Interview #12: Blanca

What was your experience like with TBW?
I found it very inspiring that by joining forces we created such a gorgeous book in such a short amount of time. Katelan is amazingly creative and industrious… and quite an inspiring leader!

What was the inspiration for your images?
I’ve been carrying these images somewhere in my mind for a long time. I think all of us see ourselves a certain way when we close our eyes. These are three distinct sides of me that aren’t so obvious to the outside world.

What did you learn about yourself from the experience?
As I took the self portraits I found an empowering sense of artistic freedom. TBW also taught me a few things about myself, about where I am in life and about my presence. Unexpectedly, one of the images caused a stir between my sister and myself. I see this stir as the archetypal side of TBW: I created an image that came from deep inside my psyche and this image created an external situation that gave me an opportunity to heal something that needed to be healed.

Do you feel you are in the same state of mind as when you started?
I am surprised at how TBW empowered me. I am a bit of a perfectionist. Most things I produce take a long time to be planned and created. For this project things came together effortlessly and that was very rewarding and refreshing. It made me see that an artistic project doesn’t necessarily take months to be completed.

What advice would you give to those wanting to take their own portraits?
Think of it as documenting who you are right now. Today. In this moment of your life. You can always take more portraits later. Don’t miss the opportunity of capturing who you are today. Play with makeup. Play with clothes. Above all, have fun doing it.

background:

1. Location: NYC, born in Mexico
2. Sun Sign: Aquarius
3. Virtue: Love
4. Vice: Obsession
5. Secret Self Esteem Booster: sexy dresses, meditation, yoga, dance
6. What Inspires You: beautiful art, passionate art, authenticity, nature

Playlist (give 5-10 songs on your ipod)
Hoppipolla by Sigur Ros
Save You by Jetsetter
Black by Pearl Jam
Semaname by Mercan Dede
Clouds by Doveman
Intervention by Arcade Fire
Family Tree by TV on the Radio
Stop the Dams by Gorillaz
Hindue Blues by Kevin Johansen and The Nada

 

Interview #11 Emmily Federer

What was your experience like with TBW?

outstanding. I feel lucky to even know about it, let alone be featured or a part of it at all.

What was the inspiration for your images?

actually my submissions to TBW were taken from a collection of self portraiture shots i had done over the year. So. i had and have changed alot even

now from those photos, so each picture is a reminder of things i want to hold dear to my memory as myself.

What did you learn about yourself from the experience?

That inspiration comes from all20perspectives of life. I love being “the mother” because during the time i shot all the self portrait photos that ended up being chosen, i had just become a mother. i think that TBW lets you into corners of human nature you either desire, are curious about understanding, or want to be up front in the brightest light imaginable. Its really a universal gift to the photography aspect and emotional aspect. I would reccomend being part of it, making your own, any part of it is amazing.

Do you feel you are in the same state of mind as when you started?

oh amazing changes have come into my life since. I at that time aspired to start a carreer in modeling and photography, and for a short time thought that because i had gotton pregnant so suprisingly, that alot of that stuff wouldnt ever happen.

ive since then accomplished alot of goals in modeling and paving my path to become a photographer, so i think that Katelan’s book aspired me to stop assuming the ideas in my heart and head were impossible, and, just, become it. do it.

So. maybe i am in the same state, of inspiration and love for what i want that is.

What advice would you give to those wanting to take their own portraits?

Dont think about it. Carry your camera with you everywhere. sniper shoot yourself when you think you are at your worst. often times you’ll be suprised how beautiful you are.
You’ll never know how you actually look through other peoples eyes, so sometimes you have to keep that in mind.

background:

Location: Cheyenne, Wyoming

Sun Sign: Gemini

Virtue: I will do anything for you.Without ever asking for anything. ever.

Vice: I’m actually a very brash character that often pisses people off because its misleading. I look like a sympathiser who will tell you anything you want to hear, instead, i tell you whats logical, and honest.

Secret Self Esteem Booster: A new dress from the vintage store. A pair of Viynal heels, and my favorite song ive danced in the mirror to 100 times before.

What Inspires You: Outer Space

Playlist (give 5-10 songs on your ipod)

1./lullaby: the cure

2./Cleopatras cat: Spin Doctors

3./Suzie Q: CCR

4./What is Fight Club?:Dust Brothers

5./I would die for you:Prince

6./Victory Strikes Again: Andrew W.K.

