Public Republic

An Interview with Joanne Cruickshank by Desislava Velichkova

Autoportret, Two Faced

The reason I was very impressed with your work is the way you use a woman’s body. It’s absolutely amazing how you succeed in presenting all the beauty of the naked female soul… Can you tell me more about it? 

I like to use myself in my photography, as it’s a way for me to express the insane ideas that creep into my head without having to explain to normal people what I want them to do! (Joanne laughs) 

It’s very easy for the naked form to look trashy therefore I try my best to avoid that at all costs and try to bring in other elements such as the locations or the overall feeling I’m trying to convey.

Why just a few photos with a man in the foreground? What would you say about a male face? Do you believe there’s something about it that could be also as beautiful as the female sensitivity? 

Men are just as beautiful as women but I think you will find that men and women both agree that the female form is more beautiful to look at. 

Totem Fairy

What is it about the female body that makes you “draw” the way you do? 

Totem Fairy I’m far from perfect and have many flaws, I just want to try and capture something that I like about myself, store it away and come back when I’m older and look in my little treasure box and remember how I used to look and tell my grandchildren about the madness in each photo.

 I often say that a child’s face or the face of an old man could be much more impressive to shoot then any other beautiful faces. Would you agree?

My Girl

Looking to the future!

Yes I do agree, a child’s expression is one that I love because they are not disguising anything.  You get the raw personality and I find it’s the same with the old man I shot.  His face was so weather-beaten but he had this amazing twinkle in his eye that just smiled at you.

 Some of your photos remind of fairytales. Are they inspired by some story? 

Lost

I like to push myself to do something out of the ordinary and it seemed like a good idea at the time.  The processing of it only happens after I start working on it.  This particular image is part of a series I did for college, which was based on Faceless Self Portraits. 

My Grandma was very ill at the time and I was also ill and only had 5 weeks to complete the project. On reflection many of the images I shot at that time have a feeling of sadness, which I suppose was pretty much how I felt at that time.

Have you ever seen your reflection in the water? Is it the way you believed yourself to be in life? 

Yes, I love looking at my distorted reflection in the water.  When I do my self-portraits I often feel like I’m someone else, acting almost. So for this shot it’s like there is the real me and someone else who I pretend to be.

It wasn't her reflection she saw

I wanted there to be a little trickery within the image that was very subtle to see if anyone would notice.  As for real life I would say I’m pretty much the person I am and I don’t try to be anything or anyone other than me.

 Which love is absolute?

 There is no way to describe love.  It’s just a feeling that one has.

 Is there a sense of a woman in the figure of a white flower? 

Lips, thighs & all things Vintage

For Me...

No, this picture was taken purely as a rude gesture, ha ha!  The middle part of the flower reminded me of that.  When you post images online you are often faced with critique and jealousy especially when taking images of yourself.  I didn’t feel like posting self-portraits but I still wanted to blog about my feelings.

 Tell me something about the female naked body and the smoke of a cigarette! 

Vintage Corner

It’s just a bad girl pic with no real meaning behind it.  I often look back at my work and think “what on earth was I trying to say by doing this picture” and quite often I have no answer.  I like taking pictures and turning a boring one into something a little more special.  If it looks nice does there have to be a meaning behind it?

 When did you start taking photos? And what was the first thing you’ve ever shot?

I probably started just after the birth of my little boy who is now 6.  I loved taking pictures of the kids but it wasn’t till my daughter was born 4 years ago that I began to take it a little more seriously.

That and a chance meeting with a stranger who was invited to my home by my husband; he walked in with what I thought was a huge camera at the time and that got me interested further. 

He gave me the Flickr website and told me to check out some self portrait artists and I was hooked, although alittle shy at first. I think my first shot was that of my kids and then some silly self-portrait that looked more trashy than cool!

As we are speaking of females can you tell me what’s the difference when you are taking photo of a little baby girl, a young woman and a mother? 

Release

Baby girls are gorgeous and so innocent; capturing those shots always makes my heart melt.  I find that when you review them it takes you back to that precise moment in time.

