The “Photographer of the week” series is dedicated to highlighting photographers within the SCAD community that demonstrate unique abilities behind the lens. This week the Connector interviews Madd C-D, a 3rd year fine art photography student.
When did you start your photography journey and what does photography mean to you?
During my junior year of high school I convinced my mother to buy me my first camera as a Christmas present. I used photography as a way to connect to my peers and carried my little DSLR everywhere. I entered SCAD as a Fibers major, but after a year of exploration and growth (and of course convincing of my parents) I decided to become serious and switch my major. Now that I’m midway through my junior year I’m working on perfecting my craft and fine tuning my portfolio as much as I can before graduation.
Photography to me is an adaptable medium that has the ability to change as much as I do. I’m always learning new ways photography can be used to express my ideas. It also provides me an opportunity to allow my subconscious to peek through and make decisions. I trust my intuition when it comes to photography.
Where do you attain your inspiration?
Inspiration comes from anything that interests me. Like most people I’m still trying to find where my place in this world is so I explore everything. It’s helping me get a better understanding of what’s important and what I want to focus on. However, at the moment I’m inspired by how transcendental love is and the fear there is no such thing as unconditional love.
What is your creative process like per shoot?
I don’t have a set creative process for how I go about shooting. It depends on the shoot. For commercial shoots my approach is more calculated and I have a general idea about the shots I want. In my fine art work I take a documentary approach and allow the environment I’m in to shape the visual direction. I’ll then edit images individually before printing proofs and hanging them on a wall. Seeing my images in print allows me to see the full picture and weave the narrative together. By the end of this process I’ll have a complete set of images I’m content with.
What impact do you want to have on the industry?
I don’t have a definitive answer to this question. At the moment I simply want people to have an opinion on my work regardless of whether it is positive or negative. I want to be and feel seen.
What project(s) are you currently working on?
Currently I’m working on scanning and archiving my grandfather’s and mother’s film negatives. I’m home for winter quarter so I’m using this time to reorganize my catalog and work on projects outside of photography. I’ve been stuck in a twirl of nostalgia living at home for so long. I’m looking forward to returning to Savannah to continue more commercial work.
Is there any advice you’d like to leave to other aspiring photographers or SCAD students?
Experiment, try everything, shoot as much as you can, print your images, and sit with your work. Overall, be unapologetically yourself and perceptive of how you experience the world.
To see more of C-D’s work, you can visit their Instagram page or their website.
