Her pictures are soaked in lyricism and romanticism, but with rhythmic ruptures and changes of tempo enlivening the score. Laura Olivia Baker is just 19, nevertheless her photographic production already possesses a blemishless, respect-worthy formal structure. Here’s our give-and-take. (Interview by Maurizio Di Iorio)
Hi Laura, how old are you and where are you from?
Hello Maurizio. I am nineteen and I live in London but right now I am on a train in Norway, it is very beautiful outside.
A few days ago I’ve been told that we’re not giving enough space to your male colleagues. There are some very valid people and we’ll take care of that, but I have to admit that lately, every 10 new photographers I like, 8 are women. I think that in this historical moment you manage to express a vision that I find, in most cases, more sincere and spontaneous. What is your idea about this?
Maybe this has something to do with a lot of female photographers using themselves as models. By being in front of the lens and also the gaze from behind it they create a recognisable element for the viewer and a strong link between subject and artist. Perhaps this allows for their work to feel at times more sincere and spontaneous. But then again I would say there are so many male photographers that are able to achieve just as much sincerity and spontaneity within their work.
Beautiful girls, breathtaking locations, oneiric atmospheres: your photographs are rich in evocative elements. Do you think you will experiment with different stylistic features in the future?
Yes, I’m sure I will. I find that the pictures I take with those particular elements are the ones people tend to like more than say a picture I’ve taken of an escalator. I am really drawn to these whimsical, idyllic images but eventually I would like to achieve something that is a lot more subtle.
Are there any subjects that you absolutely avoid to photograph?
I don’t think there is anything I consciously avoid. I take pictures of what I’m drawn to, moments that I find beautiful or interesting but I don’t photograph every single moment like this because it is also nice to enjoy a moment without recording it.
Would you choose a picture of yours and tell us what went on behind the scenes?
This one. We were camping in Slovenia but on the journey there we accidentally left one of our tents on the train so five of us had to sleep in a two person tent. By the morning we all ended up sleeping outside the tent and when I woke up I took this picture of my friends Jade and Millie.
I’ve seen you’ve worked for “dream and awake”. Talk to us about this collaboration.
Amanda’s dresses are so lovely so I was very happy to do this. I really like all the artists she has collaborated with, Roberto Rubaclava, Ana Kras and Lukasz Wierzbowski are among my favourite photographers. I had some of my friends wear the dresses on some nice spring days and took their pictures. It’s nice to do things like this where there is a lot of freedom.
I know you prefer analog to digital. What is your equipment?
I take most of my pictures with a point and shoot camera and sometimes I use disposables. I like the simplicity of these cameras, they only have one button and it feels much more organic as it is more about interacting with the moment than the camera itself.
Tell me about things or people – unrelated to photography – you are influenced by.
Mexico, flowers, islands, Serbian train rides, sun lit trees, Grey Gardens, Cecily Brown, hotel rooms, Meadham Kirchhoff, cider with Rosie, the Mignot Sisters, archipelagos, Rodarte, Maaike Schoorel, Morvern Callar, Vegas weddings, costes, M. Blash, Into the Wild.
And what about the photographers that affected you the most?
Lina Scheynius’ work is very influential for me. I remember first seeing her pictures when I was fifteen and falling in love with every single one. I am now interning for Lina and I feel very lucky to be involved in a small way with the process of her work.
What is your greatest fear?
Teddy bear ham.
Which magazine would you like to work for?
Lula.
We have several mutual friends on Flickr. Who would you recommend us to interview and why?
I really like Grace Denis’ pictures, she goes on adventures with her friend Lauren. They sleep under the stars in Californian deserts, feed cheeseburgers to venus flytraps, break into hotel pools and get drunk with the prince of Morocco in Maui. I loved Jack Siegel’s skull set it would be interesting to hear what he’s working on next.
