About
Philippa

My process is methodical and well communicated. I love the look of imagery made on large format cameras, and prefer to photograph people with a degree of fluidity. Shooting on a Hasselblad Medium Format Film camera allows me to be mobile, keeping the lighting and camera positioning simple to focus on direction. I try not to leave too much to chance but I accept chaos as part of the process, such as a random dog licking the spilt pig’s blood in the Skateface series.

The Photofable and Disturbious series exhibit degrees of controlled performance. Photo sequencing techniques of Duane Michals heavily influenced my style. Collections of anonymous Halloween photographs, African art photography, fantasy imagery by Francesca Woodman and Rodger Ballen. Whilst filming an alter ego, costumed and on location, subjects morph in performance, as seen in Disturbious, which was made in a dirty abandoned psychiatric hospital filled with props. I am interested in simple juxtaposition of surface textures, fabrics and backgrounds, light and shadow, emotion rather than detachment.

The camera lens is a portal into my imagination – my happiest place. I like to snoop around with acknowledgement – like backstage at the rodeo. Practising photography is where I give myself permission to exit daily expectation and find myself again in play.

Philippa O’Brien.