October 04, 2004 - This week, we interview Lavanya Patricella from Phoot.org:

Please tell us a little about yourself:
I'm a 21 year old artist living and documenting a very indigenous life on earth. Hooked on totemic animals, mythology and being passionate and pure in everything I do - remembering glorious races and expanding my consciousness with courage. I've been creating since I could hold the tools in my hands and I'm very unstoppable about it.

And when was the first time you held a camera tool in your hand?
I was 13 and took my Mother's old SLR. All of the meters were broken so I "lost" a couple rolls of film in the process... but learned real quick how to judge light with my eyes instead of relying on something external.

Is that still how you work today? Just you and your camera?
Yes, with the occasional tripod when needed.

So why is photography so interesting to you?
It's a great medium for capturing dreams and visions.

Can you explain this a little further?
You can bend photography to see what you are seeing, like all forms of artistic expression. A blank canvas to one person is an image set in stone to another. The same goes with photography - it's just that my canvas is life and the earth, my dreams and vision, ever changing. It feels like a bit of a universal dance - I just move with it, work with it.

So you're really close to nature; the Earth correct? How important is it to your life, and photography?
It is my life and photography is the mirror.

Do you have any significant photographic experiences?
There's so many, I doubt if I could pick just one. Life would be the easiest way to describe my most memorable photographic experience, however, being caught out in storms, covered in mud, deep in the woods on the lush side of July is always a blast.

So you've never had any negative experiences?
With photography? None that were impactive enough for me to put to memory and harp on; I've lost some photos, missed some photos and been prevented from taking some photos but after X-amount of years I'd imagine everyone gets used to that sort of thing.

Do you feel you have any type of shooting style?
Shooting style is raw, real and spontaneous. My camera is on me and I am out there living it, not looking for it. I prefer to shoot moments and emotions in time that have meaning to me, that I could show someone and have them feel where I am at. It's a form of magic. It's my life, my love, my passions, my emotions with no brakes, all up front and as honest as can be.

You mentioned being covered in mud. Is this your life; something you do on a daily basis? It isn't something you prepared only for a photo?
That's got me giggling; no it's not something I do on a daily basis but it is something that inevitably ends up happening in the summer time during the stormy season. It's all raw and real and the concept of preparing things for photos rarely crosses my mind.

Going back to your shooting style - what aspects of it do you like most?
I wouldn't want to put anything out there that isn't pure or that I haven't experienced and know to be real and true. Because it's not something I take with me, I just send it on ahead and move to the next moment. I couldn't know anything better than I know myself and how I feel which is why I focus my photographic vision on that.

It seems a lot of your photos are self-portraits. Why?
There's a lot to be learned about yourself and others through the introspective element in self portraits, that's why I'm attracted to it.

You seem to be very comfortable with your body. How did this start, and how important is it to you when it comes to your photography?
It started by slaughtering my own vanity and learning at a young age that beauty lies in strength and sincerity. Sex appeal comes and goes like a current, when you remove all the fussing and worrying that goes along with that it's pretty easy to be comfortable in your skin. I think it's equally important in life as it is in photography because it removes unnecessary limitation.

Have you ever thought of shooting something that isn't "pure"? Perhaps capturing the ugly side of life. Perhaps making the equilibrium to the world?
I capture and follow the equilibrium in nature and naturalness. Mans "ugly side" is laughable when put in comparison with the capabilities this earth has to wipe the slate clean. I give my creative energy and respect where it is due.

Nice response. Now a little on the hardware... film or digital?
What ever gets the job done. 2 very different mediums, I have respect and love for both.

But which jobs can one do that the other cannot?
Not something I think/care about very much. I'm sure it differs drastically from person to person. It's all in how you see it.

Fair enough... Now onto your photoblog, Phoot. Why did you start one?
I started my first photo log in '99 as a way to keep my loved ones in far away places up to date with whatever was happening. It was something totally new and a lot of fun. At that time, photography wasn't my focus, the years of photos went on, I got more drawn into the art and started using it as a creative documentation of life. A project I'm totally committed to now.

So do you consider Phoot more of a photo portfolio now, or still a photoblog?
I've never really considered it to be a photoblog - but in the same turn I have never really considered it to be a portfolio either. It's a platform for performance, for broadcasting art at my own speed and my own volition. There's always a journal with photos but that's just one part of the site.

What's the reasoning behind the name 'Phoot'?
I wrote a poem/prose piece when I was 13 about being reflective - life in the mirror so to speak. It was about myself but in somewhat fictional circumstances. Phoot was the dual self - the reflective. When I started the site/productions up, PHOOT was chosen as my alias based on the poem.

Speaking of poems, most of your journal photos have poetic entries. Do you write these? How important is the written word to you?
Yes I write them. Writing is the starting of the engine for me. It walks hand in hand with photography. Words and images alike, it's all a poetic expression - visually scribing my life.

What's been the best thing about running Phoot?
Growing; I was only 15 or 16 when I started, so when I view my old work I can literally watch myself grow up (in many senses). I've learned so much over the years and seen so much I might not have seen any other way.

Any negatives?
There aren't really any strains now. When I was doing daily photography updates it got a bit trying at times just to keep on top of it, but it's a great way to learn so many photographic skills. Whatever stress or strain there may be is totally always worth it in the end.

I've noticed you're one of the few photobloggers who doesn't use a commenting system. Why not? Do you ever receive comments/critiques by email; do you feel they're important?
I'm not looking for a response/critique, I'm looking for the vision and sharing what I see. That's not to sound ungrateful, I do appreciate all the feedback and support I get, it's just not something I'm asking for.

Obviously photography is important to your life; has it changed it?
Photography has definitely changed my perspective on life and changed me in ways I couldn't put down in words, I'll leave it to my work to express it.

Any inspirations?
I'll feel kind of silly saying this, but, I don't really have any photographic influences and in general don't know too much about photography (outside of how it all works). I've been an artist and writer my whole life, photography was just something I got magnetized to from a poetic perspective because it was a way to capture things I can't put into words, emotions that are bigger than verbalization, you know? I guess you could say I didn't choose photography, it chose me. I've been teaching myself since I started, I just want to capture what I am seeing the way I am seeing it. Earth inspires me, life inspires me.

I don't mean any disrespect when saying this, but with so much corruption, violence, and chaos in the world, how can one continue to think and live/photograph in only a positive light?
I'm indigenous to this planet and have given my life to the earth. I see clearly all that is going on but prefer to reflect our planet in her glory (be it positive or negative - she shows both faces) rather than give more airplay to the corruption and stupidity currently taking place in the evolution of the 'modern' world. Has life ever been tough? In the most intense of ways - I take it as it comes though, and I'm not easily swayed from my path.

Great to hear. Do you have any tips to give our readers towards making their photography stronger?
Follow the vision - be true to it.

Fun question: You're stuck on an island - what are the three things you'd need to have?
Some fire, a blade, and my instinct.

You've talked a little about it, but what other hobbies are you involved in?
Don't really have too much time for hobbies, I'm usually too busy creating. I play music, sculpt, draw, paint, make wands, witches besoms, masks, prints, books, and write a lot. When I'm not doing that I'm outside taking long walks in the woods and educating myself. It's all one unified whole to me, my photography is more a documentation of an artistic lifestyle. I couldn't be without it, but it's by no means the only thing I create.

Are you involved in anything else photography-wise other than your photoblog?
I've got a handful of projects going on right now (on and off the net) that are in development.

Good luck with those, and continued success with Phoot. Thanks a lot for the interview Lavanya.