[photo credit - © Jamey Stillings]
Rosanne Olson is a fine art and commercial photographer. She grew up in North Dakota, went to graduate school in Eugene, Oregon and settled in Seattle 22 years ago where she lives with her husband and two large Maine Coon cats. She recently published this is who I am—our beauty in all shapes and sizes (Artisan 2008) about women, body image and compassion.
02.04.09
Carrying A Tiny Sketchbook
If you have a degree in what field is it? I have a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Oregon. As an undergraduate I studied science, English and art.
What was your strangest assignment? There have been a few quirky assignments but I would rather mention my FAVORITE assignment which was a season campaign for the New York City Ballet. It involved developing concepts for the images, selecting the dancers, choosing the locations and selecting costumes from a vault where they’d been stored from the days of Balanchine. The whole project was wonderful beyond words.
Which photographer would you like to meet? Irving Penn.
What famous person (living or dead) would you most like to photograph? Martha Graham (I love working with actors and dancers).
Aside from your camera and lighting, what item could you not work without? It would be very difficult to work without the unflagging support of my husband, who is my best critic and biggest fan.
Is there anything you would not digitally retouch? Not really. But the retouching we do is pretty subtle.
From where do your best ideas originate? I love painting, especially the lighting and mood of Old Masters such as Rembrant and Renoir. And the Impressionists. They inspire me with their ability to abstract emotion. I get a lot of idea-making done when I go for walks; ideas pop up like movies in my head. I always carry a tiny sketchbook to write them down or sketch them out.
How do you overcome a creative block? I just took a painting workshop in San Francisco. It was wonderful and when I got home I couldn’t stop making new photographs.
Do you have creative pursuits other than photography? I love music. I’m learning the blues harmonica and guitar. I paint and do collage and calligraphy (and have on-and-off since high school). I co-founded a women’s creative group in Seattle called Art Chix; it’s been a compelling reason to create new work. I also write poetry. And I love to teach.
What music are you listening to right now? I have a collection of songs that are very inspiring to me and I love to work with them playing. Some of the musicians include Ashana Lobody, Lisa Gerrard (of Dead Can Dance), Yo-Yo Ma and Emmy Lou Harris, as well as music by Corelli and Bach.
What’s your approach to balancing work and life? I meditate and exercise.
What’s your favorite quote? “...here’s to opening and upward, to leaf and to sap...” —e.e. cummings
Do you have any advice for people just entering the profession? Do what you love. Work hard. Live a well-rounded life. Be kind to yourself and others.
What’s one thing you wish you knew when you started your career? To fully enjoy the process and the discovery. It’s one big adventure!