LOST FREEDOM December 2012

LOST FREEDOM: Tell us a little about yourself. How did you first become interested in photography?

HANNAH DAVIS: I’m nineteen years old and I first started seriously getting into photography when I was about 16. Some of my friends were taking an interest in it at the time and I thought it looked like fun, so I started taking silly little self portraits with a point and shoot and editing them with Photoshop. Eventually I saved up to buy a DSLR and I was hooked from then on out. I didn’t expect it to stick and become such a strong passion of mine, but I’m very grateful it did.

Personally, do you think photography is more of a way to document memories or to express emotions?

I think it can depend on what kind of photographer you want to be. I choose to mainly create a moment to express emotions but I know of some wonderful photographs that are purely documentation. Personally, I’m really interested in blurring the lines between the two. I want to document something that will make you feel, and create moments that feel like your own memories.

Do you prefer shooting portraits or landscapes? Why? I prefer portraits because I want as much emotion in my photographs as possible. I want to make you feel, and I think the best way to do that is with people. There is only so much I can get out of a beautiful landscape, but there is an endless amount of emotion from people. It’s also much more of a challenge, I think. Landscapes will stay still and perfect for you, but people can’t. It’s fun getting that one perfect shot; you feel like you earned it a little more.

Is there a certain mood you want to achieve in your photos?

Any and all of them. I do feel like I’m swayed more towards loneliness and something a bit more quiet and ethereal. I just like to express what I’ve got in me.

What motivates you to continue to create?

What doesn’t? I’m completely hooked. The internet does play a large part in it.

That drive to impress and keep a constant flow of work up definitely gives me a lot of motivation. I also think the constant want to better my photos keeps me dong it so often. I’m always trying to do something new and achieve better results than the last time.

How would you define silence? How do you think this idea is expressed through your photographs?

Silence can be quiet, still and often really lonely and I think that shows through a lot in my photos. I spend so much time alone that most of my photos can’t help but show that. I like to show a really peaceful and simple scene, and I like my colours pretty muted, which I think helps make it a quiet photograph.