Masters of Photography Vol. 13 – Australians is now available and we are already on to the next one. This time, Fashion Industry Broadcast goes global. From Seoul to Berlin, “Masters of Photography Vol. 52 – Next Gen” is a carefully-curated selection of emerging artists who we think might be the next big thing. This art book will feature an amazing selection of their work, as well as thought-provoking interviews.
Every Monday,we will introduce you to one of these new talents. Today, we are flying away to Pittsburgh to have a chat with Hannah Altman.
How would you describe your style?
I describe myself as a fine art photographer whose work explores female experiences and relationships through portraiture. By blending fine art and social commentary, I create a visual dialogue about societal structure relating to the perception of the human body.
How and when did you decide to become a professional photographer?
I never intentionally made this decision. I was always passionate about the medium and it slowly became the center of my world. It officially “took over” when I moved to Pittsburgh at the age of 18.
Where do you find inspiration?
I’m constantly inspired by the experience that life brings to others and myself; specifically involving the Female experience. The large majority of my work is a reflection of the emotions and reactions of being a female artist in a modern society.
Who are your favourite photographers of all time and why are they so special to you?
Nan Goldin, Cristina Hoch, Petra Collins, Ryan McGinley and Ryan Muirhead are the first names to come to mind. The works of all of these artists have made me stop any other train of thought and immerse myself in their work.
This art book features photographers from the entire world and each of them has a very specific identity. How do you think your geographic location affects your work?
I’m living in a city that for a long time was an abandoned steel town. Pittsburgh has an incredible creative community, and the people here are bursting with beautiful and progressive ideas. The longer I live here the more I notice just how much potential this city has.
If you could move to any city in the world, where would you like to live and work as a photographer?
I love Pittsburgh and would love to continue to create here for a while. But I am extraordinarily restless, and travel often. If I had to pick one place from the cities I’ve been to, I would love to spend more time in Tel Aviv. But I’m still travelling to discover my new favourite city.
What are you five dream locations to shoot?
I’d love to shoot in Switzerland, Iceland, Morocco, Vietnam and New Zealand. The list goes on.
How would you describe the photography industry in your country? What are the chances for a young artist to ‘make it’ and become global?
America has a huge influence on worldwide media. It’s easier than ever to be “famous” because of the digital world we live in. Because of this reality, artists must use this unprecedented opportunity to spread their ideas as far as they can get them.
As a young photographer, you have been part of a big switch in the industry. Indeed, photography today is much more democratised than a few decades ago. Everyone can have access to retouching programs, publishing sites and good cameras. What are your thoughts on the evolution of the industry and the impact it has on your work?
The availability of a camera does not diminish the talent of those who use it as their artistic tool. A camera is purely a technical capturing device; it is used to visually capture the things we want to virtually share about our lunch, our outfit, etc. Only when the camera is placed into the hands of an artist does it turn into an art form that expresses a deeper meaning.
A lot of young photographers got discovered thanks to their Tumblr or Instagram account. What is your relationship with social media platforms?
I’ve been a long-time user of both platforms, but am particularly involved with Tumblr. A series of mine entitled “And Everything Nice” gets a substantial amount of consideration, and that all started because I posted it on my blog. My Instagram has also been a great tool in terms of communicating with other artists, sharing conversations and ideas. Visual platforms are a beautiful podium for artists to display their work on, and give them complete control over what is exhibited for the world to see.
Post manipulation has long been debated, especially in commercial and fashion photography. How much do you retouch your images and what is your opinion on the whole body image debate?
I don’t get rid of anything that makes a human, human. Creases in your body exist, as do wrinkles. The texture of skin itself is so beautiful, why diminish it? The complete airbrushing of human beings, particularly females, is what perpetuates the false ideal of unattainable beauty.
