The following is the first of a series of interviews launched for Abstract and Surreal photography week in Project Educate 2008.

=perception-obscure is a prolific abstract photographer from my neck of the woods whose username pretty much says it all when it comes to her photographs.

Basics and Background

Name and location?
Alicyn Eastlack, and I live in New Jersey, United States.

How long have you been practicing photography?
I started creating art through photography sometime during 2005.

Do you have any formal training in the arts?
Yes, I do. Traditional art, Jewelry/Metalry, and Graphics Design all throughout High School; Web Page Design and Development and Digital Photography in College. Needless to say, I completed Digital Photography with the highest grade out of that whole class for that semester. However, this doesn't make me better than anyone in photography. If you have a creative eye with an over-active imagination, then that's all you really need.

What cameras are your personal must-haves on a shoot?
That depends on the type of images I want to create and what effects I desire for the outcome. All of the time, I bring a Canon PowerShot A550 with me, along with my Pinholga 35 mm. I have some cheap $1 camera that I use sometimes ... Also, a Polaroid 600 camera - whenever I can afford to buy that film, that is (r.i.p. polaroid). I also have a Brownie Hawkeye camera, that I did a reverse lens mod to, that I have yet to try out. 120 film is expensive, and I am going to wait until I am more financially stable to purchase some.

How did you come to embrace the genres you prefer to work in?
Well, I have always had the mentality that I use when creating art as well as just in general. My artwork reflects how I feel inside, how I see the world, my opinions, how I view others/myself, thoughts, ideas, dreams, nightmares, personal beliefs, etc.

Art and abstraction

Do you have a favorite abstract photographer? If so, who and why? If not, who is your favorite artist in general?
My favourite artists in general are Salvador Dali, Francis Bacon, Connie Imboden, Joel-Peter Witkins, Hans Belmer, Hans Rudi Giger, Man Ray, and many, many others. These artists have, in some way or another, inspired me to create the art that I've been creating.

What does abstraction mean to you in photography?
I feel that it reflects the inner mind and soul; So often, we all pass over objects with a minimal of concern as to how it could be viewed and perceived in different perspectives. It's like those hidden thoughts in your sub-conscience - un-recognisable, non-realistic (almost surreal, in a sense) and complicated. I am a difficult and complex person, so this is why Abstract means so much to me and this is also what it means to me.

Do you find influence from other mediums?
Absolutely! There are some here on dA that inspire me on a regular basis, However, I often find myself being more inspired by traditional works as opposed to photography. I choose to express my art through photography, because I feel as though I "lost" my ability to paint and draw. I use the world, my mind and eyes as the canvas, the cameras I use as my paintbrushes. I feel as though I create paintings through photography, if that makes any sense.

What kind of in-camera manipulations do you perform to achieve abstract effects and impact?
I don't use any specific settings, except for macro... Flash is blasphemy for me - I absolutely hate it and wish cameras didn't come with this function. I usually angle my camera at obscure angles, move it around a certain way while the shutter is still open. Oftentimes, I shake my camera on purpose, moving it back and forth to create a distorted "zooming" effect - I especially do this with my Pinholga 35 mm. I do other things as well... it depends on my moods, really.

What suggestions would you give other photographers about harnessing light to create a desired mood in their imagery?
Light is what it all begins with, and it also plays a MAJOR part in the outcome of the images you create. I prefer to do my photography when the sun is very bright - I do that to capture a lot of vivid details. I also love overcast days and dusk to capture images where I want a dark and haunting outcome. It can't, for me, be too dark at dusk; maybe an hour or so into it is what I suggest.

Words of wisdom

What advice do you have for beginning photographers?
Take your time and have a lot of patience. Don't second-guess yourself. At the forefront of your mind, think about what you want to achieve. However, don't plan TOO much - plans are always bound to go wrong, and can be disastrous. On the other side, you can also learn from such disastrous outcomes. Also, do this because you want to and to express yourself. Don't create artwork that doesn't come from your soul - don't create it to express yourself through someone else's eyes and personal style; develop your own vision and style. Also, there is a MAJOR difference between influence and inspiration - there is nothing wrong wth being inspired, just don't blatantly copy others' styles because you were "influenced" by it. Also, don't let others tell you that photography is not art, or that you suck at it because you didn't srop $1,000's on some equipment.

What advice would you give to professional photographers in a rut?
I don't feel as though I am qualified to give advice to professionals, seeing as though I'm not a professional.

What advice would you, at present, give yourself 5 years ago if you could reach back in time?
The fact that I felt as though you can only create amazing artwork while under drugs or alcohol; what a load of bullshit that is.

What do you hope people find in your art? Or, what do you hope they definitely don't find in it?
I want them to find whatever they find in it. Although my artwork is my visions alone, how another sees it is THEIR vision alone. There is no right or wrong way of perceiving someone's artwork.

Ego

Who is your favorite deviantART photographer and why?
*CBJJBC - He is a lot like me when it comes to art - completely fearless when it comes to experimenting, utilises different genres of artwork at different times to reflect where he is at, emotionally and mentally, at that time (at least that's how I view his art). Also, the fact that he utilises different genres of art, in one work, to combine a style that is completely his own. He takes the best self-portraits, his journal features inspired me to start doing features, we have similar tastes in art ... He is kind and honest when it comes to helping out under-exposed artists and for giving constructive criticism.

I have many other favourite artists here on dA, and it was extremely difficult to narrow it down to "just one" ...

What is your favorite image of your own, so far? Why?
From my abstract creations:


I like this one because it is reminiscent of a traditional abstract painting. Tthe colours blend and fade into, and out of, each other smoothly. This was captured with my Pinholga 35 mm. It's very tranquil and apocalyptic at the same time. I did a double-take when I saw how this one came out, because it looks just like the beaches and sunsets that I see in my dreams.

What is your preferred subject (people, objects, places, etc) and why do you like to shoot that subject, whatever the style?
I prefer to do landscapes and nature-oriented artwork, because I worship nature - not in a religious sense, but I am very spiritual in this area. It's basically my higher power and my source of strength and inspiration. I also like to capture objects in obscure perspectives, in which they are not usually perceived. I prefer to do this, especially for my abstract textures / stock account: ~ArtOfDecay-Stock. I seldom enjoy capturing images of people, because I am weak in this area. I hope to overcome this obstacle some day.

Favorite ice cream flavor?
I like anything chocolate (plain chocolate, especially if it's soft-serve) with orange sherbert in the same bowl. Sometimes, I'll eat chocolate and lemon/lime or with raspberry. It sounds insanely disgusting, but it's amazing. Also, I LOOOOVE Edy's Swiss Orange (orange sherbert with big dark chocolate chunks in it).

If you could be any other person, who would it be and why?
Nobody, I like being myself just fine, although I really can't stand myself at times.

Anything else you'd like to say?
Yes, thank you so much for this opportunity, it is quite an honour for me.



#Abstractography is the dAmn headquarters for Abstract and Surreal week. Be sure to drop by this week to meet the artists interviewed in this series, myself, and many other abstract and surreal photographers here on deviantART!