Today we’d like to introduce you to Annie Claflin.
Hi Annie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Thank you so much for inviting me to share my passion for photography. I’m thrilled to speak with you today and to tell you my story.
I was born into a family of total shutterbugs, so you could say that photography was in my DNA. My mother, my step-father, my sister, and my grandmother all had cameras, so no birthday or holiday went undocumented. I clearly remember the phone calls from the photo lab announcing that our prints were ready, and the ensuing trips to pick up, hold, and view a new set of glossy color photos. My mother has albums upon albums of my childhood.
By the time I entered grade school, my family became so obsessed with photography that we built a darkroom in the basement of my childhood home. I was gifted my first 110 film camera and I too became obsessed with photography. By 18, I was fully committed to the profession so every chance I got, I sought out gigs assisting editorial and commercial photographers while attending New England School of Photography and then Massachusetts College of Art and Design. I’ve been engrossed in the world of photography ever since.
After college, I was lucky enough to work as the Color Print Department Head at a small photo lab in Boston until it closed (RIP photo labs). I remained dedicated to my craft by assisting photographers, and eventually landed back at New England School of Photography as the Assistant to the Academic Director. I loved being surrounded by budding photographers finding themselves in their work. I bonded with the students, faculty and staff at NESOP, some of whom I still converse with to this day. I found my people and started to build a community of artists.
Because I’m an academic at heart, I continued my education at Boston University, earning my Master’s in Arts Administration. I worked at the Danforth Museum in Boston, then as the Fine Art Photography Specialist at Skinner Auctioneers. It felt like a dream; I held and meticulously inspected photographic prints by artworld legends. This helped push my own creative boundaries, inspiring the ongoing photography-based project, “Minor Imperfections”, one of the major areas of my work that propels me artistically today.
Once my husband and I moved to Los Angeles in 2013, I expanded my career by consulting for art collectors and dealers while working as a commercial and family portrait photographer. While making images of other families in addition to my own, my artistry and personal narrative blended and re-emerged.
We made our last move to San Diego in January of 2020 which was incredibly stressful. The shock of raising a young child in a pandemic combined with the pressures of motherhood drove me to photograph myself, my son and my family in a new way. Ultimately, I ended up with a series of images paired with candid diary entries titled “Covidity 2020”. This portfolio explores the complexities of motherhood, especially under duress. I also circled back to the “Minor Imperfections” project, re-examining lifelong trials, tribulations and ongoing struggles with my mental health.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The past two years have been incredibly challenging, compounded by the ongoing psychological strains of Covid-19. But, this strange time has allowed me to become more open and honest about my artwork as I work through what holds me back and what keeps me going. By being more vulnerable, I’m sharing my experience of the world and connecting with others, which allows me to heal.
Making artwork forces me to live in a less comfortable space. I love a challenge, yet, it can be terrifying to experiment with new concepts, processes, and aesthetics, searching for something that may never come together. The risk is worth it though; I find myself more curious about what photography can be and how else it can be incorporated into other artforms. My artwork has changed directions because of my curiosity, and I think I am a more well-rounded artist because of it.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am excited about the trajectory of my self-portrait series, “Minor Imperfections”. One of these collages was selected as a finalist for the 2021 Kuala Lumpur Photo Awards. A second image from this series was just featured in the Creative Portrait exhibit at Los Angeles Center of Photography and is also scheduled to be exhibited at the LA Art Show in January 2022.
I am currently producing more self-portraits as a part of this series for a group exhibition at the Griffin Museum of Photography in the Boston area, slated for March of 2022. I am thrilled about all of these opportunities and the years of artmaking ahead of me.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
I don’t necessarily have just one favorite memory, but a series of times in a place I hold dear. A lifetime of summers in Maine largely shaped who I am. One of my favorite times of day, especially on the beach, is dusk – it’s so surreal. In this light, landscapes look drastically different than they did just a few minutes prior. It’s quiet and vacant on the beach at this hour. On the longest of summer days drifting into summer nights, I ventured out by myself at this near-dark hour. With sparklers in hand and a portable tape player at my feet, I listened to Lionel Richie, George Michael and Madonna, just twirling, making light marks in the air and dancing footmarks in the sand. One time, at the forefront of my memories, must have been around the 1984 Olympic games because I imagined I was meticulously executing a rhythm gymnastics routine. The freedom I feel while creating artwork reminds me of those musically-inspired childhood moments.
Contact Info:
- Email: annie@annieclaflin.com
- Website: https://www.annieclaflin.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annieclaflin
Image Credits
Portrait of Annie against a red wall by: Stacy Keck All other images copyright: Annie Claflin
