Artist Statement
I am primarily a Documentary Photographer, working in the broad field of social and cultural study with an emphasis on alternative and socially disadvantaged communities and ways of living. Central to my practice are the artistic principals of narrative, emotive resonance and overall aesthetic appeal brought about through the study of light, colour and composition. It is from this place that I produce my work, rather than simply an intent to document.
Photography is a passport to other worlds. Being a privileged person I want to understand the life of those less privileged, being a female I want to try and understand the lure of a woman from a man’s point of view, being conservative I want to witness the unconventional. It is this desire to dabble in, to experience and try to understand things other than what I know that informs my work. Whether broached with a social and ethical conscience as in my journalistic work or as an indulgence in my own curiosity, my camera is my ticket in.
Claire began her career by pursuing a degree in Social Work, however, she changed her focus to Photography when she realised that change can also be effected through this medium. Her ongoing documentation of marginalised communities within prosperous nations won her the Inge Morath and Magnum Foundation 2010 Inge Morath award for Female Photographers under 30 years of age.
Since beginning her career pursuing personal projects in 2008 Claire has quickly gained praise for her unique style gaining support from Getty images as an Emerging Talent in Reportage in 2009 as well as representing Australia's Emerging Female Photojournalist for Foto Freo 2010. She has recently joined the renowned Australian Documentary Photo Collective “Oculi” and her work is distributed through Agency VU in Europe and Redux in the USA.
Claire lives in Perth Western Australia where she works as a freelance photojournalist and socially concerned documentary artist.
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