Photoblogger Fortnight: Kathleen Connally

I've had the pleasure of looking at Kathleen Connally's photos over at A Walk Through Durham Township, Pennsylvania for more than a year now. I even had the chance to meet her and shoot with her last month over at Eastern State Penitentary along with a few other of Philly's finest photobloggers. If I were to describe her work in a word, I couldn't. A phrase? Maybe, but I'd have to make one up: ambient ethereality. She agreed to be the first photoblogger to be profiled and placed in the spotlight here at Philly Future. So without further ado, I present the first installment of Philly Future's Photoblogger Fortnight series.

Albert (Philly Future/PF): What got you started taking photos and when did taking photos take a more serious turn for you? Do you see yourself as a professional photographer down the line, photography being the sole source of your income?

Kathleen: I have been taking photos since I was seven when I received a Polaroid Land camera for Christmas. I've been photo-documenting my life ever since; there are tens of thousands of photos and slides in my archives, and digital files are running a close second now.

I'm not angling to become a professional photographer because I love photography too much. It seems as if professional photographers spend more time dealing with deadlines and egos rather than actual photography — and that worries me a bit. If I can find a way to do it on my terms, great — otherwise I'm not sure I'd want to mix the two!

PF: What camera did you start taking photos with? What camera do you use? What's the rest of your photo taking hardware setup?

Kathleen: My first camera was the Polaroid Land camera I mentioned above. But shortly thereafter, I managed to snag my dad's AGFA for slides and his Super 8 film camera to make movies of my friends and family.

I'm not much of a gear guy. My habit is to use only one or two cameras and lenses over a long period of time to get to know them and what they can do. Right now I'm primarily using a Nikon D100 and a Nikon F75 with a Tamron 17-35mm lens, a Nikkor 50 mm, and a Nikkor 70-300 mm.

That being said, I'm embarking on a mission to do some informal portrait work with an antique medium format camera and I'm very excited about it.

PF: How often do you print your work? For yourself/family? For selling?

Kathleen: I've only been printing my digital images for the last six months and I'm really pleased with the results — I'm using Epson archival inks on Somerset Velvet paper and the prints look superb.

My prints will be for sale for the first time in October at two different shows — one at the Indian Rock Inn in Upper Black Eddy, Pennsyvania; the other at the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

PF: Where do you see your photoblog in the next year? Three years?

Kathleen: I've been planning to take my show on the road — and to re-title my blog to A Walk Through Pennsylvania. I love this state and really want to take photos of other counties, other landscapes, other people, other events and especially the cities. The blog itself will continue to evolve with new designs and larger images. I can see myself continuing with those ideas for at least three more years, probably beyond.

There are 67 counties in Pennsylvania; if I cover 6 or 7 a year I'll have blogged the whole state in ten years.

PF: Do you ever feel overwhelmed by your photo routine? How do you go through 100-150 images every day and post images every day? Do you foresee and end to your photoblog in the near future?

Kathleen: With many other responsibilities in my life, the 'photo routine' can occasionally feel overwhelming; however, it also keeps me sane because it's an incredible creative outlet.

One of the reasons I take so many shots each day is because I consider myself a student. The more I shoot, the more I learn (and the more options I have when it's time to post them on the blog!).

I don't foresee an end to the blog. No way — I love it too much. I have slowed down a little the last few months due to other commitments, but I intend to ramp up again.

PF: If I could grant you a wish to photograph anyone/thing/place anywhere, where would it be and what would be the subject? Why?

Kathleen: This might sound dull, but I'm thrilled to be photographing the things that I photograph now -- this area, at this time in history, with these people. My quest is to document what's going on now.

I want to create awareness that there's still open space, gorgeous landscapes and vistas - but NOW is the time to save all of that from the developers.

PF: Who are your photographic/artistic influences? Which photoblogs do you visit on a regular basis?

Kathleen: I'm equally drawn to photography, cinematography and the works of painters such as Vermeer and Caravaggio, where light, color and atmosphere are everything.

I go through life with certain photographic images in the back of my mind — the drama and ambiance created by Dorothea Lange and Diane Arbus, the naturally-occurring atmosphere in the early pictorial photos of Alfred Stieglitz, the landscapes of Carleton Watkins, the remarkable captures of movement, life, environment and humor of 1920s Paris in the works of Jacque-Henri Lartigue and Robert Doisneau, the unconventional, contemplative portraits of Victorian photographer Julia Margaret Cameron and French photographer Nadar, and the humor of Lee Friedlander.

I am most deeply moved by the combined aesthetic and emotional effect of films, especially by director / cinematographer collaborators such as Woody Allen and Gordon Willis (Manhattan, Broadway Danny Rose, Zelig); Peter Weir and John Seale (Picnic at Hanging Rock, Witness); Tim Burton and Stefan Czapsky (Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood), and in particular, director John Ford and cinematographer Arthur C. Miller in the 1941 film, How Green Was My Valley. Every single frame of that film is a photographic masterpiece of light, contrast, composition and atmosphere — I recommend studying it frame-by-frame!

(My photography is definitely a precursor to a documentary film of some sort in the future.)

