Hi Lulu, it's nice talking to you! First, would you like to tell us a bit about yourself? Who are you, where are you from, where do you live now? Tell us a bit about your personal background!
I'm Lulu Pinkus and I live in Sydney, Australia. I went to the National Institute of Dramatic Art and started my career as an actress. This developed into a wider creative interest, working behind the scenes in theatre and film. The work took me to Europe and the USA. Then I co-produced some feature films. ... and in the meantime I was always painting pictures.
What exactly do you do for a living? When did you discover photography?
For the past few years I have been a full-time painter and exhibit in contemporary art galleries. I create small-scale narrative surrealist works using acrylics on canvas and am currently working towards my next exhibition. I am also involved in a local arts council where we offer various opportunities for local artists and young people.
I work from my studio at home. It's a solitary endeavor. I use very fine brushes and many layers of paint, so the time it takes to complete a painting is a long process! I started taking photos in 2013 when I joined Instagram. It felt very refreshing to make a picture in an instant! This combination between my photos and my paintings always expands my creative process.
Your pictures seem very gentle and calm and allow us to reminisce about our wonderful vacations! How did you develop your style? What do you pay particular attention to when taking photos?
For me, photography is an extended form of mindfulness practice. I often look for a wide, clear horizon as a starting point. The spaces and air in the environment, as well as the groupings within the composition, also play a role. But no matter what elements I see in front of me, I try to reduce the visual "noise" and increase a sense of serenity (as I do with my paintings).
Sometimes people say my photos have a painterly quality, which makes me very happy. I like that there is this constant overlap between the two mediums.
I found my "voice" in photography through a process of discovery, that is, practice. Trial and error. My style developed organically and simply, as a complement to my painting. Art is about cross-pollination.
What inspires you and why?
Painters: such as Frida Kahlo, Magritte, El Greco, Dorothea Tanning and Remedios Varo.
The bookends of the day: sunrises and sunsets… when the light, the air and the colors of nature often fall into a kind of heavenly harmony.
A horizon or the ocean: they are both fascinating. Both are places that invite you to breathe slowly and deeply and give the idea of an infinite emptiness. Then I feel centered, recalibrated and ready to work.
Music: I always listen to it in my studio. I have a special playlist where the beat of each song is not faster than the human heartbeat, that puts me in the right flow state.
You also seem to enjoy being outside and capturing life's little moments - do you always try to have your camera with you and look for the perfect shot or do you prefer to take pictures spontaneously?
I usually take photos with my iPhone, so I always travel light anyway! I don't have to plan a shoot or carry any special equipment with me, except my phone and some noise-cancelling headphones to listen to music. I still enjoy working within the limitations and spontaneity of phone photography.
I often seek out a wide field of vision/horizon while simultaneously focusing on some tiny things directly in front of me because I believe that the tiny things in nature can reveal an intimate life force that is just as profound and meaningful as things on a larger scale (without overwhelming the viewer).
Would you like to tell us a little about your creative process? How do you come up with your ideas and how do you edit your images?
Taking photographs is more of a spontaneous act that takes place in the rhythm of what lies before me, wherever that may be.
Typically, all the elements of my final images are captured within the first frame. I like the organic nature of these images. I may clean up the elements a little. What I spend a lot of time on is the color palette (one of my roles on feature films was color grading). The language of color fascinates me. I prefer nuanced tertiary tones to saturated tones. I am also drawn to light because it has a healing effect, so I also work with light to reveal it. I rarely shoot in the dark or in shadows (although some of my favorite photographers do).
When and why did you start sharing your pictures on Instagram?
Instagram offered me a global community where images could be shared with curious like-minded people and discussed in real time. Suddenly the world became more accessible... it was like a little epiphany!
You also seem to like photographing flowers! What do you particularly like about this subject?
Since I was a child, I have loved the book "The Little Prince" by A. Saint-Exupéry. He had a very special relationship with the rose. She is a beautiful but complicated character. Whenever I see roses, I think of her.
Flowers are fragile but resilient and adaptable. I learn from their example. I see flora almost as sentient beings through their body language, and so I paint them in surreal landscapes where they can roam or fly freely. I try to express this in my photos as well.
Do you have a favorite photo that you have shared? Can you tell us the story behind it?
I like my photo of a horse "surfing" on a cloud, high above a few little human surfers. It was a random moment and the last image of the day at a kite festival. It's a simple image and it's real, not manipulated. I'm a little obsessed with flying, wings and flying objects permeate many of my images.
How do you relate to your IG community? Do you interact with them a lot? Do they help you find new ideas?
I find my IG community to be gentle and nurturing. I enjoy the mutual sharing and exchange. Many friends make great, insightful and perceptive comments, which in turn make me see my work with new triggers/associations I hadn't noticed before. I'm really grateful for the people I've met on this platform. Some I've met in the real world after being visual 'pen pals' for years, so it's more like meeting old friends when we actually see each other.
Can you tell us some of your favorite Instagrammers?
I don't really have any favorites. I tend to look more at painters than photographers... but here is a small selection: @robertashtonphoto @fridakahlo @lifewithart @bejamin @teresacfreitas @serjios @vhgreet
Do you also enjoy sending and receiving postcards yourself?
Yes, I really do love it. In this disposable world of tweets, texts and emails, paper cards are especially precious. If I ever find a handwritten card in my mailbox, it instantly lifts my spirits. I've collected them on my travels to art galleries all over the world and even have albums full of them.
Did you know about Pickmotion before our cooperation? If so, how did you find out about us?
I only got to know you through our cooperation.
Discover beautiful pictures collected by @lpinkus on our photo strip in our online shop ! By the way, you can find even more selected Pickmotion products at participating retailers!
