Artist Spotlight: Diana Bowen

by Mia Saidel

A class of 2012 graduate, Diana Bowen’s photograph titled “Hungary Montage” was published in AmLit’s spring 2012 issue. Heavily influenced by her time studying abroad, the piece uses a combination of natural and material elements to establish a unique sense of serenity and fluidity. Diana graduated with a degree in Multimedia Journalism and is now working as a freelance photographer and videographer. Below is an extended look at her work, influences, and thoughts.

Mia (M): Technically speaking, how exactly did you create your piece and what were the processes involved?

Diana (D): I used a 35 mm film. The whole process was complete experimentation. I had this roll of film while I was in Hungary and after I took the photos, I stacked two of the negatives on top of each other and then exposed them.

M: Is photography your area of expertise, or are there other areas of art that you are interested in?

D: It’s mostly photography, but I also do a lot of video work, like documentaries and commercial kind of stuff. But I would say that photography is definitely my main passion.

M: Was your photograph something you created specifically for AmLit or had you made it beforehand? 

D: It was something I put together on my own while I was abroad. I was actually in Prague for a photography workshop with two other girls and was mentored by Miroslav Vojtechovsky; he taught two classes, one that was more hands on in the darkroom and the other was like a history of photography class. But I took the photos in Hungary when I went there for a weekend.

M: When did you first become interested in photography? Did your friends or family inspire you?

D: It was something I picked up on my own. I really loved the idea of documentation. Some people keep a journal, etc. For me, photography does the same. It has the capacity of recording memories.

M: What was your underlying inspiration for your photograph?

D: I wish I could say it was planned or I had some kind of vision, but it was just a happy accident. I took the photos in Hungary, like the big flower and cup, and then later I thought it would be interesting to see what they would look like together. It all happened in the span of two days, I shot the images one day and then the day I returned to Prague I went to the darkroom.

M: Are you satisfied with the way it turned out or looking back do you think you could have done something to improve the piece?

D: In retrospect I could have spent more time on it. Maybe I should have done a double exposure technique versus a sandwiching one, but in the end I am very happy with it. Since it was pure experimentation, it was really spontaneous.

M: As the artist, was there a particular emotion you wanted to evoke from your audience?

D: I guess maybe wonder? I wanted people who weren’t familiar with photography to wonder how I got all the images together in one frame. I wanted to leave them asking questions.