| ASMP Profile: Margot Duane
By Dana Downie Please give us a thumbnail sketch of your family background and your life/career.
I'm the youngest of fraternal triplets (2 girls and 1 boy) with parents from New Zealand and England. At the time of our birth, my parents had a 2-year old and lived on a 34-foot boat in Sausalito. It was pre-Megabucks Marin: family homes for $25K, no tanning salons or BMWs, and we rode our ponies in the park as teenagers. I've since lived in San Francisco, out of state and overseas, but have returned to Marin where I now live happily. I don't yet have a husband or family of my own, but I do have a couple hundred thousand photos…. Wanna see 'em? ; ) I earned a degree in Business Administration/Marketing from San Francisco State and spent many frustrating years trying to fit my round ideas into square cubicles. Then I borrowed my boyfriend's camera for a business trip in '91. After making daily sales calls, I photographed people in the streets and stayed up all night looking at the prints. I was utterly possessed. I discovered how much I loved looking at people…people I’d otherwise never have an opportunity to meet, and felt as if I had a passport to a secret human dimension.
I began to document the Bay Area’s new jazz talent, which led to my first exhibition at the Vision North Gallery in San Francisco as well as my first photo credit in the San Francisco Examiner Magazine. This experience clinched my desire to pursue photography professionally, but I was undecided as to which path to choose. While I loved shooting music, I’d already pursued a rock ‘n' roll costuming career in Hollywood and decided I didn’t want to play in that sandbox. Too ego-driven and flaky! Plus, the Jim Marshall-all-access days were over, and I didn’t want to deal with rights-grabby publicists and managers.
In 1997, I discovered Burning Man, the celebration of radical self-expression and self-reliance in the Nevada desert. What an epiphany! Not only was it the most visually captivating experience I’d ever had, it opened my eyes to the possibility of a better world…one based on shared abundance, art, humor and tolerance. Burning Man is a fascinating experiment in community and a visual feast for anyone interested in people or culture. I shoot the event every year and its many subcultures around the Bay Area year round. These images have been published in Rolling Stone, New Scientist, Los Angeles Times, and a new travel guide called Eccentric California, among others.
Last year, Time ran four of my images of the same-sex weddings in San Francisco and Chronicle Books published twelve images in their book We Do: A Celebration of Gay and Lesbian Marriage.
My growing business is now a diverse mix: portraits and events for private, corporate and non-profit clients, wedding photojournalism, and editorial stock of my images of modern culture.
What are your major interests and what it is about those subjects that interests you?
I’m mostly interested in people: how they self-express, interact, overcome differences, evolve. My main pursuits include participating in community (both on- and offline), traveling, music (Afro-Caribbean, new jazz, ambient, Led Zeppelin [still!]), learning more about my New Zealand/Maori roots, and exploring nature anywhere.
Why have you continued with photography? (i.e., why is photography important to you?)
I love people and am a visual person—light excites me! The power of creating an image that can capture and spread joy is intoxicating. I never want to put my camera down.
What have been your most interesting or favorite (dangerous, funny, odd, unusual) situations or assignments?
Three come to mind immediately: 1.) running backwards while shooting a joey (baby kangaroo) that decided to chase me on the beach in Santa Monica—he was training for the movies, apparently 2.) flying through New Zealand's magnificent Southern Alps in a helicopter for the BBC, and 3.) “stealing” Kevin Bacon's limo to race to 7-11 for more batteries for my flash. [He burst out laughing when I told him...and I got the shot I wanted].
What do you hope to do in the future?
I’d like to produce an exhibition of my work from New Zealand, offer my talents for good causes overseas, work with other photographers, explore new editorial and commercial opportunities, and photograph triplets around the world. I've had heaps of amazing experiences behind the camera and hope to produce a book of them someday.
Which photographers do you admire and why?
Henri Cartier Bresson will always rock my world. He is the master. Locally (and still with us), I admire Christiana Ceppas for her connection with her subjects, design sense, and the emotional content of her images; Jock Mc Donald for his wicked sense of humor; and Philip Chudy’s incredible imagination.
What do you do for fun?
I love traveling—locally or to far-flung places and am dying to go to Africa, Thailand, and India some day. I also enjoy bird watching, cooking for friends, live performance, being in nature, tennis, Scrabble, and my new garden.
What do you like/dislike about the photo business?
I appreciate the fact that each photographer has the ability to forge a unique path; there isn’t one linear career track. And now the web offers us a powerful and exciting forum for presenting our work. Unfortunately, the profusion of imagery—and the thirst to exploit it—has devalued our craft. We have an increasing challenge and responsibility to educate ourselves and others about its value and not to undersell our work.
What is important to you?
Friends, family, community, freedom and, dark chocolate.
How have you taught yourself to adapt to change?
In both my professional and my personal life, I’ve found that the only way around is through. And change is good! Last year, it was time to go digital, learning curve be damned. It’s been challenge to make this technical leap, but rewarding to produce my own work and no longer rely on my lab.
Any major regrets?
Nothing major, thankfully. But if I had my druthers (and the time/patience/resources) to continue my education, I'd study liberal arts at a fabulously reputable university.
Please explain why you joined ASMP and what you have done with the organization over the years.
I'm a relatively new member of 2 years and joined ASMP to connect with folks in the Bay Area photo community. I provide editorial support to the organization and have learned lots about surviving in this crazy business from the events and publications. Vive ASMP!
What magazines/e-zines do you subscribe to?
Utne Reader, National Geographic, Vanity Fair (for the photos), and the New York Times online.
What are the most important things you have learned?
You get what you give and must take pleasure in your work. Also, try to scatter as much joy as you can.
What is your favorite food?
Thai cuisine for its wonderful, fresh flavors and anything cooked on my BBQ to be enjoyed with friends. Did I mention dark chocolate?
What are your tips for working with people/camera subjects?
Have fun with them and you can't go wrong.
To view more of Margot’s work visit: www.planetmargot.com |
