Sta.sh
The intention behind this series of articles is to take a look at some of our more prolific abstract photographers and find out what drives them and inspires them. Over the coming weeks and months I will be cornering many artists and bearing their souls here for all to see.
Issue #1 introduces you to *JakezDaniel, enjoy.
The Interview
Hi Stephane, thanks for taking part. Could I start by asking you where you are from?
"I'm from Brittany in France and I've lived my last 13 years in Finland with my wife and children"
Do you have any formal photographic training and how long have you been taking pictures?
"I've started about being interested in taking pictures when I was teen a very long time ago. I got my first real reflex camera (some chinese copy of something else, 100% manual) when I was 25 years old. I've had some short course about 10 years ago which introduced me to dark room (I've not used it since that time), the end and the most I've learned from books, internet, practice."
Do you ever work with film and if so which medium is preferable?
"I work with film and digital. The advantage of the digital is, as in my last works I'm using photographer's movement, that I'm able to watch at the result and I can shot many time until I get something I like. When you moove the camera, every shot is different. Film will be more for stable pictures (so far, I've tried yesterday some movements with the Mamiya). A medium size camera is perfect for composition as the viewer is wide and I feel it’s easier to make it slowly and with precision."
Can you tell me a little about what piqued your interest in abstract compositions?
"I find in my pictures a way of expression. As I've said I'm living in a country I've been discovering all the time for 13 years now, keeping almost the same feelings than in the beginning, I'm very receptive to elements, seasons, nature. I've tried for years to express all this out and I feel abstract and surreal (I don't search for abstract when I shoot) is a good way. By destroying the appearance of the things I try to put up the essence of the things, at least the way I feel them."
Which other photographers have you been influenced by the most?
"During the time I've been reading books from the library, in Finland, 12-13 years ago, I've discovered amazing nature photographers and Hannu Hautala [link] is I guess the one who has influenced me the most, even if I may forget everything I've read quickly, after ten years I've opened one of his book and noticed many things that obviously had stayed in my mind somewhere and that I've tried to produce. It's dangerous to watch other artists' works; you could loose yourself easily, especially if you feel attracted by the same strengths. But it doesn't touch the abstract works so far.
On dA I would say that some photographers have influenced me not exactly in their picture but in their way of working and by showing creation has no limit: "
Can you share three of your favourite photographic websites / bookmarks?
Arno Rafael Minkkinen
Ian Willms who is ~000moggy000 on dA.
Aleks Talve who is !alekstalve on dA.
Do you have a website?
Jakez Daniel
Can you show three of the pieces from your gallery that you are most proud of and explain a little about what makes those pieces that bit more special?
"This is one of my first shot trying to simplify to its maximum my feeling resulting of being so small on such a wide white cold open area, on the ice of my favourite lake of Finland. My wife is the person on the picture and we were kilometres away of any shore. I’m glad of the result, this is exactly what I was looking for, what I would have painted if I would be a painter."
"This one is made with my film medium size camera. I was really warmly surprised when I saw the result. I want to go more on those kind of works too. The making of the picture itself is an abstraction from the real life into those small things, I could get addicted to this."
"This picture is just what I feel in this place close from my home, very quiet and peaceful, in the evening sun, a place where I go often, there’s something mystical there and really I wouldn’t be too surprised of seeing Vivianne rising from the water. I think this picture describes my feeling quite well."
Can you show us three of your favourite pieces from the dA Abstract Gallery?
Thanks very much Stephane [a.k.a *JakezDaniel] for sharing your thoughts and experience with us!
Issue #1 introduces you to *JakezDaniel, enjoy.
The InterviewHi Stephane, thanks for taking part. Could I start by asking you where you are from?
"I'm from Brittany in France and I've lived my last 13 years in Finland with my wife and children"
Do you have any formal photographic training and how long have you been taking pictures?
"I've started about being interested in taking pictures when I was teen a very long time ago. I got my first real reflex camera (some chinese copy of something else, 100% manual) when I was 25 years old. I've had some short course about 10 years ago which introduced me to dark room (I've not used it since that time), the end and the most I've learned from books, internet, practice."
Do you ever work with film and if so which medium is preferable?
"I work with film and digital. The advantage of the digital is, as in my last works I'm using photographer's movement, that I'm able to watch at the result and I can shot many time until I get something I like. When you moove the camera, every shot is different. Film will be more for stable pictures (so far, I've tried yesterday some movements with the Mamiya). A medium size camera is perfect for composition as the viewer is wide and I feel it’s easier to make it slowly and with precision."
Can you tell me a little about what piqued your interest in abstract compositions?
"I find in my pictures a way of expression. As I've said I'm living in a country I've been discovering all the time for 13 years now, keeping almost the same feelings than in the beginning, I'm very receptive to elements, seasons, nature. I've tried for years to express all this out and I feel abstract and surreal (I don't search for abstract when I shoot) is a good way. By destroying the appearance of the things I try to put up the essence of the things, at least the way I feel them."
Which other photographers have you been influenced by the most?
"During the time I've been reading books from the library, in Finland, 12-13 years ago, I've discovered amazing nature photographers and Hannu Hautala [link] is I guess the one who has influenced me the most, even if I may forget everything I've read quickly, after ten years I've opened one of his book and noticed many things that obviously had stayed in my mind somewhere and that I've tried to produce. It's dangerous to watch other artists' works; you could loose yourself easily, especially if you feel attracted by the same strengths. But it doesn't touch the abstract works so far.
On dA I would say that some photographers have influenced me not exactly in their picture but in their way of working and by showing creation has no limit: "
Can you share three of your favourite photographic websites / bookmarks?
Arno Rafael Minkkinen
Ian Willms who is ~000moggy000 on dA.
Aleks Talve who is !alekstalve on dA.
Do you have a website?
Jakez Daniel
Can you show three of the pieces from your gallery that you are most proud of and explain a little about what makes those pieces that bit more special?
"This is one of my first shot trying to simplify to its maximum my feeling resulting of being so small on such a wide white cold open area, on the ice of my favourite lake of Finland. My wife is the person on the picture and we were kilometres away of any shore. I’m glad of the result, this is exactly what I was looking for, what I would have painted if I would be a painter."
"This one is made with my film medium size camera. I was really warmly surprised when I saw the result. I want to go more on those kind of works too. The making of the picture itself is an abstraction from the real life into those small things, I could get addicted to this."
"This picture is just what I feel in this place close from my home, very quiet and peaceful, in the evening sun, a place where I go often, there’s something mystical there and really I wouldn’t be too surprised of seeing Vivianne rising from the water. I think this picture describes my feeling quite well."
Can you show us three of your favourite pieces from the dA Abstract Gallery?
Thanks very much Stephane [a.k.a *JakezDaniel] for sharing your thoughts and experience with us!
Je ne savais pas que je t'avais un tout petit peu influencé....ça me fait plaisir dis donc
Oserais-je te dire que ton travail m'inspire aussi (comme celui des autres personnes que tu as citées d'ailleurs).
et merci pour les liens, tu m'as fait découvrir des merveilles !