Member Moment: Jessie Whitfield

This week’s Member Moment features work by Film Club member Jessie Whitfield , who takes experimental, and often poetic, double exposures. Scroll down to see her pictures and to read the interview!

PL: What got you interested in photography?

JW: I’ve always been more interested in editing existing content rather than creating something out of thin air (e.g., I’ve preferred copy editing over creative writing), and photography feels to me like a visual version of editing the world. I didn’t pick up a camera seriously until my early 20's when my friend was teaching a film photography course, and just came back to it recently after another friend inspired me (shout out to fellow PhotoLounge member @artsnfartsnfilm!).

PL: What type of camera do you shoot with?

JW: These days I prefer to shoot primarily with Holgas (120GCFN or 135BC or my new fave, the pano!), for a few reasons. Being out and about with my camera can help me tune in more closely to the environment around me, but I can get too zoned in on finagling with settings, so I appreciate how limited my options are with the Holga.

Plus, making a photograph feels like a collaboration between me and the Holga gods - I never know how a double exposure is going to turn out, and light leaks or other ‘flaws’ often make the photos way better than anything I could have done on my own. Sometimes the flaws work in my favor, sometimes they don’t - it all keeps my ‘letting go’ muscles in shape.

PL: When taking pictures, what are some objects or elements or feelings within a scene that inspire you to take a photo?

JW: I read about someone who described feeling a ‘sparkle’ whenever a moment arose for a perfect photograph. Texture and color and lines and geometry get me sparklin’.

PL: Of the pictures you submitted, can you share an interesting story about one?

JW: I’ve long had a love/hate relationship with flying - I love being above the clouds in a dreamy space, but since high school have had flight anxiety that I manage by sitting in a window seat.

A few months ago, I happened upon a black and white photograph of a bank of clouds outside an airplane window (by Zoe Leonard, maybe better known for her poem, ‘I want a president’). Since then, I have been inspired to take pictures with my Holgas whenever I fly. This photograph is from a flight that required a go-around (aborted landing) before ultimately landing safely. Instead of freaking out as we took off into the air again, I found myself more focused on capturing the plane banking right next to us, and the geometry of the airport below. New anti-anxiety tool unlocked!

PL: What do you enjoy most about digital/film photography and what is challenging about it?

JW: This has changed over the course of my life. These days, with so much instant gratification all around, I actually like having to wait to see what I’ve captured - it’s an old feeling that I really miss (like waiting for your favorite magazine or catalog to come in the mail). A main challenge with film photography right now is that I live in Seattle, where most of the year it’s too cloudy to get the right exposure or color.

PL: How would you like to grow this collection of photographs?

JW: Lately, I have been printing some of my photographs onto fabric, and sewing clothes out of that fabric, so I’d like to continue to grow my selection of photographs with deep color and texture. And, as always, more clouds.

Every day, Club Members take exceptional pictures. If you are not a Film Club Member yet what are you waiting for? Join today to support the photo community in Philly and to start saving money on film processing!