Words & Images by Samantha Sutcliffe

Interview by Athena Abdien

Why did you pursue image-making?

When I first started photography I used the camera as an excuse to be somewhere that I didn't belong. It gave me a reason to explore my surroundings. I think a lot has changed since then, especially the way images circulate. I think the camera can be rather invasive because of how we are constantly being observed so I'm very careful now of who I photograph.

I continue to make images because I want to capture what's left of the truth and I feel a responsibility to make work about complex topics because relating to another person's experience is enough to save you from the pain. I'm interested in subverting subjects that are glamorized in the media. Marketing and fetishization are really interesting to me. I've become very fixated on the lies we've been told.

Recently I took a lot of my photographs offline because my work doesn't fit into an easily digestible narrative. I don't think complex topics around sexuality, addiction and gender should be about consumption. I am much more interested in circulating the images to art collectors because the people I photograph are rarely seen the way I show them and that's what gives value to the work. I want the photographs to be in front of people who are not aware of the emotional depth of the issues I am focusing on.

What inspires you as a Director, Writer and Photographer?

Day to day life inspires me. I spend a lot of time observing my surroundings, writing and listening to the radio. My influences are suburbia, all walks of life, especially the underdogs, people you wouldn't see in magazines, anything that doesn't fit into the mainstream narrative, people who challenge societal norms or live on the outskirts of society and controversial or taboo subjects.

How did the process of creating your series of portraits come to be?

For my personal work I retraced the footsteps of my youth so I started to explore the places in New Jersey where I grew up. I spend most of my time in places that are under the radar where I feel most comfortable. Lately I've been frequenting a porn theater. I become friends with people who I meet on the street. It's very organic for me. There will be a mutual exchange and we end up working one on one for many years taking portraits and recording interviews. I process the film, make contact sheets and print in the darkroom. It's a slow process. The project has three sections. Broken Mirror, Under the Shadows and Desperate Risks. Right now my goal is to create an archive that contains the images and interviews so future generations can learn from it.

When working on fashion campaigns I like to photograph public facing figures and cast them as characters people would least expect. I like to challenge stereotypes and online personas. I have a big imagination and part of the process is writing fictional stories that I can storyboard and turn into video campaigns for fashion brands.