Jade Lyon: Everyone is a Photographer These Days

All images by Jade Lyon. Used with permission.

Photographer Jade Lyon submitted to be featured in our upcoming analog zine. Her work: absolutely fantastic portraiture and sort of surreal concepts all shot on film. She attributes her love of film partially to the fact that everyone is a photographer these days and yet she loves the older methods. But on top of this, Jade’s work and words are simply astounding.

Here is her submission, and I’m sure you’re going to be inspired by it.

Tell me about who you are as a photographer, list what cameras, films.

I am a 26 year old photographer based in Brighton, UK. Before my move to Brighton I studied photography in Surrey at The University for the Creative Arts.

I have worked as a family portrait studio photographer. However, by growing up in the countryside my heart lies in the outdoors. With my photography I put people back into nature to remind ourselves that we are not so separate from it. People feel a connection with the outside environment so my vision is to create scenarios that put us back into a surrounding of nature.

I shoot with my Hasselblad 500c/m. I enjoy the process of shooting film as it slow you down, makes you think, makes you more aware and appreciative of what you’re shooting. We live in times where everyone is a photographer, so I enjoy film as it’s like going back to the days where photography was a real art and science.

Why did you get into photography?

I studied photography at secondary school. I fell in love with photography as I really enjoyed art but I was no good at drawing and painting! Therefore I found a creative outlet in photography, which I seemed to grasp!

What photographers are your biggest influences?

I was recently lucky enough to see a talk with the documentary, photojournalist and fine art wildlife photographer Sebastiao Salgado who is what you could describe as a “concerned photography”. Seeing him talk was so inspirational as you can see his concern for the world around us and how we are treating it. He speaks so openly and genuinely. I feel it is a rare thing to see.

I have also been influenced by photographers such as Faye Godwin who again started by photographing nature and landscape, but later wanted to demonstrate human’s restraints upon the land.

Although my work is like neither of these inspiring photographers it inspires me to get outside and involved with nature.

How long have you been shooting?

I have been shooting since I was 17, which is 9 years now! That seems like a long time to me!

Why is photography and shooting so important to you?

Photography is so important to me as it can capture something about the world around us. It can remind people about the beauty of the world and of themselves as well. I guess I like portraiture as well as it freezes that person in time and can make someone think a bit more about themselves and perhaps even help them to feel a bit more comfortable in themselves. Today so many images are taken yet so many people still seemed scared by the camera and by the judgment that brings.

Do you feel that you’re more of a creator or a documenter? Why?

I am definitely more of a creator. I should perhaps try some more documentary styles of shooting as everything fascinates me! However I like the creativity involved of taking someone to a location and creating a scene rather that just shooting something that’s already there in front of me.

What’s typically going through your mind when you create images? Tell us about your process both mentally and mechanically.

When I’m creating images I am thinking about the scene I am portraying and is my sitter expressing the right feelings I want from this scene. What is the story? Am I collaborating with my sitter so it’s as much their photo as mine? There is so much to think about!

Mechanically I keep my set up very simple using natural light and possibly a reflector. I have 12 shots with my 120 film which makes you concentrate much more rather than snapping away on digital.

Want to walk us through your processing techniques?

After graduating from University I realise how fantastic it was to have the equipment to be able to develop and print your own films! Now I scan my films into the computer and edit them digitally. I am not big on editing, as I want my images to look natural so it’s just a case of dust editing and colour toning.

What makes you want to shoot film over digital at any given time?

There is a unique quality to film that I just don’t think you can re-create on digital (even though people try). You can often tell if something has been shot on film. It feels more like a skill, science or art. On my Hasselblad it especially feels very mechanical, like something old fashioned, historical and of course it won’t do everything for you, there is no automatic option. Of course the sound of the shutter is also much more satisfying!