While researching Aurelie Alvarez for a previous post, I came to know the equally talented photographer behind the enchanting photos of her work: Joanna Maclennan. Her photographs have appeared in House & Garden, The London Times, Maison Française, and Maison de Campagne to name just a few! So, in a series of emails between us, Joanna kindly took the time to share her story with me and I'm extremely honored to share it with you here. She is most definitely a constant gatherer of life through her photographer's lens!
Adam Calkin Interior- Bath, England
Joanna was born in Sussex, England and did a lot of traveling around Asia and Australia in her twenties before settling in London at age 22. She held a bevy of odd jobs there, from nanny to restaurant and hotel jobs, which gave also provided her with plenty hard-won experiences. She then took a leap of faith and took a photography course in India with David Bathgate and it was there that she decided that her heart had finally found its calling.
Vox Populi in Avignon- a lifestyle atelier by Pascale Palunview and read more about this amazing place here!
Vox Populi Atelier and Brocante in Avignon
Vox Populi Atelier and Brocante, AvignonAt 28 she left London to work in a friend's pub in Bath where she could also spend time finding a position as a photographer's assistant. Patrons of the pub led her to the acclaimed Peter Woloszynski (an international photographer who works with a number of book and magazine publishers including Chronicle, Random House, Elle Decor, and World of Interiors) whom she later found out wasn't in need of an assistant, but so taken by her enthusiasm and in turn taught her the art of Interior Photography. She worked with Woloszynski for several years before striking out on her own merely two years ago.
Joanna relocated to the South of France (where her mother was now based) where she braved her first meetings with executives in Paris barely speaking a word of French. By her second meeting she had sold her first article! She and boyfriend, Mike Sajnoski (also an artist) now call Saint Rémy de Provence thier home base where they chronicle their on-going travels and work experiences in their blog, Attention, Cheri!
Hidden Treasures- France
An artist's house in a village near Avignon
Vignette from an artist's house in a village near Avignon
An artist's house in a village near Avignon
Vignette from an artist's house in a village near AvignonWhile Joanna is primarily interested in Interior Photography, she also has an extensive collection of personal and portraiture work- such as M. Miane Coiffeur (see above). She finds a soulful beauty and importance in capturing the people, places and things that are forgotten or soon-to-be forgotten, their environment, and memories. She still relies on her trusty Hasselblad-medium format- camera and natural light for carefully documenting these pieces.
Joanna's most recent collaborative efforts are with the Association, FACE (lead by Artist, Monte Laster) who are working alongside residents to document their lives in La Courneuve- a community in peril on the outskirts of Paris. The project will next focus on folks in similar situations in New York and D.C. and while the object is to capture these folks in their homes and real lives, the situation can often pose danger to the crew. (Be safe, Joanna!!)
To view more of Joanna's work, visit her website: JoannaMaclennan.com. She is currently represented in Italy by Living Inside (I highly recommend viewing this site!) or can be contacted personally through her website.
Thank you, Joanna! oxo
