Meet Elizabeth West | Photographer & Visual Artist

Hi Elizabeth, how do you think about risk?
I have finally begun to appreciate that risks are a necessary part of life.  My experimental and non-traditional approach to photography is what has kept me engaged and curious to explore different ways of capturing images.  By taking risks with my camera in terms of the physical process (and not worrying so much about the technical aspects), I’m willing to try things that defy the traditional rules of photography and approach the making of an image more imaginatively.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As an abstract impressionistic photographer, my photographic process is almost always experimental and exploratory.  Using plants and flowers as my subjects, I like to get down on their level to find the spaces in between.  Often the photo I first conceptualized will transform into something completely different, and I have to let go of the initial idea.  I believe that frees me up creatively as well, so that I’m not attached to any specific outcome.  By trying various focal lengths and multiple exposures to create layered, dreamlike, and painterly effects, a new perspective manifests.

My most recent series called “Il Giardino” is an ethereal compilation of images taken throughout a community gardens project.   I wanted the viewer to feel as though they are a part of the garden itself (seeing it as a bird or insect might) as opposed to just an outside observer.  These images were taken over the course of one summer season, and every day, the plants would transform, the light would fluctuate, and I was lured back into “the garden” with my camera.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week-long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

• Take a stroll through Palisades Park in Santa Monica, which has insane views and sunsets over Malibu and the Pacific, along with birds of paradise and sweeping canopies of Canary Island date palm trees overlooking the ocean. Conveniently Primo Passo on Montana Ave is nearby for coffee or espresso.

• In Venice Beach, have a quick bite or lunch/dinner at Gjusta, which has an amazing bakery.

• Will Rogers State Historic Park is perfect for hiking trails and picnics.

• Take a drive down PCH to Malibu to find Westward Beach and Pirate’s Cove in Point Dume

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Luckily, I’ve had many people in my life who’ve supported my artistic endeavors. My father, who is an artist, has always encouraged me to be creative and as a kid, to draw cartoons and sketches or write poems and stories. Whenever I shared my work with him, he always applauded it and made me feel like I had created a masterpiece, which gave me the confidence to continue creating.  He also loves sharing his creations with the world, even when they are not finished, and that has taught me to surpass my tendency to wait until everything has been perfected before getting an outsider’s opinion about my works in progress.

My fiance Geoff, who is fiercely dedicated to his craft, and is an expertly trained/highly disciplined musician, has also taught me a great deal about what it means to be constantly evolving as an artist. In my many moments of doubt, he has a way of relating that is honest, genuine, and meaningful. He has reminded me time and time again, that there is no right or wrong way to make your art and that it’s ok to feel like you don’t know what you’re doing.  What is most important to remember is that all artists struggle creatively at one time or another, even the ones who may seem like they have it all figured out.