Shutter Sister interview: Alison Garnett
Friday, June 6, 2008 by Irene Nam 
Every once in a while comes along an artist whose talent, visual sensitivity and spirit make you sigh with delight. Alison Garnett's creativity and sense of composition, color and light never cease to amaze me and are a constant source of inspiration.
Someone said about Alison that she's proving that "it is first and foremost "the eye" that captures wonderful images, not the equipment" and I think it's very true. Whatever camera she uses (Alison shoots with her Contax T3, Rolleicord, Holga, Diana, Leica and also owns several Polaroid cameras), she trademarks each of her photos with her unique way of capturing details and simple beauty in everyday life.
I had been wanting to interview her for a very long time. A few weeks ago, Alison kindly accepted to share some thoughts on photography with us and answered a few questions for Shutter Sisters.
1. What's the story behind this photo?
I started a series of images of my daughter several summers ago during our holiday time in northern Ontario. The images are incredibly sentimental to me and my hope is that she'll continue to model for me every year. This particular image is the first in the series. The only thought I had taking the image was to avoid the conventional style of photographing children. I wanted to capture her in a way that would have a deeper meaning to me. We had gone to the dock together early one morning to take a few images, and the idea came to me almost immediately. There she was with her teddy bear, still in her pajamas and anxious to get on with her day. I asked her to sit at the end of the dock, turn away from me and I composed the image and pressed the shutter. Simple as that.
2. What was it that lit your photography spark? Do you remember a particular camera, course, person, roll of film?
I do remember very clearly. I was on maternity leave with my first child and feeling frustrated about not having a creative outlet that could fit into my daily schedule. In an effort to continue to be creative, I purchased a Yashica Mat twins lens camera at a yard sale. With the help of a mother in my mum's group (a wonderful photographer herself), I learned how to properly load film in the camera, use a light meter, and operate the exposure controls. I carried the camera with me on stroller walks and to the part, pretty much anywhere I could take photos while my daughter was playing or napping. That was five years ago, the beginning of my addiction with camera and film.
3. Where do you look for inspiration?
Inspiration is everywhere I look: design magazines, photography books, the vast resources of the web, observing my children, conversations with my husband and friends. I also make time to visit small galleries in Toronto. I particularly enjoy seeing new work from emerging photographers because I view their work without the biases or expectations I may carry with me when viewing the work of well-known photographers. I almost always come away with fresh new ideas to consider as I think about my own future projects.
4. What aspect of your photography are you constantly working on, trying to improve?
I feel the need to tell more stories with my photography. Looking back on the last five years, I see most of my pictures to be a series of snapshots. That's okay, but I think it's important to find a concept that links them all together somehow. I think by doing so the images become more compelling for me, and hopefully those who view my work.
I feel like the only work I've done so far that reflects any form of storytelling is my Polaroid diptychs. I love placing two images together, creating a dialogue that didn't exist until the two were joined. That's what I'll be doing from now on - creating dialogue - not just between two images, but a series of them. I believe by doing so I'll add the conceptual elements I feel were missing from my earlier work.
5. Are there women out there that you consider your shutter sisters? Who, and why?
Absolutely! Sally Mann and Loretta Lux are two that come to mind immediately. Both artists photograph children, however, I don't think that's the attraction for me. Their work is so incredibly wonderful and thought provoking that it makes me want to sell off all my cameras and never take another photo ever again!
6. That's how I feel when I look at your photos Ali! Now, last question. Could you tell us more about 5 Good Things?
I started 5 Good Things when I was going through a difficult time in my personal life. I found it so tempting to vent about the tough times on my blog, but I find airing one's woes to be stagnating and maudlin. Instead, I took the opposite approach and developed the habit of giving thanks for five good things at the end of every day. I swear, by contemplating the good things I found it allowed me to take control of my life in a very positive way. I used to post 5 Good Things on Hello, but now moved them to a more personal blog about my family life - mebetweenyou.
Thank you Ali!
Reader Comments (11)
Alison's work is beautiful!!!!
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