VI. Sophie Harris-Taylor.
Sophieās work can be direct and poised, fleeting and distant, or beautifully improvised but what makes her work so special and enjoyable to look at is due not in part to an unfaltering and distinct consistency, and deep understanding of framing & lighting...
Sophie. Are you ready?
Hey yes!
Great! Straight in; Did you ever have a childhood/teenage nickname?
Not really, but I get called Mophs a lot by close friends.
And if I were to ask one of your friends what your signature dance move is, what would they most likely say?
Haha⦠I was at a wedding this weekend and got told I dance like someones Aunty.
Im not even sure if that's a vague compliment or an insult.
I think it was definitely an insult!
Looking over the your works completely, one theme I noticed in many seriesā was that of psychological states, and documenting states of beings. Would it be fair to suggest that some of your seriesā are in part, autobiographical at all?
Yes, most of my work is autobiographical;Ā MTWTFSS series is most certainly the most personal to me. Its only really become apparent in recent years that although Iām representing aspects of other people, Iām seeking the aspects which Iām familiar with and which I can relate to the most. So Iām really often using them to express myselfā¦
And what other themes do you think come most naturally (to you), to be drawn out in other people?
Our own relationship with ourselves and our bodies. Also, being comfortable or uncomfortable in our own skin...our ability to be vulnerable. Possibly as a woman, Iām slightly more intrigued to capture women and the aspects of life which goes with being a woman. Themes such as the everyday and mundanity of life occur as well as, relationships...
And how does that link withĀ MTWTFSS? Tell me a little bit about the series; are the subjects all friends, or are some less familiar?
For me it links completely with this series... almost all the subjects are very close friends, the people that I believe to know me the most (with one or two exceptions). Everyone in the series has been in some way significant in my life. When I first started taking these pictures (about 8 years ago), I purely wanted to capture my closest friends (well thatās what I thought), but it became apparent that I was using them to capture myself in some way. Self portraits werenāt for me (and still arenāt!). For the last few years, the shoots have been less frequent, some of them months apart, while others, only days. In the periods where I havenāt been shooting Iāve felt like I lost the ability to express myself. These people give me that ability back and without them this work wouldnāt be here.
So what did you enjoy about shooting so freely in that diaristic style, in comparison to the planning and constraints of say, a studio?
I never really try and constrain myself even when shooting in a studio and only ever shoot with natural or available light. For me the diaristic style, I guess feels inevitably a lot more natural; the shots arenāt a set up, they are real spaces, real people and private moments happening at the time. Im in awe of my friends who are able to let down their guard and ignore the camera; this approach is much more difficult when shooting in a studio, because it becomes about taking a portrait of someone and taking them out of their truth.
And of course the publication for your MTWTFSS series has began funding (really impressively with ¾ raised with 21 days to go) on Kickstarter! What has it been like, having had such a positive reaction?
I know! Its been amazing. I was putting it off for so long because of the fear of failing and the overall fear of having my voice out there, as Iām not someone that finds it easy to put themselves out there. But Iām truly so grateful for the support from everyone and the comments Iāve received. fingers crossed we will make it, because the work is so personal and was never intended to be a series or a book. It happened so organically but at the same time, it wasnāt something I had planned like other series, so it does feel strange to be releasing it.
And it's your first publication?
Yes my first publication, Iāve made a couple of one off craft-like books in the past but nothing that Iāve ever tried to publish really.
I also noticed that between your series based and personal work, that you also shoot some fashion stuff too. How do you find the shift from working with working solely for yourself with a familiar subject, to working with a stranger and with/for a team?
For me, working with a friend and someone Iām familiar with feels completely natural and whether Iāve got my camera on me or not it feels like we are hanging out and not doing a shoot. So I try my best to recreate that with any other subjects I shoot, this includes, models, musicians etc... I would never be able to pick up my camera without having a conversation with someone beforehand (I have actually had to do that before and it didnāt go very well!). Ā I want people to open up to me, to let their guard down and feel comfortable with the camera there and with me. Shooting for me is very much a collaboration and I donāt ever want to exploit people in my work. I think it helps being quite an open person, and more often than not, subjects have often gone on to become some really good friends.
So how much of a role would you say sexuality plays within your work, overall?
I donāt think it really plays much of a part at all, its never something Iāve thought about when making the work. Obviously I shoot a lot of people without their clothes, but I donāt think these image are sexual per se... Do you?!!
