J. Sybylla Smith, In Conversation with Jocelyn Lee

Episode #29 Summary:

A visual celebration of embodied women over fifty-five years of age fully possessing their agency in naked portraits.

Episode Notes 

In Sovereign, photographer Jocelyn Lee actualizes the democracy she sees between humans, nature and the animal world as she explores their cycles of fecundity. Her sensual and intimate portraits made in collaboration with mature women create fictional narratives which challenge the cultural coding of shunning the aged female body. Using natural light, a medium format camera and film, Lee skillfully composes portraits which expand notions of power, possession and passion. 

In this book group, Jocelyn Lee discusses, among other things:

  • The camera as a philosophical tool

  • Consciously layering one’s subject with other priorities to inspire and expand imagination

  • Making visible the mythology of cultural codes

  • The beauty of our ‘animal bodies’

  • The magic of not knowing

  • The dance and performative nature of photography

  • The metaphorical power of portraiture

  • The excitement of exploring new methods and processes

  • Being in conversation with your work

Referenced in the episode

Mary Oliver

The Naked and the Lens

Justine Kirkland

Kristen Joy Emack

Erick Hawkins

Recollections of My Nonexistence

Published by Minor Matters Books

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J. Sybylla Smith, In Conversation with Stacy Mehrfar

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J. Sybylla Smith, In Conversation with Renée Jacobs