Dissolving Film: "You Just Know When The Time Is Right" : An Interview with Karen Davis

In our interview with 20 year old artist Karen Davis, we discuss the beginnings of her journey with photography as well as how her creative process has grown and evolved. The interview is accompanied by a number of Karen's photos, taken mostly on 35mm film, and a few of her poems. Her very ethereal and femme photos are simply breathtaking, and we hope you will take a few minutes out of your day to check them out and to read on below for a closer look into her work.

To see more of Karen’s work, follow her on Instagram.

DISSOLVING FILM: When did you pick up your first camera? Did you always know you wanted to be a photographer?

KAREN DAVIS: I would say, I have always taken film photos since I was a young child. But the first time I actually planned and did a photo shoot I immediately fell in love with photography and each detail that goes into taking photos. But I was 5 or 6! I also got very inspired by this short film called "Blow Up My Town."

What or who do you find yourself drawing inspiration from? Has this changed as you have evolved as a person + artist/writer?

I draw most of my inspo from movies definitely! Stanley Kubrick, Alfred Hitchcock, so many directors inspire me. And art wise Gillian Wearing, Nan Goldin, Martin Parr, and so many more inspire my work.

Your work has a very ethereal, intimate quality to it. How do you decide to document these moments?

Most of the time I will get inspired and just do a shoot, most of the time my shots are planned but I have a lot of personal photographs from special moments in my life that I admire just as much as my planned photos, you just know when the time is right!

What do you think your favorite photo you have ever taken is?

I have this photograph, it's for my book, it's my friend Lucy and she is posing with a horse and I think it is probably one of the most unique and beautiful photographs I have ever captured.

Could you tell us more about the photos you submitted?

Each photo I have submitted, even if it was a part of the same shoot, I feel tells its own story to the person who is looking.

I try not to describe too much detail until someone speaks about it.

Can you elaborate on what goes through your mind when trying to write poetry? How do you choose what photo(s) to pair with the certain poem?

Usually, like other writers, I get very inspired when I am going through a lot. Usually I find old family photos with my poetry cause I think it gives it something to look deeper into and what each poem will mean to someone else.

When I read others' poetry I like to imagine how I would feel or how this person would feel or be like so that's why I pair photographs with my poetry.