The Kind Artist

Just about a year old in the photographic world and already establishing a solid style, Alison is a dedicated and honest photographer. She enjoys talking about why she shoots the way she does, her vision for the future, and her favorite ice cream flavors.

How are you today, Alison?

I’m pretty good! A little sleep deprived, but good nonetheless.

Where are you from?

I am born and raised in Dallas, Texas!

What’s your favorite thing about Dallas?

Well, I really enjoy the big city atmosphere. There are so many different restaurants and shops and things to keep me busy. However, I do wish that there were more nature locations to shoot in!

A lot of your portraits have some very nice nature backgrounds! Do you have to travel far to get the shot you really want?

I never travel terribly far. I have found three or four locations near me that give the illusion of wilderness, though I often have to photoshop telephone wires out of the background.

When did you start taking photography seriously?

Well, I’ve always been interested in photography, and like most teenagers, I’ve always owned a digital camera that I used to take pictures of flowers in my backyard. But once I got my Flickr account in April of 2009, I realized that I wanted my photographs to be more than just a flower, and I started to push myself to create better images.

You can see the improvement in your work from when you first started to where you are now, for sure. Why do you choose yourself as the main subject of the majority of your photography?

Portraiture is my favorite type of photography. I just love incorporating the human body into a photograph, as well as the emotions that it can provide. As far as self-portraits go, I was really inspired by all of the self-portraits that I saw on Flickr. I observed that many artists used self-portraits as a way to express their emotions. I had previously kept my feelings to myself, but I really love the release that a strong self-portrait can provide during an emotional time. So the emotional release as well as the ability to get used to shooting a person made me love self-portraits.

You recently started a series on Flickr comparing praise and repulse. Could you give us a little more background on that? What made you want to begin that series?

Yes, that series is very personal for me. A few years ago, I used to try to fit in, even if it meant wearing clothes that I wasn’t fond of and acting a certain way. Though I fit into society, I wasn’t happy with myself, and I longed to be different. The past few years I have been learning to develop my own style, and I’m learning that it’s more important to make myself happy and act how I want even if people might think I’m weird. That series is looking at two opposite types of people in an attempt to explore and understand my own struggle to find my place.

A lot of your self-portraits definitely have a lot of emotion in them, and one that sticks out to me is the “Maitriser” photograph. It seems painful! What were your thoughts behind that photograph?

Thank you, that means a lot! That photograph was really a way to express myself in a tough time. I felt as if a lot of people were trying to manipulate me and my actions. To mirror that, I used tape to manipulate my face.

I like the one in the comments where you are pulling the tape off (laughs)! Ouch. Do you hope to attend college in the future for photography?

Yes sir! I am currently a senior in high school, so next fall I will be a photography major in college! I’m not sure where I’ll be attending yet, but it’s still very exciting. I’m looking forward to learning more about what I love.

Who are some big influences in your work?

Well I’m in love with Horst Diekgerdes. His fashion photography is amazing, and I hope to one-day take pictures as great as his. Also, the photo duo Anoush Abrar and Aimee Hoving take fashion photography and completely make it their own, and I love their original ideas. Flickr-wise, I will always be a huge fan of Rosie Hardy, Nirrimi, and Jeremy AlexanderPaul Geranen.

What kind of photography do you one day hope to pursue?

I would love to do fashion photography. My mother works on a fashion magazine for a large store in Dallas, and even though she doesn’t work on the creative side of the magazine, I have grown up surrounded with the publications as well as other fashion images. I haven’t been able to do many fashion-inspired photo shoots of my own, but I hope to change that! Keep your fingers crossed that I can find some available models, please!

Will do! Fashion photography sounds like an awesome field. So, what is in the future for you?

Who knows! I plan on shooting as much photography as I can, and hopefully I will develop my own style and see where that takes me! But for now, I’m just trying to get by one day at a time.

What’s the hardest class your in right now?

Well I’m in a college-level Government class that’s kicking my butt! I’m also in a painting class that I enjoy, but since I’m not a very experienced painter, the work is very hard for me.

I’m an awful painter. Top 3 favorite ice cream flavors. GO!

Haha I love this question! Chocolate, Chocolate Cappuccino, and Chocolate with Caramel.

Lots of chocolate! Is there anything you want people to know about your photos before viewing them?

You know what, I don’t think that I will create any preconceived ideas. I’d like people to look at my photos with a clean mind, and they are welcome to interpret them however they’d like. Also, I’d like people to know that I understand that I’m still an amateur at this, and I am very open to constructive criticism!

Alison, I cannot thank you enough for your time, and I hope you get into the college of your choice!

Thanks, Ryan! I had an awesome time talking to you! I hope you have a magical week!

Check out more from Alison at her Flickr page.

All photographs Copyright (c) Alison Bushor. 2010.

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