IMPERFECTION: An Interview with Fine Art Travel Photographer Jessica Hilltout

Fine Art photographer Jessica Hilltout travelled to the mysterious African island of Madagascar.  The stunning results can be seen in her latest body of work, IMPERFECTION.

Beautiful colour…subtle tones….clarity of vision…all of these things attracted me to Jessica Hilltout’s IMPERFECTION series of photos. Then I realised that the photographer was someone that I went to college with. It’s interesting to see how people have progressed since that time, how their photographic vision has matured, what paths their careers have taken, what places they’ve been to.

In college I never thought about the future, or where we would all be in ten years. Jessica’s life journey is particularly interesting because it involves my two passions - travel and photography. And it’s always nice to see someone succeeding. Her photos are beautiful - enjoy them.

Interview

How would you describe your photographic vision? What kind of look do you try and create in your photos?

I would call that my style… my imprint… my way of seeing the world with my eyes… I believe it started to form in my 3^rd year at college.  Ever since then I have been working in much the same way (low, indirect light, open aperture, long exposures and mostly in color).  That to me is the aesthetic part…

After I left college it took me quite some years to get a grip of what it was I wanted to say, how I see the world, my ideas beyond aesthetics.  I think taking a beautiful photograph is one thing, but being able to communicate a personal message as well is all the better.

Your work is very creative. Where do you get your ideas and inspiration from?

Traveling, seeing the world, meeting people who lead different lives, was a big part of my inspiration.  A lot of my work (for the moment) is concerned with capturing beauty in the banal, the overlooked.  Beauty can be found everywhere   It was only years after I came back from a big trip that I realized the extent to which it had affected and formed my views.  And I believe that path is a never ending, constantly changing one.

When did you start taking photos and why? What made you decide to explore photography as a means of artistic expression?

I think I stumbled into photography, not wanting to do heavy university studies.  Having parents both in the artistic fields.  Once I experimented in photography through work internships and college… it quickly became an inseparable part of my life.

Name three photographers you like and why. How have they influenced your work?

Three photographers I love are Sarah Moon, Miroslav Tichy, Sally Mann and many more.  The direct influence is difficult to pin point.  I love Sarah Moon’s colors.  She also managed to put her art/unique way of seeing things on the commercial market.

I love Sally Mann’s natural moments and am fascinated by how she manages to capture such subtle things, such spontaneity in photographs with an 8×10 camera which have a certain amount of setting up to do.

Miroslav Tichy I discovered recently, he is for me a complete purist, untouched by wanting to succeed, doing his thing for himself in his world, a complete exotic hermit character… a man who took photographs every day because he needed to, a man rejected by society in a sense… a man who was discovered without seeking  recognition… a beautiful story.

They just inspire me to continue to work to hopefully leave one day a real trace of my way of seeing things…. As they have done… to be part of the history of photography and seen as someone who contributed.

Tell us a little about your journey through Central Asia and Africa by jeep. How did the trip affect you personally and as a photographer? What did you learn from the experience?

It was fantastic.  It broke down all fears of others.  It made me realize that what you give, you get back… (not in terms of material things but rather in terms of time, kindness, understanding, acceptance, compassion).

I believe that there is a lot to learn from these so called ‘un-developed’ societies.  Due to their situation they focus more on the fundamentals/essential things in life.  The dignity and pride present no matter what situation that person was in was amazing…   Their acceptance and endurance, their concept of time, the solidarity, their ingenuity and of course the beauty… beauty without the luxury shops, chain stores and hold of advertising.

Beauty that shone from within, beauty stripped of the superfluous and superficial.

There is a hidden beauty in the ordinary and a great beauty in the overlooked.

Recently you travelled to Madagascar. What was the experience like and how did it affect you?

It was the first time I was traveling alone and my first serious project.  I went to Madagascar not to travel but with a photographic goal, a mission.  For the first time I had set my self a theme, which was to explore the word IMPERFECTION. Using Madagascar as my working ground and wondering around trying to value imperfection in architecture, fashion, still life, people, textures etc.  I also worked with a wonderful person, a local malgash photographer who understood the subtlety of my project and helped enormously with the communication between me and my subjects.

Your trip to Madagascar led to ‘IMPERFECTION’. What thoughts and concepts are you trying to express with this body of work?

My world… people… privilege… perfection…  This project was almost a reaction against that… (the machine and the manufactured, the excess of consumption, the lack of individuality, media and advertising’s influence, the conformity…)

Imperfection for me speaks of uniqueness, character, that which is not asceptisized, that which is made by hand, unique that which has lived a long life and has been respected and cherished.

Less is more, little things are big… the ingenuity of people with so little who achieve so much (ex. Recuperating old metal, plastic etc to create new objects)

You recently held an exhibition of your work in Paris. Tell us a little more about it…

The exhibition in Paris was a group exhibition where I submitted a portfolio and was accepted amongst 30 other photographers.  So there was no organizing to do apart from the printing and mounting of prints.  I have not yet got a gallery that represents me.

Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give anyone who would a career as a fine art or travel photographer? What are the most important lessons that you’ve learnt?

Believe in what you do, be true to yourself and honest, don’t get discouraged, try not to get influenced by fashion or trends or you will lose yourself.

Where is your photography going? What future photographic projects are you excited about?

My next project is FOOTBALL MADE IN AFRICA.  I will be spending four months in Mozambique, Malawi, Ghana, Cameroon and Nigeria.  My aim being to show the spirit of grassroots football in Africa.  But I will talk more about that once it’s done in August.

Links

Website: www.jessicahilltout.com

Email: jessicahilltout [at] yahoo [dot] fr

Photo Gallery: IMPERFECTION

Malagasy Architecture

Malagasy Hands

Malagasy Moda

All photos © Copyright Jessica Hilltout. Please contact the photographer for permission to use in any way.

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2 comments

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1. Gary October 18th, 2009 2:50 pm :

   Another great interview Andrew. It’s good to see other Fine Art photographers’ work and, particularly the use of traditional methods. As a former photography student of Blackpool myself - I left in 1980 - it’s good to see someone else who uses just a Hassleblad and 80mm lens.

   Best wishes,

   Gary

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1. An Imperfect Ten: Inspired by the Beauty of Imperfection « a beautiful ripple effect March 16th, 2009 7:08 pm :

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