Haha, some of them, to a lesser extent. There are some that come across... in a dynamic, dramatic way as opposed it just being straightforward sexual. Like some of those you shot with Yuka for example. But, I also feel as if Stay, is fairly sexual in one way or another... maybe not in the way of desire, but it explores male sexuality and the idea of tension, but I could be very wrong. Do you feel as a female photographer that it would be easier to convey aspects of sexuality through male or female subjects?
Yeah I guess. Stay, I guess does seem a little sexual, most of these men have quite a sexual energy so I guess that comes across. I never really try and convey sexuality even in the pictures of my partner, this doesnāt come across so I donāt think I find it easier one way or the other.
Have you read John Bergerās Ways of seeing?
Yes, a very long time ago though, so I hope youāre not about to quiz me!
Not at all! I actually nearly didnāt create a question about it; itās almost too obvious a book to reference! Nethertheless I was flicking through the other day, and stumbled on his famous section on nakedness vs nudity. In regards to your work, you work actively with both the naked (unconscious; un staged) and the nude (the unclothed body, made to seem as an object of art), which when I thought about it was to some extent, uncommon. Do you think either one within the current generation of photographers, has a greater potential to challenge how the female body is perceived?
I guess at the moment candid nakedness is pretty trendy within contemporary photography and the nude as a piece of art is something that we feel weāve seen time and time again - and almost always becomes a comparison between the likes of Bill Brandt, Helmet Newton etc. I personally like to work with both for different reasons: nakedness for me is more about our own relationship with our bodies and the nudes are more a study of the body - but for instance in Slight Wounds, the images were asĀ much about the body itself as well as the importance our bodies have on our life and as a reflection of our life. So I guess for me, both still have relevance and a place today. I think its easier today to use nakedness to challenge our ideals surrounding female maintenance of beauty though. I guess because its more fashionable, people are more likely to look at that kind of work than a traditional nude.
So out of interest, what draws you to a subject, when looking for those to collaborate with?
Their ability to be completely comfortable in front of the camera where nothing about the camera fazes them, and their ability to show their vulnerability, their insecurities and self doubt. This is what fascinates me and allows me to understand them better and hopefully one day be comfortable with who I am. Iāve photographed before some of the most beautiful people but have found the experience incredibly dull. Having nothing behind the eyes of the sitter isnāt for me.
Do you ever street-cast?
Yes I have done; not as much nowadays but occasionally Iām drawn to someone I see in the street. It might be their mannerisms, their style, their skin and I canāt take my eyes of them and want to get to know them through photographing them.
So, youāre basically a stalker?
Very much so!! Hah.
I hope you donāt find it nosy of me to ask, but do you feel as if being represented by an agency changes the way in which you are perceived, in regards to being emerging?
Its not something Iāve given much thought to having only recently become represented. But ask me the same thing in a few years. For me though, itās been incredible to have someone who is so supportive of my personal work and someone to openly speak to and encourage me. As an artist it can be pretty solitary and most of the time you feel youāre making your work for yourself and its not something you feel others give a shit about, but having someone who represents you does give you a boost in what youāre doing.
And tell me a little about your upcoming exhibition. What works will be shown and where?
Im really excited as itās my first major solo show. The work will be taken from MTWTFSS so the really personal diary moments from the last 5 years. It a new gallery, Spencer Murphy will be the first show and Iām the second (so a tough one to follow)! The book will be launched at the same time.
So letās hypothesise here. Youāve borrowed a mates car to drive to the seaside. Real old thing. On the motorway you open the glove box to look for some music to play. There are only two tapes: King Diamond- Abigail or Grauzone- Grauzone. What, if any, do you decide to play?
Just had to google; would have to say Grauzone, my heavy metal days are over!!!
What Country/City feels the most like home, for you?
London, I was born here and have never felt the need to leave.
Im quite surprised actually; I'd seen you'd done a fair bit of travelling in MTWTFSS so thought it might be elsewhere.
I love spending time away with friends and yeah quite a bit of the work gets made when Iām away but theres nothing like coming home.
A population of feral Hippos reside in Columbia because of Drug Baron Pablo Escobar? True or False?
True! (Im very gullible).
Haha correct. Lastly; better choice- Pizza in bed, or wine in the bath?
I donāt eat Pizza or drink wine but I love both my bed and the bath.









