In Which We Invent An Excuse Not To Draw

More Than A Year Later

by CHLOE WOJEWODA

It started as an excuse to not to draw. I was never gifted, in that regard, yet I’d always felt like an artist. Or maybe I’d always felt like I should be an artist. Whatever the case, it started as an excuse not to waste hours on line drawings and still be able to express myself. What started as a second choice alternative has turned into the thing I feel most passionate about.

Photography literally means light drawing. In a way, I decided to use what was presented to me and redraw it to fit my own vision. No more starting from scratch. Taking photos is a rebuilding process. I’m given a moment, a scene, a face. It’s my job to transform the real, the mundane, into something magical and memorable.

It’s almost like sculpture. Given a basic form, my task is to carve away the unneeded, unwanted parts and reveal what’s within. Often the choosing of elements for an image, the creative license I am given, allows me to provide a more honest representation of my subject.

It’s been just over a year since I first picked up a camera for serious purposes. Since then, I’ve transformed as an artist and a person. I’m still changing. I still have more than room to learn. The beauty of it is that the more I learn, and even the more I fail and have to pick myself back up again, the more I love what I do. I am Chloe Wojewoda and I am a teenaged photographer.

“Untitled Square.” May 7, 2009. This is my friend and most willing model, Meg. I was shooting portraits for my photography class, and after finishing my roll took a few digital shots. I love this one, because the image has so many distinct sections and layers. The overlapping panels, the sloping hill, the section of trees above the shed, Meg’s straight profile. It didn’t seem like an image I would create. It was breaking out of my comfort zone.

“Stairs.” January 10, 2009. This is my friend Emily. We were trespassing in a nearby city, it was less than 20 degrees and we only had one pair of gloves. I love the different pops of color against the otherwise bland brick wall.

“Having Arrived at Lake Champlain” July 2, 2009. Recently I’ve been exploring film photography, and have fallen in love with the distinct tones and colors that film provides. This photo, taken in Vermont, is one of my favorites to date, because of its expansive scenery, asymmetrical composition, and easily identifiable moment. Meg was looking out at the lake, trying to decide what she should take a photograph of.

"Long Walk.” July 16, 2009. Meg just got her license, and she and I went to the Dam a few miles from my home. The landscape is just so breathtaking.

Her lone, tiny, figure coupled with the vast, encompassing beauty of the scenery is something I’m happy I saw and captured.

"Jim and Daisy.” December 30, 2008. I had been trolling around flickr one day and discovered the almost subculture of Lomography. Lomography is the use of plastic toy cameras, and almost always 120 mm film. I was so intrigued that I bought myself a Diana F+. This photo is from my very first roll of 120 film. My father is leaning over the stove, cooking. His nose and forehead are next to a little framed print, “Daisy.” Daisy is my mother’s name. I love this photo, despite its obvious technical flaws. It is just so warm and reminds me of home and family. Also, I believe it’s just kooky enough to work.

“Redhead.” December 29, 2009. This is a self-portrait taken the night I dyed my hair bright red. I love the high contrast and in your face composition. Lately, I’ve been subduing colors during my editing process, but this image reminds me why I love saturation and contrast.

Chloe Wojewoda is a contributor to This Recording. She tumbls here. Her flickr is here.

"Fidelity" - Regina Spektor (mp3)

"Spectacular Views" - Rilo Kiley (mp3)

"New Romantic" - Laura Marling (mp3)