Meet Sabrina Mansury Sharifi: Freelance Photographer and Graphic Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sabrina Mansury Sharifi and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sabrina Mansury, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
I think the most important aspect of getting a move on is deciding where the heck you’re going, and for whom. I am always reminding myself of these things on my tough days. In March of 2018 I was diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkin Lymphoma and to be honest, I wanted to give up every day. It was incredibly difficult to find motivation and inspiration to do anything. I completed six months of chemotherapy and I’ve been in remission for two years now. That experience caused me to really reevaluate my life and what I valued most. It truly reminded me of my wonderful family and friends that I am so lucky to have, and my partner Tommy, who supported me every day and has never seen me as different. The silver lining through being sick was deciding that I would no longer spend my time on things that did not fill my heart with joy. I constantly reminded myself of my goals, and the people and places that I most wanted on that journey with me. Though the physical and emotional tolls were difficult to overcome, I am grateful for all that I learned about myself and those around me. I learned to see my days as either good or great. Good, when things go your way and you make it through, and great, when nothing goes your way and you still make it through.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
The majority of my personal work is centralized around analog photography and the photographic process. I’ve been shooting digital since I was a teenager, and first shot analog in 2014 when I transferred to the UC Irvine arts undergraduate program. That was the first time I had handled my own black and white film from start to finish – shooting, developing, printing and scanning. I have spent the last 2 years developing and scanning my own black and white, color, and color slide film at home. I began doing so in an effort to save money from increasingly expensive lab costs, and found a big piece of my heart along the way. Delving into analog over time became an incredibly rewarding and empowering experience. My ultimate goal is to share the analog process and teach others how to shoot, develop, print and scan on your own. Right now I do freelance work but I hope to open and operate my own community darkroom and provide a space for artists and photographers to learn and collaborate.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
It’s impossible to know where to begin! Ordinarily, there is never a shortage of things to do in Los Angeles. Some fun places to visit would be the Museum of Jurassic Technology in Culver City and the Velaslavasay Panorama in LA. They’re both very oddball pockets that house wonderful art. Though the world has changed so much, my favorite places in Los Angeles will always be its many music venues and DIY spaces. It feels odd to think about this topic because in the last year, the places I have frequented the most would probably be Echo Park Lake and Vista Hermosa Park. These days, parks are probably the first thing people think of when they want something to do or a place to go. I think Los Angeles is home to lots of great parks – Griffith Park, Elysian Park, Tierra de la Culebra, Exposition Park, Will Rogers. Vista Hermosa Park has a nice view of downtown while being strangely nestled away. I love to pack up my things and spend the afternoon outside, even just going for a walk and listening to music just for some sunshine. The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I owe everything to my parents and my sister. My parents are both Afghan immigrants who came to the United States in the 70s and later married in 1981. My sister was born in 89 and I came 5 years later. My parents and sister have been champions of my success, and have always supported my pursuits. I would say that I always knew I wanted to be an artist of some kind. While I don’t think my nuclear family and I really share in those trains of thought, I think the contrast in our interests has made our individual pursuits even more fascinating in that we are always teaching each other new things. My sister is a licensed marriage and family therapist, and she has a much more textbook approach to life. She has really been my anchor and her strength and determination have been a constant source of inspiration for me. Last but certainly not least, I really owe so much to my partner Tommy. He is incredibly hardworking and his creativity and unique style inspire me to grow and challenge myself as an artist. I am very blessed to have a great support system that believe in my sometimes crazy ideas.

Website: www.sabmanshar.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/sabmanshar

Image Credits
Alejandra Lara