We call it the #ICMEETSERIES and thought it would be interesting to find out a bit more about the people behind the disposables. We asked a few IC contributors to tell us a bit about themselves and this is what we got in return…
IC MEET SERIES – Q+A with…
Ashley Brown
INSTAGRAM | INSTAGRAM / 2
Who are you?
I’m Ashley, 22 years old and I just graduated back in November with a degree in education. Since then I’ve been traveling through some beautiful countries, and now is the beginning of a new adventure where I decide what to do next.
Where’s home?
I grew up in the suburbs of Seattle, then called Bellingham home while I was in college, and then Spain for a few months studying…now I guess you could say I’m in search of one.
What do you do for a crust?
In the past I’ve been a server and a nanny for a long time. Now that I’ve got a degree I’ll be figuring out what new thing I want to do first…teaching, music, dance, yoga, something fulfilling.
Can you tell us about your creative background?
My parents are very talented in the areas of music and creating/DIY. My dad specifically took some film photography classes in high school, and my sister and I have been able to use his old Nikon since. My sister took film classes in high school as well, and seeing the fun process by the time I was in high school I was inspired too. I’ve always enjoyed a variety of hobbies that could be categorised as “creative” activities…playing music, painting, drawing, crafting, photography, dancing etc. Making and creating ‘things’ is just the best way to let the mind run free isn’t it?
What inspires you to shoot film?
Film will always be original. Having my own negatives gives me so possibilities to experiment. With negatives not only do I have an original copy, but I can use it create different kinds of prints like double exposures by layering negatives, creating crafts with the negatives, and truly creating whatever I can imagine. Even the look of film photos is more clear, but dreamy…even with disposables, during the day the perfect amount of light is let in. Understanding how much cameras and photography in general has developed over the years inspires me to continue to learn the tricks and techniques of where it all began.
How did you come to connect with Indisposable Concept?
If I remember, I think I saw the Indisposable Concept tagged in a photo I had seen…
Do you remember what was in the first roll of film you shot for IC?
Of course I do! It was a roll from my first year at Sasquatch in 2012. It was one of the best weekends of my life where I heard the most beautiful music, met and befriended some wonderful people, and ate a lot of PB&Js.
What is your fav photo that you’ve shot for IC? Tell us a bit about it.
One photo I’ll always remember is one I shot of my friend Mary. Last summer we hiked up with Trevor to Mt. Winchester and swam in the lakes, we were freezing cold after but continued hiking up to the lookout. Mary was jumping and landed weird, tweaking her ankle that has been sprained before. We saw the sun as it set, the beautiful stars at night, watched Trevor spin his light-up poi, and enjoyed sleeping in the mountains. We woke up to a Lion King sunrise, the sun was a burning red. It was so beautiful, we were all sitting outside just enjoying witnessing such a magnificent start to the day. With 360 degrees of forested mountains and trees to take in…it was a simple photo, but it holds so many good memories and feelings as summer was coming to an end.
It seems film photography and disposables are making a comeback, why do you think that is?
It’s a “retro” art form. Things from the past always cycle back through again, even if they are changed a little bit. I think people love not only the ease of carrying around disposables, but the spontaneity. With disposables, the user is always anxiously waiting to have their film developed as it’s a pretty complete surprise. With film in general it’s a surprise, but with manual cameras it’s much easier to control and understand what the image will turn out like. Disposables are the cameras us 90s kids used when we were so little that adults didn’t trust us with an expensive camera that could break. Film is fun, keeps photos more personal, and gives us a connection to the past in a different way than other hobbies might be able to.
If someone destroyed all the disposable cameras in the world and you had the very last one, what would you capture?
I would capture 24 photos of my friends and family doing the things they love, together.
What does 2016 hold for you?
So far 2016 has given me the opportunity for my first ‘big trip’ to countries I had never been to before. This year I am continuing my adventure through life wherever I go…Ireland, Croatia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, & Italy in 2016 so far. Overall, this year I am continuing to grow in my relationships with friends & family, learning to be more kind, more loving of people and what I put my energy into…this year is treating me like a queen.
Explain your style/approach when shooting a roll.
My approach when taking a picture is to capture a moment that I know I’ll want to remember for the rest of my life. Sometimes I remember the ‘rules’ I learned in film classes, but most of the time I just shoot freely.
How would you describe your photographic style?
I guess my photography style is more like photojournalism. In my photos I just try to capture my life, personality, things that I love. Directing people where to go, or arranging things in the area, isn’t for me. I prefer to just capture things how they are, to remember how things were without any editing…everything is beautiful just how it is.
Where do you find inspiration? Who or what influences you creatively?
I am inspired by everything I experience. I am inspired by people, mountains, clouds (& landscapes in general), food, new places, great music, colors and movement. Every little moment is an experience, and I’m inspired by every single one of them.
Fave place to shoot?
I love shooting outside, especially in nature, away from cars and all of the business. Being in or around any breathtakingly beautiful area in nature is calming and inspiring for me.
5 at 5… (For lack of a better name)
5 photos from history you wish you’d taken…
1. Mankind’s first visit to the moon in 1969
2. Abbey Road Cover
3 The discovery of Machu Picchu
4. One of the beautiful photos of John Lennon & Yoko Ono
5. The first flight of the Wright brothers
5 people you’d like to photograph?
1. Cara Delevingne
2. Keira Knightley
3. Michiel Huisman
4. Misty Copeland
5. Robert Roldan.
5 books you wish you’d written?
1, The Accidental Adventurer
2. Into the Wild
3. The Sun Also Rises
4. Harry Potter (series)
5. The Game of Thrones (so that we can all know how it ends)
5 people you’d invite around for drinks and dinner?
1. Florence Welch
2. Ellen Degeneres
3. Emma Watson
4. Ben Fogle
5. Jon Krakauer.
5 go to songs to get you in the mood?
1. Nancy From Now On – Father John Misty
2. All This and Heaven Too – Florence & the Machine
3. Past Lives – Borns
4. Busy Earnin’ – Jungle
5. Taro – Alt J