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Sham Jolimie

Friday, May 10, 2013



Shamma Esoof / Sham Jolimie 

Age: 26 

Country of origin: Mauritius 

Country of residence: Malaysia 

Current employment: World Health Organization. 


Sham is undoubtedly one of the most intelligent and talented photographers I know. Her ability to capture emotion - the very essence of a person, be it human or animal - is breath-taking.
Her work has been featured on the BBC, in an exhibition (that is still going on until September 2013), and in several magazines. 

She has redefined the way I think about our culture, fashion, the images presented to us, the ideologies that dominate the world (she has a gift for sharing the greatest documentaries!), her opinions are always extremely insightful. Hopefully, through this interview, she will make you think about those matters too.

You were born with wings

How did your interest in photography start, and how did it develop?

I’ve always been drawn to art and design. I started photography at 19, with a used film camera. It felt like a completely natural endeavour and it’s still a crucial part of my life to this day. I love photographing people, pets, primates and places. What I love most about photography is that it takes me out of my introvert comfort zone. It also takes me to new places, allows me to tell stories and pushes me to be creative. To be honest, life would be very dull without it. 

I had the privilege of contributing several images to a nationwide travelling exhibition called ‘A Beautiful World’. The exhibition was organized by an NGO in partnership with the Royal Photographic Society of UK. I thought it already ended but it is still touring all over the UK until September 2013. 

One of my photos of the endangered and adorable Slow Loris was on the front page of BBC Nature. It was a photo that I had contributed to the The Little Fireface conservation project, run by Professor Anna Nekaris of Oxford Brookes University. 

Other than that, I had a feature on Lost at E Minor magazine, based in Sydney, Newcastle, and Austin, I got two photo-of-the-day mentions in Light and Composition (which is an online magazine), and most recently, two of my images were in F-Stop magazine, based in Chicago. 


The Gypsy of Ceylon


I know that you photograph animals a lot, but also people; could you tell me more about that? 

I love photographing people in portrait sessions. I also love makeup and styling. 
I mostly shoot ordinary girls instead of experienced models. I believe that whatever shape or size a person is; we all have star quality. The defining factor is confidence. We live a world where people are ridden with insecurities and feelings of inadequacy. I believe that having your portrait done with proper makeup, good lighting and a trustworthy photographer can be very therapeutic. 

An Aura of Colour - Sham Jolimie, Frederic Melotte

What are you trying to capture in your work, or does it vary according to the subject? 

What I try to portray is elegance; and I always strive to stay true to the subject’s personality. We are exposed to too many vulgar and degrading images. Media, film and advertising are teaching girls that the only measure of their worth is male attention. This is so grossly misguiding and very sad. If only girls would put all this energy in becoming independent and brilliant, who knows what they could accomplish. An eye-opening film on the subject is Killing Us Softly by Jean Kilbourne. 

It does vary according to the subjects, some might want to show more poise, others more exuberance, but in the end, it always stays classy and respectful. 


Places and faces

What is your opinion on fashion?

The side of fashion that I love is of course, the photography. There so many talented photographers in this field that it’s hard to keep up. I find it fascinating how a creative team can create a whole world within an editorial shoot. Sometimes you just have to marvel at a beautifully constructed garment such as the creations of Madame Grès. 

Fashion also has an undeniable socio-cultural dimension. It shapes standards of beauty that are nearly impossible to attain. The body type that we see in fashion media is mostly fair-skinned and size zero to two. While thin fair women are beautiful too, this body type is overly represented. Only a very small percentage of women look that way, therefore the rest of the female population is left feeling inadequate. I’m very glad that recently, plus-size models have gained more exposure but this is only a small step. Men are also victims of impossible standards of masculinity. Our definition of beauty needs to be healthier and more realistic. 

Fashion also raises ethical issues such as the use of leather and fur. Several designers, like Stella McCartney, have pledged to stop using them but the vast majority are oblivious to the plight of animals raised for fur. I do wish that other designers would join her. 

Fashion is not only about clothes but also about jewellery and accessories, which I adore. I follow blogs about them and always wish I knew how to design and make my own. 

The Slow Loris, brilliantly captured by Sham


What are your plans for the future? 

Publish a coffee table book. Part of the proceeds would go to animal conservation or humanitarian activities. It’s still a vague idea and I have yet to start pitching the idea to potential publishing houses. 

Other than that, I hope to make more time for shooting and improve my technique.


xoxo
Alex

Email: stylemauritius@live.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StyleMauritius
Twitter: @stylemauritius / @Alex_W_Isaacs

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