blog, a website, a Facebook, and she is very active in the Flickr community.
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