Current Work

The camera is a part of me. It has been for 20 years. With it I see the world differently. Through a lens that changes and surprises. 

My dad, and Linda McCartney, have been my biggest influences. My dad for both bringing photography into my life, and for his love for the Beatles. Through that I found the photographs of Linda McCartney. In a single photo she could capture the face of a rock star and the depth of a human being just living their life.

With my camera in hand, a simple walk down the street changes into a story of life; shoes hanging from a power line, light casting vivid colors across a wall. I photograph things that stop and make me think about the story behind them. 

Objects and people in their natural element reveal deep meaning, but I’ve recently started playing with staging objects and using light in a very intentional manner. It’s exciting to explore new mediums and working through a process to find new ways to tell the story of how I see the world. 

This also led me down an unexpected path; drawing. Being a photographer, I could never draw or paint things to look "real enough”, but lately I’ve started doodling. My recent exploration into other aspects of photography have allowed me to cast aside my idea of what drawing should be, and begin to find my voice in the lyrical movements of lines. 

Life took me away from my passion for a while, but a documentary about a blind photographer brought me back to it with a different perspective. Making any kind of art helps you work through things and learn about yourself if you're open to it.  

For me, this journey has become about learning how I make art, how I work, and how I work through the overly critical eye that we all have for our own work.  

You have to find a way to enjoy it and realize that you're the only one who sees the flaws.

Jessie R. LeJeune