Saadé L. Taylor

You mentioned that photography became your perfect medium for expression during your time at Purdue University. What was the turning point that made you realize this shift?

As a highly creative child, I was constantly drawing, painting, and creating handmade books. In high school, I enrolled in several artistic classes including calligraphy, film photography, and digital photography. I loved to create, and I enjoyed the many ways in which I could do so. However, it was my participation in a research trip to Los Angeles with the university’s Black Cultural Center during my sophomore year of college that sparked my serious interest in photography as art. My ideas of what LA looked like were immediately contrasted by the reality of the city: it was gritty and imperfect, but also beautiful. I was inspired by the raw beauty around me and was compelled to document it in real time; I knew photography was the perfect way to do that. I switched my major to photography shortly after returning from LA.

Saadé L. Taylor | Nightscape #1 | 2010

How did your early interests in drawing, painting, and handmade books influence your current photographic style?

Creative expression has always been an important part of my life. My love for drawing, painting, and making books by hand began in my childhood and ultimately helped cultivate my love for color, contrast and interesting compositions. My current photographic style reflects my early interests in creative expression and incorporates the lessons I learned while creating: to explore my imagination (drawing), to employ the use of color to convey emotion (painting), and to embrace the power of storytelling (crafting handmade books). These influences shape the way I see through the lens, transforming each image into both a visual and emotional narrative.

Saadé L. Taylor | A Mothers Joy | 2011

Your education combines both art and communication — how do these two disciplines complement each other in your creative practice?

Art and communication complement each other immensely well in my creative practice. I view art and communication as two sides of the same coin – both disciplines convey the expression of ideas. My educational training in art provides me with artistic principles that influence my creative expression and aesthetics, while my background in communication ensures that this expression is intentional and impactful. Together, the two disciplines provide a robust framework for my artistic practice.

Saadé L. Taylor | A Mothers Love | 2011

How do you approach lighting and atmosphere in your photography to evoke emotion or mystery?

Light quality is one of the first things I consider when shooting a subject. I prefer to shoot in natural light because it adds a beautiful, often quiet atmosphere to photographs. Alternatively, I may opt for studio lighting if I have a specific light quality that I am looking to create as it allows me to direct the light exactly where I want it. Once I have established the lighting setup, I allow my artistic eye to do the rest.

What role does intuition play in your artistic decisions?

Intuition plays a large role in my artistic decisions. My work process flows freely and is guided by what I feel the subject is trying to say. Sometimes, I begin with an image vivid in my mind, and I endeavor to make that vision a reality. At other times, a concept draws me in, and I seek to uncover the heart of its meaning.

Saadé L. Taylor | African Boy #1 | 2010

You write that photography can “conceal what is true or reveal what is hidden.” How do you decide when to conceal and when to reveal?

It depends on the subject matter and the concept I am exploring. Photography as a whole is art and all art, in my opinion, is layered with interpretations. Mainly, the perception of the artist and the perception of the viewer. I allow my intuition to guide me, especially when it comes to composition. In my artistic practice, I have found that what is left out of an image is sometimes as relevant as what is within the image.

Saadé L. Taylor | African Boy #2 | 2010

What do you hope viewers will feel or question when they encounter your work?

I hope that viewers will question what they deem (or accept) as beautiful when they encounter my work. I believe that there is beauty in all things, if only we would search genuinely and earnestly to find it. I create pieces that inspire and move me, and I hope that viewers will feel inspired and moved by my work as well.