A young woman is a little harder because they are so self-conscious of their appearance and mothers just hate having their picture taken because they feel that they don’t take a good picture.  I hate when someone takes my picture because I’m so un-photogenic, I like being in control.

 Do you believe a woman looks different on the photo when she has a child sitting next to her?

 Yes because woman tends to be viewed in a motherly role.

Special Delivery

Is there a photo that reflects all of you?

 No, there are certain elements in each picture that are the real me that probably only my family and friends would be able to pick out.

 As we are speaking of women and beauty – what do you think of plastic surgery? 

She got surgery for her birthday

Oh, that’s a good question that I’ve thought a lot about – especially at my age!!!  Never say never is what I think in all honesty.  If I were to do it then I would only do it for myself and no one else. 

I think if it’s done subtly then why not, but then again, I’m from a family of good genes and as much as I would like to have the odd thing done I would feel like I’m cheating and would never know what the real me would have aged like, if that makes sense.  So I’m in two minds as to whether I would ever do anything to alter my appearance slightly!

Do you prefer taking photos of a models or is it easier to capture a moment on the face of a regulare person? 

 I’m probably quite lazy towards taking photos of models to be honest.  I love fashion photography but where I’m from there are very few models who look the part and they tend to live in the bigger cities. 

Part of me wishes I could turn the clock back pre-marriage and children and have discovered photography at an earlier age, but I would never change what I have now. 

I wanna wake up with you

I love self portraits because it’s another way of expressing all these ideas that conjure up in my head. I’m really quite ugly in front of the camera and take the most awful picture you have ever seen, therefore it’s a huge challenge and great satisfaction at taking a picture of myself and me actually sitting back and thinking  “Wow….I look ok”

And yes it is easier taking someone else’s picture, but I have to say my biggest passion is newborns and children.

Is there some kind of a humor about the modern woman – a woman in the bath with heardryer and her high heals  (that also kill – but softly and beautifully) 

Hairdryers Kill!

(Laughing) That shoot was a whim one day!  Sometimes I will think of a phrase or an expression or something just generally quite weird, as I DO have the strangest of imaginations at times or so I’m told! 

I think the film “What Women Want”  inspired me to take this picture where Mel Gibson falls unconcious while trying out womens products while he is in the bathroom.  Using a hairdryer in the bathroom is a hazard and it was all taken in a light hearted manner.

Unshackled

A woman, kitchen, chains – what comes next –  breakup, breakdown, scissors?? (laughing)

 “Unshackled” was an image that I took before I went on holiday. The idea sprung to mind because at last I was getting away from everday chores of being a mum, wife and cleaner it was like being set free at last.

 What’s in the mirror?

 Me – checking if I need botox. (laughing)

Self Assessment

It was an age thing…

 “Self assesment” was about a moment where I thought I was too old to be doing what I’m doing. Then I gave myself a kick up the ass and a good talking to and told myself to shut up!

 And… can I just say that I love your personality! Just had to say it (laughing)

 (Laughing) Does this go with the interview?

 Yes! I’m turning the interview round now!  How old are you?

 I’m 23… (expecting a strong reaction and getting one)

 Wow, missy you’re so young!

You see you are not even considering botox or boob jobs like I am. You still have everything up to your chin and beyond. You are just a young baby and…

 And? Do you have a photo that reminds you of me? (Now that would be interesting!)

 (laughing) Not yet! I would need you to give me some info on you before I could try to interpret one…

 Not a chance. I hate being photographed and you will only have to use your imagination if you do want a picture of myself.

 Yes. I hate being photographed too. But I like your style so much…

Daylight Robbery

 And I like yours, two-faces woman. And then again – just two?

 It was actually a shoot gone wrong. (laughing)

 And this is just something about women… (laughing)

 It was supposed to be quite a sensual image and I didn’t like the overall composition but I like the expression on my face.

 It’s so nice talking to you, missy! I like people who have a sense of humor!

 Stop calling me this way… (blushing)

 Joanne’s laughing hard. And I’m pretty sure this was one of the most interesting conversations I’ve had in my work for PR. Having such wonderful evening could never be called work so thank you Joanne – for your photos and this interview!