7./Let her Cry: Hootie and the Blowfish

8./Patterns: Sky eats Airplane

9./Where do we go from here: Filter

10./King of the road: Dean Martin

Interview #8 Kizzi O.C. Asala

What was your experience like with TBW?

I was honored when Katelan asked me to be a part of the project.
I had all these interesting ideas that I did not get to realize in the end due to technical difficulties i.e. a broken laptop charger, a broken bulb in my private campus bathroom and a bent camera lens! Not joking...the planets people, the bloody planets...

What was the inspiration for your images?

Well...the actual images I sent in were ones I had taken prior to the project for personal use (so no real inspiration there). They were stored online and I sent them in as a last resort (sulk). In order to make the most of what I had to use I chose images that were taken during a very significant time in my life. A time that marked my second awakening. Many adventures, many inward transformations, many private gifts from myself to myself. These images capture the essence of this time-and I am grateful to have them in print to complement my journal entries, lessons learned and cherished experiences.Perhaps the Taurus will do a follow up 5-10 years from now with the same women and give me yet another reason to express myself ;)

What did you learn about yourself from the experience?

I did not learn anything new. I did savor a few things that were familiar to me. My self acceptance. I looked over each image up for consideration with love and gratitude. Feelings that are sourced from my lack of regret in life which in turn comes from my spirit being deeply aware and wholesomely present in every experience I undergo in this particular journey of life.

Do you feel you are in the same state of mind as when you started?

Haha-of course not! I exist to spiritually evolve.
At the time of the project I was a few inches away from emerging from prison aka college: one of the biggest conspiracies in society today and a very "interesting" time in my life....not in the way most would assume. Now I am in transition. There is nothing that can substitute the high that I get from living a life in all its realism. I am deeply excited for the next few years to come-I mentioned the planets earlier? Well they are shifting! New continent, new personalities, new projects, new meaning-I look forward to suffering, being judged, being ostracized, being hungry, being lonely, being disappointed, to overcoming, being embraced, being fulfilled, being happy, being independent, being whole, being real: and most of all being ME. I shall live it all as it comes-with an inner peaces that stems from all; love.

What advice would you give to those wanting to take their own portraits?

Be your rules. Any and every thing goes when you are being true to your spirit.
Oh-and don't break your tech toys :)

Background

Location: North of Boston, NYC, DC-you live everywhere when you are an immigrant.
Sun Sign: I am an 8th house personality with a lot of Venusian influences ;)
Virtue: My Spirit
Vice: My Spirit
Vice: All I have to do is look in the mirror-not at myself, but into myself.
What Inspires You: My gratitude towards that "x" that breathes life into this world. Some call "x" God-I say "love"
Playlist (and it is an mp3player thank you very much!) 1. Sweet Sacrifice-Evanescence 2. Konko Below-Lagbaja 3. Too Lost in You-SugaBabes 4. Reuqiem for a Dream Theme Song 5. Matenca-Dizzy Gillespie 6. She Can't Love You-Danity Kane 7. Secret Garden-Quincy Jones 8. Pink Panther theme song 9. Yanni-Nostalgia 10. Like Me-Girlicious.

Interview #7 Lisa Grace

What was your experience like with TBW?

Great! Everyone is so varied and intriguing yet really interested in what the others have to offer.


What was the inspiration for your images?

I chose difference facets of my personality since I feel that I everyone is such a mixture of likes/dislikes, pursuits and passions.


What did you learn about yourself from the experience?

I learned that I can be dark and scary. It takes a lot for that side of me to come out to play.


Do you feel you are in the same state of mind as when you started?

I feel that a lot has changed in my life since working with TBW and there are now even more sides to Lisa Grace. That’s not entirely a good thing as life is even more complicated than it used to be. Yet I suppose one can equate complicated with exciting at times.


What advice would you give to those wanting to take their own portraits?

Do what whatever desire! Chase your moods, your visions, and your dreams. Be creative, put the timer on and go. I think the digital world gives us all the ability to make our own glamour at home.

background:

Location: London, UK
Sun Sign: Libra
Virtue: I’m nice
Vice: I’m more selfish than you think
Secret Self Esteem Booster: shoe shopping
What Inspires You: the ocean
Playlist (give 5-10 songs on your ipod) You are the best thing, Ray LaMontagne, Always take the weather with you, crowded house, fighter, christina Aguilera, northwest passage, stan rogers

Katelan's Interview on Peppered Thought

The ever wonderful Jess from Peppered Thought interviewed me on TBW, NYC, and everything in between.  Click Jennifer's lovely self-portrait to read the interview.