Featured Photographer + Interview: Laurie Annë
Laurie Annë's stunning photography celebrates the fragility and beauty of life.
From delicate white lace dresses, to pressed flowers and crumpled leaves, the talented photographer's work instantly transports us to a different time and place.
Outside of photography, Laurie has a ph.D. in Flemish modern literature, as well as a strong passion for writing. She also runs Endorphine Therapy Magazine, a stunning zine filled with imagery and words as beautiful as her own.
We were lucky enough to ask the wonderful Laurie some questions regarding her brilliant photography, so keep reading to find out more!
Q: When did your love of photography first blossom?
A: In the very basic and pure meaning, already in my childhood. I always found it fascinating to capture a moment. When I was a child there were only film cameras in use so my parents didn’t want me to waste too many frames and I was allowed to take only one or two photos (in each film) on my own.
if you ask in the aesthetic way, I think I started emotive & conceptual photography around 2011. One year later I joined deviantArt community and it gave me a kick to create for the others. I’m constantly in touch with my watchers and I can also see what other photographers create so my photographic art has become more like a dialogue, a play with contexts.
Q: For those who might be unfamiliar with your beautiful work, how would you describe it to them in just three words?
A: Looking-for-answers.
Q: What inspires your creativity the most and why?
A: I think my feeling of being different. I don’t feel well in the world that surrounds us. Too much illusions, false values, too little true scarify. The inner conflict generates creative energy.Beyond this psychological level, anything mysterious, beautiful, fragile, ethereal.It can be a person, it can be a gesture, feelings, story, nature, movie or a book.
Q: What advice would you offer to other aspiring young photographers?
A: First of all, don’t try to be like someone else, it’s wasting your creativity! Do not copy ideas, frames, gestures. I see plenty of copied works and it doesn’t look serious.Since I have joined deviantArt I can see how the general photography developed through these years to be more and more demanding.
Several years ago taking a photo of let’s say just a flower was beautiful enough to be noticed. Now anyone can take a photo of flowers, people use their phone cameras every day. That’s why the very beginning photographers have it more difficult and they should think of their art more in a conceptual way. Capturing the reality isn’t enough anymore.
Q: What do you hope to achieve with your photography career in the not-too-distant future? Do you have any upcoming, exciting news you'd like to share with us?
A: My goal now is to go from a niche artist to something more professional. I'm going to take part in awards and look for exhibition possibilities. My dream is to be able to make my living from photography. I’m not a person who fits into an office or any other not creative style of living. So if anyone reading this interview would like to get me involved into their project, I’m open for all artistic ideas.
We want to thank Laurie for taking the time to share her interview answers with us, as well as for introducing us to her stunning work. Please check out more of her photography by visiting her Facebook page or Flickr. Enjoy!