Photographer of the Week (6)

Allison Zehner

All of the photographers I have blogged about thus far are published photographers. The next few people that I feature will not be professional, published photographers; but photographers that I personally know that continually help me grow in my own practice.

The first person I’d like to feature is my dear friend Allison. She helps me realize that I don’t need really expensive equipment to take a good photograph; most of her pictures were taken using the same camera I use. Although she still has a lot of growing to do, I appreciate how hard she works to be the best she can be.  

 Upon interviewing Allison I asked what she wants viewers to know about her work: “My work has a lot of emotion put into it. What I'm feeling when I'm taking the photograph I try to portray through my editing. Whether it be messing around with the temperature, saturation, color, ect. Nice days are vibrant. Relaxing images are warmer. Things like that.”

Where she sees herself going as a photographer: “I have previously photographed a friends band as a fun little non paying gig and recently photographed a friends wedding also a non paying gig. Right now I am trying to build up a wide ranged portfolio and hopefully end up at a magazine or director of photography.”

What motivates her: "The beauty and thousands of words a photograph is able to convey. Controversy and beauty inspire me. Along with the need for art itself.”

One thing I love about her photography is that her photos do covey an overwhelming sense of emotion. Especially in a photo series she did on a broken relationship, you get a glimpse of their time together through these 11 photos.

In the first 4 photos both women are happy and seem content. Then in the 5^th picture you see this image of Jayne and her eyes are shadowed over, making her look sly and almost evil. In every photo of Jayne past number 5 her mouth is covered, which makes me think she is hiding something from Allison. The photos from then on are melancholy at best. In photo number 8 you can feel the sickening pain Allison is feeling. The last photo of Jayne in the series (number 9) you don't see pain in her eyes like Allison has. As the series wraps up with images of only Allison you get the feeling that she was left feeling alone and scarred from their time together.