Sunday, April 26, 2015

30 Days of Inspiration! Day 26: Lisa Lizarraga

I absolutely love this woman! She is quirky and loving... and very very passionate! Her answers made me giggle and they're so real and raw... I just love it all! This feels like talking to a friend over a super formal interview! Always fresh to talk to her. Introducing Lisa! :)



"Caramel Orange Dress"
1. Introduce yourself and the style of photography you think best represents your work.


Hello my name is Lisa Lizarraga and i live just north of Sacramento California. I consider myself a fine art and conceptual artist but i photograph everything because i get bored easily and need change for inspiration.

"Grande Life"
2. How did you get into photography?

I got into Photography about 10 years ago because oil paint takes weeks to dry lol not to mention i was a starving artist. Now i make at least enough to support my passion and some change to jingle in my pocket. I love the instant control i have with photography both in camera and in Lightroom and more so in Photoshop.

3. What inspires your photographs?

Passion inspires my photo creations. A feeling, story, an addiction. The need to yell at the top of my lungs silently, visually, about something controversial or some feeling deep inside that i can't utter publicly. I create the composite or surreal image as a silent voice to my inner battles that i cannot let out. I hide things in my images when i composite that only i know, yet if someone with a keen eye were to scan my entire file at full resolution may find. I am ok with that yet i may never answer the question when they find it. Deep issues that remain my own.

4. Where are some of your favorite places to shoot?
"Fall at Grey Garden"

Without a doubt, abandoned houses or farms. Dilapidated dwellings where life once was full but all that remains now is a feeling in the breeze and aroma of yesterday's lives. It gives me a sickening feeling, but also an adrenaline rush like no other, especially when I'm there by myself in a vintage dress, eek, omg, I can feel that feeling already in the pit of my stomach. It's unreal, surreal.

5. Do you like to photograph other things, or just your main work?

I love it all... ok I'm not into porn, barf. I love fine art nude, artist Marco Barsanti has some amazing nudes in nature that i aspire to.



"Anything to See Rebecca"
6. What is your favorite photo you've taken and why?

For me it is this image, titled, "Anything to see Rebecca" Becca who's name has now been changed to Myair. This image is still the deepest for me, and i love it so incredibly much.

7. What do you want your viewers to take away from your work?

I will be candidly honest so forgive me but i never think about that. I create because if i didn't i would explode with emotion for holding feelings inside. My work is a release for me. A voice to my confusion, happiness, sadness, dreams, visions, anxiety, thoughts, excitement etc. If people like or dislike my work is not important to me because i create for myself. That is one reason it is really hard sometimes to create a commissioned piece for someone because i don't have their vision or feeling. It doesn't feel authentic and that is difficult for me. when i create my own work there is no pressure because i am the only one i need to please, i don't have to ask anyone if they like it. I guess i want them to take away a freedom of their own feeling about my work.

8. What gear do you use? What's your most used lens and why?

I have a Nikon D810 body and for art i mostly use the Sigma art 50mm1.4 that combo is sharp, fast and gives incredible detail. For many normal sessions i love the 70-200 2.8 but i feel like i need to give love to all my gear, so far it has been good for me.

9. Who would you say is your favorite photographer? Why?

I love change, so my favorite artist is ever changing. I am so in love with Brooke Shaden's early work. Her simple white sheet, apartment, and distortions with muted tones.

10. Have you dealt with any negativity as a photographer, if so, how did you overcome it?

I don't give negativity any energy, so my answer will be no. I live an incredible life doing my passion and i am such a happy and positive person, there is no energy for drama or negativity. Just live a beautiful life and photograph it...
"Quite Simple Sit and Have Coffee"

11. Do you plan on doing anything with your photography or do you shoot just for fun?

Omg yes, i have my work showing in an art gallery in California for over a year and i will be showing my work at the Old Soul coffee shop in Sacramento in August 2015. My dream is to make enough money to continue to live my passion for the rest of my life.

12. Do you have a favorite inspirational quote? If so, what is it and why is it your favorite?

"A muddy life is ok" i love that one. Also this one, "I will learn that which i do not know in order that i may know it" i have a lot of people ask me how did i learn this or that in photoshop and i just choose to learn something new almost every day, never stop learning something new. Stay humble because we will never know it all. Oh and go play in the mud, it is incredible in the pouring rain in a wedding dress.

"Marry the Rain"
13. What is one experience from shoots that you will always remember?

Long pause...my next one. I live in the moment and love every second.

14. What would be the best advice you could give to a new photographer?

Find your passion and get completely absorbed in it. Shoot outside the box and break walls, fly solo. Rip a hole in the sky because there are no limits...

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