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…
Danika Bélanger – New Liskeard, Northern Ontario. Canada
INSTAGRAM
Who are you?
3rd year Zoology Major at the University of Guelph with a passion for moments.
Where’s home?
Home is in New Liskeard, a small town (10 000 people) in Northern Ontario, Canada. A bilingual community where I learnt to speak English, my first language being French, due to the Quebec boarder being so close.
What do you do for a crust?
I’m an independent filmmaker.
Can you tell us about your creative background?
My mother is a visual artist, she is also a photographer, and teaches both of these at my old French High school in New Liskeard. My whole life I was brought up in the middle to creativity, with a passion for making posters as a little girl, collages, drawing, painting, anything to be like my mother really. I’m so thankful, this developed creative part of my brain has brought so much ease and joy to my studies in Biological Sciences à Zoology.
What inspires you to shoot film?
The idea that our society now has somewhat de-sensitized the value of pictures, when so many can be taken for a moment. I wanted to bring that value back to my pictures, where each picture represents one moment in which I can cherish.
How did you come to connect with Indisposable Concept?
I discovered them on Instagram from the very beginning of their project’s journey.
Do you remember what was in the first roll of film you shot for IC?
Yes I do, I was in my first year of University, and it was a black and white disposable, the selfie I had taken was me coming out of my last exam of the semester. It was a moment to capture.
What is your fav photo that you’ve shot for IC? Tell us a bit about it.
Ouff, a favorite picture out of all my 12 rolls? I’m not sure I can tell, but one of my favorites is from my Osheaga roll, and there is a picture of my new housemate having a cigarette and coffee, siting just outside our morning café, just before heading to the Osheaga grounds. Its such a lovely picture of her!
It seems film photography and disposables are making a comeback, why do you think that is?
Firstly because it gives an edge to the picture, lately I find that our society is all about finding uniqueness and making it pop, well film does exactly that. It is a more unique way of looking at a moment. I also think that our society has become more aware of their actions, for example the over exploitation of one picture, this being said, films brings us back to a one moment captured memory.
If someone destroyed all the disposable cameras in the world and you had the very last one, what would you capture?
I’d love to capture the face of every person that holds a large part in my life, and have them doing something they love. People are what make life worth living, its human nature, and so in that moment, I’d love to capture their personalities and importance to me.
What does 2016 hold for you?
A LARGE number of adventures, and a large number of disposables! Ahahahahah I have a lot planned for my summer and my last year at the University of Guelph, and I want to share them with IC!
Explain your style/approach when shooting a roll.
I always have the camera on me, landscape is my go to style, with the subject in the center. Often there isn’t much of a subject tho, I just shoot a setting/scene that is making me feel a certain way in that moment.
How would you describe your photographic style?
Spontaneous.
Who or what influences you creatively?
My mother, she has always been the root to my creativity, she is the one who built it inside of me.
Where do you find inspiration?
From my mother’s art and photography, also from friends and their different interests. I try to keep it interestingly different.
Fave place to shoot?
Temagami Lake, Ontario, Canada.
5 at 5… (For lack of a better name)
5 photos from history you wish you’d taken?
1. Jane Goodall at age 20
2. Women and men dancing in the 50’s
3. My parents at age 20, with the dog (Saba)
4. Canada in the 1900’s (possibly every province)
5. Charles Darwin on the Beagle or on the Galapagos islands
5 people you’d like to photograph?
1. Jane Goodall
2. Charles Darwin
3. David Suzuki
4. Ellen Degeneress
5 books you wish you’d written?
1. The origin of species
5 people you’d invite around for drinks and dinner?
1. Jane Goodall
2. Charles Darwin
3. David Suzuki
4. Ellen Degeneress
5 go to songs to get you in the mood?
1. Ophelia – The Lumineers
2. Comme des enfants – Coeur de Pirate
3. Impatient – Jeremih
4. Kids – MGMT
5. Sorry – Justin Beiber
There are SO many more!!! ….