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

=VonCrowd is a sweetheart in addition to being a great experimental and abstract photographer. Another self-taught deviant, she has embraced both film and digital to create her vision.

Basics and Background

Name and location?
Aim Lee of the Great White North aka South Western Ontario, Canada.

How long have you been practicing photography?
spring/summer 2005, I can't believe it's been three years already. It feels like I just picked up a camera yesterday.

Do you have any formal training in the arts?
No, not really. I took art all the way through high school including one course in photography but I didn't get involved with it at the time. Everything that I know right now about photography has come from trial and error and reading a lot of manuals, tutorials and magazines and studying the work of other photographers I admire.

What cameras are your personal must-haves on a shoot?
I'm usually never without my Nikon D50, I love that camera to death. I've also got a Minolta XG-1 that tags along frequently too.

How did you come to embrace the genres you prefer to work in?
When I started getting serious about photography I felt the need to build a solid foundation of basic skills. I grabbed every photography book I could get my hands on and started making up exercises to teach myself the fundamentals. I made a lot of mistakes but learned a lot of tricks from them too which I started experimenting with more and more. I didn't think in terms of settling into a genre but rather tried a bit of everything before arriving where I am today. It's like the abstract embraced me instead.

Art and abstraction

Do you have a favorite abstract photographer? If so, who and why? If not, who is your favorite artist in general?
I can never pick a favorite anything but I can say that Jonathan Miller's work really changed my perspective when it comes to photography. When I was starting out I had a very narrow scope of what photography could be until I found a book of his work entitled "nowhere in particular". At the risk of sounding like I've lived the majority of my life under a rock I'll admit that until I found that book I'd never seen published photographs of faded graffiti on rusting train cars or sun bleached and weathered tarps tied in knots. I didn't think that sort of thing was "allowed" or taken seriously. It was so beautiful. I was really inspired.

What does abstraction mean to you in photography?
In the clinical sense its the simplification of subject matter in photography or in any other art form. When I was studying that a while ago I felt let down by the definition in the text book. It feels so much more intense. To me its really intimate. It's easy to glance at light bulb and see nothing more than a light bulb for instance. Taking the time to really study that same light bulb in various environments until seeing beyond the physical develops a wonderfully strange sort of relationship between subject and observer. I guess that's it. A relationship.

Do you find influence from other mediums?
Big time. Music, nature, books, graphic design, fractals, paintings, animation, movies, television...everything. Logos on shirts, contours of cars...I could go on and on. Anything that appeals to the senses is a source of influence and inspiration.

What kind of in-camera manipulations do you perform to achieve abstract effects and impact?
I could tell you but then I would have to KILLL you Narrow depth of field, the odd filter, white balancing and some real effort into getting the exposure right. Creative camera shake some times. Contrast and lighting are really essential. I spend a lot of time and effort building sets and manipulating lighting to achieve different effects on camera. It's way more fun live than in photoshop later.

What suggestions would you give other photographers about harnessing light to create a desired mood in their imagery?
Experiment. That's the number one piece of advice I have for anyone. Lighting is so important in photography but don't get suckered into thinking you need an expensive set of studio strobes or even a professional flash for your camera. Try desk lamps, fluorescent tube lights, candles or go outside on sunny and overcast days. Bounce light off of things. Study photographs that you love the lighting in and try to figure out how it was done. You may not be able to get it right but chances are really good that you'll discover something interesting along the way. Also check out art basics for colours and how they influence moods as well.

Words of wisdom

What advice do you have for beginning photographers?
Learn the basics, experiment, try a little of everything and be critical of your own work. Keep pushing yourself to learn and adapt new skills. If it isn't fun drop it.

What advice would you give to professional photographers in a rut?
I'd be happy to fill in for you while you overcome your rut! Ruts happen, I think the best thing to do is not stress over it. Try something new and different eventually inspiration will come.

What advice would you, at present, give yourself 5 years ago if you could reach back in time?
There isn't enough space on the internet lol. I'd tell myself to be more critical of my work and join dA sooner! I've learned so much from other artists here through both critique and example.

What do you hope people find in your art? Or, what do you hope they definitely don't find in it?
I hope they find a message. I think there is so much more to art than producing a piece of work that is appealing to the senses. To me it's a language and I hope people hear what I'm trying to say.

Ego

Who is your favorite deviantART photographer and why?
Oh noes, a whole section of favorites?? I really can't decide, so many have helped and/or inspired me. Check out my favorites!

What is your favorite image of your own, so far? Why?

At the moment its this one. I'm really comfortable working in my basement studio with controlled lighting and a digital camera that allows me to see my errors instantly. I was really pleased with this image because I managed to capture everything I had wanted on film and while visiting a strange location. Stepping out of the comfort zone was exhilarating.

What is your preferred subject (people, objects, places, etc) and why do you like to shoot that subject, whatever the style?
I prefer working with objects because they sit still, don't have a schedule, and never complain about being spray painted or set on fire. Most of them work for free too.

Favorite ice cream flavor?
I'm a slushie type of girl blue raspberry rocks.

If you could be any other person, who would it be and why?
Though not technically a person I'd love to be my cat for a day. 16 hours of sleep and being awarded with praises and massages for being cute- I think I can handle it.

Anything else you'd like to say?
Big huge thanks to all of my friends, watchers and to anyone who has ever commented on my work in the past to help me improve. To all the staffers too who work so hard behind the scenes to make this website run so smoothly: I SALUTE YOU!
Thanks for the interview ^opioid your rock out loud



#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!