Image
Her-Legacy-Lauren-Main-Teaser.png

Her Legacy

Lauren Koplowitz

    

MIAMI-BASED FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHER LAUREN KOPLOWITZ SHARES HER JOURNEY AS A VISUAL STORYTELLER AND WHAT THE FEMALE PERSPECTIVE MEANS TO HER IN PHOTOGRAPHY. READ HER STORY BELOW.

1. Tell us the story behind the first image you ever made.

Wow! I don’t think I can remember the first image I made, although I have very clear memories of images I WISH I made over my lifetime.

2. What are some of the challenges you’ve encountered in your visual storytelling, and how did you approach these issues?

I think for a while I was concerned with whether the image I was making was telling the story I hoped it would tell. I came to realize that once I share the image, I relinquish my control of the story line. The relationship with the image becomes one between the viewer and her narrative interpretation of the image. The goal is not to tell MY story but rather a story at all.

3. What is a piece of advice offered to you, related to photography, that has been most valuable to you?

I think the best advice has been to “squeeze the lemon.” That is David Alan Harvey’s way of saying “do the work.” Thinking about it now, it’s not really just about doing the work… it is that if you do the work you’ll make “lemonade”. Something sweeter, better, elevated, more poignant etc. comes from actually putting in the effort to create something from what you are presented with.

4. Of all the projects you have worked on, which one left an indelible impression on your current point of view?

Only one!?! Gosh, maybe I’m overly sensitive, but I feel all of our projects and photos leave an impression. They are all transactional. We should give and get. Being trusted with someone’s memories or story is something I take quite seriously. It’s sacred in a way. People trust me to represent them in authentic way. Truly seeing another person and trying to understand them allows me the opportunity to really have a deeper understanding of how I see myself.

5. Based on your experiences, what advice would you give the next generation of photographers?

Does this mean I’m not the next generation? Haha. I think the most important thing is to continue doing YOUR work. There are so many talented people doing such incredible things. With social media, it can be discouraging or hard to feel like what you bring to the table matters, but it does, because you see things in a way no one else can. So do your work. 

6. Of all the images you have made, which one is most important to you? Why?

I would have to say that I have several images that are incredibly meaningful to me, and no one has seen them but me. They are personal photos where I feel I have captured exactly what a person or place feels like for me. Capturing a feeling is always a biggie for me.

7. What image do you see, but have not yet created?

Oh my goodness. I have reels of photos that run on a loop all day in my head that I’d love to create. If I get through a tenth of them in my lifetime I’ll be happy.

8. What are some of the challenges female photographers face when trying to make it?

I can’t speak for all women when I talk about challenges because I think we all experience the world so differently, but worrying about safety while shooting is something I have found to be pretty universal challenge. More personally, the biggest challenge so far has been believing in myself and feeling that I have something worth expressing and sharing through photography that is different and hasn’t been shared before 30,000 times.

9. What are your hopes and expectations for the Leica Women Foto Project?

My hopes for the Leica Women Foto Project is that we can highlight some of the really spectacular visual storytellers out there, and that we can create a broader community with a larger voice and impact. We can create HERstory!

10. In your opinion, what characterizes a female perspective. How does it differ from a male perspective?

I have always attempted to capture a feeling. I want to capture what the heart feels not what the eye sees. I’m not sure if that’s more of a feminine perspective. I am finding more and more these days that maybe we aren’t so different after all. I think we have only experienced a small slice of even the male perspective that exists. The “Macho Male” gaze has certainly dominated a majority of the visual narrative but I am hoping that with initiatives like this one, we can encourage people to step outside the “Gender Box” and see the world as people. Just people.

Image
Lauren-Headshot-Block.png

Connect with Lauren

Her story doesn't end here. 
Continue the journey with Lauren Koplowitz on social media:

Instagram: @Koparazzi
Website: www.laurenkop.com

Take a look at some of Lauren's work.

Image
Legacy-Lauren-1.jpeg
Image
Legacy-Lauren-2.jpeg
Image
Legacy-Lauren-3.png
Image
Legacy-Lauren-4.png
Image
Legacy-Lauren-5.png
Image
Legacy-Lauren-6.png
Image
Legacy-Lauren-7.png
Image
Legacy-Lauren-8.jpeg