As a freelance writer and photographer, Rachel believes that beauty is found in the everyday moments. Using an iPhone as her main medium, she wants to challenge the idea that photography requires a professional camera. Creativity, for her, is a lens through which she sees the world – it is an intention to stay in the present and pace herself through the now.
Tell us a little more about your thoughts on sustainable fashion.
We’re all accountable for our actions whether we know it or not. Let’s face the truth, our planet is dying and the direct cause of it is us. Indulging in mindless consumption does not help our planet one bit, we’ve got to stop trying to keep up with the latest trends or giving off the perception that we’re up to date on the latest fashion because years down the road we won’t thank ourselves. Our planet is already struggling to renew itself and fashion is one of the largest industries that contribute to global warming. Even if this isn’t a worthy enough cause for us to invest in sustainable fashion, the sheer quality and creativity that goes into coming up (not duplicating like so many fast fashion brands do) with a design should be reason enough for us to switch over. You’ll thank yourself when you’ve got both the pants and the planet in a better shape when you’re old!
As a freelance writer and photographer, did you always intend to work in a creative field? Why does creativity matter to you?
As a kid, I never thought I’d end up here. I was dead set as a kid on being an archaeologist or a vet and I think even when I was young, I have always had a leaning towards wanting to help others and wanting to be able to share with people new ideas or new discoveries. I was definitely drawn to the arts though what with me spending a lot of time in my CCA in art club running around the school drawing whatever interested me but I never had much confidence in my skills until I was about 18. At 18, I really started to challenge myself creatively. I’d just started studying architecture and I knew it wasn’t for me so I started exploring different creative avenues until I settled on Instagram. That was when I developed a love for photography and starting taking photos more seriously. Soon after that, writing came naturally as I love to read and it’s similar to photography in which you have to convey what you need to in the simplest yet most elaborate way possible. Creativity matters a lot to me not just as someone who heavily relies on it as a way of viewing the world but because I find it opens a lot of doors and avenues to things we never thought could be. With creativity, we are able to give more of ourselves into our actions and with that we’re able to express to each other more accurately our inner struggles and strengths as human beings.
How are you challenging stereotypes about photography by using an iPhone as your main medium?
I have hardly ever used a professional camera to achieve a shot and that’s because I find cameras too cumbersome. A lot of people hold the perception that you NEED a professional camera to be able to excel in photography but that’s simply not the case for me. I find mediums such as my iPhone, a disposable camera and my Polaroid 600 work the best for me because it challenges me to analyse how the light will affect a photo, view even more opportunities to frame photos and even allows me to see the beauty in everyday moments. The photography field is filled to the brim with people lugging around different sets of camera lenses, tools and always missing an everyday moment because they’re too busy changing their lens to capture it. I want to be able to capture something with just one click and enjoy that moment because I know I’m never going to experience the same thing twice again.
What inspires you creatively and spiritually?
Being around nature and trees is my drug. I get so inspired just listening to the trees rustle against each other or by watching the light affect the colour of each leaf as it shines through. The fact that nature isn’t stagnant and is always growing has really inspired my life values as well as the way I transfer that into what I do. Whenever I feel stressed, I look at trees or I watch the clouds change shape and that speaks to my soul because I know my problems weigh so much less in comparison to anything else. We aren’t meant to stay in one spot. Every day is different and every second, minute and moment is never similar to the last.
You mentioned that you love to spend your time reading – what are 5 books you think everyone should read?
Wow, that’s a tough one! I would say Franz Kafka’s Metamorphosis, J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird and this isn’t a book but a poem – White Dog by Carl Phillips.
Best piece of advice you’ve been given?
“You’re wasting your life just sitting there moaning about how shitty it is and not doing anything about it! Get up and keep moving.”
What is one question you wished people asked you more often?
What is one thing you did today that you know you’ll remember for the rest of your life?
How would you like to be remembered?
I would like to be remembered that I have impacted other lives in a positive way and that hopefully, have helped to them to shape their own lives in their own respective positive ways.
We are inspired by Rachel’s motivations behind her creative pursuits and are proud to have her as Fieldtesters, a group of inspiring individuals that test MATTER products in their everyday journeys of passion, to help us improve durability and design. Rachel is wearing The Classic Wideleg + Leharia Champagne.