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Caroline Taylor
'Something about Surburbia'
Q & A (February 2006)
Hi, Caroline, welcome to bananacake. Tell us a bit about yourself.
I grew up in a very small village in Northern Ireland called Aghalee which is about 20 miles from Belfast. I moved to London in 2000 to start studying photography at London College of Fashion. I don’t think many of my family and friends expected me to be able to cope with the London lifestyle, especially when my first year did not go that well, but in 2001 I transferred to the University of Westminster, and I really settled in, now I live in Wapping, East London with my boyfriend.
How did you originally get interested in photography?
I remember always being the kid with the camera on school trips. I had a hot pink camera that took the old 110 film. I’d take reels and reels at the zoo or the aquarium, which I don’t think my mum was ever thrilled about having to get developed for me! But I think I really got into it while I was studying Art and Design at college when I first got access to proper cameras, darkrooms and studios.
How long did it take you to produce "Salty Chips, Peeling Paintwork and the Sound of the Sea" and "Something about Surburbia" projects?
The seaside project took about a year to produce as I was obviously traveling to various towns in the South East, often having to go back to re-shoot. It is sort of an ongoing project as the seaside really interests me, I really want to visit some of the towns in the north of England too. The suburbia project I worked on for about 2 months while I was living in upstate New York.
Who has inspired you?
To be honest, I think I am inspired by all creative people who are successful, as I think to myself there is no reason why I can’t be like them.
Have you any favourite books of photographs?
I have a book called ‘Belfast’ which was shot by 2 Northern Irish photographers, Chris Hill and Jill Jennings. I really like it as it portrays my home city in a really beautiful and interesting light.
Name one or two of your favourite photographs?
My favourites are always changing, but I loved the recent exhibition ‘Earth from the Air’ by Yann Arthus-Bertrand. Those images were amazing, and I keep thinking he must have had the time of his life producing that work. (Link here to Yann Arthus-Bertrand's website.)
What was your thesis on?
I studied the British and Irish media and the way in which both portrayed a selection of events during the troubles in Northern Ireland. It was really interesting to study how different newspapers edited their imagery to support their views, and how the use of colour has such an impact on the viewer.
What's your usual working practice when photographing at a location?
I tend to start off by wandering around shooting things of interest until I decide on a theme or a particular route to take the project, if I haven’t already got one. I then I go back over and focus my ideas from there.
What kit do you usually carry with you when taking photographs?
My Nikon F100, a couple of lenses and a flash. I’ve also got a really old medium format camera which belonged to my granddad, which I play around with sometimes too.
What other locations might interest you and why?
I am keen to do a kind of tour of the UK and discover all the small little towns and villages around the country. I recently visited Rye in Sussex and was intrigued by the most random items that people displayed on their windowsills! The strangest little bits and bobs!
You've photographed in America, where else in the world would you like to take pictures given the chance?
I REALLY want to do a drive across America, I don’t know why, but I am intrigued by the country. Also I am desperate to go to Iceland and I think Russia would be amazing to photograph.
How do you go about the editing process?
Normally with great difficulty! I can edit other people’s work easily, but when it comes to my own I think I am too critical. I usually end up asking my friends what they think.
How do you go about producing final prints?
Since leaving uni I don’t have easy access to darkrooms, plus hand printing is extremely time consuming. I have everything scanned to CD so I can view and edit everything easily on computer and then when I need a print produced I just take the neg into a lab and get them to do the hard work!
Do you have many of your own photos on your walls at home?
One or two. There is a shot my boyfriend took which I love. It’s of me in a vintage wedding dress on the edge of a cliff at Beachy Head in Eastbourne. It was taken at about 6am one very cold morning and there is an amazing red glow from the sunrise. It has memories behind it for me as well, even if they are of being absolutely frozen to death and being petrified at the fact I was on the edge of a very high cliff!
Do you ever photograph people?
I have done, but they are mainly fashion / portraiture stuff of people I know. I don’t really tend to photograph random people in the street, I feel a bit intrusive.
All your work is in horizontal format, is that a deliberate choice that you never deviate from?
No, not at all. I use portrait format often as well, but for some reason most of my best shots are horizontal. It’s not intentional!
All your images are composed in an incredibly refined way with absolutely everything accounted for and in its place - how long does it usually take you to get the shot you are after 'just right'
I do usually compose through the viewfinder but I try not to take too long as I think then I will always find something that perhaps might not work and then I would never take any photos! I think its best just to go with your instincts as you can always edit afterwards.
What do you eat when out working?
Eeerrmmm…!! Depends. If I’m at the seaside I will make sure to stop for some fish and chips though.
What do your family think of the kind of photography you do?
I remember shooting an old derelict building that must have once been an amusement arcade as it had a sign which said ‘The Funhouse’ I loved the irony of it, but my dad was completely puzzled to why I was taking a picture of something so unattractive! They are definitely proud and supportive of what I do though.
Your work has the vitality and freshness of William Eggleston and also the directness of Martin Parr. You appear to have been inspired by them both so how difficult has it been to find a way of looking that you can call your own?
Yes, I am most definitely inspired by these two great photographers. Although my work has often been likened to Martin Parr I think it is in many ways quite different. My images are generally void of people which Parr often focuses on, and I tend to concentrate on the ways in which our society and culture is evident through the landscape and environment we live and create around us. I have a love of vibrant, saturated colours and this is obviously where a lot of the comparisons with their work is drawn.
What would your ideal lifestyle be?
It would be to travel the world taking photos and make a living solely from my photography.
Tell us about the things you like -
CDs - I sold all my CDs on Amazon! I made a packet!
Bands - I mainly listen to house music or old classic stuff from the 70s and 80s.
Books - It varies. At the minute I’m reading 'The Da Vinci Code'.
TV shows - 'Peep Show', constant re-runs of 'Friends', and a good documentary.
Movies - I love thrillers, and also 'Edward Scissorhands'. I saw the ballet recently which was fantastic.
Radio Station - Magic FM in the mornings. Internet station lifefm.co.uk on a Saturday afternoon. (Link to lifefm radio.)
Food - Anything Italian.
Fashion Label - I am a Topshop girl through and through, but I also love the vintage shops in East London.
Caroline is a photographer based in East London. She graduated in Photographic Arts in 2004 at the University of Westminster, London. She is a contributor to Millennium Images Ltd and Onimage. She has had recent documentary work published and in the last three years has shown at several joint exhibitions.
| Caroline Taylor |
| www.carolinetaylor.co.uk AXIS artist web page Millennium Images Onimage |
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