JC

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Thoughts on image making.

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A few weeks ago I received an email from photographer, Maureen Drennan thanking me for posting a blog about her in a positive light. This then sparked the idea to have an internet conversation with Maureen who was more than willing to help out. She was born and raised in New York where she studied an MFA (Masters) in Photography at The New York School of Visual Arts. Since then she has made numerous bodies of work and been highlighted in many competitions and awards, for example ‘Hey Hot Shot’ to name only one. Below is an internet conversation held by myself and Maureen on the 30/06/2009: JONATHAN CHERRY: Please start by telling us a little bit about the background and ideas behind your recent project, ‘Meet Me in the Green Glen’. MAUREEN DRENNAN: For a few years I have been curious about outsider-type people who are passionately drawn to remote and beautiful landscapes. People who have a complicated relationship to the environment (ice fishing, for example). When I met Ben (the pot farmer), I was struck with how similar he is to the ice-fishing community I have been photographing for the past few winters. He is resourceful, independent, passionate, and solitary. At the beginning of this project I took pictures of the marijuana, the farm, etc… I was intrigued with the illegalities. But, lately the project has opened up to include our relationship. As we grew close through the project, I found that the story I was telling was less about pot farming and more about the drama of a lonely, isolated person and our complex relationship. American Literature, in particular the writers Flannery O’Connor and Annie Proulx, have had a significant influence on my work. They often write about flawed characters who are constantly struggling through life and who are profoundly affected by the environment. In describing landscape both writers evoke an ominously psychological and emotional sense of place. JC: What cameras and film do you use and how do they both effect the process of making images? MD: For this body of work I have been using medium format cameras (Mamiya 7 and RZ) and Kodak NC film. I love the quality of NC film and find the medium format perfect for my framing choices. I used to only shoot 4x5, so moving to a smaller, hand-held camera was liberating! These cameras allow me to work quickly as well as deliberately. JC: What practitioners influence your practice both contemporary and historic? MD: I have been moved and inspired by the work of Rinko Kawauchi, Andrea Modica, Clare Richardson, Alec Soth, and Luiggi Ghirri. Their work is lyrical, poetic, and sad/ humorous at the same time. JC: In the series ‘Meet Me in the Green Glen’, what images do you connect with most and why? MD: My favorite changes! But today I connect with the one of Ben in the road. He is so small in the vast landscape, it amplifies his aloneness. It resonates with my own feelings of alienation. JC: You seem like a photographer who regards the experience of photographing very highly. Do you feel there is a difference between simply ‘documenting an experience’ and ‘responding to an experience’ by making photographs? MD: You are absolutely right, I do value the experience of photographing very highly. There is definitely a difference between responding and documenting an experience. By responding to an experience you become a part of the scene, there is a give and take, a push-pull. Whereas “documenting” an experience attempts to be objective (when nothing is truly objective, especially when it comes to photography!)

A few weeks ago I received an email from photographer, Maureen Drennan thanking me for posting a blog about her in a positive light. This then sparked the idea to have an internet conversation with Maureen who was more than willing to help out. She was born and raised in New York where she studied an MFA (Masters) in Photography at The New York School of Visual Arts. Since then she has made numerous bodies of work and been highlighted in many competitions and awards, for example ‘Hey Hot Shot’ to name only one.

Below is an internet conversation held by myself and Maureen on the 30/06/2009:

JONATHAN CHERRY: Please start by telling us a little bit about the background and ideas behind your recent project, ‘Meet Me in the Green Glen’.

MAUREEN DRENNAN: For a few years I have been curious about outsider-type people who are passionately drawn to remote and beautiful landscapes. People who have a complicated relationship to the environment (ice fishing, for example). When I met Ben (the pot farmer), I was struck with how similar he is to the ice-fishing community I have been photographing for the past few winters. He is resourceful, independent, passionate, and solitary. At the beginning of this project I took pictures of the marijuana, the farm, etc… I was intrigued with the illegalities. But, lately the project has opened up to include our relationship. As we grew close through the project, I found that the story I was telling was less about pot farming and more about the drama of a lonely, isolated person and our complex relationship. American Literature, in particular the writers Flannery O’Connor and Annie Proulx, have had a significant influence on my work. They often write about flawed characters who are constantly struggling through life and who are profoundly affected by the environment. In describing landscape both writers evoke an ominously psychological and emotional sense of place.

JC: What cameras and film do you use and how do they both effect the process of making images?

MD: For this body of work I have been using medium format cameras (Mamiya 7 and RZ) and Kodak NC film. I love the quality of NC film and find the medium format perfect for my framing choices. I used to only shoot 4x5, so moving to a smaller, hand-held camera was liberating! These cameras allow me to work quickly as well as deliberately.

JC: What practitioners influence your practice both contemporary and historic?

MD: I have been moved and inspired by the work of Rinko Kawauchi, Andrea Modica, Clare Richardson, Alec Soth, and Luiggi Ghirri. Their work is lyrical, poetic, and sad/ humorous at the same time.

JC: In the series ‘Meet Me in the Green Glen’, what images do you connect with most and why?

MD: My favorite changes! But today I connect with the one of Ben in the road. He is so small in the vast landscape, it amplifies his aloneness. It resonates with my own feelings of alienation.

JC: You seem like a photographer who regards the experience of photographing very highly. Do you feel there is a difference between simply ‘documenting an experience’ and ‘responding to an experience’ by making photographs?

MD: You are absolutely right, I do value the experience of photographing very highly. There is definitely a difference between responding and documenting an experience. By responding to an experience you become a part of the scene, there is a give and take, a push-pull. Whereas “documenting” an experience attempts to be objective (when nothing is truly objective, especially when it comes to photography!)

Wednesday, July 1st 2009 6:02pm