Interview: Carly Dame
We spoke to #Faithfullgirl and photographer Carly Dame about who she is, her path to becoming a film photographer and what drew her to live in the South of France this summer.
“Carly, please introduce yourself.”
"I'm a Canadian photographer currently based in France with my boyfriend Taylor and my cat Arthur."
“Describe your path to becoming a film photographer:”
"I went to university and became an accountant and after a few years of working a desk job, I knew there had to be more to life. My heart was craving freedom so one day I quit my job to pursue photography and never looked back. I'm a nostalgic person and have always been inspired by faded family photo albums, vintage postcards and old love letters. When I became interested in photography in my early 20s, a friend bought me a vintage film camera. After I shot my first roll, I knew I'd found my lifelong passion."
“You currently live in the beautiful French hillside, what drew you to this part of France?”
"I've always dreamed of living in a quaint French village. After living in Paris for the last year and a half, we were ready for a change. I love the pace of life here in the village. I love getting my fruits and vegetables from the local market every Thursday. I love going on endless drives through the hills and having picnics in fields of wildflowers. I love the cobblestone streets and slow mornings on the balcony in the sun. We won't live here forever, but it's been a special chapter in my life so far."
“If you had to choose your dream destination to shoot, where would this backdrop be and why?”
"A few summers ago, Taylor and I were in Canada and we had just started dating. We found a book about Napoleon's life laying on the sidewalk and picked it up and brought it home. The first part of the book was describing Napoleon's childhood growing up on the French island of Corsica — the turquoise blue sea, the small villages, the rolling hills. Reading about this sparked something in us. Shortly after, we ran away to Europe together. I owe the life I have now to picking up that book on the sidewalk. We still have yet to visit Corsica, so shooting there would be a dream come true."
“Your imagery evokes a sense of an endless summer — tell us about your favourite vacation spots in Europe?”
"There are many places I still haven't visited yet, but my favourites so far are Cefalù in Sicily, and the island of Capri. Tuscany in the summer will also always have a special place in my heart."
“Your go-to cameras on vacation are:”
"Any point and shoot film camera is great — Olympus mju II, Yashica T4, Contax T3. The Contax G2 is perfect if you want something that is easy to use and offers professional photos. I also love just using disposable film cameras from souvenir shops or pharmacies."
“Your motto for 2021 is:”
"Life is short and there are no rules. Wake up every day and create the life you want."
