Collaboration is So Rewarding
The idea for this shoot came from an artist I follow in the UK. As with any inspiration, I wanted to have my own twist on the concept. My plan was to get some safe shots and then half way through add some filters onto my lens to give the light a foggy look.
I’ve been experimenting with filters ever since seeing MoodyDarkroom’s photos on Instagram. My normal style gravitates to sharp images with a lot of color or black and white images with a lot of contrast. Those images have just always felt right to me. But, the images I see from other people that I gravitate to tend to be more abstract.
In the past, I think what held me back was fear. I had reached a point where I was really good at my style. I liked my photos and other people seemed to like them too. The idea that I would create something that disappointed myself and others was enough to trigger the avoidance system in my brain. I help back from trying it.
I finally decided that I needed to stop being a coward and to just give it a try. The compromise I came up with was doing half and half. That way, I knew that the subject would be happy with at least half of the photos. Another confidence boost was choosing the right subject. Hairbackwards is such a pleasure to work with and is an artist herself, so I think she understands the struggle.
Collaborating with people is really amazing. I had some angel wings ready to go and I think that the photos would have been great with just those. But, Hairbackwards arrived with this fabric and an idea to drape it over herself, almost like a toga and it really elevated the images. I am both amazed and delighted how small things can make such a huge impact. It’s a situation where it makes no sense, but 1 + 1 = 3.
Being able to collaborate artistically with people is very rewarding. If you haven’t experienced it, it’s almost impossible to describe. Having a vision and merging it into someone else’s vision and then seeing it come to life is truly magical.
