WHO? My name is Sonia Fitoussi. I was born and raised in Paris where I studied law. I was working as a lawyer when I had the opportunity to move to London with my family in 2004. I have discovered London with my little Canon G7, all in automatic mode, and when I showed my photos to a gallery in South Kensington, they offered me an exhibit. From then on, everything started, and I took photography very seriously. I have learnt through courses, books, and workshops. One of them was at Magnum in Paris with Matt Stuart and Richard Kalvar. I still think of their advice every day while photographing.
Interviews
Interview with Cosmin Garlesteanu
WHO? I live in Bucharest, Romania, I’m 36 and I’m addicted to photography. Especially to street photography. When I was a boy, I dreamed of becoming a choreographer or to work in the music industry, but I ended up graduating from the Academy of Economic Studies.
Interview with Alexandra Avlonitis
WHO? I am Alexandra Avlonitis, Brooklyn-born and living in Manhattan my entire adult life. I pursued my interest in art starting in my high school years – I studied drawing at the Art Students League and elsewhere – but detoured off that path when I was obliged to select a career choice. I succumbed to the pressures of pursuing a professional degree and went to law school instead.
Interview with Polly Rusyn
WHO? My name is Polly Rusyn, I’m a London-based pro photographer with a few prior careers including being a graphic designer, an adventure travel tour leader, and a commercial product manager in the travel industry.
Interview with Hiroshi Tabata
WHO? My name is Hiroshi Tabata. I’m originally from Japan, but I have lived in the U.K. for almost half of my life now. I used to travel a lot, and photography was a big part of it. As the priorities in life change, I had been away from traveling and then photography as well. However, it was around the end of 2015 when I started shooting on the streets as a routine.
Interview with Kristin Bethge
WHO? My name is Kristin Bethge and I live in Berlin and Rio de Janeiro. I’m working as a photographer. I’m wandering around with a small backpack. When I’ve seen something, which rise my attention, I will take out my discreet camera. After taking the photo, I put my camera back in my backpack. Maybe that’s a way of describing who I am when I’m taking photos.
Julia Coddington in Conversation with the Women of UP
MEG HEWITT: When and why did you take up photography?
JULIA CODDINGTON: I’ve always photographed. I’ve always been creative and interested in art and music, but growing up on a farming property in NSW I had little access to the arts until I headed off to boarding school in Sydney when I was 12. As a kid I had a Kodak instamatic and Polaroid camera and took lots of photos of family and friends. As a young traveller I took travel photos and as a mum of three kids I was the one behind the camera. I have boxes and boxes of photos of the kids. It was largely about collecting memories.
Interview with Albin Brassart
WHO? My name is Albin Brassart, I am 46 years old and I live in Paris, but not for much longer. The mountains, the Alps, and another life is calling me, my wife and my two daughters. I discovered photography because my father was a still life photographer. I spent a lot of time in his studio, but never learned anything until he gave me his Nikkormat and a 35mm lens—which was gathering dust—for my 16th birthday. From then on, I started buying all kinds of cameras, completely possessed and obsessed with photography.
Interview with M. Aviña
WHO? I am a frustrated creative from a family of creative people. Based on my observation I have to say there is a creative drive that may be genetic.
Interview with Sonia Madrigal
WHO? My name is Sonia Madrigal, a woman originally from Nezahualcóyotl, a city located on the eastern outskirts of Mexico City. My family came from different parts of the country to live in this city that was in development in the 1960s. Except for one year, I have spent my whole life in Neza.