Creative of the month: Diane Villadsen
Each month, Mimi highlights a different creative and asks them a few questions. This month, we’re putting a spotlight on Diane Villadsen.
Diane Villadsen is a San Jose-based photographer celebrated for her bold use of color. In her work, human shapes, setting, and geometry combine into visual sculpture. In recent years, Diane has gravitated toward set design and on-site installations as a primary medium. Photography has led her into a passion for design and storytelling.
1
If you had to start your creative journey all over again, what would be one thing you'd still do, one thing you'd avoid and one thing you didn't do that you now think would have been great to do?
I still wouldn't go to school for photography. There's something special about self-teaching that allowed me to isolate my point of view and not get bogged down in theory and technique. When I needed to figure something out, I figured it out. I'd also tell my past self that my creative instincts are worth fighting for. Yes, it may be inconvenient to everyone else to completely restage a scene, change an outfit, or move to another location, but if you feel it's right, it must be done! And ALWAYS take behind-the-scenes photos & videos. You never know how having imagery of your creative journey will come in handy; plus it's just fun to look back on. As for one thing to avoid: overediting. I don't mean overprocessing an individual image, but rather killing yourself to perfectly edit 50+ photos from a project. Most projects don't need that many selects to feel complete, and it would be better to spend those hours moving forward into new projects. I'm still working on this one – culling to top 10 or top 20 is my most dreaded task!
2
What is your favourite photo you've ever taken and why do you love it so much?
Speak of the devil, now I have to pick ONE image! I dread this question, but I'm not going to overthink it today – right now this one comes to mind. I love it because it's kind of contradictory: they're relaxing, but their pose is actually quite rigid. I imagine it wouldn't be comfortable to breathe under those hats but they seem so chill. And I love the shadow of the palm tree. This is a photo of my parents – another reason it's a favorite!
3
Tell us about your dream shooting. Where is it and what are you shooting?
Lençóis Maranhenses National Park in Brazil. Ever since I saw this location on Naked & Afraid (lol), I've been dreaming of shooting there with a colorful set installation and models. I think I'm masochistically drawn to physically challenging places and concepts. These lagoons only fill up with seasonal rainfall, and it's generally a pretty difficult spot to access. So bringing a whole team and set design out there would be a huge undertaking. Hence it's a dream, for now!
4
What's a tool you can't live without?
Google Slides for collaborative project decks, and a "lap desk" my mom got me in like 2005. (It looks like an even simpler version of this.) I am always working in random places (like the couch) so it keeps my legs from overheating and mayyyybe corrects my wrist posture a little. (People think I'm crazy for editing with the built-in Macbook Pro trackpad vs. an ergonomic mouse, and I don't deny it.)
5
Who inspires you right now?
Pina Bausch, From Form, Szilveszter Mako, Max Siedentopf, and Michelle Norris
