‘Extension Of The I’ – Mobile Photographer Interview With Elaina Wilcox – An Incredible Talent

© Elaina Wilcox

Elaina Wilcox ~ freelance photographer

Headshot & Portrait:

www.ElainaWilcoxphotography.com

Connect~

www.Facebook.com/Myshutterrocks

www.twitter.com/myshutterrocks

© Elaina Wilcox – ‘GEMINI IN REPOSE’ – PHOTOSHOP TOUCH/BLENDER/ICOLORAMA/MAGIC BULLET

Joanne – How did you get started in photography?

Elaina – I went to a few photography classes early on when everyone was using a film DSLR  and although I have attended workshops and digital courses over the years, most of my original photography skills are self taught – I worked as a hair stylist & makeup artist for over 20 years (still do in a freelance capacity) so my work with design,color and composition started there.

© Elaina Wilcox – ‘IN HER WAY’ – SNAPSEED/ICOLORAMA/COLORMANIA

Joanne – Who and what are your influences?

Elaina – My main influences as an artist is my Mother. She is a fine art figurative  painter in the Cincinnati area. Her work is amazing! It’s being featured in a gallery as I write this! That said, I love the abstract master painters like Picasso & Joan Miro. Their work h inspires me.

© Elaina Wilcox – ‘THE LADY OF THE FIELD’ – SNAPSEED/BLENDER/PHOTOSHOP TOUCH

Joanne – What draws you to the subjects you seek?

Elaina – I love watching people – always have. The human presence is fascinating to me. Every person on earth is unique in their own way. I love to capture a person or a scene that lets the viewer attach their own response and emotion to the image..it’s all subjective. No matter what my subject is, my goal is to move the viewer. I want to tell a small story with light,color,texture and form.

© Elaina Wilcox – ‘LEMON DAY’ – PHOTO WIZARD/PHOTO COPIER

Joanne – What is it about these subjects that you want to capture/communicate and ultimately convey in your images?

Elaina – I have always been intrigued with taking something that is very normal to the eye and and recreating it in a unique and unusual way. Be it a portrait, landscape or an inanimate object. It’s the escape from the normal everyday grind that I’m looking to capture with my iPhone art.

© Elaina Wilcox – ‘MANIC’ – BLENDER/PHOTOSHOP TOUCH/ICOLORAMA

Joanne – How did you ‘settle’ on this subject?

Elaina – As I said above I’ve always been drawn to people and nature, so these two subjects naturally attract me.

© Elaina Wilcox – ‘SPIRITUAL’ – INSTAGRAM/PHOTO WIZARD

Joanne – Is there another are/subject that you would like to explore, if so, what and why?

Elaina – I’m fine at the moment as I’m still trying to in my iPhone photography journey.  I’m still perfecting my style and editing skills…there is ways more to learn and explore…I LOVE music photography so that is an area I am still pursuing.  I would love to get into doing more press kit/ PR photography  with bands.

© Elaina Wilcox – ‘THE DREAM’ – SUPERIMPOSE/JUXT/ICOLORAMA

Joanne – Which photographers (not necessarily mobile photographers) do you most admire and why?

Elaina –  I have so many  influences in the iPhone art world but a few that influence and encourage me to stretch as an artist are: Sara Jarrett, Paul Toussaint, Knox Bronson, Sara Tune, Max Frame, Cindy Patrick & Roger Guetta. I have found a lot of support from these individuals plus their shooting and editing style to resonate with my soul.

© Elaina Wilcox – ‘THE MAGICAL PLAY DAY’ – ICOLORAMA/PHOTOSHOP TOUCH

Joanne – Henri Cartier-Bresson is in many ways, the Godfather of street photography, even in the 1930’s he enjoyed using a small camera for discretion in order to capture people and tell a story – do you feel this way regarding mobile photography?

Elaina – Henri Cartier-Bresson is in many ways, the Godfather of street photography, even in the 1930’s he enjoyed using a small camera for discretion in order to capture people and tell a story – do you feel this way regarding mobile photography?

The small size is an advantage, people respond in a a more relaxed manner to the iPhone camera. It’s less intimidating than a huge DSLR. I find I capture very natural expressions easier when using my iPhone to shoot.

© Elaina Wilcox – ‘THE RITUAL’ – PHOTO COPIER/BLENDER/ICOLORAMA

Joanne – Tell us about your photographic technique – do you rely on intuition or do you believe in a more formal/trained approach?

Elaina – I live my whole life replying on my intuition…when I ignore it, I usually regret it! So yes, I’m more intuitive in my approach and editing technique.

© Elaina Wilcox – ‘THE RULER’ – JUXT/BLENDER/PHOTO WIZARD

Joanne – How has your photography evolved?

