Rachel Dunn
AQ is our series of hardcover catalogs celebrating extraordinary women artists. Available on Amazon. Visit the AQ Catalog Webpage to learn more.
AQ Volume V artist Rachel Dunn is a film photographer based in Pennsylvania, specializing in capturing timeless moments through the lens of vintage cameras. Drawing inspiration from the urban and suburban scenes that surround her, she blends traditional techniques with a modern perspective. Her work evokes a sense of nostalgia, blending soft grain with the contrast of sharp angles and shadows.
Having studied photography and graphic design at the Maryland Institute College of Art, Rachel is dedicated to exploring the art of analog photography in an increasingly digital world. Whether working in portraiture, landscape, or street photography, she values the process of scanning each image by hand, which allows her to connect more deeply with her work. Specifically in her black-and-white photography, she feels that by removing color, this intensifies the composition of each piece, allowing the shapes, lines, and negative space to interplay with the light and shadows.
When Rachel is not out shooting film, she loves tending to her many plants, collecting vinyl, sewing, and playing board games. She has also recently started to explore video editing.
https://www.racheldunnmedia.com/
What inspired you to become an artist, and how did you decide to commit to this path?
There was not ever one exact moment that made me decide to be an artist or photographer. I remember in the eighth grade doing a kind of personality test that would tell us what we were "supposed to do in life" and being so happy when "photographer" popped up as my answer. I remember when my high school art teacher pushed me to apply to art schools with my photography portfolio and being surprised when I got accepted to SCAD and MICA. I remember my incredible parents pushing me to go to MICA instead of the community college 10 minutes down the road, and enjoying each creative challenge that came up. Most recently, my amazing partner encouraged me to really, fully take this chance on myself and my photography. Having the support of my closest friends and family has made the process of growing as an artist incredibly easy.
Could you share the story or concept behind your recent work?
A lot of my recent work is centered around exploring the environment around me, trying to see it in a different way, like finding shapes in the negative space between two buildings or awnings. Architecture has always interested me, like how you can be in the same country, but the style of structures will be completely different depending on where you are. In my recent photography, I have really tried to focus on capturing timeless images of different architectural structures, and while doing so, I have also discovered my love for the different angles and shapes that architecture offers.
What was the most challenging part of your path so far? How are you navigating this obstacle?
The most challenging part of my artistic path so far has been taking a chance on myself and actually going for what I want. There are so many amazing, creative artists around me all the time, that I have found I will get in my head and tell myself I am not as good or don't deserve what they have, and this is something I am still constantly working through. Experimenting and exploring my own artistic voice, while trying to not compare myself to other artists, has helped me grow and move forward.
What role does experimentation and exploration play in your artistic practice?
With film photography, I find experimentation can come very easily just by changing up the camera or film stock that I use. There are color-changing films out there that will change blues to reds or greens to purples, and those are super fun to experiment with. Film photography is also very interesting in that you won't see your images until they are developed, which for me takes between 1-2 weeks, whereas when shooting digitally, you have the instant gratification of immediately seeing your photos. Because of this, I will typically take two or three shots of the same subject, while changing the angles or settings between each one. I also enjoy shooting with two film cameras at the same time, one loaded with black and white and the other with color film, so that I can also take the same photo on different cameras/films and see the distinctions between them, which I find super fun.
Do you have any start or stop rituals before creating?
One of my favorite parts of my creative process is after the negatives are developed, getting to scan everything in. This always feels somewhat medical because I wear latex gloves to keep any fingerprints or dust off of the film itself. I love putting on music and really getting to focus on seeing the images for the first time, even when they don't turn out as expected.
What message do you hope your art conveys to the world?
Experiment more, have fun, try to look at things differently. Create the things that you might think others will find "boring."
Share a mantra or favorite quote that keeps you going.
"Not fragile like a flower, fragile like a bomb." I am a huge feminist and this quote always reminds me that I am able to do difficult things.
