We loved the work from the Albany High School Show and wanted the details. Here are two Artists with Answers.

Artist Maya Bloemhard gave us some backstory.

Q: What do you love most about photography?

To give a little backstory, another important art form in my life is dance. I’ve been dancing for about fourteen years, and so I’ve always had this specific way of expressing myself. However, when I discovered photography I also discovered another form of expression. With that said, the thing I love most about getting to express through photography is that the moments in the photographs last. For example, in dance I had essentially been training for fourteen years until I got to perform my dream role last December. Although it was a time I’ll always cherish, I feel like I really only felt that special moment during my time on stage. However, with photography I get the chance to capture moments in time. I feel that the emotions and purpose behind photographs stay with the photograph. Whenever I look back at photographs the meaning remains and that special moment lasts

 

Q: Your photo has a journalistic/ documentary quality. Do you think you will continue to photograph in this way?

I haven’t always photographed like this, but it’s something that I’ve recently been experimenting with. I definitely hope to continue photographing in this way especially when it comes to photographing people. When it comes to portraits the person I’m photographing is my inspiration. I always hope to capture either some part of the person’s personality or some of their backstory. I think by doing so it makes the photo so much more meaningful to me and the subjects in the photograph.

 

Q: Why black and white?

My original thought behind making it black and white was to give the photograph almost a reminiscent feel. I also like how the black and white highlights the light and the clouds representing the moving forwards meaning behind this picture.

We also spoke with Mahealani La Rosa for some insight.

Q: What influences your creative process/ style/ uniqueness?

 Although photography is a huge passion for me, I am also very interested in film. I watch and analyze old films and new films, I know techniques and lighting and everything about how scenes were shot. Shadows and color are a huge part of most of my photo projects. I am highly influenced by the film noir and neo-noir era that you see in films like Chinatown. I am also influenced by a variety of photographers. I love Philip Lorca Di-Corcia and his use of shadows and peculiarity in all of his photos. I also love to take portraits and I feel like his portraits have this raw personal aspect I strive to have. I also am inspired by Cole Sprouse. Although he is not mainly a photographer, I appreciate his photography because of the natural aspects he has, and how he manages to blend fashion into nature. I also adore his use of color and the simple editing he does. I like to be different. So when I am assigned a project in class that I know 20 other people are doing, I want mine to be different. I understand the guidelines, but I want to stretch them to the limit to have my photos be powerful, unique, and beautiful.

Awarded “Best Composition”, Natalie Kreter-Killian talks about her photograph “Heartache”.

Q: Who has taught you the most about love?

Since a young age I have always been interested in love stories. I grew up on fairy tails, their archetypal hetero-normative plot lines set the standard for me of what love should be. As I grew up it was my friends who called out the flaws in that Idea of love. I credit them for teaching me about love and kindness.

Q: Why two hands and one arm?

I made this photo with two interpretations in mind. 1) the hands are fused together to show how people become closer and closer in a relationship and blur the line between self and partner. or 2) the hands are two sides of our self, connected together by a red string showing self love.