INTERVIEW NO. 6 (DIANA WANG)

Diana Wang

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

How did you start off in photography?

My dad bought me a Sony Cybershot in 6th grade for the sake of his vacaction photos and was thoroughly disappointed when I ran off to take pictures of the landscape and exotic animals. That is the start of my interest in photography.





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

I live in a small town in southern Michigan. Out of the three cities I have lived in (Beijing, Vancouver, and here), this serene town has been able to provide me with a tranquility that I was never able to have before. There is a quiet freedom that is exclusive to here, and I wouldn't trade it to live anywhere else.




Do you have any cool plans for spring/summer 2010?


I am leaving for Japan for the first time in my life this summer. I have been obsessed with Japanese culture a few years back, which makes this a dream come true for me. Also I will be in China visiting my family, as I do every year. I hope the fruit of this cross-continental trip will be an endless stream of photographs that will capture of the essence of these two countries.

(Blogger note: this interview was posted after she left for Asia; therefore, some photos from her trip are featured here)




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


I really want to explore the infinite possibilities that are created through different lighting techniques. Also, I would love to get my hands on a tilt-shift lens.




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


I have many peers that are currently affecting how I see things everyday; however, my greatest inspiration has to be my dad, whom has a secret creative eye that is buried by his professional life. Although he only uses his camera on his bland vacations, there are always subtle hints of creative beauty that exhibits in his every photo.




What are five things you couldn't live without?


My Mac, my iPod, my phone, the pillow that I hug to sleep every night, and of course, my Canon 7D.




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


I am always inspired by the photos, album covers, and music of musicians. I guess there isn't one single person that definitely inspires me, but rather musicians in general.




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

One of my favorites is a picture of my car taken at four in the morning. I was leaving for Bay City to watch the sunrise with my cousin Anqi and caught a photograph of the glory that is my Mercury Milan. I am sickly in love with my car, although it has suffered many scars. The photo is basically of the love of my life.




What does photography mean to you?


Photography is my way of documenting our complex and incomprehensible world through a veil of beauty. Sometimes we are unable to appreciate the wonders around us unless it's through a freeze frame in a photograph.




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

I would perhaps spend this miraculous day with Will Wiesenfeld, the music-maker under the name of Baths. I am terribly glued to his music, and the laid back visuals he puts into his work. I also dig his mutton chops.




What's your current music?


My current music includes the later albums of the Beatles, and almost every artist signed to Anticon, an avant garde record label. They have signed Baths, Why?, Tobacco, to name a few.




Have you ever or would you ever shoot nudes? Why or why not?


I have never shot nudes, yet I definitely would love to. The human body is beautiful, and no part of it should be taboo.




What would you like to ask our next interviewee?

Where is a good place to get some cheap second-hand lenses? Hook a brotha up.




Thanks very much for letting me interview you, Diana!

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