If you are yet to read my first Eye Mama Project blog, I suggest you go back and read that first as this is a follow up to that.
When writing my first Eye Mama Project blog, I emailed the founder of the online exhibition asking a few questions about the project but, although not having received a reply, I decided to post the blog anyway as it was too exciting not to share. Recently, I received a reply- hence this update for you all!
Karni Arieli, a director, photographer and the founder of the Eye Mama Project started it during lockdown. She documents her own two boys and realised other photographers were doing the same on Instagram. She described the project as a series of “peepholes around the world into homes” looking at care and family in a way she had never thought of before. She wanted to explore the dark and light comparison and imperfections and so started collecting this on Instagram.
I asked her if there are any requirements in order to get posted on her page and she responded with this list:
- You must be a professional photographer- however, she does not check this
- Any genre
- Established and unestablished
- Must be a mum or carer that lives with kids
- Stories that relate to motherhood such as IVF
She was able to confirm that this project was mainly female led however she has posted a few from the father’s perspective.
She chose to use Instagram as her platform due to her own skill set and through her own personal account to collect a following. However, she does not always like Instagram due to restrictions on showing breastfeeding and some negative comments it allows. However, for Karni it was the fastest way to collect a community of mother photographers around the world.
It is inspiring to hear how this project is completely unfunded and that Karni does this from her own passion and is always coming up with new ideas.
I was able to ask Karni for a portfolio review of my own work and she loved the backdrops and material I had used and described it as ‘romantic’. She suggested I use a rougher grade or create a greater feeling of age in my photographs to complement the Renaissance theme. She said motherhood is often depicted as too soft and “yummy” and does not reflect its hardships and offered her idea of messing the mother’s hair up and using less perfect material.
These comments were great help and have inspired me to take my project in different directions as it progresses! If you have your own thoughts on my work do not be afraid to let me know, there is always room for development!