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Jaclyn Gabriele (Jactookthese) was born and raised in a small town in Westchester, NY. She was introduced to film photography after taking a course in high school and later began to explore digital photography as well. Jaclyn aims to reveal the depth and beauty of objects, places, and experiences. 

How did you get your Artist name?

I first started sharing my work on Instagram and this is the username that I came up with. My family and close friends call me Jac and I like the idea of using my nickname. I think it is short, sweet, and easy to remember.

How did you get into creating?

I was first introduced to film photography through a class offered at my high school. We were immersed in the whole process, including developing and printing in the darkroom. I fell in love with it right away and I went on to take another film photography course in college. Then life got very busy, I started working full-time as a teacher while going to grad school and photography took a backseat for a while. It wasn’t until we were in lockdown during COVID that I started to shoot again. I remembered how much I missed it and I made a promise to myself to always make time for my passion.

How has creating changed your life?

I would probably need a couple of pages to describe all of the ways photography has changed my life, so I’ll explain its two greatest impacts. For me, photography is an art form that allows me to process and express my emotions. Many people take photographs to remember things, but I actually take them to release. When I am out shooting I pay attention to all of the feelings that come up. I acknowledge these feelings by photographing the scenes and objects through which they are represented. It’s a cathartic process because I may not be able to put something into words, but I can convey it through an image. Being able to do that makes it a little easier for me to let things go. Many people have described my work as “nostalgic” and I think that’s why. Through photography, I found a way to help myself leave the past in the past and make space for the new.

Photography has allowed me to strengthen my connection with myself, but also with others. I discovered a community of like-minded people that I never knew existed, something that I think was missing from my life for a long time. All of the people I have met teach each other, help each other grow, share opportunities, and support one another. I am so grateful to be a part of something like that.

Where are you from?

I am from Westchester, NY.

What did you do to advance your skills/knowledge?

One of the things I do to advance my skills and knowledge is to just get out there and shoot as much as I can. I have so many pictures and rolls of film that I do not like, but I never regret the time I spent taking them. Each time I go out I learn something new that I can take with me for the next time. They say practice makes perfect, and while I’m not striving for perfection, I think there is something to be said about finding a little time each day to take photographs. I bring a camera with me every time I leave the house for spontaneous picture-taking when I see something that inspires me.

I am primarily a visual and kinesthetic learner. So, I learn best when I watch someone demonstrate something in front of me and then I have the opportunity to practice it. I do read articles and watch videos, but I spend a lot of time shooting and learning with others because it works best for me.

What does your current setup look like?

I currently have two film cameras that I use, a Minolta XG-M and a Pentax ME . I primarily shoot Portra and Kodak Gold, but I like to try other types of film as well. In addition to those two cameras, I have a Nikon D610 for shooting digitally. I am very candid about the fact that I don’t own Photoshop. I do little to no editing on my photos because I want viewers to see things exactly the way they were when I looked at them with my own eyes.

Who inspires you? Why do they inspire you?

I am most inspired by the street photographer Vivian Maier. She inspires me because she was a full-time nanny, but still took every chance she had to practice photography. She made the time to take photographs because it was something she enjoyed. Her work was not discovered until two years before her death, which shows that she did this for herself and did not let anyone else determine her self-worth as an artist. The way Vivian was able to photograph everyday life and tell a story through her work is also very inspiring to me.

What is your goal when you create?

The main goal behind my photography is self-expression. I share my feelings, thoughts, ideas, and point of view through the photographs I take. It will always be something I do for myself first, but I also strive to help others see and understand their own feelings, thoughts, ideas, and point of view. When people connect with my work and relate to it in some way, it makes me feel understood as well.

Why do you create?

I create to tell my story, acknowledge, and validate my own experiences and feelings. By capturing small moments and memories that often go unnoticed in everyday life I am forced to slow down and stay present, which helps me be more introspective. I want to reveal the depth and beauty of objects, places, and experiences that most people do not see as beautiful. It reminds me that I can always change my perspective to find the good in something, someone, or a situation in my life.

What is the best advice you would give someone with a dream?

The advice I would give anyone with a dream is this… make sure you have a clear vision in your mind of what that dream is. Work backwards from there, taking little steps each day to move towards achieving it. I think making it a habit to work on your dream daily is very important. We can’t rely on motivation because it is fleeting, consistency is key.

Tell us about your most recent release

I recently participated in the group exhibition, “Through the Lens” at the Brooklyn Art Cave. It was so wonderful to share my photography as well as connect with other artists and hear the stories behind their work. The name of my series was “In These Strange and Uncertain Times.” The entire series was inspired by a vacant storefront I came across while in Philadelphia. In the window someone had written, “In These Strange and Uncertain Times.” To me this scene represents the struggle we have faced in these “strange” times of the pandemic. It represents the people, businesses, and experiences we have lost. It is a reminder that nothing is the same as it was. When I saw the window of this building, I felt a pang of nostalgia. I wondered what business used to thrive in this now abandoned space and if anything would flourish there again. I carried this inspiration with me as I continued to photograph different buildings, objects, and scenes that reminded me how much things have changed and brought back memories of what was before the pandemic.

Check it out: https://www.jactookthese.com/series/inthesestrangeanduncertaintimes

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/jactookthese/

Website: http://www.jactookthese.com

Photography credit: Portrait- Phu Nguyen (@phutography.ct on Instagram), Jaclyn Gabriele

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