Member Feature: Abbye Rose
This month, we're excited to introduce Abbye Rose, a street photographer based in Tacoma, Washington. Abbye has been into photography for many years, and it’s clear from her work that she has a real eye for the little things that make people interesting.
For Abbye, having a camera in hand gives her a sense of purpose. It helps her slow down and really notice the details – the way someone moves, a glance between strangers, or just something a bit odd or beautiful in the everyday. Her work is thoughtful, human, and full of quiet observation.
© Abbye Rose
VS: How did you first get into photography, and what drew you to it as a creative outlet?
AR: My interest in photography started back in the early 2000s and late 90’s. I only had those disposable cameras as a child but it was all I needed to begin my love for photography. I used to daydream about being a wildlife photographer. I would comb through my parents collection of National Geographic Magazines they kept in these special leather slipcovers. I would marvel at the images. I was captivated. Pretending and trying to recreate the pictures at home. There were so many times I would take my cats outside and photograph them “in the wild” . I started to experiment with the camera to try and make my images look like the ones I would see.
But it wasn't until my highschool years when I took my first film photography class that I really began a growing love for the art. Being tasked with assignments or projects for the school by wonderful mentors in my teenage years allowed me to keep pursuing it. It was the first community that I felt that I belonged to. I stayed in film photography throughout my college years. Spending time on personal projects as well as being a photography tutor for international students. I started to carve out my own perspective and artistic view unknowingly at the time. Drawing connections that I would see later in life.
VS: How would you describe your style or approach to photography? Has it changed over time?
AR: I feel like I have explored so many corners of photography. I felt like I was trying to figure out what brings me joy and what doesn't. I always feel like I'm on a chase to find connections in the art form and still do. I dove into portraits with film and printmaking and spent many years exploring bird photography. I also photographed sports youth programs in the local areas. I tried wedding photography and professional headshots. But for me street photography and concert photography is where I feel my happiest. It was during COVID, I kept a visual diary of my personal experiences and the impact on my family. This began a journey into photographing candidly, something I haven't yet tried. I was shy and timid to photograph people I didn't know. It almost feels like an invisible thread going through my journey and connecting me to my current love of photographing the beauty of people on the street.
© Abbye Rose
VS: How have Photography Communities influenced your work and growth as a photographer?
AR: They are at the heart of my journey even if those communities have changed or evolved over time. There have been many times of struggle, doubt or feelings of isolation with my art but the communities locally and abroad have breathed more life into this art and journey. Helping each other in details that others may not realize. A sense of belonging can be quite powerful. The talent and voices of other photographers I have seen keep motivating me to keep at it and to keep trying.
VS: Street photography often involves capturing candid moments. Can you share a memorable experience or story behind one of your street photographs?
AR: The one that comes to mind was a moment in the side alleys in the streets of Seoul. I was in Myeongdong, a heavily populated shopping and tourism district. I had veered off the main and heavily populated streets and onto a side alley. It was so quiet and I truly didn't expect to find anything. I had actually put my camera away but as I ventured further down I came across a couple. A somewhat intimate moment of embrace between the two. I held my camera up hoping not to draw too much attention to myself when her gaze locked with mine. For me, it was the moments leading up to this photograph that capture the essence of street photography. So many details are fleeting and free flowing and usually unseen. And sometimes you can capture something when you least expect it.
© Abbye Rose
VS: Do you tend to plan your shoots in advance, or do you prefer to capture moments spontaneously?
AR: I feel like I almost always shoot spontaneously. There are times I may venture out in the hopes of capturing something but oftentimes it's when I carry my camera and see something and hopefully put it into frame. I'll often say wherever I go, I'll bring my camera with me just in case.
VS: You have worked on a variety of amazing projects and series. How do you know when a project is finished, or do you find yourself revisiting and adding to it over time? And what usually comes first for you—the concept, the location, or the visual mood?
AR: For me, most often a project comes to life after I photographed the images or when I find myself going back to a similar setting. In the case of my work in concert photography my project From the Pit is about photographing a euphoric state of mind and release. Or my most recent project How to Find a Castle in the City of Seoul is a project I spent over the last few years highlighting the beauty of the people in old and new traditions.
© Abbye Rose
VS: Is there a particular project or series you've worked on that challenged or changed you as a photographer?
AR: Knowing when a project is finished is quite challenging for me. I have a tendency to revisit or pause projects that I began. A series I started a few years ago Behind the Counter are portraits of country folk that have been visiting a convenience store that has been in the family for over 25 years. This project pulls me out of my comfort zone where asking strangers for portraits. This is still something that is still quite challenging for me.
VS: Are there particular artists, photographers, or movements that have influenced your work over the years?
AR: One of my all time favorite photographers is Jill Freedman. She was so raw and unapologetic. Her ability to immerse herself in her work, showing us walks of life in ways that most of us would never see. I also love the work from Terra Fondriest, a contemporary photographer and her project Ozark Life. Her work beautifully showcases her family and the lives in the community of Arkansas Ozarks. For me her work shows how you don't have to travel far to showcase such beauty. A visual diary that is quite beautiful.
© Abbye Rose
VS: Is there any advice you’d give to someone just starting out in photography?
AR: The best camera is the one you have. Also, find something that interests you and keep chasing it.
© Abbye Rose
