Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Bishop.
Hi Jennifer, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I came to Baltimore to study writing in college, but I quickly learned that photography was a more direct way to tell stories. Having a camera in hand gave me permission to see and record everything I was curious about, even when not invited. My camera is a shield and also a way to preserve moments I love. I began roaming the streets with my camera in the late 1970s looking for single-image stories to capture. I’m drawn to unlikely beauty and ordinary moments with some element of the unexpected, something to make you look twice. These are scenes I couldn’t conceptualize or make up; I look for them in real life, documentary style. Soon I began working on staff for a couple of newspapers, which was a great experience, and then for the last 40 years, I have freelanced for a variety of publications. Although I made my living as a commercial photographer, I always favored a documentary style, and I most enjoyed the fun and surprise of photographing life on the streets of Baltimore.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There is no end to the technical mistakes I can make! But sometimes they lead to interesting, unexpected results.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
For the last few years, I’ve been part of the Daily Photo Game www.dailyphotogame.com which is an ongoing visual conversation between ten photographers. Every tenth day, I shoot something in response to the photo posted that day. Shooting on a short deadline with a prompt and knowing I’ll hear feedback from the others helps me try to make photos I might not have thought of on my own.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you, or support you?
I took photos for City Paper from the beginning of its publication, which connected me to inspiring stories and subjects. Later I was guided by Baltimore’s friendly network of working photographers, who helped me build my business.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jenniferbishopphotography.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.bishop1/
- Other: www.dailyphotogame.com
Image Credits
Jennifer Bishop
