Test shot for Lucid Exhibition- ‘The Room’ 2015

(Interview by Megan Webb Photographer for Lucid-a collaborative exhibition for CATC/Think and hosted by TheRocks Pop Up Initiatives Sydney) https://www.facebook.com/TheRocksPopUp/

Nicole, how long have you been interested in photography?

In my twenties I was living in London with my young baby and my first marriage ended. My salvation came in the form of a gifted Beseler enlarger, a Nikon FE and a close friend who was an incredible artist from St Martins. Suddenly I fell down the rabbit hole like Alice and was playing with hour long exposures, liquid light, cyanotypes and projections on my subjects. I saw the world through new eyes surrounded by artists and musicians, and it was beautiful again. There was film production in LA, Literature at Uni and also music for many years, but my passion for horses led me back to photography.

What do you like to photograph the most? 

This is where I have a split personality. To sum up it is horses and people. Both are very separate businesses, but my approach and treatment are the same-Fine Art, emotional and truthful. . After years of riding, raising and loving horses and photographing large equestrian competitions, my niche has shifted. Equestrian Fine Art portrait and liberty work using ambient and creative lighting, and a specific post production that is uniquely mine. Fine Art with a narrative is what drives me, and the communion between man and horse. As Winston Churchill once said “There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man”. I would argue it’s the inside too.

I love to tell stories. When I photograph people/adolescents I strive for candid moments, and am always poised to catch a quality the subject may not have yet perceived in themselves. Lately in my post production I have fallen in love with traditional 19th and 20th Century techniques with a modern twist. That will change of couese. I also love to print my personal work. Control freak! Whatever I photograph I tend to focus on beauty in small moments. There is enough ugliness in the world. Social documentary projects like Sydney Mardi Gras 2014 were absolute highlights. It’s all about the human condition and our shared humanity I feel privileged to document. The camera gives me that opportunity.

Have you always lived in Sydney?

No. I am the ultimate gypsy. I left my hometown of Perth at 17 on a a year long exchange to the USA. After playing in bands for years I lived in Sydney, Los Angeles, London, Perth, Adelaide and now I’m in Sydney again. I am completely in love with this city. It surprises me every day. For a light chaser it is the holy grail! I live in Paddington again after a long break with my beloved boys and pup Freja.

Mardi Gras 2014-Behind The Scenes

What are you most looking forward to during the exhibition?

Standing next to my group and our amazing lecturers who have taken this journey with me and seeing all our work together on display. I think we are our own worst critics, but I can see how far we have all come, and am proud to be amongst such talent and dedication. I love teamwork. Photography can be quite solitary sometimes, particularly editing in the wee hours. Our course has been intense, which is bonding under pressure!

What are you photographing for Exhibition and where did your inspiration for this come from? 

For my body of work I faced my fears and chose self portraiture to reveal a certain time in my past when self imposed isolation was a process that I needed. I wanted to strip everything back: no props, strobes, set design, makeup or elaborate costumes. Just one vintage nightgown, a room and a window. I challenged myself to share a truthful visual narrative using only ambient light and body gesture, camera techniques, format and composition.

Like a film by Lars Von Trier, or Susanne Bier who followed the Dogme manifesto, I got in the zone, played the music from that time in my life, wore the vintage night gown I used to collect and completely immersed myself. I lost hours in that room! I was inspired initially by Cig Harvey’s astonishing early work, then Francesca Woodman, Jane Burton and Lauren E Simonutti whose honesty and daring blew me away, and informed the changes I made to my initial pieces.

Grand Prix Dressage Kur-Equitana 2013

sybilla and mack photography (adolescents, portraiture, social documentary) www.nicolabartleet.photoshelter.com www.instagram.sybillaandmackphoto www.facebook.com/sybillaandmack

Black Colt Photography (Equestrian Fine Art) www.littlewingequestrianphotography www.instagram.blackcoltphotography www.facebook.com/littlewingequestrianphotography