Capturing the memories of Johnstown trainwatching, the photographer grapples with 3D cameras and tattoos
TextGarrett Faber
Photography is the art of preserving a moment. Such moments sometimes pass by and are gone forever, existing only in our memories. For Danielle Yagodich, capturing those moments is something of a second nature. This has led her to a large collection of beautiful images and an enterprising/adventurous spirit. She grew up in Johnstown PA, where she was immersed in "train watching, exploring old mines and steel mills, and running around in a city that basically stopped functioning in the 50s", before moving to Pittsburgh to pursue a degree in Photography. She now designs jewellery as well and really wants to go to London and Paris. Things aren't all peachy for our humble heroine though, she's overcome her fair share of trials and tribulations including physical ailments and back surgery, eating disorders and anonymous formspring haters trying to rain on her parade. She obviously doesn't let it stop her though, she just pushes through. Dazed sat down for a chat about her almost murder, 3D cameras, drama and tattoos.
Dazed Digital: How's Pittsburgh treating you?
Danielle Yagodich: Pittsburgh is wonderful. I can't really imagine a better city to have gone to college in. It's not to big and not to small and has a decent art scene among the youth, but I'll admit I'm more than ready to get out of here. Pittsburgh has very little left to offer me now. It gave me my education, great memories, and the opportunity to mature in numerous ways, but now I'm ready to go.
DD: What kind of camera/equipment do you use?
Danielle Yagodich: I shoot with a Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III and I use Norman Strobes.
DD: What inspires you? What excites you about photo?
Danielle Yagodich: Nowadays I'm incredibly inspired by my own designs as well as my future, as odd as that sounds. I'm planning on moving to London in a year and I've been researching the city and surrounding areas and have been getting incredibly inspired from that. I'm excited about pushing my own boundaries within photography and pushing myself out of my own box and comfort zone. Photography forces me to deal with other people (models, MUA, etc.) something I don't normally like doing, it forces me to conquer myself each and everyday and to me that is one of the most exciting aspects of it.
DD: How was your style evolved as a photographer over the years?
Danielle Yagodich: I've obviously gained infinitely more technical skill, that's a given. Artistically I'm still working from the same place I've always been, myself. I use my photography to develop my person and vice versa. Anything I do is something I've ripped from myself in some way. The only real change is my presentation. I'm working on creating pieces with more of a physical nature, something beyond the digital. That's where I am currently.
DD: What can you tell us about some of these photos?
Danielle Yagodich: I'll start by saying they are more than photos, they are pieces of art. The act of creating a singular photograph isn't really enough for me artistically anymore. To feel satisfied and successful with my work I need to be working beyond a photograph, bringing it out of the computer and utilizing it as part of something greater. They are creations that stand to be more permanently loved by me because they've become an actual work of art. Not just a file rotting away on my external drive.
DD: What is it about people that makes you want to shoot them?
Danielle Yagodich: I'll be honest, I'm quite shallow when it comes to who I photograph. I tend to desire those who fit the image of beauty I have in my head. A lot of times that ends up being people who are uniquely beautiful and different. I absolutely loathe shooting those with typical beauty because I consider the model and her face/body structure as a tool, another part of the piece I'm trying to create. He/she is just as important in the creation of my final piece as anything else. I need those with an external grandeur that translates into living art.
DD: Who are five supermodels you'd love to take a picture of?
Danielle Yagodich: Alice Dellal, Freja Beha Erichsen, Lily Cole, Gemma Ward, and Lara Stone.
DD: Who are some other current photographers you admire?
Danielle Yagodich: I would honestly prefer to use the word 'appreciate' in regards to other photographers. Some of the ones I'm currently appreciating are Tim Walker, Koto Bolofo, Cedric Buchet, and Alix Malka.
DD: Did you hear about that FujiFilm 3D camera? The first one just came out a few months ago and it's still developing but soon there will be a new generation of 3D photographers, what do you think about that?
Danielle Yagodich: I had actually heard murmurings about that in the Photo department at AIP. I think it's really interesting and definitely something I would like to try at some point in my life. I think any new technology is worth embracing because it's just a new medium for expression to be utilized. People that I've heard discussing the 3D technology were frightened of it, threatened if you will, but I think it's incredibly exciting and I can't wait to see where it leads to and what work comes from it.
DD: Whats the key to networking and getting your images out there?
Danielle Yagodich: Selling yourself and then selling your work. Nowadays it seems that people want a face and a personality to go along with art. They want to love (or hate) the artist just as much as the art. I also believe that utilizing any and all social networking sites to promote your work is key. Let's be honest this is a technological age, the age of the internet and to not use it for its full potential is just stupid. A lot can be gained from the right promotion in the right places and there really is no easier way to have your work scene by people all over the world.
DD: What are some of your artistic goals as a photographer, what do you want to do with yourself?
Danielle Yagodich: My artistic goals are pretty simple. I feel as though a lot of the time I'm straddling the border between what is commercially viable work and fine art photography, so I'm aiming to create a marketable niche for myself in between the two. I want to create pieces that I can put all of my creativity into and not water down, pieces that can still be utilized commercially. I want to break down that barrier entirely so there is not differentiation between commercial and fine art in regards to my work. I want it to transcend both and become something else. I'm not ready or willing to accept either category fully, I would much rather just create my own and that is what I plan on doing. My goals for myself are just as simple. To never create work that I don't love. To never create anything that isn't a part of me, that isn't something I've ripped out of myself. To never accept anyone's judgment as truth beyond my own.
