We recently connected with Jaclyn Cori Norman and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jaclyn, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
“Born on the Same Day” is a 13 year long photography project about my twin daughters. It has become a poetic family album like no other.
Even as a child, I always knew I was meant to be a mom. In my late 30’s I was diagnosed as infertile. After years of medical procedures I gave birth to my twins at age 42.
Prior to their birth I was a large format, B&W film photographer. That wasn’t going to work with my new lifestyle. I purchased my first digital camera. It stays on the mantle while I keep the light and them in my peripheral vision. I will always have a record of what was. That it was real. It was hard and it was fun. I have photographed goldfish funerals and temper tantrums. There have been lazy moments. Insecure moments. And moments of epiphany. Their lives; our family is the most meaningful project of my entire life.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
In my junior year of college, I took my first photography class as an elective and fell in love. I decided to make it my minor. My major was creative writing. After college I worked for a fashion photographer in New York and a newspaper in Pennsylvania, but never felt the passion I did when making art.
I met Mary Ellen Mark and she altered the trajectory of my life. Because of her I went to graduate school to more deeply understand technical craft and personal vision.
I began making the artwork that I continue to sell today to fine art photography collectors.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
I was given the opportunity to travel and photograph in Japan. For one summer I discovered both rural and urban areas between Tokyo and Okinawa. I brought my 4×5 viewcamera and the newly released Readyload film. It was a trip of a lifetime. Once in a lifetime. I shot at least 200 sheets of film.
When I got home and began developing my film, sheet after sheet was blank. I continued to develop and the film was blank.
I shot some more film at home and the same thing occurred. The film holder was faulty and was not allowing light to reach the film. A whole project in which I was fully emotionally and spiritually invested was gone. All because I didn’t test my new equipment before using it. One of the first rules of travel photography… check and double check your equipment.
I was humiliated. How could I consider myself a professional and a teacher if I, myself, didn’t do the most simple obvious thing before using new equipment? I didn’t tell anyone about this for years. I constantly made excuses for the project not being ready.
As devastated as I was, I eventually admitted the truth. I didn’t let one failure define me.
Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
I never entered competitions or applied for grants until I was much older. I wish I had pursued Artist in Residency opportunities.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jaclyncorinorman.com/
- Instagram: @j_cori_norman
- Other: https://linktr.ee/jaclyncori
Image Credits
headshot © Robin Maaya all others © Jaclyn Cori Norman