Katherine Squier

This interview was done a bit less than 3 years ago and I totally forgot about it. Thought I would reblog, as I liked the questions Romke asked, the last one in particular makes me smile.

mossless:

Katherine Squier is 21 and her friend Eddie is away working for the Peace Corps and named a goat after her.

MOSSLESS: How are photography and psychology connected?
KATHERINE SQUIER: What isn’t connected to psychology? I guess that’s how I see things. I’ve always been observant of people and had a desire to understand them. I have no clue what I’ll do with my life (I graduate in May, pray that I find a job!) and I’m not even sure if I will go into the field of Psychology. It just seemed like a natural thing for me to study. And photography, well, it’s what I can’t help but do these days. I guess because I’m so interested in people photography is another way I can pause and look closer. I think everyone and life itself can be beautiful and in the most mundane and overlooked ways. And I guess photography has become a medium for me to explore and share that.

ML: What inspires you to shoot?
KS: Everything really! I carry my point and shoot in my purse and the majority of my photos are from moments I see while living my life that inspire me. Obvious things like beautiful light and quiet and tender moments are what draw me in. Women inspire me too, I think because I’m just around them more. With my roommates particularly it becomes the case that the more I’m around them the more I see them in beautiful moments and want to capture it.

ML: You’ve only been shooting since 2008, how did you get started?
KS: I just decided to try photography as a hobby one day—-I really didn’t know anything about it. It started out as something very casual. I bought a nicer digital camera because I thought it would be a good investment for when I got older—-like a good stereo. I wasn’t really thinking about it or putting my mind into it. Once my dad cleaned out the attic & I found his old AE-1, that’s when it all started. I wasn’t just pushing a button anymore.

ML: Is there a science to the perfect hug?
KS: You visited my blog. You’re a pretty cool dude, Romke.
First and foremost, any pride or grudges or discomfort or whatever that you may have with the person needs to be put aside. Then you must imagine you are both big, sensitive bears, and wrap both arms around them and squeeze tight. Anything that involves only one arm, pushing your butt out, or having three feet separating you and the other person is sad and not a real hug. For those of you who are iffy about good hugs, I understand, I was once one of you. You feel like doing so may make one or both of you uncomfortable. But unless that person is a meany or a sketch stranger, people love hugs. Literally. A hug releases endorphins, lowers your heart rate and blood pressure, and reduces the production of cortisol (a stress hormone that impairs your immune system). So milk those free endorphins & keep the hugs coming, people. We can save the world, one hug at a time.