INTERVIEW NO. 1 (KARA MARKEE)

Kara Markee | 18 years old | Grand Blanc, MI

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How did you start off in photography?

It’s an interesting little story really. I go on a lot of cruises in the Caribbean / Bahama islands – in fact, I’ve been on maybe seven of them in my lifespan thus far. Anyways, it was about three or four years ago when I really got started. My mom and I were in Key West, Florida, and we rented a little motorized car to cruise around in. While she was driving, I was snapping random photos with my little digital camera, when I spotted a man standing on the side of the road holding a sign saying “US Out of Iraq Now”. I quickly took a photo, and was actually awfully proud of it. I started looking into the composition of the picture – not just, “hey, this looks neat,” but more or less what aspects made the photo unique. It may be a stupid little story, but hey, it’s mine.




Tell us a little bit about the city/town/neighborhood you live in.


It’s a small town, yet it’s bustling, and about three minutes away from the nation’s third most dangerous city. Needless to say, it adds a bit of spice to the mix. Ask anybody that lives here – it’s a love hate relationship. You love it because it’s your home, it’s where all your memories will stay forever. You hate it for the people and how there’s nothing to do. Then again, I assume it’s that way for people who live just about anywhere. Me, I don’t mind it too much. It’s my roots.




What's your favorite animal, and why?


Owls and Orcas. Both are such intelligent creatures, and both derive from two of the things I loved growing up. Harry Potter (say what you please, it’s an excellent piece of literature), and the ocean. As a child I traveled a lot, and always came to find myself on the ocean. Naturally I would begin looking into the things I couldn’t see for myself; meaning, the creatures below it. Orcas fascinate me. Not to mention, they do some awfully impressive tricks at Sea World, and who can deny that!




Are there any themes that you like to explore through your photography, and if so, what?


I like to express things as how they are, not as how the world would like to perceive them to be. Let’s all face it, we live in a pretty messed up world. Why sugar coat what is fact? I like edgy, racy concepts, and have no shame in executing them. I don’t value discretion.




Are there any photographers you know in real life who've affected you?


Many of my peers who have worked and worked to improve their skills, often from the bottom up. We aren’t all blessed with large sums of money, but we make do with the things we do have.




If you could photograph anything in the world, what would it be?


Anything racy. Truly, I have no set desire to photograph one certain thing. I just want to make a difference. Basically, I want to photograph anything that will send a message to people. Something that will open their eyes, or perhaps make them think of something in a new light. That’s all I really want to do.




Who is/are your inspiration(s) in photography?


Nicole Rork and Markus Klinko & Indrani. Nicole Rork is from around my area, and she specializes in band and wedding photography. By no means is she world renowned, I simply admire her for knowing her roots. Not to mention, I’ve always wanted to tinker in band photography, but been far too scared to take my dear camera into a mosh pit! Markus Klinko & Indrani are more well known – in fact, you’ve probably seen their work and not really realized it was theirs. The shot that captured my full attention was the Hello Kitty / Lady GaGa shoot. Their wacky concepts and execution never cease to amaze me.




Which is your favorite photo that you've taken? Is there a story behind it?


To be honest, I can’t choose a favorite. I sat and mulled over this question for a few minutes, but I can’t bring myself to do it. Each photo I’ve ever taken has its own individual story – something funny, a triumph, a failure. Each is special to me in its own way. One cannot top the other.




What are your long-term future plans? Do they involve photography?


Long-term, I plan / hope to work for Disney. While I didn’t have a completely horrible childhood, there were some moments that were less than desirable. And I know for a fact that there are other children out there that were like me, and even worse off than me, and I want to be able to make something that will bring a smile to their faces, like most things Disney related did when I was young, and still does now! Whether that involves photography or not – although I do plan on minoring in it in college – so be it.




If you had a day to spend with anyone alive, dead, or fictional, who would it be?


J.K. Rowling and Lady GaGa. Both for their endless amounts of creativity, and their abstract ways of executing it in various forms. Walt Disney, for putting a smile on the faces of people of all ages.





What's your current music?


LADY GAGA. You may call it an obsession if you please. Unicorn Kid, Portugal the Man, Miike Snow, Discovery. There’s an abundance of others.




If you had a museum of your own, what would be in it?


Animal remains / fossils. I find them far more fascinating that anything humans have to offer.




What would you like to ask our next interviewee?


What are your views on people who "overly edit" their photos using an editing program?




Thanks very much for letting me interview you, Kara!

To view more of Kara's work, click here!