Let’s say my name is J. Labbe and I am an Etsy seller based in Massachusetts. I am affiliated with Etsy’s own P.O.E. (Photographers of Etsy). I was shown the ways of photography by my father. I have spent every day since perfecting my photography to my vision. With photography, you can not have a favorite color combination. Georgia O’Keefe said it best “I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way - things I had no words for.” This is how I feel about my photography.
The first thing that I made with my hands- Stick figures with stick trees and I sure there was some kind of construction-crayon-marker mix in there too. Why I did this…. I don’t know.
Inspiration comes from the world around me and if you ever looked through my extensive photo library you would see that I don’t discriminate on any photograph. Something in the photograph grabbed my attention and taught me something. Not one thing inspires me per say but all things and people inspire me.
My ideas come from my brain. OK seriously I would say half of them come from other artists and the other half from the people around me. My Faith Series was inspired by Steve McCurry, a world renowned photographer. It was part of a photography project in a workshop I took. Again, the world around me is an idea bonanza! An example of this is my newest series Life in Color. I was walking next to the Charles River and saw color on a bland background.
Materials. Well one would definitely have to be my Pentax. I use Kodak and HP Paper for printing. I am currently loving my new found love for Mica board, which my Ready Hangs are made on. As far as an absolute favorite, I don’t think I have one.
Handmade, you know you are getting quality and the satisfaction that you are actually paying someone for their talent. You get a satisfaction that what ever it is you buy that the person making it - or capturing a moment in time - enjoys doing making what ever it is.
Wisdom on selling handmade. Be persistent and promote yourself as much as you can. Have a website or blog and social networking is a big boost for your business.
A invaluable lesson I have learned from being an artist is being observant and paying attention. Another is being able to adapt to a situation, which is a constant struggle for me as I am shy and more apt to keep to myself. I would say photography is helping me break out of my shell.
A side from my capturing a moment in time I work at a local university and assist students in a graduate program and help maintain a speech center. I am extremely interested in World War II history and am constantly buying books on it.
Favorite Movie: The Day the Earth Stood Still (circa 1950s); I appreciate the fact that they had to be super creative in how they created sets or sounds. Not like today where a set can be created by using a blue screen and computers.
Favorite Book: The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick. It is just so fascinating to think of what would have happened if the United States never got involved in WWII. I read it once a year and always in the summer.
Personal Website:
www.whataboutphotos.com Etsy:
whataboutphotos.etsy.com Twitter:
whataboutphotos.twitter.com Facebook:
www.facebook.com/pages/What-About-Photos/343055318216
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Thanks and Enjoy… Always Create!