In terms of photobloggers, I love all of them – I really do, because I understand the passion that goes into what they do. I find all of them fascinating and exciting in some way! But there are a few that regularly make my heart skip a beat:

• Joe's NYC
• Orbit 1
• The Narrative
• Exposing Myself
• Brian Milo
• Martijn Lammerts
• Slower
• Photomo
• Selective Memory
• A Visual Notebook
• Houser Design
• The Daily Snap
• Myopic.us

PF: You've mentioned elsewhere that the main subject of your photographs is ambient light; could you explain what that means a little bit?

Kathleen: If you look at my photos, you'll notice I don't use any flash or studio lights of any sort.

I rarely think in terms of an object or a place or person I'm photographing — I think of the light that is reflected from the object, place or person. I want to use the light that's naturally available to portray ambience, atmosphere, and environment. When I take a photo, the light is always the subject.

PF: Along with ambient light, landscapes dominate your archives. Do you plan on moving away from landscapes and dabbling in more portraiture, photojournalistic, studio or other types of photography? Why or Why not?

Kathleen: Landscapes dominate my archives because I'm surrounded by them, I am drawn to them and I want to document them before someone builds housing developments or strip malls on them. Perhaps when I feel that I've rightly acknowledged each landscape I encounter I'll move away from photographing them.

But my blog is really a photographic documentary of where I live and what and who is around. That's what I want to photograph. I doubt I will ever move into photojournalism or studio work, although I wouldn't mind setting up an impromptu portrait area in my house using natural light. I'd like to do more informal portrait work of the residents of this area.

PF: What hidden talents do you have? Are you an athlete? A cook? A NASCAR driver?

Kathleen: I'm a runner, I'm a pretty good cook and I don't race cars. I'm a mom, I worked in corporate America for 15 years, I'm a Penn State Master Gardener and I am currently studying horticulture and art at the Barnes Foundation in Lower Merion. I'm a director on the board of the Durham Historical Society and I'm a secretary for the Durham Township Environmental Advisory Council. I want to be a deejay, too.

PF: How far do you walk in a day during your early morning photo journeys?

Kathleen: I'll walk anywhere from an eighth of a mile to five miles. Sometimes I drive when it's raining, sometimes I am just in the car en route to someplace like the supermarket, camera always at my side, and I find irresistible shots by leaning out the car window (or shooting through them!).

PF: How often do you roam outside of the 10 or so mile radius from home to take photos? Ever take a road trip specifically to take photos?

Kathleen: I try to take one road trip per month out into other areas of Pennsylvania. It really is an amazing state in terms of the variety of experience and photographic opportunities. Everyone should visit the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania up on Route 6, as well as Ricketts Glen State Park. Pittsburgh and its surrounding countryside are both gorgeous. I'm really looking forward to spending some time up on Lake Erie and in Appalachia, and in the summer of 2006 or 2007, I'm planning on hiking the Pennsylvania section of the Appalachian Trail.

As I mentioned earlier, my plan is to photoblog the entire state, county by county.

PF: Do you get to Philly often? What's your favorite spot to take photos of within Philadelphia?

Kathleen: During school season I'm there once a week although I don't get much chance to shoot. There are so many great places, although I'm partial to the river banks, Fairmount Park and Bartram's Garden, for starters. But give me a beautiful little place like Camac Street or a just a good old South Philly neighborhood and I'm thrilled.

PF: What aspect of your photography would you like to improve upon? How do you plan on improving that aspect?

Kathleen: That's a tough question because I want to improve upon every aspect of my photography. I really believe I'm in my infancy as a photographer.

To get better, I intend to shoot constantly, learn more about my equipment and its options, learn more advanced post-processing techniques, read about and study the works of the masters, and most importantly, interact with photographers who are alive and well and practicing their art today.

PF: What do you think is the strongest point of your photography? Why?

Kathleen: I think I'm good at photographing "ordinary" scenes or objects and bringing out the beauty or interest in them through the use of ambient light and a variety of post-processing techniques.

PF: What is your dream camera equipment setup? Do you plan on upgrading any of your equipment you currently have anytime soon?

Kathleen: I've been badgering my younger brother to let me permanently borrow his Hasselblad with the Zeiss lens, but he's not budging. I'd like to upgrade to the next version of the Nikon D100 if it ever comes out, but I'm content with what I have for the time being.

PF: What's your favorite season to shoot in? Why?

Kathleen: I can't really pick a favorite — it's like asking what your favorite song or novel or film is. I love the different challenges that each season brings.

PF: Do you take your camera with you outside of the hour or so in the morning? If not, why not?

Kathleen: When I leave my house, my camera goes with me, no exceptions. I would never leave my home without it, even to run to the general store for a gallon of milk.

PF: What's your favorite photograph from your archives? What makes that shot special?

Kathleen: Probably this one.

It's my son, and the light and atmosphere come very close to what I want them to be, or what I saw in my mind's eye when I was shooting. There's a look to that image that I'd like to carry into other work that I do. (It's nice to see my son standing still for a few seconds, too.)

PF: Favorite cheese steak?

Kathleen: John's Roast Pork on Snyder in South Philly.

Please take a minute and take a click through Kathleen's photoblog. Stay for a minute, an hour, a year! Kathleen's photos will be in the spotlight here for the next fortnight. So come on back to see some highlights from her archives.

Part 2, 3, 4, 5 of the series.