Hannah Fielo (Pennsylvania/New Jersey) |
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Hannah Fielo is freelance photographer who is heavily involved in the Philly music scene. Fielo is the co-founder of Sad Punk Press, where she works with local artists of all kinds, forming a community for them to share their original work. Whether she is touring with bands, giving local talent exposure, or capturing some of her lively shots, the young creative has no issue keeping herself busy.
You can check out her work on her site www.hkfielo.com or either of her Instagram accounts @hannahfielo and @fielofilm. You can find info on Sad Punk Press at www.sadpunkpress.com and @sadpunkpress on everything.
You can check out her work on her site www.hkfielo.com or either of her Instagram accounts @hannahfielo and @fielofilm. You can find info on Sad Punk Press at www.sadpunkpress.com and @sadpunkpress on everything.
Interview by Kyle Sobieski
In one of your posts we noticed you had mentioned a short film...is there an actual short film coming soon? If so, tell us about it! Have you made short films in the past - can we view them anywhere?
I’ve made a few for classes here and there but I never really thought many were worthy of posting online anywhere for more people to see. I’ve made a few Audiotree Live-esque videos for Blame Jakob (more on them in question 3) and we are currently working on a little tour documentary as well. The first of those videos can be found on their youtube channel (Blame Jakob).
I’ve made a few for classes here and there but I never really thought many were worthy of posting online anywhere for more people to see. I’ve made a few Audiotree Live-esque videos for Blame Jakob (more on them in question 3) and we are currently working on a little tour documentary as well. The first of those videos can be found on their youtube channel (Blame Jakob).
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You seem to have this punkish vibe to you, is that what you're going for or are we mistaken? Describe your aesthetic that you like to approach and/or aesthetics you have been focusing on lately.
I will definitely take that as a compliment because I really enjoy what tends to be considered “punk” and what I guess you could call today’s counterculture. I like to tell the truth in my work. I like to tell the truth about how I’m feeling, and how I’m feeling is usually not happy (so punk, right?). I don’t think I have a set “aesthetic” because I like to experiment with different mediums and I feel like if I label myself as this “type” of artist or that “type” of artist I’ll feel too anxious to venture outside of that medium and end up confining myself. |
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I will say though that I have been working a lot with collage and mixed media and feel the most satisfaction with my work when I can literally deconstruct it and create something new with it.
What other local artists have you been working with recently?
I recently just finished a nine day tour with local Philly bands Blame Jakob and Chloe Likes Olivia. I photographed them at their shows each night, and documented whatever we did during the day, whether it was making t-shirts in Jakob’s backyard in Massachusetts, or filming a live session of them playing one of their songs on his porch. I work a ton with my friend Skylar on our magazine Sad Punk Press (more on this in question 4). I definitely feel like I haven’t had the chance to really collaborate with too many artists but would love to take advantage of that more in the future.
I recently just finished a nine day tour with local Philly bands Blame Jakob and Chloe Likes Olivia. I photographed them at their shows each night, and documented whatever we did during the day, whether it was making t-shirts in Jakob’s backyard in Massachusetts, or filming a live session of them playing one of their songs on his porch. I work a ton with my friend Skylar on our magazine Sad Punk Press (more on this in question 4). I definitely feel like I haven’t had the chance to really collaborate with too many artists but would love to take advantage of that more in the future.
We love what Sad Punk Press is doing! Tell us about your involvement with them and what it means from a community standpoint.
Thank you! I am the co-founder of the magazine, I started it with my friend and peer Skylar Watkins (another photographer/videographer I met at UArts). If I had to put our goal into one word it actually would be “community”. We want to get involved with as many artists as we possibly can and give everyone a platform that they feel safe and welcome to share their art through, whether that be photography, music, videography, writing, or any other fine art.
Thank you! I am the co-founder of the magazine, I started it with my friend and peer Skylar Watkins (another photographer/videographer I met at UArts). If I had to put our goal into one word it actually would be “community”. We want to get involved with as many artists as we possibly can and give everyone a platform that they feel safe and welcome to share their art through, whether that be photography, music, videography, writing, or any other fine art.
