Photo Diary: Exposed
BLENDING EMOTIVE FILM SNAPSHOTS WITH MOVING WORDS - creatives Phoebe Faye and s.r. amelia bring their talent together for their new photo/word series “Exposed”. Bringing both visual elements together for an emotive series, “Exposed” highlights the power of combining different mediums. The duo touches on vulnerability through this project and found a unique bond by sharing expressing themselves together. View their below as well as their thoughts on the collaboration, their favorite piece and more.
LUNA: Why is representation in the creative community important to you?
S.R. AMELIA: Representation in the creative community, particularly the queer creative community, is important to me because it validates not only my art but the creativity of everyone around me as well. Recognition of creative endeavors, efforts, achievements - particularly in the queer community - is key to demolishing the stigma surrounding artists, gender, sexuality. It provides limitless expression.
PHOEBE: Queer representation in the creative community is as important as representation in all other spheres - queer views, queer narratives, and queer art articulate our stories not only for others, but for ourselves and our community. In my eyes, being vocal about who I am is about informing others where my art comes from, and from where I pull inspiration.
LUNA: How did you come up with the idea for this collaboration?
S.R. AMELIA: It was Phoebe’s idea, bless her! I’d been wanting to collaborate with local artists for some time, and had previously made call outs, but it wasn’t until a few weeks ago when we were chatting on Instagram and decided to just do it. I’m so glad we did!
PHOEBE: I was following s.r. amelia’s work for some time and I adored her poetry. I was also photographing much more still life as corona restrictions meant my photoshoots were postponed for the foreseeable future. Using my film camera was definitely a sense of normalcy, so I was going on long walks a few times a week with my camera on hand. I have always engaged really strongly with portraits, so this collaboration gave me a chance to experiment with design, but also showcase some of my photography that I usually would leave unpublished.
LUNA: Can you take us through your creative process for this project?
PHOEBE: When it came to choosing my film photography, I selected photos based on negative space and colour, but also those which carried a stronger emotive element.
S.R. AMELIA: I find myself writing constantly, and when I send my work to Phoebe I usually flood her with all sorts of prose. She’s incredibly talented and does most of the work, showing me several beautiful design options until we decide on one that feels right for each of the pieces.
LUNA: What do you like about combining a visual with words?
PHOEBE: I am terrible at writing poetry, and I can say that confidently because I have tried to write it many times. I wish I was a poet because I think film and poetry integrate so well. I love how s.r. amelia’s words added a new dimension to each photo. When I finished #1, I was so, so happy because it felt like that photo had found it’s perfect place, the poem was so complementary to the appearance and feel of the photograph.
S.R. AMELIA: : Combining visuals with words adds such a beautiful element. Phoebe has a brilliant eye for framing and capturing a real essence in her photos. I love words and the weight they can carry but layering them with film adds dimension and a ‘feeling’ from the second you see it and take it in, before you even read the words.
LUNA: Do you have a favorite poem-photo from the series?
S.R. AMELIA: My favourite is ‘sunflowers aren’t romantic’ (#2). I love the setting of the clouds and how they look almost ethereal. The themes of sunlight, clouds, heavens and romance. I love the way the words sit over the sky.
PHOEBE: I was instantly enamoured with #1, “I Felt You”. I visualized the design as soon as I read the poem, so it came together very quickly and very naturally. #6 is also a stand-out for me. With the phenomenal phrase, “your chest echoes like church bells / bones a place of worship”, I really wanted the design of this piece to have an “echo” and to embody the incredible feel of that piece.
LUNA: What are some common themes or elements explored through this series?
PHOEBE: There was a vulnerability for me, in sharing film photography that was not as people-centric as my usual work. I think that is something I associate with poetry, and it felt right to be vulnerable in a collaboration like this.
S. R. AMELIA: Art is inherently vulnerable, so I agree vulnerability is definitely an overarching theme. To be cliche, there is a love of love. Passion. Longing. Heartache. All the usual culprits, the emotions intense enough to force themselves onto paper. I love having something tangible to convey the ‘internal chaos’.
LUNA: Do you have any upcoming projects or plans you’d like to share?
PHOEBE: I’ve had some time to scheme, so I really hope to develop more series, like this collaboration, and work on larger projects in future. Before corona restrictions I was preparing to direct a music video, so I very much look forward to re-commencing that.
S. R. AMELIA: I always have so many ideas for creative projects but I take each day as it comes honestly! Definitely inspired to be as organised as Phoebe eventually xx
