Spotlight On…

Today the Spotlight shines on different territory as we talk with Gena Mohwish about her stunning photography, how rules don’t establish beauty, and what it means to be candid.

First off, tell us a bit about yourself. Where are you from? What fires you up? Is the world ever going to end?

i am finding that where i am from has had more of an impact on me than i would have hoped for. i am just trying to make it all come together without tearing it apart, although that seems impossible sometimes. i don’t like thinking about the inevitable destruction of the world. or maybe i just don’t like thinking about the inevitable destruction of myself.

Tell us about the differences between a posed and a candid shot? Is one superior to the other? Why?

a posed shot captures what someone wants to portray, whereas a candid shot captures verity. i don’t like comparing things to one another when it comes to superiority, but personally, i like candid shots better; although i’m sure the subject being photographed would disagree. i think it comes down to people’s inability to control things that makes their preferences differ from mine. i do completely understand and empathize with those who dislike being photographed candidly though, as it is a vulnerable situation to be in.

What can a photograph deliver that a piece of writing can’t? What can writing deliver that a photograph can’t?

a photograph and a piece of writing can both offer whatever you want them to offer — they’re completely interpretive. they are able to convey the same things, but not concretely. both have the potential to deliver imagery and sentiment… but only if you are receptive to them. i enjoy photography more than writing because it allows me to visually illustrate an experience and let people absorb whatever they’d like, instead of describing a situation and having a person envision it in their minds. both forms of art are essentially the same, the methods of delivery simply differ.

What I like best about your photos is that so many of them seem to capture an “essence”, some aspect of either character or situation that is perfectly revealed, wholly formed, and leaping from the image. Is this something that’s learned or natural? Both?

i suppose the ability is natural, because i’m not sure how you can learn something such as that. i just take photos of things that i want other people to witness when it’s impossible for them to be there to experience it along with me. i also have a lot of help from my soulmate, jereme, when it comes to finding content for photos. sometimes when i don’t see a photo opportunity and he does, he’ll encourage me to take a photo. several of my photos are the product of jereme’s help and unique perspective. additionally, i believe that in my situation, it’s not so much my skill, as it is the things going on around me that make my photographs so special. i feel as though i am fortunate to live in a place where bizarre things happen daily. i am lucky to not only witness these out of the ordinary incidents, but also to photograph them. it’s the experiences that are what make the photos interesting, i just happen to capture them.

Speaking of that, writers talk about learning their craft. Does photography have craft? Are there rules that dictate, generally, what makes a good photo?

i suppose photography could have a craft, but i don’t really pay attention to whether or not it does. i don’t like the concept of “rules” even though they are necessary in life. in photography, rules aren’t really there to dictate a good photo in my opinion, but rather serve as a foundation, as with any other art. solely following the rules of something doesn’t determine its beauty and value — really, it’s ultimately the individual’s decision as to what factors make the photo special. to me, i feel as though my best photos are taken at night with different lights around so i can capture the colorful ambiance. i also like experimenting with photographing reflective surfaces and sneaking myself into photos of other people, which has become somewhat of a theme for me. ultimately, i believe that what is captured in a photograph and what emotions it evokes is what matters most, not whether or not you follow certain rules.

Will you show us your favorite three photos, either yours or someone else’s? Tell us what attracts you to each shot, what makes them great.

– this was the first time that i captured genuine isolation in a photo. i remember the day i took it. i was outside of a laundromat in anaheim, california, and i saw a young boy through the window. he looked like he was yearning to be on the outside world, which i could see reflected in the glass of the window. after i took the photo, i ended up having a conversation in spanish with the boy , along with his sister, whose melancholy i also have a photo of. both of them seemed really grateful to have someone talk to them, and their despondence was relieved up until the point where their mother said, “es hora para ir a la casa.”

– the photo below is not aesthetically one of my favorite photos, but the emotions attached to it make it special to me. i was at venice beach with my soulmate, jereme, and my best friend, jojo. as soon as the sun began to set, the sky visually transformed on average of once every 5 minutes. my surroundings reminded me of something other-worldly. at one point, i looked slightly to the left of the rocks pictured, directly into the ocean. in that moment, i had a sudden urge to swim out into the horizon incessantly, simply because for once, i was unafraid of the unknown.

– every time i look at this photo (below), its mystery and lack of clarity makes the desire arise to someday absorb the colors of my surroundings while in an altered state of consciousness incomparable to reality. maybe then my mind will then be enveloped in beauty, even if it is only transitory.

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– the above photo haunts me for the following reasons: i always wonder what happened to that pigeon to make its chest seem as though it had exploded from the inside out; i always wonder if it ultimately lived or died, since it seemed as though nothing about its reality was different; and, i always wonder how i would have felt if i had touched it, as i was very close to doing so.

Has a photo ever changed your world-view or altered how you live your life?

there haven’t really been photos that have changed my perspective, but rather the personal experiences during which i’ve captured certain photographs. i like to enjoy art, but i value the experience that goes along with it much more.

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gena mohwish is trying.