delicate eternity logo
A haven for lovers of the written word
separate post

artistry

In my travels of the internet, I come across very talented people. Writers, photographers, painters, drawers, graphic designers. And when I find these artist’s beautiful work, I want to share it with as many people as possible. So that is why I decided to create Artistry: A Spotlight. To showcase some of the art that I come across. I hope you enjoy these artists as much as I do.

div

Today I’m spotlighting one of my dear friends, who also happens to be an incredible photographer – Joséphine! I’ve been so lucky to follow Jo’s photography journey, and I can’t wait to showcase her talents and get to know a little bit more about her artistry!

1. What inspired you to take up photography?

My fascination with light and the increasing popularity of digital cameras during the early 2000s. I love how light can be manipulated to look different on camera versus what we see with our eyes. While I first received my own digital point-and-shoot camera in 2006, I used to play around with my father’s digital point-and-shoot for years before that. Whenever he didn’t need it, I would pick it up, and capture all sorts of light sources and reflections. Since everything was digital, I could take hundreds of photos in one go without wasting money on film.

After going through a series of various such cameras, last of which blacked out on me in mid-2012, I switched to a DSLR end of 2012. I was sick of replacing point-and-shoots with another. Plus, I had become frustrated by the extreme limitations of point-and-shoot cameras. I wanted to learn how to control all the possible setting and so I did and still am learning.

Bookstagram caught my attention through Asti from Oh, the Books! We used to follow each other through my private Instagram account. After some time I was tempted to set up a bookstagram account. With her encouragement I finally did.

01 Bookstagram Triptych

2. What’s your favourite photo that you’ve ever taken?

Wow. That’s a tough one! There are more than a few photos I like a lot either because I tried new things or because they were particularly challenging to take. If I absolutely have to round up my favourite, I’d say currently these three take top spot.

02 Morning in Valais

It was my first morning in Valais when I travelled to Switzerland last October. The sun’s rays shone through the clouds and I was told that this weather didn’t happen very often. It was as though the heaves welcomed me to the Alps.

03 Rocking through the night

I took this photo on New Year’s Eve 2014. We were overlooking the city from really high up, waiting for the fireworks to start. I call it Rocking through the night because there’s nothing quite like immersing yourself in music while you’re practically on top of the world.

04 Like a swallow so proud and free

This here was my first ever composite photograph. I set up my tripod on the beach. It took a lot of patience though I had to be quick too. Just as the tide was coming in before dusk I finally managed to get the photos I needed for this one.

3. How would you describe your photography style?

05 Shelf through phone

When it comes to book photography, I’d say clean, bright and occasionally experimental. I don’t like clutter very much, unless it tells a story. That’s why my style is fairly minimalistic. I also love colours that pop. They really draw the eye in. Part of the reason I took up book photography was also so I would keep practicing. Regularly updating my bookstagram account means my DSLR never sits on the shelf collecting dust.

06 Scarlet by Marissa Meyer at night

My preference for minimalism also translates into my general photography. I tend to look for details and capture those, trying to arrange what I see in an interesting composition. In line with that minimalism, a lot of my photos don’t have more then two or three dominant colours. Spontaneity also is a huge factor because I carry my camera with me wherever I go.

07 Study at Schloss Drachenburg in Germany

4. What’s your favourite word and why?

Wistfulness. It means that even amidst pensive sadness or nostalgia, there always is hope. Hope is what keeps us going day by day.  Photos with wistful moods are also some of the most beautiful.

08 A Collection of photographs

div

I hope you enjoyed looking at all the freaking BEAUTIFUL photos above, and learning more about Joséphine’s photography! It was such a pleasure to spotlight someone so talented. I could seriously look at these photos forever, and plaster my walls in prints of them and be 100% content.

If you want to know more about Joséphine, here are some linky dinks:

Book BlogLife BlogGoodreadsBookish InstagramLife InstagramBook TumblrLife Tumblr Twitter

Until next time,

sig-chiara

Tagged with:
separate post
Posted on: January 7, 2016 • By: Chiara

13 Responses to Artistry: A Spotlight on Joséphine (Word Revel)

  1. I’m a fan of Jo’s bookstagram account and I love her photography style! Thanks for the insight, I’m really interested in taking it up as a hobby so it’s interesting to see what photographers look for. Her photos are beautiful!

  2. I adore this series, Chiara – and Josephine is so incredibly talented! I’m always in awe of photographers; I think it takes something special to capture the details of a scene through the lens, perhaps even more so than something like visual art or writing, where references are an artist’s best friend and one can create one’s art out of nothing. Photographers have to work with what is in front of them, and I find that incredibly beautiful. So lovely to meet Josephine. <3

    • Thank you, Topaz! :) It’s funny how I’m the reverse. I’m utterly amazed at artists who create something out of nothing. Though the tools are at their hands, they start at point zero as opposed to photography where I look for ways to rearrange what everyone already sees into something else.

    • Chiara says:

      I am so, so glad you like it, Topaz dear <3 I am in awe of photographers, as well! Especially photos "in the wild" where nothing it staged, and yet they manage to capture something really beautiful.

  3. These are so so sooo gorgeous and I LOVE Josephine’s work. It’s like my inspiration. <3 This was a fabulous interview, Chiara and Josephine! I'M IN AWE OF THE ART HERE.

  4. Once again, thank you Chiara for featuring me among the other amazing artist’s you’ve showcased here! I’m very touched by your kind words <3

  5. Maraia says:

    This is such a great feature! I’m glad you decided to pick Joséphine, because her photography is some of my favorite. I love her Bookstagram account, of course, but I might like her non-booksish photos even more. I enjoyed reading about how she first got into photography, and it’s always interesting to see what photographers consider favorites among their own photos.

    • Chiara says:

      Yay! I’m so glad you liked it, Maraia :D I absolutely love ALL of Jo’s work – it’s just so gorgeous. It was super interesting for me to read her answers, too, which is always fun!

  6. Valerie says:

    I AIM TO BE LIKE YOU JOSEPHINE.

    I also have a DSLR, and I only get to play around with it when I have time (which is never). My main problem is that I do not have enough light wherever I am (which sucks), but I hope to solve this problem once I move. I have been playing around with aperture and shutter speed, but my editing skills still need to be improved.

    I approve of this spotlight! :)

    • Chiara says:

      (I aim to be like Jo, too, although I don’t think that will ever happen, haha XD)

      My room is always so dark, too D: But when I turn flash on, it looks way gross, haha.

      I’m glad you liked it, Valerie!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *