Interview & Giveaway: Jennifer Korff

Ever since I caught a glimpse of the work from the talented Jennifer Korff I knew she possessed something special. Her photography created stories in the most beautiful poetic voices. Being an amateur photographer myself, I dazzled at her work and her ability to capture a moment in the most serene way.
Thus I was honored when she accepted to be interviewed by me. Her answers are rich in inspiration, especially to those who aspire to live their life (partially or fully) behind the lens of a camera.
To learn more about Jennifer and to follow her work, visit her blog, her Flickr, and her website.

1. Hello Jennifer. First of all, thank you so much for participating in this interview. Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Well, hello! I am quite honored, thank you. A bit about myself, well, I am an artist living and working in Chicago, Illinois with my partner and our two monstrous kitties.

2. When did your love for photography begin?

I would say my love of photography began when I was quite young. My father has always had an affinity for the medium as well as an addiction to collecting and tinkering, so I would say it began when I was a little girl acting as model to my father's hobby and following him about with his equipment. My personal relationship with photography truly began when I entered college as an undergraduate. You can read a bit more about that here.

3. What subjects are your favorite to photograph. Why?
I love to capture people and am constantly chasing light. Though I suppose with a few more recent personal projects I have been engaged in lately, I have been drawn to capturing what is on my plate and soon to be in my belly.

4. Where do you find inspiration?
My partner is an incredible source of inspiration to me. Encouraging and challenging me all the same to think beyond the common aesthetic and conventional ways of thinking. I am also very drawn to books I am reading. The images they evoke in my mind... I try to make them a reality.

5. What camera(s) do you use?
I shoot with a mamiya c3, canon ae-1, yashica electro 35 gsn, polaroid sx-70, polaroid land camera and minolta xg-m.

6. The use of lighting in your photographs is magical. Is there a specific time of day you prefer to photograph in?
No specific time of day, really. I just prefer to photograph using what is naturally available to me.

7. You are soon releasing a book entitled We Never Really Knew What Time It Was. What does it include and what was your inspiration?
My book, We Never Really Knew What Time it Was, is a collection of images taken while camping on an island in Lake Michigan this past summer. I only shot two rolls of film while we were away, not quite two rolls in fact, and I was taken with how I was able to capture the island. I felt the images told a beautiful story and captured everything I personally love about a sojourn to the woods. I have been drawn to the idea of making books for quite some time and with the cohesiveness of these photographs, I thought it was an opportune time to give it a go.

8. Thank you so much for your time Jennifer. Do you have any advice for any aspiring photographers that might be reading this?
Persistence is the way to the heart of all aspirations and always come prepared. My favorite quote by Louis Pasteur, "Chance favors the prepared mind".

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The Giveaway:

The winner will have a choice of selecting any one of the beautiful prints featured here:

one | two | three

Plus, they will receive a set of beautiful postcards!

Now for your chance to win:

Simply leave a comment below telling me why you would like to win.
If you are a follower you will receive two entries, just leave a separate comment stating "I am a follower".

I will randomly select a winner October 31st, Halloween.
Good luck!