Experience A Vivid World With Laura Ma
Laura has always been into arts and started painting and playing the piano when she was a child.
She quickly developed a fascination with photography. Her background in philosophy and literature definitely influenced her way of seeing the world, which is now reflected through her unique lens. She often uses Art as a key to understanding actual society.
We interviewed with her Laura about social media, artistic freedom, photography secrets, and more…
Where do you consider your artistic home?
Is there a city, country or neighborhood that inspired you to get into photography? I haven’t found yet the country of my dream, but 2 years ago I fell in love with Los Angeles, just for the sunlight and the incredible landscapes there! That city has everything: the sea, the desert, falls, and the city.
What subject or person have you yet to photograph that you have always wanted to photograph?
I always dreamed of creating a big photo documentary. I want to focus more on sociology, and the meaning of my work. I already put myself into this kind of projects when I was young: I took unknown and different kind of people in the streets and asked them what’s the most important object they actually had. Directly after their answer, I shot them with their own object. It was very interesting to see all these different objects, Why this? What’s it represent for them? What feelings did they get when they tell me about it? In this series, I had the luck to shot different “type of human”, workers, old people, homeless, teenagers, teachers, drug addicts … A lot of different social stereotypes!
How does social media impact the quality of work for a photographer?
I think social media doesn’t impact the quality because I will do my thing without it, anyway! But it changes considerably the way people seeing my work, it’s more about communication. Thanks to social media, I met and worked with a lot of people from everywhere. Without this help, I think I couldn’t meet much people!
What are you trying to translate in your work to those who see your photographs?
I don’t like fashion just to make beautiful pictures of beautiful people it’s kind of boring for me. I’m trying my best to mix Fashion with Art, History & Sociology. My school background in Literature and Philosophy teach me how to see and realize the world differently. I’m trying to express myself through my lens: bring the reality into another dimension. I’m definitely using art as a key to express what I want and what I need to say.
How much artistic freedom do you like having when given a project?
I have my own signature so I love when my clients give me their full trust to put my magic on them. If you know my style you’ll understand. In my life in general, I really need to feel free I think it’s kind of the same when I’m working. I like to control from the beginning to the end of the photography process. But I’m also very open-minded and I always listening to my co-workers and my creative team to push the project at the next level. It’s really important to me that the people I’m working with feel satisfy and excited about the results!
Is there something you are looking to achieve when you photograph something?
There’s a lot I have to achieve before I will die yes! More exhibitions, more books, more interviews, I want to open myself a little more, push people to focus on the process and the meaning of my work.
What are some photography secrets that you can share with our readers?
Don’t forget to play & have fun when you taking pictures! Your pictures will be more awesome if you feel passionate. For example, photography can bring you a lot of freedom, you can play with your cameras, your lenses, with lights, with your shutter speed, with make-up, with texture…
How would you describe your photography style?
My style in photography is very colorful, During all my childhood, cartoons and animes influenced me a lot. I’m trying to build my own vision between photography and comics!
What time of day do you prefer to shoot, night or day?
I love catching some colorful and dramatic lights. I use the lights to give an atmosphere, a feeling in my pictures. I try to make up the reality with lights. The day makes me happy for the sunlight I can easily play with! But night shots are more fun actually! I’m often doing both!
The Fox Magazine is all about inspiration, what/who inspires you the most?
David Lachapelle and Steven Klein for the drama, the frame, and the colors. Nan Goldin and Sophie Calle for the feelings and the meaning of their work.
If you had to choose one lens which one would it be and why?
Just one lens omg very complicated to choose it depends on what I want to take! Generally, I shoot portraits & people so I think I will pick the 35mm f1.8 lens.
What’s something people would be surprised to learn about you?
Hmmm, a lot told me they didn’t think I was this calm, peaceful and shy haha
What’s the best part of being a photographer?
The best part is to be young enough to appreciate everything, wake up every day and know that I succeed to bring my life in the path I wanted it to be. Meeting a lot of new and different people every day. Never doing the same thing, always tryna reach a new level, being in perpetual evolution makes me happy.
What photography or art related motto, quote or words to live by helps keep you inspired?
I realized at my very early age, that people are obsessed with photography just because they know they will lose the memory, they will lose the moment.
After this, I realized that:
“The photography reminds us that we are all human and mortal.” And it makes me sad at the first time, but very powerful at the second.
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