Kate's (@impatientdeveloper) work is an excellent study of what you may find if you go for a walk around your neighbourhood and really pay attention. Small joyous details seem abundant in Kate's photos and I'm often flawed by how familiar the settings are in her frames, but how it feels as though only she could have found the potential for a photograph.
There's a consistent emphasis on colour, contrast and texture, and every frame feels impeccably considered and presented.
Heya Kate! Thanks so much for being a part of our Member Spotlight feature! I've really been enjoying processing your work and very excited to dig a little deeper and discover how you go about making these photos!
To start with; what camera and film stock do you typically use at the moment?
I’m currently using a Pentax Espio 105S. I have six other varieties of Pentax Espio - it’s my point and shoot camera of choice. My preferred film is Fujicolor C200 but because it’s hard to find at the moment, I’m using a bit more Kodak ColourPlus.
To me, the most prominent theme of your work seems to be these incredible little fun details that must take a very curious eye to discover and shoot. Do you always carry a camera with you or do you purposefully go out looking to make these photographs? They feel like wonderful details that nearly all but yourself would miss!
Yes, I carry a camera on me 100% of the time. No matter where I’m going, I’ll have my camera. And I’m always looking for pictures… weird happenings, strange scenes, interesting shadows. Sometimes I’ll specifically go out ‘for a photo walk’ - but mostly, I capture stuff day-to-day, quite randomly.
Your photos feel very considered and deliberate. The light, the cropping and the colours always feel very precise. What are some key ingredients you look for when composing a photo and what do you want your photos to be about?
Hmmm, that’s a tricky one. I suppose because I am more spontaneous in my picture taking, I am led by the scene itself - rather than setting up a photo, I let the elements guide me. The picture comes to me I guess. Depending on the light, traffic, people, etc - if it’s all happening ‘right', and captures my attention, the photo happens.
I tend towards getting close up to my subject, taking out reference points to make the overall composition more peculiar. Where possible, I definitely try to frame the focal point in a way that creates some WTF confusion.
Have there been any notable things that have inspired you recently? Photographers, places, films, etc?
I went to Italy in 2022 and this was a nice inspiration injection from a contemporary art perspective - the Venice Biennale was on and it’s really mind-blowing to see what people think of and create. The Fancis Alÿs work in the Belgian Pavilion (Children’s Games) was a standout.
Some of the short films from this work are currently showing before Perth Fest films at the Somerville. We went back twice to view the photography by Aneta Grzeszykowska from Poland - the series Mama (2018) was haunting and brilliant. Locally, the Flavia Schuster show now on at PCP (Swan Song - till 18 Feb) knocked my socks off. The show, ‘I have not loved (enough or worked)’ currently upstairs at AGWA, has some banging photo work in it too (on till 23 April).
Oh, and you should grab a copy of the re-release of ‘Don’t Just Tell Them Show Them’ by my pal Jesse Marlow - it’s SO GOOD. Annoyingly so.
Thanks so much for doing this Kate! Any wisdom you'd like to share with anyone trying to get out there and find their own little visual delights to capture?
Getting used to carrying a camera all the time is the best piece of advice I can give. If it’s always in your pocket, you’re more likely to use it. The more you leave your camera at home, the less photos you’ll collect. Note: get used to making heaps of shit photos, that’s part of it.
Also, there are so many amazing photo books being made, which are so inspirational, and will get you in the mood/ mode. Check out Alec Soth, Txema Salvans, Andy Smith, Warren Kirk, Stephen Shore and Anastasia Samoylova for good examples. Try not to copy other photographers, but instead - take inspiration from them and see how you can develop your own ‘voice’.
Once you’ve been reading and learning about other photographers - you’ll be able to ‘pick' their photos. I think this is where you want to get to. Your own style, look and feel. It takes time, patience, practice, and dedication.