Elaina – I love to shoot so many things that finding my own signature style has been a challenge,but I’m now finding my own voice and style with my shooting skills. I’m finding a lot of satisfaction in portrait photography…the apps available for adding light to  eyes, smoothness to skin and texture to the whole photo is amazing!

© Elaina Wilcox – ‘TREE ON FIRE’ – BLENDER/SNAPSEED

JC – Many of the great photographers, Jacques Henri Lartigue, Robert Frank, Henri Cartier Bresson described only shooting images for “themselves”do you see this attitude with mobile photographers?

Elaina – Yes, in my personal art photography I agree. If the subject and composition doesn’t resonate with me, I will loose interest in capturing that moment in time.

© Elaina Wilcox

Joanne – Do you take risks with photographs, push boundaries? If yes, please give examples, if no, why not, would you like to?

Elaina – Yes, for example, with my nude portraits I push the boundaries with what is considered ” traditional beauty” I have a hard time making someone look too normal 🙂 I like unusual poses, textures and expressions. The above is an example of a shoot where I used texture as a main element.

© Elaina Wilcox – ‘LOVELY DAUGHTER’ – PHOTO WIZARD/PHOTOSHOP TOUCH

Joanne – What is your favorite picture, of your own and why?

Elaina – My favorite iPhone picture is of my daughter. I think the app style creates a mood of wonder and vulnerability that she was embodying at that stage in her life.

© Elaina Wilcox – ‘VICTORIAN REST SNAPSEED/TOUCHRETOUCH/BLENDER

Joanne – Do you get emotionally involved with your photography?

Elaina – Oh yes! My photos take on a life of their own. I may start out editing a certain way, but then the photo might take on a different mood, so I then will switch up the colors,texture and light effects.

© Elaina Wilcox – ‘FRACTURED’ – COLORMANIA/PHOTO WIZARD/ICOLORAMA/PICTURE SHOW

Joanne – Does your life become entwined with your subjects?

Elaina – If the subject is a family member,friend or place that makes me feel happy then yes.

© Elaina Wilcox

© Elaina Wilcox – ‘Fighting The Static’

Joanne – Do you have a special post-processing style?

Elaina – It really depends on what I’m shooting, if its a traditional DSLR portrait shoot, my goal is to let the face stand alone. I’m not big into over processing a portrait shoot. I like the skin to look natural, the eyes bright and sharp,but not overly so…in other words, the person needs to look polished but real. With my iPhone photography, that’s a different matter altogether! I go for etherial, textured and dramatic light effects. I’m always on the hunt for unusual effects with texture and color. Above are two examples of my different editing approaches.

© Elaina Wilcox – ‘I AM MORE THAN MY SCARS’ – SNAPSEED/BLENDER/PHOTO WIZARD

Joanne – Do you have any tips for processing?

Elaina – Know you’re apps inside and out. Practice constantly! Always use the highest res. apps on the market, and keep you’re work organized in folders – I have a folder for textures, reflective etc. it helps when you’re trying to sort out the layout  and feel of a piece. Last, if you’re new to iPhone photography, don’t try and download every app in the first couple of weeks. You will become overwhelmed. Stick to a few that resonate with you’re style and editing skills, then gradually acquire more as you’re editing skill increases.

© Elaina Wilcox – ‘LONELY TREE’ – BLENDER/PHOTO COPIER/ICOLORAMA

Joanne – Do you have a digital workflow system to sort your images, if so what is it?

Elaina – Yes, as I mentioned above,folders. They help keep me sane. I also delete any photo that I’m absolutely sure I won’t use again, or in the future. It helps cut down on clutter.

© Elaina Wilcox – ‘THE MAGICAL MYSTERY TREE/PHOTO WIZARD/IBLENDER

Joanne – How do you think photography has changed over the years?

Elaina – With the invention of mobile phone cameras everyone wants to take photos. So with more people taking more images, we are inundated with visual energy all day. That’s a double edge sword. With social media we have become almost desensitized to the beauty of an amazing photograph. There is so much coming at you at all times so, as a photographer that forces us to bring our best game to the field. I know with music photography, it’s so much harder to make money because (sometimes) the musician  and record companies are willing to accept sub-par photos for less or sometimes no money out of their pocket. It is just a different world for media and photography in general.

© Elaina Wilcox – ‘THE SOLITARY PATH’ – SNAPSEED/SUPERIMPOSE/PHOTOSHOP TOUCH

Joanne – As a mobile photographer you’re at the cutting edge of technology, do you ever hanker for the 35mm film days?

Elaina – Yes, I love film cameras, there is something about not having that immediate gratification that makes a photographer work harder to get that one special shot!

© Elaina Wilcox – ‘SPIRITS AMONG US’ – PHOTO WIZARD/BLENDER

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