How long have you been photographing?
I have been photographing since 2006, that’s when I started my Diploma in Photography.
Can you tell us a little about your practice?
My practice is informed by theories around place and non-place and how images relate to identity and history. I enjoy working on series. Recently I finished a year long project, photographing the anti-fracking demonstrators in Lancashire. But at the same time, I also enjoy taking images of everyday surroundings and the people that I am with.
What inspires your work?
I am inspired by current affair issues when working on a documentary project. I love travelling and am inspired, through my travels, to photograph different cultures.
Where is your favourite place or favourite thing to photograph?
My favourite place to photograph would have to be India. I photographed a New Town just outside of Delhi a few years ago and self-published a book about Gurgaon. I recently visited India again and it’s a joy to be able to photograph there. I have included some images from my book ‘Lines of Gurgaon’.
Who is your favourite female photographer and why?
I love Karen Knorrs’ work, I saw her work first at the Oberoi in Delhi in 2013 and was just transported to a completely different world. Her technique and eye for detail are just so inspiring. So pleased she is now the honorary chair.
I also love the work of Hilla Becher, I have always had a keen interest for topographic photography typology (which seems to inform my practice a lot).
Any words of advice for female photographers starting out?
Find a genre that you are interest in and keep photographing as much as possible. Widen your network, this is so much easier now with the internet. Join organisations online that pique your interest and gain inspiration from them. Just believe in yourself. I was in my 40s when I gained my Masters in Photography and in my 50s when I became an associate of the RPS. Nothing is impossible, follow your passion and you will reap the rewards.
Where can we see your work?
During 2020 my work was published in Portrait of Britain Volume 3 and Rankin’s 2020 book. I also won in three categories in the Fotonostrum 15th Pollux awards (alternative process, cell phone and my series on fracking demonstrators won in the documentary and reportage categories). These images are in the Fotonostrum magazine no. 8.
Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/loomariannevan/ or my website
www.mariannevanloophotography.com
What’s next for your?
Unfortunately, like for everybody else, all my travel plans have been cancelled. So for now I am trying to connect with photography online and get my work seen by interested parties.
I was the regional winner for the Heart Valve Voice competition in 2020, a competition arranged with the RPS. This means I have to photograph 2 patients that have recovered from Heart Valve complications and these images will be on display at Parliament at some point.
I am looking forward to the release of the 2nd phonebook on mobile photography (this month) by the Photographic Museum of Humanity as one of my images in included in there.
I will also be exhibiting (covid permitting) with prints at Atlas of Humanity in Paris and at the 6th Biennial of Fine Art and Documentary Photography in Barcelona this year. As well as exhibiting two images in Amsterdam as part of Shutterhub’s Open 20/21 exhibition. In addition I have images included in the giant mosaic created by the People’s picture in collaboration with Massisolation Format. Hopefully I will be able to visit this in person, as it is on display in Derby in March 2020. And from the 16th to the 24th February on of my images is in the Loosenart gallery in Rome with the exhibition entitled ‘Windows into the virtual’.
Hopefully we all won’t have to wait too long before we can follow our passion in photography again without social distancing. Although I have been enjoying watching the creative response from photographers during this time.
