Featured iPhoneographer: Lene Basma

Above: Oslo 2 © Lene Basma

Lene Basma says that iPhoneography has become a part of her life. Looking at her images, I think her point is apt, as Lene’s art involves working with composite images, bring together parts or pieces from here and there, to make a whole--integrating. “Of course, the iPhone and I also became BFFs (best friends forever) because it suits my personality: impatient, intuitive.”

Lene, please tell us about yourself.
I live in Norway, out in the country, 50 km outside Oslo; the cows are mooing, the tractors are blocking my way.  Professionally, I am an Architecture/Urbanism major. In the course of my education, I have lived and studied both in the U.S. and in Berlin. After working several years as a private consultant, I am currently working on my doctorate (Ph.D) at the Institute for Urbanism and Landscape at the Oslo School of Architecture and Design. What I LIKE to do: observe, draw, take photographs, app…

Above: Asker © Lene Basma

Lene, why do you take photos or make images on your iPhone? How did you start and why do you continue?
For me it is a form of therapy. I was diagnosed with CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) in 2008. With my creative background, I sought outlets; I bought a Diana, started drawing (things other than houses) and making composite images in Photoshop (which I still make, they can be found at Ine-artandME.  Then, about a year ago, the iPhone became my companion, and not only as a device for taking photographs and making images, but also because it, through the images (and for me IG was the key) offered a social platform--a way to break through the isolation of my illness.

Of course, the iPhone and I also became BFF´s because it suits my personality: impatient, intuitive. In spite of my PhD; I am a short story girl. When, the image then comes to represent something I find beautiful or express something that is important to me, it is a fantastic, life-brightening feeling.

iPhoneography has become a part of my life, my way of approaching and dealing with everything that happens to me. I guess I would have to describe myself as that which Carlein (van der Beek) has termed a passionate iPhonista.

Above: Lines of Life © Lene Basma

What are your favorite subjects to photograph, Lene?
Considering that my artistic relationship with (i)Photography counts for less than a year, I find that question extremely difficult to answer. In the beginning, I took pictures that told stories about my life – of me, what I did and thought, where I were, sharing them through Instagram. After encountering iPhone artists like Benamon, Lindsey Thompson and Carlein van der Beek through iPhoneArt.com (IPA), I started transferring the way I had worked with Photoshop to the iPhone, working more with post editing. The last six months, I have taken a lot of pictures of mannequins, apping them in a way so that the images tell short stories. Additionally, I like to take dramatic black and white pictures of architecture and explore the world through minimalistic captures.

Above: Color © Lene Basma

How would you describe your creative, artistic, or photographic style?
In the words of my son: “My mother starts off intuitively, adds a dash of creativity, a hint of elegance, throws in sprinkle of personal experience, and tops it off with a whole lot of herself.”  Sometimes I think he has watched too much “Cake Boss,” but I guess he is  correct.

Lene, what is most important to you in your creative process?
In the beginning it was the sharing. I always referred to the people I was following and who followed me on IG as my Pocket Friends. Now as iPhoneography has become more and more a part of my other creative work, I would say that it is the post editing, transforming the creative impulse into something beautiful or disturbing.

Above: Sorrow © Lene Basma

What have you discovered about yourself or others as an artist/photographer as a result of your iPhoneography practice?
My iPhoneography practice has given me the opportunity to establish virtual friendships with like-minded people all over the world, and I have seen how important this kind of exchange is for me as an artist, as well as being a tremendous enrichment to my life.

iPhoneography also introduced me to photography, and even though I now own a Diana and we have a DSLR, my creativity thrives on the particular set of restrictions and possibilities that are involved in taking and working with pictures from an iPhone.

Above: Lene Basma, self portrait © Lene Basma

Do you have an image that’s remained memorable to you for some reason?
I always consider my last image my best one and that euphoria usually lasts for about 12 hours. If I have to pick one of my own, I would chose the image which is called 'Sorrow', because it incorporates all the elements which I use in my Ph.D work, expressing an emotion through a composite image which always includes a drawing of a figure that represents me but still bears distinct marks of being an iPhone work.

Above: Photographer in the Sand © Lene Basma

Lene, would you tell us about your influences?
I have the pleasure of being connected and exposed to the work of so many great iPhonoegraphy artists every day through IG, IPA, P1xels and different groups on Facebook that it is impossible to name one or two. They all influence and inspire me. On a deeper level, living and working together with a very creative and talented man who is a photographer (Canon5D and iPhone), musician/composer and multimedia designer, forms an important platform for my creativity.

Above: Fading Beauty © Lene Basma

Lene, what’s next for you, for iPhoneography?
My illness puts restrictions on my energy, so the next half year I have to concentrate on finishing my PhD. I will still make images that hopefully can inspire others though, and if I am lucky, find a gallery that will exhibit my work.

As far as the iPhoneography movement is concerned, I think as the phenomena becomes more established, we will see a professionalization of the institutions surrounding it. I just hope it will continue to develop with the same community-spirit that has been so characteristic for it until now.

Above: Entangled © Lene Basma

Please tell us what apps you use.
For my black and white images, I mostly use Snapseed, Noir, Spica and Dramatic Black&White.  For my composite images, PhotoForge2 and Iris PhotoStudio are my absolute favorites.

You can see more of Lene’s images on:

• Flickr
• iPhone Art
• Google+
• Instagram: Lene
• Website

Comments

[Lindsey Thompson]

Lene, congratulations on your feature, so lovely to hear more from you. I feel so much emotion and passion through your work, you create such beautiful pieces of art. Very well deserved :-)