Jessica Williams Interview

The following article is from the earlier Launderette archives, when, some time ago I stumbled upon the portfolio of Jessica Williams, a young photographer staying in New York for schooling at the Copper Union. I wrote to ask whether she would be interested in an interview. She agreed, and wrote the following responses to my questions which have since become of special interest to many readers, making the interview a kind of distinctive precept for not only those who enjoy snapping photographs but particularly for all those who can appreciate their captive purity.

What is your favorite snack?

Raspberries.

Do you ever take a walk in your neighborhood just to snap pictures? Or is a trip to document a new place more highly valued?

I do both. Whenever I shoot I rarely go out with any particular image in mind, though I do often go to specific places to take photographs. In general, I like to think of photography less as a means of documentation and more of a way of seeing and thus, I try to "see" everywhere I go-- whether it be near or far from my home. Also, the idea of fabricating a reality based on my surroundings is much more intriguing to me than presenting the world verbatim. I like to leave room for a little magic in my work and if I was too rigid in my shooting, nothing might ever happen. Sometimes its best to let things come as they will.

Is your schooling at The Cooper Union very helpful?

That is a tricky question. I believe that all schooling is helpful, even if it simply means you are constantly surrounded by other people that are making work and learning alongside you. However, lately The Cooper Union has been going through a lot of changes so for me to be here right now is another question in and of itself. Many of my peers are discontent but it cannot be denied that we do have some marvelous professors and amazing facilities. Our color darkrooms are especially nice.

Where do your ideas come from?

I feel like you should go with what you know and a lot of the time I pull ideas out of my own life and past experiences. When I was a child I frequently moved from place to place and I think that has affected the way I see things, especially when it comes to photography. When I make my images I imagine them as safe havens from the dirty and crowded world at large: calm and beautiful places I can retire to when I am sick of everything else. In a sense, they are very escapist, but in another they are simply trying to build a home (or world) of their own. I mean, at least I like to think of them that way.

What effect does culture have on the things you create?

I do not think I could make the photographs that I do without being alive in the present age. A lot of my images are taken in very suburban areas that did not exist ten or twenty years ago, or at least as they do now. There is a certain dichotomy of hopefulness and hopelessness inherent in them that characterizes our present age and I find it endlessly fascinating. I am also specifically interested in how the world around us affects my generation and the one below it. In my images I always think about the questions 'How can a person or a place be so happy but so sad?' 'How can the world be so beautiful but so often overlooked?', etc. I am still young so I guess I do not technically suffer from prolonged adolescence yet, but only time will tell. But perhaps that is a sign of the times, too.

What sort of camera equipment do you use? What do you think of digital photography?

I mainly shoot with a Fuji GSW 690 Professional 6x9 camera, which is a rather special type of medium format. The negatives are more elongated than standard medium format and are actually the same aspect ratio as 35mm film. Most people that shoot with 6x9s are super dedicated landscape photographers who want a reasonably lightweight camera that can take a panoramic image with amazing detail. I also frequently use an Olympus OM-1 SLR and a consumer grade Polaroid 600 camera.

As per digital, I think I will always prefer film but I cannot deny the ease and, to put it bluntly, cheapness that is associated with digital. It literally costs nothing to shoot and the images are almost immediately available for editing and subsequently presenting to the world. I have an old 4 mp Olympus digital camera I bought years ago that I've been taking snapshots with ever since but I am in the market to buy a fancy digital camera to use for as of yet unknown future projects. As of right now, I have my eye on the new 10 mp Canon Digital Rebel that will come out in October, but things could easily change.

Do you fret over technique?

This question could have two answers. The first answer that comes to mind is "Of course!" because I am a born and bred perfectionist. However, I feel that I am fairly competent at what I do. I'm not saying I do not suffer from frustration now and then, but I have been doing photo for awhile (at least six years by now) and have shot and printed photos in many different circumstances with all sorts of equipment and situations. Also, all of my images (with very few exceptions) are analog and I print them all myself in a darkroom. And though my physical prints are rarely seen by the audience of my website, they do exist and I think they are rather beautiful.

Do you get enough sleep?

Sometimes.

What are your plans for hereafter?

I am pretty sure I am going to take a semester abroad and study in Sweden, so I will mostly likely photograph up there. I hear where I am applying is a tiny, tiny town and I am rather excited to get out of New York. I've been here too long. But as for the far future, I am not sure what I will do. Lately I've found its better to take things one day at a time and read a lot. Life is a lot easier that way.

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