HEY THERE,

I’M KARMEN

I have been a working photographer based out of Central Alberta since 2009. Which is about one year before I gradated with my Photographic Technology diploma. And while I don’t think it is actually necessary to go to school for photography, I am so glad that I did. I loved being fully immersed in it all; from photography history in a classroom to chemistry in the darkroom. It’s a deep, deep love.

The combination of science, history and creativity has always been just the right fit for me. And over the years I have been very fortunate to find work in many areas of photography; from weddings to commercial and editorial shoots, to traveling for photojournalism assignments and opportunities to share my work in art galleries. Now, in more recent years, I have found myself pulled back to where I started, film photography and portraits.

In what felt like a bit of a full circle moment in 2023, I finally picked up a film camera again for the first time in 14 years. Leading with curiosity, I started to push my creative and technical limits in new ways thanks to the slow and unknowing nature of film photography. It forced me to practice ‘letting go’. Which, in turn, led me to a most wonderful realization. The realization that perhaps my favourite part of photography is the act of co-creation. Whether it’s working with film, or a subject, or a landscape or all of the above. There is something magical that happens when we all sync up to make a photograph. Like some sort of outer-body experience. Such a specific and energizing type of connection.

My favourite co-creators these days tend to be women and nature. I love exploring the many ways that we are connected. How we mirror each other’s strength and resilience; brutality and beauty.

And I mean it truly, that everyone I have photographed inspires me in new ways.

The act of co-creation, revealing and healing a little piece of me every single time. Expanding my understanding of what it means to be a women and to be an artist.