100 People Project :: A High School Musician and a Photographer
Posted by Harvey on March 23, 2010
Emma Perri
Who are you?
I am a beginner musician.
What do you play?
The piano and then I “garage band” it up a lot.
Describe your perfect bite..
Multigrain bread with peanut butter and jelly. I like apricot jam with peanut butter and I know that sounds raunchy but it’s delicious. And Romaine lettuce, in the summer we grow it and I eat it all by itself.
Where do you find your inspiration?
From other people’s music and sometimes nature. I will see something really cool and thing’s just get made up in my mind.
Describe your music making process
Sometimes I write things in the notes of my phone and I’ll turn that into lyrics at home. I’ll write the melody with it.
What type of music do you play?
Mellow. Sometimes I like to indulge in experimental things.
Where can people hear your music?
On my MySpace Page.
You’re in high school, what are your plans after high school?
I might explore psychology and philosophy.
My Most embarrassing moment is …
Sometimes you mess up really bad. I had this concert on the 26th and I messed up 50 times maybe and I kept swearing. My dad was there and he’s never heard me swear before and I just swore about 6 times in a row.
You mentioned a second embarrassing moment, let’s hear it…
I was walking down Millcreek ravine alone. I was traversing this bridge and I passed this elderly couple, I said hello and they said the same. I didn’t realize there were 2 birds on each side, really big birds! As soon as I was in between them they flew over me and all around me and I screamed really loud and ran (Emma is afraid of birds).
What do you do for fun?
Hang out with my friends, go to concerts and movies or improv. My friends are in improve and I go watch them all the time.
Aminah Syed
Who are you?
A photographer with a really awesome day job.
What do you do for fun?
Play with my dog and I take pictures of my dog, Marty.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Hopefully with a full time photography business.
What inspires you to create?
Other photographers. I’m always looking and seeing what other people are doing. There are a lot of really creative people in Edmonton. Everybody interprets things differently. You could have four photographers shooting the same thing and have four totally different shots. Sometimes it’s refreshing to look at other photographers work as inspiration because you wouldn’t have thought to try that angle or that lens. It can add a new perspective to your own work in other situations. I also check diyphotography.net almost on a weekly basis to see what new things people are working on. I like to try and make my own photography gear before dropping an assload of money on something. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. So far I’ve gotten away with using a tin turkey roasting pan instead of a beauty dish.
What’s in your bag?
I always have my trusty 50 mm f/1.8 lens, my two L-series lenses that I’m paranoid about and have on my person at all times, my Speedlight and a Gary Fong lightsphere, and then the good stuff… gum gum gum, lip gloss, oil blotting sheets just in case the subject has a shiny forehead, some more gum and one time I found a stapler though I’m not sure why I had it. Oh and business cards. Lots and lots of business cards. And gum! I’m addicted to gum.
What advice do you have for a photographer just starting out?
Shoot, shoot lots. Any time there is an opportunity just go for it.
Describe your perfect bite…
My grandma’s butter chicken.
How can people book you?
They can go to my website.
What type of photography do you do?
Portraits and corporate headshots mostly.
What’s in your fridge?
A lot of expired food.
Your most embarrassing moment…
I spilled alfrado pasta all over Kevin Lowe’s very expensive suit.
Favourite walk around lens.
24-70 L 2.8
Craziest adventure?
I did a ride along with Edmonton Fire Department once. I got to spend a night at station 1 which is the busiest station in the city. We had no fire calls but it was interesting to sit down and chat with one of eight female firefighters on the whole force, to get their perspective on the city and then just for fun they did an aerial demonstration with station 3 (which is the technical rescue station). They hoisted me up in the aerial bucket about 30 ft maybe it was 40… and I took pictures of them while they repelled me down to the ground. It was a really awesome experience I don’t think I ever would have had if I didn’t have my camera and let it slip that I was scared of heights.
What can people appreciate about you?
My husband would say my sense of humour but he’s trained to say stuff like that.
What’s your biggest challenge?
People who don’t value photography but still want photos or people that don’t appreciate that some things take time. I find it really challenging when a client expects something like what Annie Leibovitz would do, but can only budget to give you 5 minutes of their time and they just start the clock and are like, “and… go!” You just have to grit your teeth, do the best you can do and then pray you can fix it in Photoshop.
Any advice for other photographers?
Aside from the “shoot till you can’t shoot no mo!” Don’t think you need all this fancy equipment to get the best shots. For Example: Don’t be scared to try and build your own light box instead of spending the dollars. Even if it doesn’t work out and you end up having to spend the money, at least in trying to build it yourself, you’ve learnt more and have a better understanding of the gear, the light and the reason behind it and that will make you a better photographer.
Kyle Fox – Mar. 23, 2010 at 11:17 a.m.
Karla – Mar. 29, 2010 at 4:27 p.m.