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Kristin Viens by Jennifer Tell Imagination: A Photographer’s Sport Article rating: 9.50

A picture forces us to use a powerful tool called our imagination.  It is from this area of the brain which our dreams, our nightmares, and our memories are created and stored.  A photographer can use their ideas to be the catalyst which opens your mind to wonder and lets your imagination get carried away.  After viewing Kristin Viens photographs one might find them selves asking, “I wonder what she was thinking when she shot this?”

Kristin Viens is an up and coming young photographer who has the ability to force an impression, a question or amazement from her viewers.  For example, if you take a look at “Family Possessions,” you can’t help but be begged and riddled with questions about, let’s see what it’d be like sitting down at their dinner table?  Or maybe imagine what are they thinking of you?

The key tip to this photograph is that Kristin is trying to tell a story through an image.  Her subjects are actors, the casting, costuming and set dressing is produced by her, which leaves the writing of the script up to you.

Kristin won the very prestigious and honorable Mamiya Award of Excellence for this project and the photograph was published in the January/February 2003 edition of American Photo Magazine.

Another thought provoking photograph is “Daniel” where again Kristin uses her talent to inflame thought, “How’d she do that?”  From the lay person’s point of view this picture could seem like a fancy technical achievement digitally mastered on a personal computer, but it is not.  Kristin used a Polaroid I-zone camera to shoot the small photograph and then taped it on her subject’s forehead.  One shoot to boot!

The next picture that is a must see is “Pucker Up.”  Here Kristin took multiple pictures of her subject’s face, developed and printed them in the darkroom, and then mounted the prints.  At a second shoot, Mr. Face (Stephen) held the pictures close to his complexion and voila…puckered and ready!

Movie props can be expensive and budgets soar when it comes to Hollywood storytelling, but Kristin has been able to finance her one shot movies on a low budget.  Take the photo of “Bubbling in the Tub,” by using the bathroom in an old apartment the picture lends itself to allow for three snorklers to make the most of an old claw foot tub.  Using some old goggles and some fun and suds – ahoy, they have come from a land down under!

In the economy of a snapshot:  Who wants a ride?

Who needs the six dollar burger when you’ve got this baby

One of Kristin’s triumphs is that she has had to know few limits.  Her creativity often opens up the portals of possibility.  Then sometimes she finds the subject doesn’t need much more than the attention of her camera’s eye.  This dog really does exist. 

For the amateur shooter, it is clear Kristin is not afraid to illustrate her ideas.  To get her point across, various tools range from simply using her imagination, to using her Mamiya 645 Pro TL, and Kristin never forgets her sense of humor.  For the advanced shooter, Kristin uses Fuji for color NPS; NPH; Fuji Chrome ; Ilford (black/white film) HP5; FP4; SXF, prints on an Epson 2200, and uses Ilford paper (gallery, smooth pearl).

Like all of us, Kristin reached a point in her life where she had to decide what she was going to do.  She had grown up in Albany, New York and went to the Montana State University for Motion Picture Film.  She knew she had always enjoyed taking photographs, but like many of us, didn’t see her calling right away.  After dabbling in Motion Picture Production and directing her own short film, Kristin realized there was more out there she was after. Soul searching led her to the decision to go to school for photography.

After completing an intensified ten month long program in Massachusetts, Kristin has been able to pursue her passion for the art of the idea, both in developing her own and stimulating yours.  She tells a whole story with just one image.  How inspiring.

Please visit www.kristinviens.com for more information.

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