NOSTALGIA WITH BETH LANE

Originally posted November, 2011.

ON NOSTALGIA.
"I think at the moment I am a bit obsessed with nostalgia and prolonging adolescence. The characters in everything I write want to recapture the past and there always seems to be an element of youthfulness and innocence in my photos. I think that is just a phase I am going through because I can't wait for the future. I am about to complete a graphic design course and put a portfolio together. 2012 will be the best year yet! I will be making a short film, moving in to a new home and having a snowy Christmas in the US with my family, hopefully visiting Canada as well. I want to move to Berlin one day too!"

BETHLANE.COM.AU | @BETHMLANE

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Firstly, Beth, thank you for doing this interview. --I did a little bit of research and quickly found out that you are originally from the big small town of Townsville in Northern Queensland. Though you are now living in Brisbane, growing up in a small town has clearly had a profound impact on your life and your photography. Would you care to elaborate on your beginnings in Townsville and how it continues to inspire you?



Townsville isn't very small, but it's a lot smaller than Brisbane. Our house was right next to the bush and I remember playing in the front yard with my brother and having to run inside whenever we would see a snake, but I don't remember the interior of our house at all! I guess that is what inspires me about Townsville, our beach house nearby and my childhood there. Time was only spent outdoors, at parks and on the beach. And it was always hot and sunny.

And you're also inspired by films and fashion, is that correct? Are those the main things that initially drew you to photography? How did that come about?



Before I became serious about photography I went to film school. Ultimately I want to direct feature films but I was drawn to photography because I approached it as though I was capturing small moments of an entire story. I love fashion too, so I spend a lot of time looking at fashion photography. I became interested in pursuing it myself after seeing a film Ellen von Unwerth shot for Erin Fetherston's Winter collection called 'Wendybird.' It was very inspiring. Ryan McGinley, David Hamilton, Wendy Bevan and William Eggleston have also had a major influence on me. I want to start making fashion films because of the complete freedom and creativity that medium allows. I hope to make my first one early next year and also a short film that I have been writing for a while now.

You've previously mentioned that through your art you try to capture the romantic, the nostalgic and the youthful. But you recently broke from that tradition during last years flooding of Brisbane where you took to the streets to photograph what was unfolding around you. Could you talk a little about that experience?



It was a very hot, surreal day. I was with a couple of my friends who are also photographers and we just wandered around this place we knew so well that was suddenly covered with ugly, muddy water. The weirdest moment was seeing bits of wharves and jetties floating down the Brisbane river. The police were telling everyone not to come to the area that was flooding, for safety reasons, but we couldn't resist the temptation to take photos. I am more inspired when shooting real life, like travelling or my friends on a road trip. I try to create natural situations when I do fashion shoots but it is very difficult to break from the regular posing, set-up type environment of a shoot. Sometimes I shoot the models in between poses, and those shots always turn out the best.

Thank you once again. It was a real treat to have you & your talent featured on our humble webzine. Do you have any final words?



Thanks so much!

THANK YOU. NEVER QUIT.