Peggy Ann McDonnell
Peggy Ann graduated from Parsons this spring with a BFA in Photography and was awarded Honorable Mention in her thesis show. Her clients include Urban Outfitters, Nylon Magazine, Nylon Guys Magazine, Metal Magazine, Inven.tory, and The Ivy.
The use of natural light is the most important aspect of my work. I mainly shoot with a Mamiya RZ67 with Kodak 160 NC at (pretty much always) f/2.8, this helps me create consistency in my work but recently I have taken a liking to shooting with disposable cameras, which is pretty much the opposite of that. I go from complete control to very little. This is sort of a reflection of how I work as well, I try to go into shoots with little pre-conceived ideas of what the images should turn out like and I let the situation play itself out. The people in my pictures are important as well – I love shooting real, interesting people.
FJORD: How do you feel the Internet has affected the way you work? Have you changed the style of work you do or the way you present your work based on the way the Internet has changed how photography functions?
Peggy: The Internet is the primary but not preferred presentation of my work. I still make c-prints so I find it difficult to match the color and quality on the Internet but this is not something that has changed my style or process. The Internet has broadened my audience though and I think that is incredibly important.
F: How do you gain inspiration for your work? Where do you look for ideas?
P: I have been working with a single subject (Jasper – a Muse, if you will) for a long period of time so when I am looking for inspiration I look to my subject, whether it is Jasper or another person. I would consider my work portraiture, so personality is a crucial part of each picture or series of pictures. Other forms of inspiration come at random from: daylight, movement, places, textures of surfaces, etc. I most recently have been looking at the work of Tom Sandberg but I tend not to think about other people’s photographs when I am making my own work.
F: What are your favorite websites?
P: A couple of blogs I follow: coacd.blogspot.com, sisterwife.tumblr.com, blackberryvision.tumblr.com, purple-diary.com, kelleyhoffman.com
F: Do you have any suggestions to help new and emerging photographers gain exposure? How did you initially start to promote yourself and your work?
P: Use the contacts you already have to your advantage and use the Internet! Keeping strong connections with the people you meet in the industry is one of the most important ways to get started. And the Internet is possibly the best way to get your work and your name in front of people. I created a blog (peggyann.tumblr.com) to do just that, and it works.
F: Where do you see your work going in the next year and in the future in general?
P: I will continue to shoot Jasper to create a larger body of work for that series. I have a few other projects I am going to be working on as well (like a continuation of the black and grey image above) but right now I am mostly going to focus jobs rather than fine art.
