It’s always bothered me that you’re not supposed to smile for official ID pictures. Whether it’s for your passport or your driver’s license, the person in charge always asks you to take off your earrings, push your hair back, and look at the camera with a blank expression on your face. By doing so, the picture looks more “official” and you look more “neutral,” without a single trace of any of the quirks, flaws, and unique characteristics that make up your identity. But isn’t that really boring? Wouldn’t it be cooler and more interesting if these pictures captured you in all your weird and beautiful glory?
That is the main idea behind the photography of Parker Day, the Los Angeles-based artist who created the photos you’re about to see. She makes colorful and eccentric portraits of people who inspire her in some way, making sure that each image encapsulates her subject’s identity perfectly. Cultura Colectiva asked her some questions about her two series: ICONS and Possession, and here are her responses.
Where’s the Party?
Pall Mall
Say Cheese!
1. How and when did you start making portraits? What made you choose this form?
I started shooting portraits in my very first photo class in high school. I shot moody black and white portraits of my friends in front of graffiti and brick walls (so cliché!). Then, when I was at the Academy of Art University and started shooting color slide film, I began creating characters out of my friends and having them perform for the camera. I’ve always gravitated to one-on-one interaction and believe the camera can facilitate connection and communication between people. Not just between subject and photographer but between subject and audience and photographer and audience.
2. What do you look for in a subject?
Uniqueness. Fire in the eyes. Memorability. I seek out the kind of people you see once and can’t shake from your head. Those who feel familiar and mysterious at the same time.
Package
Temperature
