loni jeffs photography interview

Having spent much of the past few years as a cross-continental wanderer, country girl Loni Jeffs uses photography for one main reason: to preserve a special moment. From across the oceans she gave us a rundown of how being a shutterbug fits into her nomadic life.



What is your name and how old are you? Loni Jeffs. I’m 21 years old.

Where were you born and where do you live now? I was born in this tiny town called Korumburra, in Victoria. At the moment I’m kind of living everywhere and nowhere. I’ve done some study in Paris and am about to move on to the UK to study in Essex, and have made it to Italy and Switzerland in between.



How does where you live affect your photography? At the moment, heaps. I find it really easy to want to take photos when I’m in new places (which is true for everyone, I’m pretty sure). But the cities and colours and the architecture are so different in Europe. Australia has some ace buildings and landscapes but it’s all pretty new. Here the age of everything gets me so excited and full of nostalgia. I have to keep trying to capture it!

When did you first know you wanted to be a photographer? We had this family friend who was a photographer, and when he and my parents were in college together he took these amazing black and white portraits of my folks, in their 20s. I still have the pictures. I’ve always wanted to be able to freeze moments like he did. To take pictures of beautiful moments, or even your breakfast one morning, and have it forever.

What kind of subjects interest you the most? I’m a creative writer at heart – that’s what I study, anyway. But lately I’m really interested in how photographs can be coupled with fiction or non-fiction writing to tell a story. W.G. Sebald style. I’m also pretty interested in the female form. These are all things I really want to mash together soon.



What do you shoot on (digital or analogue) and why do you choose to use that type? I have both, and each have pros and cons for me. Right now I’m sticking with the film, just because the cameras are lighter for travelling, but also give the snaps that nostalgic, traditional holiday feel. Like road tripping around Australia in the ’90s or something.

What kinds of ideas are you working on at the moment? I’m currently working with some friends to create a new online publishing platform called Alien She Zine, named after a Bikini Kill song. It’s really exciting because we are creating an outlet to use art, photography and writing to explore things like womanhood, sexuality and general feelings of displacement.



Do you take the same care with personal photographs as you do with commercial/artistic work? I haven’t done much commercial work with photography. I’d say all my photographs are personal. I probably wouldn’t bother even capturing something unless I felt it had personal relevance, or was compelling for me. They’d be terrible photographs if I took them without being inspired by what’s in front of me.

If you were to teach a photography appreciation class, what kind of lessons would you try to teach your students? I think mostly I’d say that it’s great to look at photographs by people who aren’t necessarily trying to be photographers. Anyone can take photos now, on phones etc, and that’s kind of great because we all get to capture what’s important to us. It’s nice to look into certain demographics and at what people take the time to snap, even just on their phones. I think it says a lot about who we are and how we feel, now that we have these new outlets to express ourselves.



What are the hallmarks of a great photographer? I’m pretty sure dedication is a big one. Like the amount of bad photographs that happen before any good ones start to come out. And constantly checking what other people are doing for ideas/inspiration/understanding of the art form. I think that’s pretty true for all mediums of art though.

What are some of the challenges that you are facing in modern times as a photographer? I really do like using film and I guess it can be a little expensive at times. It’s been cheaper for me to develop and buy film in Europe – which is amazing. But I’ve had to hold off developing in the past because rent/bills/other parts of life had to come first. Which I guess is the beauty of digital!

What is the strangest thing or thought that has inspired a photo? In Switzerland recently I spent about an hour following some police officers who were on patrol on rollerblades. Which was just the most bizarre thing to me. When I finally got a picture the officer had a balloon in his hand. It was perfect – it was Switzerland.



What other photographers do you love? Petra Collins is pretty much my idol. I love everything she’s doing – as a photographer, with words and with publishing. She’s constantly my go-to for inspiration. Ryan McGinley is pretty great, too. I love the colours he uses and his exploration of the body in different stages and movements.

Where can we see more of your work? I’ve got a blog, Instagram @lo___ni and new work, art, and words can be found on this Facebook page.