Mobile Photography Interview with Helen Breznik ‘ “My photography is a place where there are no limits’…
As many of you will know, among the assortment of hats that I wear, writing for the BBC and Vogue, I am also Contributing Editor to LensCulture. I have a brand new interview in the works, which will be published soon and in the meantime, with kind permission of LensCulture, I will be republishing my work to our beloved TheAppWhisperer website – the most popular mobile photography and art site in the world.
Today, I am publishing ‘Fabulens: Mobile Portraits’ . I hope you enjoy this, Helen Breznik’s work is stunning.
“My photography is a place where there are no limits. A place where I can be fearless, where I can be whomever I like. Where I can escape from the ordinary to an idyllic world. I create characters that are not necessarily “me”, but they are a reflection of what appeals to me.”
—Helen Breznik, in conversation with LensCulture contributing editor Joanne Carter
To read the original article on LensCulture, please go here.
Breznik’s photography leans towards the melancholy—but in Breznik’s hands, this emotion could be defined as ‘sorrow with a purpose.’ She utilizes her sensitivity to conjure up a romantic beauty in her images: images which are self-portraits but have a universal appeal within.
Breznik has always felt comfortable in front of the camera. When she is modeling for her portraits, she does so with music playing, garbed in fabulous vintage clothes. At their best, these sessions transport her to another world, one where her alter-egos can fully emerge. The characters are varied: a Queen will emerge, serene, royal, strong but with vulnerability. Or a figure drawn from the Pre-Raphaelites period, containing tragedy mixed with great passion and beauty.
Although the outward changes seem dramatic, she actually strives to keep make-up to a minimum. Her most dramatic way to change appearance is by sculpting natural light. With care, she is able to create deep shadows, strong lines, vivid contrasts, all of which create natural depth and definition.
Breznik first took up photography 10 years ago after picking up a bunch of old Polaroid cameras. She loved working with Time Zero film, which gave her ample opportunity to manipulate the images. When she heard about new smartphone apps which simulated Polaroid photography, she felt compelled to try them out. From 2010, Breznik began using the iPhone exclusively and her dedication to the boundless possibilities of mobile photography was settled.
Having used a variety of different tools over the course of her photographic career, Breznik concludes, “In the end it doesn’t matter what you shoot with…it’s the final image that matters.”
Joanne Carter
Joanne Carter is a British photography journalist, editor, curator, and the founder of *TheAppWhisperer.com*, one of the world’s leading platforms dedicated to mobile photography and art. Since its launch in 2009, TheAppWhisperer has become an international hub for artists of all levels to discover, learn, exhibit, and engage with contemporary photographic practice.Built on principles of inclusivity, accessibility, and artistic excellence, Joanne has spent almost two decades championing mobile photography as a serious artistic medium. Through interviews, critical essays, exhibitions, competitions, and education, she has helped shape and document the evolution of mobile art on a global scale.Her work has taken her internationally, lecturing on photography and mobile art at institutions and events including the Museum of Art in Seoul, South Korea, alongside appearances in the UK and Europe. She has served as a juror for international photography and mobile art awards across Portugal, Canada, the United States, South Korea, Italy, and the UK.Joanne is also the founder of *TheAppWhispererPrintSales.com*, one of the first online galleries dedicated exclusively to collectible mobile art, connecting artists with collectors across Europe, the United States, and Asia.Before founding TheAppWhisperer, Joanne worked extensively in print journalism and photographic publishing, including roles at a paparazzi photo agency and as deputy editor of a leading photography magazine. Her freelance journalism, criticism, and commentary have been published widely in both the UK and the US, with bylines in *The Times*, *The Sunday Times*, *The Guardian*, *Popular Photography*, *NikonPro*, *DPReview*, *Which?*, *Vogue Italia*, *LensCulture*, the *BBC*, and more recently, the *Financial Times*, where her published letters on photography continue to contribute to wider conversations around the medium.Alongside her editorial and curatorial work, Joanne’s own photographic practice has been exhibited internationally across the UK, Europe, South Korea, and the United States. Her work increasingly explores themes of grief, loss, death, memory, and the body.Her current research interests centre on grief, death, and poverty, with forthcoming postgraduate study leading towards doctoral research in these areas.Joanne is currently developing new long-form writing and photographic projects and is available for commissions, editorial projects, speaking engagements, and collaborations.Contact: joannetheappwhisperer@gmail.com)
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