Mae Lynn finds her calm working with nature
Mae Lynn's photo's are idyllic, which makes sense given that she lives near the shores of a Great Lake and spends her days in the outdoors. Following is her bio in her own words:
"mae lynn | visual artist, shooting 35mm + 120mm film.
Sentient creature, creator, collaborator, adventuress, water being, earth dwelling, music swayin' farmer and photographer. Minnesota born, now living in the northern woods of Wisconsin. I'm drawn towards experimentation with film by layering multiple exposures in camera. My solace is found in the natural world around me and how i see myself and those i adore situated within it. My work is currently exploring the theme of human interaction with the ephemeral world."
Mae is on instagram as @pastelmae and her website is www.pastelmae.com
ALTER/ANALOG: Do you plan out your multiple exposures beforehand knowing which image will go with what?
ML: I plan about half of my double exposures and the other half is left to chance in that I'll shoot the first layer (generally a natural scene, flowers, clouds) knowing that the next time I pick up my camera I'll have forgotten what that first exposure was of. Grapevine, Divine was the first image that came out how I was truly envisioning it to be which was such an exciting moment because I felt like I had understood something so integral to layering light on film to achieve a desired outcome. More and more though I do plan my images out, especially as the spring/summer beauty is in bloom. I've waited all winter to make highly intentional portraits that consist of double exposing bodies + plants together.
ALTER/ANALOG: When did you start practicing film photography?
ML: I picked up my first film camera in 2008 so its been ten years now. My mother gave me my Grandfather's old Minolta SRT 201 and taught me how to load a roll of film and take a light reading. Those first few rolls were so exciting and magical. Early on I started experimenting with cross processing slide film and the results I got back astounded me. Such vivid colors, a boldness I couldn't have dreamed! My first double exposure was an accident, I ran out of film in my Minolta but had a tiny plastic point and shoot that was recently loaded so I wound it up and re-spooled it into my Minolta and shot through the entire roll. The first time I saw it I knew I was hooked.
ALTER/ANALOG: Nature is such a strong influence in your work. Can you talk a little more about this?
ML: Currently I reside in the Northwoods of Wisconsin near the shores of Lake Superior, the largest freshwater lake on earth (by surface area). It offers an abundance of wildness and beauty that inspires many of my photographs. I live with close friends and we spend our days farming, foraging, swimming, star gazing, dancing and all other manner of living in a highly seasonally dependent area. I find my calm in working with nature, growing things. We keep a small garden in the backyard and I love documenting the tiny buds as they first emerge to greet the light, and as they unfurl and grow
mirroring my own growth and change.
ALTER/ANALOG: What did you soup your film in?
ML: My current film soup is an aged apple cider wine with plums that my partner and good friend made last summer. Its a beautiful golden hued wine that I've been experimenting with lately. I set it out in the sun for a few days and then rinsed the roll out and let it dry in a container with a piece of stale bread. I have yet to send the roll out for development though but I'm eager to see the results.