Adele Carne is a music and fashion photographer who graduated from Sunderland University in England in 2011 after studying photography. In this interview she discusses her passion for art and photography and what makes a good photograph.
“Untitled” by Adele Carne
Voicu Mihnea Simandan: Art and photography are your passions. How did it all start?
Adele Carne: My dad enjoyed art and is an amazing painter and sketcher. I wanted to be just like him when I was little and used to always draw and paint. When I was about eight years old I got a cheap little pink camera for Christmas and after that I was obsessed with taking photos. It helped that my granddad was also keen on photography and had loads of tips for me. So it was definitely a family influenced passion.
VMS: You do both fine art and commercial photography. How do you balance the two?
AC: When I was at Sunderland University I studied mostly commercial photography and left with a very business orientated plan but when taking fashion and portrait photographs for commercial use alone it left me feeling a little hollow, so I began taking photographs again just for myself and my personal portfolio. I love images that tell a story even if that story is by the viewers’ own interpretation and with fine art photography I was able to do that and had the opportunity to experiment more than I would when I have to follow a brief for commercial work.
VMS: What makes a good photograph? What are some of its most important features?
AC: A story! I like to look at an image and imagine the story behind it. I always wonder what was happening before the photo was taken, what happened after and what the photographer was thinking and feeling when taking the photo at that moment specifically.
VMS: The world is becoming more and more digitalized and there are even those who believe in a paper-free world. Do you think printing pictures on paper will still be something people would want to do in the near / far future?
AC: I hope so. Whilst I love the digital age, I love nothing more than a print I can hold in my hand, that I can see hanging on an exhibition wall. I don’t think you get the same feeling from a photograph that you look at on a screen compared to it exhibited in the way the photographer wants it. I was at The Laing gallery in Newcastle, where an exhibition which included David Bailey’s work was being displayed. There I saw one of my favourite photographs of all time: John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Though I’d seen it so many times online, seeing it there hanging on the wall in real print, I actually started to cry. I really hope prints never cease to exist or have that effect.
“Ignited” by Adele Carne
VMS: Your online portfolio contains many portraits and some psychedelic compositions. Do you think you can express yourself better by snapping photos of people rather than nature/landscapes?
AC: I find people absolutely fascinating. It all comes back to the storytelling I think. People can tell a story in their expressions. I’m also a bit of a control freak and I like having the ability to direct my models to create what I want, which you can’t with landscape and nature.
VMS: People can purchase your photography from your Etsy shop. What kinds of photos and in what formats do you have on offer.
AC: I do have selected landscapes on offer at my shop and you can also buy portraits which include beauty and dance. Most of my prints are unframed but come in all different sizes, but requests can be made for framed images.
VMS: These days, there are so many opportunities for photographers to have a good presence online. What are some of the tools small businesses can use to achieve a greater brand exposure online?
AC: Social networks and paying to advertise, advertise, advertise. The best thing I ever did for my business was creating a Facebook page and paying to advertise it. After that I’ve had more likes and more hits on my website. You can’t really put a price on exposure so don’t hesitate in paying for advertisement when you can, it does not have to be expensive.
VMS: What is your philosophy as an artist and who influenced you the most?
AC: My family is probably my biggest influence. In terms of being a successful woman photographer I’ve been hugely influenced by Sam Taylor Wood and Miss Aniela. They’ve both got such different styles of shooting but I’m inspired by both whenever I look at their portfolios. I just want to pick up a camera every time. My favourite photographer though has got to be David Bailey. His portraits can look so simple but they’re full of so many different emotions. He was never scared to try new things and break through different barriers, and that’s the philosophy I try to live by, never be scared to photograph what you want, not what you think you should.
