We recently connected with Blaire Hawes and have shared our conversation below.
Blaire, appreciate you joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
I was trained as a professional ballerina since the age of two. I have always had an instinct and passion for all visual forms of art. As a child I was fortunate enough to move to Holland where I was immersed in European history in tandem with ballet. When I returned from Europe to America, it was the mid 90s when fashion was at it’s peak of visuality. I used to study those images and editorials.
I endured a career ending injury at the age of 17 and with that my chosen path of becoming a ballerina died.
I still had the drive to be in the arts, but did not know where I fit. After my first child was born I picked up a camera as I was on bedrest with my second. My mom dropped my simple camera and the lens jammed. I had this immediate feeling of the wind being knocked out of me. It was in that moment I knew that I had found my next creative outlet.
A friend asked me to take photos of her daughter, and that afternoon she put them on Facebook and my second life took off. I owe her my entire career.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I am a self taught photographer. I work through the lens of feminism and the female gaze.
I do minimal retouching (if any) and have a distinct style that I hope reads like film stills.
I am most proud that I have never had to compromise my job with being a mother. I have three daughters and they have come to set with me since they were infants. My clients all underhand and support that I am a one woman show. Teaching my kids that you can be both (should they choose) is extremely important to me.
My camera has not only been a tool of creative expression but also a tool of therapy. My middle daughter is on the autism spectrum. Before we had a diagnosis and support I had to do what I could to help her regulate her emotions. We realized she liked the sound of my camera. She and I have been worki9ng on a project sine she was about 2. It’s called “SIX CLICKS” where she allows me to take 6 frames. This practice has focused her and is my most treasured personal projects. It guides every shoot I have now.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
I study the art work (religious and portraiture) of the Medieval period. Those artists such as Hans Holbein and Vermeer. Their study on light is an obsession for me. I frame images in very much the same way. Natural light, nothing fancy or difficult. I like to be as honest and authentic as possible in my work. You do not need a ton of “stuff” to make exceptional things.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
Gosh, this is an impossible question. Artists live and breathe their work. I dream it. I see pictures everywhere. I mourn images I did not take. To those who are not artists…..what would you do if you had no air? Suffocate.
That is how I feel about take pictures and how I felt about ballet. When I had to stop I died. I will do this until I can no longer see or hold a camera.
Art gives us the ability to see peoples dreams while we are awake. It opens doors and forces conversation. Art gives us color when things are so dark. You do not have to BE an artist to appreciate it. Go to a museum…..go to many.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.imagesbyblairecatherine.com
- Instagram: #imagesbyblairecatherine
- Other: #FOTO App BLAIRE HAWES
Image Credits
© Blaire Hawes