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Aeschleah DeMartino website: aeschleah.com
Carpaccio Magazine: Tell us something about you (Who are you, what do you do, where are you from…)
Aeschleah: My name is Aeschleah DeMartino. I’m 26 years old. I moved to San Francisco from Los Angeles after high school to study photography. I graduated from The San Francisco Art Institute in 2007 with a BFA and have since been pursuing my career in photography. When I’m not shooting a job or bartending to pay for rent and film; you can usually find me basking in the park, cooking, Netflixing HBO series’ or scouting for my next shoot. Although, all the work I am getting in San Francisco is commercial, I am constantly working on my fashion book. Doing conceptual/fashion ad campaigns and editorials is my dream. I know the industry is in New York, but I’m crossing my fingers that something big will happen for me in the comfort of this amazing city.
CM: When and how did you start taking photos? What are your favorite cameras and why?
A: My Father dappled in photography when I was growing up, so it was always around. But at that time, I only had interest in being in front of the camera, which is kinda funny because I take a lot of self-portraits now. As a kid, I was always making art and being creative in some way, but photography seemed too mechanical. I remember one day my Dad walked into my room and found my vanity stacked on my bed with me balancing on it, painting my ceiling black with a tiny paint brush. I painted a mural of a galaxy over my bed and stuck on hundreds of tiny glow-in-the-dark dots for stars. And then in high school, I took a photo class and quickly realized photography was my calling. I visited a few schools I was considering and fell in love with SFAI. There, I learned to appreciate photography as a fine art. So, I shoot film. I have a digital camera that I use for certain jobs, but my Mamyia 7II is my baby. I also love shooting large-format. I’m saving up for a Toyo! Shooting film is very euphoric for me. When I shoot digitally, I sort of snap away, knowing that I can edit later. With analog cameras, I really think about every single, little detail and when I get “the shot”; I feel it. It’s the best feeling.
CM: Where do you find inspiration? What are your influences and other artists you like?
A: All my concepts start from a location. Once I find a location that inspires me; the ideas start flowing. When I’m in the space, I imagine the models, their moods, wardrobe, etc. Then I’ll go home and start developing the concept and research inspiration shots. My favorite photographer right now is probably Steven Klein. I’ve always loved Guy Bourdin, David LaChappelle, Terry Richardson and Nikki S. Lee. A lot of artists that inspire me are photographers I find on flickr too. I’m pretty competitive, so I like to see what my peers are doing.
CM: If you couldn’t take photos, what would you do?
A: Die. Man, I can’t imagine my life without photography. I know I’d find some kind of artistic outlet, but who knows… I really want to learn to play the cello. I think it’s such a sexy instrument.
CM: How do you see yourself ten years from now? Are you working on a future project?
A: I might have to buckle down and move to New York. I’m trying to stick it out for as long as possible, but it’s a big possibility in my near future. And I’ll be 36 ten years from now, so I’ll probably be making babies. They’ll be bi-lingual because my Latina nanny will speak solely Spanish to them while I’m at work shooting huge ad campaigns and editorial spreads. That’s the plan, anyway.
I’ve got tons of projects and ideas stacked up, but if I tell you, someone might steal them! I am working on a self-portrait project with my friend, Jessica Domino. It’s called The Alphabet Project. We’ve been working on it for a long time. In alphabetical order, we switch off mailing each other a word of our choosing for the other to make a photo about along with the print from the previous letter. We’re on N and it’s my turn. It’ll probably be another year before we get to Z. No one has seen the images. We’re really excited.
CM: Do you have any advice for new emerging artists? (and/or) Do you want to add anything?
A: I don’t know if other artists experience this, but I go on creative roller coasters. Where sometimes I’m on a roll and can’t stop taking pictures and then sometimes I feel like everything I’m making is shit. I get really depressed and stop shooting. But the only way to get out of that slump is to shoot your way out. As discouraging as it feels, you have to pick up the camera and create until you make something great again.
credits:
photography: aeschleah
wardrobe stylist: erin frederick
hair stylists: melissa ruiz & kristina goett
makeup artist: elizabeth salamanca
models: morgan [at] FORD & alexandra [at] NEXT
This post is also available in: Spanish
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