Faye Lewis
© Faye Lewis
Words and Images by Faye Lewis
Photo Edited by Kelly Woodyard
How did you develop this series?
Black and white photography has always been something that’s caught my eye, mostly on Pinterest when I was in high school, but now it’s something that I utilize to express and document important feelings. This “series” of mine is less so a series and more of a collection; I’ve found that these photos are sections of time that I’d like to live in, whether it be the texture of the ground or a portrait of a loved one.
What challenges came up during this project?
While shooting some of these rolls I decided to finally take the leap into processing my film at home using a monobath. The most frustrating part to me is a part that I’m still actively troubleshooting - the drying process at home is so touchy when you don’t have full control over the temperature and humidity. A way I’ve learned to gain more control over the drying process is moving my space heater into the bathroom to keep the room warm while the rolls are drying. The heat helps prevent the rolls from curling along the sprocket holes which makes them easier to deal with and to scan. Running the shower on full heat for a few minutes before hanging the rolls up to dry helps with that, too. Thanks Reddit. I’ve never been too careful with my negatives, so dust and water spots don’t usually bother me. Processing my film at home has enabled me to have a full hand in the process from shutter to scanning which inherently is causing me to embrace the dust and water spots, even the occasional finger print, more than before. I think it adds an element of personability - a stamp of “I was Here”. The actual processing itself is simple enough with the monobath - it’s a great hack for anyone wanting to get into processing film at home.
© Faye Lewis
Describe your creative process in one word?
Subconsciously-conscious
What inspires you to pursue image-making?
I think there’s an internal battle that uses photography to figure out where I stand within the space I walk through and how I feel about that place of standing. Something that helped me start taking images more regularly was the attachment I felt to each frame - there’s a pull in my chest that feels like homesickness that urges me to take the photo.
© Faye Lewis
What was the last book you read or film you saw that inspired you?
Right now I’m reading Close to the Knives by David Wojnarowicz.
What advice would you give to people just starting out in photography?
This is coming from a place of sincerity as I feel like I’m still doing this:
Take your time, but also follow your intuition. Also, inspiration is one of my favorite parts of the creative process - creative inspirations don’t always only have to come from other photographs/photographers. Music is one of the biggest driving forces behind my photographs.
What is your favorite thing (podcast, album, audio book...etc.) to listen to?
Two albums that fuel my “internal visuals” from opposite ends are, This Adultery is Ripe by the Blood Brothers and A I A: Dream Loss by Grouper.
How do you take your coffee?
My order at the deli under my apartment verbatim is: Large coffee with 2 sugars and half and half.
© Faye Lewis
