Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashaka Mathews.
Ashaka, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was born and raised in Long Beach California. Growing up, I lived a sheltered life, as I was homeschooled through childhood. It wasn’t until I started college that I begin to explore a broader narrative in my life.
From a very young age, I was interested in photography and inspired by the movies, the characters, and storytelling. I was inspired by the works of photographers such as Cindy Sherman, Arnold Newman, and Walker Evans. Whether it was Sherman creating the narrative through herself with her series, “Untitled Film Stills,” or Newman capturing the narrative of his subjects by allowing the surrounding environment to become part of the story, or Evans’ ability to capture the story of the individual by showing the power of documentation of truth in time and space.
One of the first movies that really began to shape my perspective was Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather.” I am not just referring to the brilliance of the written dialog, but rather, the visual storytelling that was so evident throughout the film. The lighting was a very important part of the narrative in the film. Most noticeable to me was the juxtaposition of lighting when the family was doing its business; deep shadows and harsh light, versus the brighter and more colorful side the outside world sees from the family.
I began to see that I could blend the two in an artistic way. I truly enjoy working with people and creating stories that connect on an emotional level. And I believe it’s important to tell stories that show a diverse perception of the world. The environment, the lighting, all become characters in the story I’m trying to tell. I want to capture a performance, a live connection between the image and the viewer.
Great, 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?
Life has always been somewhat of a challenge, however, financial issues probably the most glaring problems in my life.
While I was attending college for Photography at Art Center College of Design, having a lack of finances made life very difficult at times, especially in my first few terms at the school. As my parents were struggling, they often did not have the money to help with school expenses. This led to me spending more time at the college than originally expected.
However, looking at this in hindsight, these struggles were the best thing that could have happened to me. I am absolutely a stronger individual because of this. I did eventually acquire enough scholarship money to continue my education.
So, I really cannot regret anything that has happened, because this allowed me to achieve a great deal more at the school than I would have had the opportunity too if I would have graduated through the program as planned. I met a lot of people that I otherwise would not have had the opportunity to meet; relationships that I truly cherish.
We’d love to hear more about what you do.
I am a photographer who has worked in various genres in my field, from product to event photography, however, I am most passionate about working with people. I am a portrait photographer who enjoys creating a cinematic narrative within each individual image. I mentioned earlier about the photographers and the cinematic world that has shaped my perception and ultimately my work. I now find myself creating in a way that is very indicative of cinema and the characters, I grew up watching.
A series I created called “The Uncanny,” is most influenced by what I saw. In the series, I recreated famous horror film characters, and I wanted the entire series to be played by one model. Reminiscing of the way Cindy Sherman played various female roles, I wanted the model to play out these roles in a similar manner. As this series jump through different decades, I felt that Having one model play all the characters would add the cohesiveness to the series.
Although I do prefer working in portraiture, I am not defined by that title. I’m still a photographer who is very comfortable working in the various genre in my field. As a commercial photographer, I feel we need to be flexible when it comes to what we can do. I am currently working as a freelance product photographer since I graduated from college last year.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
My proudest moment is graduating from Art Center College of Design with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. For me, this is an achievement that I have been working towards for many years, as I was fighting with myself about having what, I needed financially to graduate.
So, I spent many years in community college, learning everything I could while I was there, knowing that I still would one day graduate from a college or university with a BFA degree. I got to the point where I needed to decide, if I wanted to achieve my dreams, I would have to take a risk, regardless of my financial situation.
I knew this was going to be difficult, and it was very difficult. This was a challenge that I would never give up on, and this past April I finally achieved that goal.
Contact Info:
- Website: Ashakamathews.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashakamathews/
- Other: www.linkedin.com/in/ashakamathews
Image Credit:
Photography by Ashaka Mathews
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