As a freelance photographer, do you have an end goal with photography?
As of right now, my only goal for the foreseeable future is to learn and grow. This year will only be my third year in college (UArts in Philly) and I still feel like I’m coming into my own with everything I’m doing. I want to learn about as much art as I can and experiment with as many mediums and materials as I can. I can say though that working with other artists to either put their work into a magazine or publication, or curate it into a gallery setting is going to be a continuous goal and project of mine. I of course love making and showing my own work but I have definitely learned about myself that I love lifting other artists up just as much as I would myself.
As of right now, my only goal for the foreseeable future is to learn and grow. This year will only be my third year in college (UArts in Philly) and I still feel like I’m coming into my own with everything I’m doing. I want to learn about as much art as I can and experiment with as many mediums and materials as I can. I can say though that working with other artists to either put their work into a magazine or publication, or curate it into a gallery setting is going to be a continuous goal and project of mine. I of course love making and showing my own work but I have definitely learned about myself that I love lifting other artists up just as much as I would myself.
How does the process of shooting on film differ than digital? Which one do you prefer? Is there a camera you would recommend for film?
Shooting film has definitely made me a better photographer. It has taught me to really pay attention to my shots and composition while shooting, and be mindful of what I’m creating. I definitely prefer film and I love my medium format camera, the Bronica Zenza. It’s 6x4.5 frame ratio so I have the freedom to leave it as a rectangle or crop to a square, which is what most people think when they hear “medium format” or “120mm”.
Shooting film has definitely made me a better photographer. It has taught me to really pay attention to my shots and composition while shooting, and be mindful of what I’m creating. I definitely prefer film and I love my medium format camera, the Bronica Zenza. It’s 6x4.5 frame ratio so I have the freedom to leave it as a rectangle or crop to a square, which is what most people think when they hear “medium format” or “120mm”.
What made you start your photography interest? Was there something that sparked your interest in particular?
From what I’ve heard from my parents and seen of old photos, I’ve been taking photos since I could learn how to use a simple disposable camera. My parents had gotten me this giant toy plastic one that you could load film into and I would take photos of anything from my toys to my little sister. I got more into it and more serious about it in my high school years when my dad passed his DSLR down to me. I played around with that, and took photos with an Instax Mini and an old Polaroid 600, and then eventually found a camp offering to teach film photography to my age group at a local camera store and photo lab, Black Lab Studio in New Jersey. From there I fell in love with it and I’ve been working at that same camera store and lab as the lab technician for about four years now.
From what I’ve heard from my parents and seen of old photos, I’ve been taking photos since I could learn how to use a simple disposable camera. My parents had gotten me this giant toy plastic one that you could load film into and I would take photos of anything from my toys to my little sister. I got more into it and more serious about it in my high school years when my dad passed his DSLR down to me. I played around with that, and took photos with an Instax Mini and an old Polaroid 600, and then eventually found a camp offering to teach film photography to my age group at a local camera store and photo lab, Black Lab Studio in New Jersey. From there I fell in love with it and I’ve been working at that same camera store and lab as the lab technician for about four years now.
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If you had to recommend a band to us who would that be?
Right now it would either be Oso Oso or Horse Jumper of Love, both of which have just or are in the process of putting new music out right now. Who do you have playing in rotation in your music library right now?
The new Mannequin Pussy album is definitely a favorite of the year so far. I’ve also been listening to a lot of Charly Bliss, Turnstile, Culture Abuse, The Obsessives, and Peaer. |
Suggest a movie people should watch but probably have not.
I feel like people reading an art blog may have seen this movie, but Eraserhead. Super art school movie. Also Midsommer. I haven’t stopped thinking about it since I saw it a few weeks ago.
I feel like people reading an art blog may have seen this movie, but Eraserhead. Super art school movie. Also Midsommer. I haven’t stopped thinking about it since I saw it a few weeks ago.