DD: What are your plans for the future, any shows coming up?
Danielle Yagodich: I plan on moving to London once I graduate. Long story short, I don't believe in America as an Art community nine times out of ten and I don't feel like as a person I fit here. I've actually been getting quite a few business cards from Art Galleries in Pittsburgh lately in regards to displaying my work, but currently I have jewelry pieces up in the Student Show at the Gallery in AIP.
Dazed Digital: How's Pittsburgh treating you?
Danielle Yagodich: Pittsburgh is wonderful. I can't really imagine a better city to have gone to college in. It's not to big and not to small and has a decent art scene among the youth, but I'll admit I'm more than ready to get out of here. Pittsburgh has very little left to offer me now. It gave me my education, great memories, and the opportunity to mature in numerous ways, but now I'm ready to go.
DD: What kind of camera/equipment do you use?
Danielle Yagodich: I shoot with a Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III and I use Norman Strobes.
DD: What inspires you? What excites you about photo?
Danielle Yagodich: Nowadays I'm incredibly inspired by my own designs as well as my future, as odd as that sounds. I'm planning on moving to London in a year and I've been researching the city and surrounding areas and have been getting incredibly inspired from that. I'm excited about pushing my own boundaries within photography and pushing myself out of my own box and comfort zone. Photography forces me to deal with other people (models, MUA, etc.) something I don't normally like doing, it forces me to conquer myself each and everyday and to me that is one of the most exciting aspects of it.
DD: How was your style evolved as a photographer over the years?
Danielle Yagodich: I've obviously gained infinitely more technical skill, that's a given. Artistically I'm still working from the same place I've always been, myself. I use my photography to develop my person and vice versa. Anything I do is something I've ripped from myself in some way. The only real change is my presentation. I'm working on creating pieces with more of a physical nature, something beyond the digital. That's where I am currently.
DD: What can you tell us about some of these photos?
Danielle Yagodich: I'll start by saying they are more than photos, they are pieces of art. The act of creating a singular photograph isn't really enough for me artistically anymore. To feel satisfied and successful with my work I need to be working beyond a photograph, bringing it out of the computer and utilizing it as part of something greater. They are creations that stand to be more permanently loved by me because they've become an actual work of art. Not just a file rotting away on my external drive.
DD: What is it about people that makes you want to shoot them?
Danielle Yagodich: I'll be honest, I'm quite shallow when it comes to who I photograph. I tend to desire those who fit the image of beauty I have in my head. A lot of times that ends up being people who are uniquely beautiful and different. I absolutely loathe shooting those with typical beauty because I consider the model and her face/body structure as a tool, another part of the piece I'm trying to create. He/she is just as important in the creation of my final piece as anything else. I need those with an external grandeur that translates into living art.
DD: Who are five supermodels you'd love to take a picture of?
Danielle Yagodich: Alice Dellal, Freja Beha Erichsen, Lily Cole, Gemma Ward, and Lara Stone.
DD: Who are some other current photographers you admire?
Danielle Yagodich: I would honestly prefer to use the word 'appreciate' in regards to other photographers. Some of the ones I'm currently appreciating are Tim Walker, Koto Bolofo, Cedric Buchet, and Alix Malka.
DD: Did you hear about that FujiFilm 3D camera? The first one just came out a few months ago and it's still developing but soon there will be a new generation of 3D photographers, what do you think about that?
Danielle Yagodich: I had actually heard murmurings about that in the Photo department at AIP. I think it's really interesting and definitely something I would like to try at some point in my life. I think any new technology is worth embracing because it's just a new medium for expression to be utilized. People that I've heard discussing the 3D technology were frightened of it, threatened if you will, but I think it's incredibly exciting and I can't wait to see where it leads to and what work comes from it.
DD: Whats the key to networking and getting your images out there?
Danielle Yagodich: Selling yourself and then selling your work. Nowadays it seems that people want a face and a personality to go along with art. They want to love (or hate) the artist just as much as the art. I also believe that utilizing any and all social networking sites to promote your work is key. Let's be honest this is a technological age, the age of the internet and to not use it for its full potential is just stupid. A lot can be gained from the right promotion in the right places and there really is no easier way to have your work scene by people all over the world.
DD: What are some of your artistic goals as a photographer, what do you want to do with yourself?
Danielle Yagodich: My artistic goals are pretty simple. I feel as though a lot of the time I'm straddling the border between what is commercially viable work and fine art photography, so I'm aiming to create a marketable niche for myself in between the two. I want to create pieces that I can put all of my creativity into and not water down, pieces that can still be utilized commercially. I want to break down that barrier entirely so there is not differentiation between commercial and fine art in regards to my work. I want it to transcend both and become something else. I'm not ready or willing to accept either category fully, I would much rather just create my own and that is what I plan on doing. My goals for myself are just as simple. To never create work that I don't love. To never create anything that isn't a part of me, that isn't something I've ripped out of myself. To never accept anyone's judgment as truth beyond my own.
DD: What are your plans for the future, any shows coming up?
Danielle Yagodich: I plan on moving to London once I graduate. Long story short, I don't believe in America as an Art community nine times out of ten and I don't feel like as a person I fit here. I've actually been getting quite a few business cards from Art Galleries in Pittsburgh lately in regards to displaying my work, but currently I have jewelry pieces up in the Student Show at the Gallery in AIP.
