Interview With Samantha Cairns Of Twisted Vendetta Photography
Q: Do you like to talk about yourself or your pictures? If yes, about what aspects of photography? If no, why?
A: I like to talk about my pictures as they express the feelings and capture a piece of the person within. Be it myself or a model. This is why generally i don’t take pictures of inanimate objects on their own I like it when people look at my pictures and tell me why they see in it.
Like any artist is great to know someone looks at your work and relates to it.
Q: How would you describe your attention span?
A: My attention span is rubbish unless it includes my 2 passions. Photography and Forensic Science. Strange combination but I think my 2 passions relate to each other. Being an Alternative photographer and Forensic Science requires a certain amount of photography.
Q: When did you decide to become a photographer?
A: I got accepted for Suicide Girls and my friend urged me to do it. After a lot of consideration I decided to do shoots freelance. I got fantastic Images but I don’t think I’m really a photographic person and although I was getting really beautiful images, they weren’t really my Style. I decided to try out they other side of the camera and create these image. Ever since it’s been the air I breathe.
Q: What does photography mean to you?
A: Photography is a passion. The air I breathe my whole life revolves around it. From the taking the photos to the editing. It’s my outlet and escape from the all the things I don’t like in the world.
Q: Can you recall the first photo you looked at that made you go WOW!?
A: There were a few that inspired me from photographers like Adam Robertson, Mary Celeste and Fozzie. Everyday there are photos that make me go wow. There’s so much amazing talent out there.
Q: Do you have any formal training regarding photography?
A: No. Just experience from practising all my life.
Q: How technical is your photography?
A: I love to use lighting natural and studio lighting. I also love to muck around with shutter speeds for different effects. I love to edit and do all kinds of weird and wonderful things with Photoshop.
Q: How do you feel about cropping?
A: I generally don’t crop unless a image benefits from it. I never really do it because i feel the photo on the camera, weather there be a huge gap or anything else captures the moment and cropping will take away from that.
Q: Define the word “beauty”!
A: Beauty in a person is nothing to do with body type, style or anything else. It is to do with the confidence that comes within.
Q: What is your most favorite word in photography or life?
A: Favourite “Alternative” because it has a wide span of what it means. It can mean tattooed, strange or just the attitude. All of which I like.
Q: How does your personality change when you look through the camera?
A: I look at the world and appreciate it more. I see every beauty in everything and mold a world around my model.
Q: How do you feel about missed shots which cannot be recreated?
A: I feel bad i didn’t get it on camera but what can you do? Just be glad you saw it and it’s there in your head.
Q: Ever concerned about failure?
A: Of course all the time before a shoot…everyone does right? I’ve learned i cannot fail at my art. It’s special to me.
Q: Who are your influences?
A: My influences are not people but moments in life where I have particular feelings. Of course i have a few photographers I look up to but everyone has their own style. My influences also come from my favourite films. Horror mostly. Also from Graphic Novels because i am a huge fan of anything to do with them. Geek chic :)
Q: What is your favorite image, either your own or someone else’s or both? Describe its creation or meaning to you?
A: My favourite image is one I took of a model called Katie. It was just a simple shoot in my home town Airdrie, just outside Glasgow. We had been pottering about round a swing park and it’s not a particularly special place.
But the finished image makes the place look wonderful because of the editing and the beauty of Katie and her expression. I’m so proud of myself because of that image.
Q: What are your favorite subjects to photograph?
A: People. They are never the same. Each shoot comes out different even with the same person. Different expressions every time and every person I have photographed and sooo wonderful, beautiful and fantastically nice!
Q: Have you ever thought about or actually stopped doing photography? What were the circumstances?
A: I stopped for a while because I got sucked into the business side of trying to get paid all the time. Which just took all the fun out of my passion. I still ask for paid shoots but mostly I do Time for photos because I just like to have Photography in my life.
Q: Do you ever have photographer’s block and if yes how do you deal with it?
A: I have it quite a few times. I walk away from trying to force it and carry on then ideas just hit me all at the one time. Being stressed out gives me photographers block.
Q: What types of assignments are you attracted most?
A: Gore, horror and strange ideas. I am just quite Artistically sick like that.
Q: Describe what black and white photography means to you?
A: Some photos just need to be in black in white because it adds to the attitude/beauty. It’s hard to explain. I just know when an image is going to be in black and white.
Q: Do you think of yourself as an artist and what do you think of the word artist?
A: I do think of myself as an artist and why shouldn’t I? Photography is an art and it’s the one thing I’m sure I am good at.
Q: How do you describe your photographic style?
A: I would say generally alternative. I like the strange and like to have a certain amount of attitude or have something different about my photos.
Q: What has been the most surprising or most predictable reaction to your photographs?
A: People like them! A lot of people have the same taste as me and generally they like them even more than me! It’s flattering and hard to believe. So thanks to all those people!
Q: Tell a little secret about yourself that no-one knows …
A: I am extremely unconfident that people will like my work! Thankfully I have been proved wrong but I still continue..
Q: Who or what would you love to shoot that you haven’t already?
A: Kat Von Dee and Nikki Sixx. my Idols and I’m sure they could teach me a lot!
Q: What would you have done differently during your photography career so far and could this be an advice to others?
A: Believe in your Art! Never doubt your skills.
Q: What are your thoughts on the paparazzi and their effects on photographers and photography?
A: I dislike Paparazzi calling themselves photographers. I understand they have to work and celebs do give up to some extent a bit of their personal life. These people are not photographers though.
Most point and shoot and only know the basics. I don’t agree with the dangerous situations some of them put people in to get a photo.
Q: How do you feel about digital manipulation and to what extent do you utilize it?
A: I love it! For me it helps me create my strange effects.
Visit Samantha on MySpace.
