Interview by Mia Kingsley, all photos by Florence Sharp
I met Florence in Brighton about two years ago, through a mutual friend. Having partied together, slept under the same roof and shared meals we had never really spoken about photography, which is strange because we are both photographers. Through Florence’s answers I have met a new person and I am intrigued as to what she has to bring to the table, meet Florence Sharp, a 21 year old Londoner who has an eye for the simplicity and beauty surrounding her…
So how did you get into doing photography?
I got into photography due to a mixture of things. I first, like many, started taking pictures of my friends, but I think I started to take an interest in it because it provided an almost instant result. I could see many things I wanted to capture and photography gave me the time to do that.
What artists do you admire?
To be honest, the artists I admire and take interest in change from week to week, at the moment I am quite interested in a few Japanese photographers like Daido Moriyama, they provide a relieving break from the stagnant ironic ‘american dream gone wrong’ style that everyone seems to be in love with, especially on the internet.
What inspires you to go out and take photographs?
I feel just having a camera with you at all times provides the best inspiration because you start to see everything as a possible picture you could take.
So far what has been your biggest achievement in photography?
I think my biggest achievement is, after spending hours in the darkroom, being able to make a ‘good’ black ad white print, it sounds so easy but it’s really not, especially when most other photographers are very perfectionist about that sort of thing.
You travelled a lot this summer, do you get inspired whilst away?
Yes I think I do, or maybe it’s the fact it’s out of the ordinary. After staying in one place, I find it difficult to take new interesting pictures. When I’m away everything is alien, and I want to document that.
If you could travel anywhere to take photos, where would you go?
As I’m interested in Japanese photographers at the moment, probably Japan. Or just anywhere outside the Western bubble.
Which gallery (any where in the world) would you choose to exhibit your work in?
Imagining where I would exhibit my work is so difficult, I feel like there are so many interesting little galleries that I enjoy visiting and find interesting work in, more so than the big, well established galleries and museums, all over the world. However to be exhibited in one of the famous galleries would be something I think every artist would like to achieve. I guess, with that in mind, one of the museums/galleries I would like to be exhibited in is the Guggenheim in Bilbao, it’s just quite a strange building.
Do you think your work reflects you as a person?
Realistically, I think every photographer is reflected in their photographs, because they have chosen to taken them, but in terms of my feelings and attitude to life, I think other people have to judge.
Your series ‘Orpheus and Eurydice’ is really beautiful, almost dreamy, tell us about it?
Thanks! The series was originally based on the Greek Myth by the name of “The Death of Eurydice” and the river that features in the story, the River Styx. The hero has to travel down the river from the land of the living to the land of the underworld. The pictures attempt to capture a middle, grey, in-between state, whether it be between life and death, as it is in the myth, or whether it be something more abstract.
Whats next for you Flo? Any more dreamy scenes?
At the moment, I’m not sure, which is probably a bad thing going into my final year, I think I’m going to continue to go on adventures and make sure I have a camera with me. My friend and I are also thinking of publishing something small, but that’s a secret.
Well that’s exciting! Thanks so much Flo! x
If you liked Florence’s work and answers, I suggest you have a look at her tumblr and website because there’s some really amazing work up… Here are some links:
Next week I will be talking to Gal, a new gallery space with a pink floor! Exciting!
Mia Kingsley miamagnoliakingsley.tumblr.com XXX
