Joanna Canara Shares her Dream-like Self-Portraits
How do you make sense of this world? How do you process all that it offers and still function effectively from one day to the next? And with so much diversity, how do you find your identity in this little patch of the universe? Most of us are faced with such questions, and to process them, we need an outlet. For the wonderfully gifted Joanna Canara that outlet is photography.
I never like it when photographers say they belong behind the camera, not in front of it. That’s why I love it when photographers share their self-portraits with the world. I especially love self-portraits when they’re done with so much creativity that you feel a strong connection to the photographer that made them.
That’s how I felt when I first laid eyes on Canara’s self-portraits. Going through them I sensed this was a person who wanted to communicate something to the world. She wanted to tell us something about her, while also sharing her understanding of life and all that comes with it.
For me, the best type of photography is the kind that sends a message, whatever that message may be. Through her art, I heard Canera’s message loud and clear, and that’s because her talent has given her a way to effectively communicate with the world, it has given her a voice.
On a simplistic level, her self-portraits are aesthetically pleasing pieces of art. They’re perfect for NFT photography and prints on your wall. However, here at Them Frames we enjoy going deeper than what the eyes see, tapping into what the heart and mind feel.
Throughout the course of this interview with Canara, I encourage you to stop and scan what you feel on an emotional level when viewing her photography. I’m confident you’ll be happy that you did.
Them Frames: Hey Joanna! Tell us about some of your most common daydreams…
Joanna Canara: My daydreams are my way of escape. I am a sensitive person and this world overwhelms me so I escape to a different realm mentally. They are all a blur, but they are calming, a sense of peace and quiet, away from this drudgery.
Them Frames: Why are you fond of minutiae and how does that influence the way you create your photographs?
Joanna Canara: I photograph everything, I mean literally everything that I find interesting. It can be the way the sun passes through my cat’s whiskers, a small plant growing from the sidewalk, shadows, a heart-shaped water spill, you name it! I love to observe small details. I will not notice what a person is wearing, but I will notice if they are left-handed or right-handed, the way they walk, and their eye color.
Observing and noticing things that people seem to ignore has tuned my eye in a way, to look at things from a different perspective, creating images that people would not usually create.
Them Frames: When I look at your self-portraits, I see someone using their art to process different chapters of their life. I could be wrong, so please, share why you create self-portraits…
Joanna Canara: Yes, you are absolutely right, I do use them to process my life and my feelings and most importantly my mental health.
Them Frames: Mentally, how do you feel when you’re the subject of your own creations?
Joanna Canara: I feel comfortable, which is very important to me. It’s like getting to be an actress in my own biopic haha. Seriously though, I would love to have someone model for me, but it is extremely difficult because I have terrible social anxiety. So I am ok with shooting myself. I can easily direct myself, there’s no pressure and it’s all fun.
Them Frames: Your work is far from your standard self-portrait; how do you come up with the concepts and the design of each frame?
Joanna Canara: I never ever plan my shots. There is never a clear picture in my mind while shooting of what the final result of this photograph will be. I shoot intuitively.
I’ll give an example: This photo titled ‘I don’t belong here’
The self-portrait was taken on a sunny afternoon during lockdown. The picture of the birds was taken way before that from my bedroom window during a beautiful sunrise. Then both those pictures sat in my gallery.
When inspiration struck, I merged them together and created this double exposure with a completely different story.
Them Frames: I saw you shoot and edit your self-portraits on a phone. Can you tell us what the process is like both for making the shots and editing them?
Joanna Canara: I used to shoot with an Asus phone. I recently switched to a Google Pixel. For editing software, I primarily VSCO and Snapseed. If I edit it on my ipad then I use Mextures too. The process is the same as I explained in the previous question. Two unrelated images, taken at very different times, merged together to create a new story
Them Frames: How content are you with the type of photography your currently creating?
Joanna Canara: I am content but also very aware of the fact that I have not created a masterpiece yet. That anticipation pushes me.
Them Frames: I see you talk about Tezos a lot. For those unaware, what is it?
Joanna Canara: Tezos is a proof of stake blockchain. I love it because you can mint clean NFTs on as the energy consumption is significantly lower than proof of work blockchains. It has a vibrant community of artists, with some great art that inspires me.
Them Frames: What type of impact has NFT photography (and its community) had on you?
Joanna Canara: I found a community of like-minded people. I am seeing photographs from people all around the world and it has broadened my horizons, making me feel feelings I never knew existed. It forces me to observe things and look at them in a new light.
Them Frames: If you’re not making photographs or digital art, what are you doing?
Joanna Canara: I work a 9-5 job. So I am mostly working. I love spending time with my cats and walking in my garden. I also love playing the ukulele.
Them Frames: Finally, if you could finish this sentence: I need photography in my life because…
Joanna Canara: I am bad with words so this is the only outlet for my feelings.