Interview with Eleanor Hardwick

Eleanor Hardwick is one of the most talented photographers of her generation. Based in the UK, Eleanor has shot for publications like Harper's Bazaar and Dazed & Confused. She is also a staff photographer at the awesome teen online mag, Rookie. I had the pleasure of meeting Eleanor when she was over in NYC over in the year. We are collaborating on a shoot when I am in England this summer. Enjoy my interview with her below, and be sure to check out more of her work here: www.eleanorhardwick.com

Tell me a little bit about yourself, what you do, and your photography.

When I was twelve, I decided to pick up a camera and upload the pictures to flickr.com. My passion grew from there, and when I was fifteen, The Independent and Dazed & Confused asked to interview me. The press recognition led on to interest from commercial clients. I’m now eighteen years old and work full time whilst living in the British countryside that is the backdrop for most of my work.

As a teenager, I think it’s important for my work to be about what I know best, which is being a teenager. Adolescence is fascinating… it’s like the limbo between being a child and an adult. It seems to last forever but then you find yourself looking back wondering where your childhood went. My pictures often question this unsure time, where you’re working out what you want to be when you grow up... whether you even want to grow up at all. I study a lot of cultural, historic and literary references in my work too. I love to plan things out in immense detail, which is why I never stop working and doing what I love.
I think Tavi and I have become very close online. That’s what’s great for young artists nowadays… the internet has become an great platform for teenagers to have a voice. I am so happy that work that is ABOUT and FOR teenagers can be BY the teenagers themselves, and be recognized. Rookie involves both the readers and really experienced writers, so it’s the best of both worlds. I feel like it really one of the best magazines for teenagers at the moment because Tavi one hundred percent understands what young girls want to read about, and lets readers get just as involved as the staff do.
My favourite artists would have to be Yayoi Kusama, Dasha Shishkin, Henry Darger, Pipilotti Rist, Abigail Portnet, Gustav Klimt, Frida Kahlo, Salvador Dali and Alan Aldridge.
My list of favourite photographers is much too long, but I’ll always be a massive fan of anything by Tim Walker, Ryan Mcginley, Venetia Scott, Saga Sig, Lukasz Wierzbowski and Lina Scheynius. There are so many incredibly talented young photographers emerging online too: Petra Collins, Erica Segovia, Lauren Poor and Mike Bailey Gates.

Tell me about your most recent shoots and your work for Rookie Mag. .

I work alongside Rookie Magazine every month, it is so much fun to work for and the briefs each month are so inspiring. 

I’ve also been very busy recently working on my collaborative exhibition with Mirren Kessling, which will be at the Modern Artists’ Gallery in Oxfordshire later this year. Mirren is another incredibly inspirational teenager, check out her illustration work if you don’t know it already. We work on lots of mixed media projects together, and she also makes a lot of the props for my shoots for Rookie.

What is your most favorite shoot you have done so far?

That is such a hard question! My photographs are my babies, I couldn’t pick out a favorite.

Do you have any dream shoots or ideas that you'd love to work on?

I would love to do a fashion shoot in India. I went on holiday there last winter and I think it is the most beautiful place in the world.

What are your favorite magazines, blogs, books and films for fashion?

Lula and Rookie magazine are my bibles. I’ve been buying a lot of exhibition books lately for inspiration: Yayoi Kusama, Cindy Sherman, Henry Darger… Films are always an inspiration too. For me it would be aything by Sofia Coppola, Michel Gondry, Terry Gilliam, Harmony Korine, Miranda July, Stanley Kubrick, Woody Allen, Shane Meadows, David Lynch…

How was it being featured on Monki TV?

It was the best interview I’ve ever done! I’d never done any video interviews before so I was kind of nervous, but I got so into it and had so much fun hanging out with the crew and showing them all of my favourite things.

If you could photograph any celebrity or model, who would it be?

Lindsey Wixson, Daphne Groeneveld or Iekeliene Stange.

What publication would you love to see your photos in?

Lula or Vogue.

Who is your style icon?

The Banjara tribe in India. Or Strawberry Switchblade!

Who are your favorite designers, artists, and other photographers?

My favourite designers are Meadham Kirchhoff, I love every collection they’ve ever done. Also Comme des Garcons and Luella (R.I.P.)

What is on your summer fashion wish list?

Sunny weather, adventures with friends, and Christopher Kane’s Spring 2012 collection.

What can you see yourself buying from Audrey Grace?

Too many pretty dresses! I’m after a really beautiful silk and lace slip at the moment.

All photos courtesy of Eleanor.