Gabrielle Cooper known to friends as Queenie Coop is a London-based photographer and a very good one too. Her images have a touching realism to them which pull you in and threaten to never let go, like the beginning of a very good story. She had a few words with us about Leaping Into The Void, unconventional photography and the 80’s.

Kate&Mariam: What led you to photography?
Queenie: Growing up I just naturally had a thing for art. Always drawing, painting and making things. My dad would always take me to art galleries and after a while I realised that it was the photography exhibitions that I was intersted in, they would stay in my thoughts for days after. I really like that with photography a message can be read or portrayed in a very direct way or a completely abtract and distorted way. Other forms of art can lack the ability to be so direct in communicating a point in the way photography does.

Kate&Mariam: Who or what inspires your work?
Queenie: I’m inspired by many things. Things I see, feel or even hear. Words especially, can inspire thoughts that form images in my head which then make me want to illustrate it with the camera. Often I find or create an image by chance and then use the discovery of the mistake to generate a body of work.
“Leap Into The Void” by Yves Klien is one of my most favourite images. I’ve been obssessed with it ever since I saw it. I think for me it says so much. It’s one of those images that everyone who looks upon it, will make up their own minds [about] how it makes them feel. For me I thought it was optimistic and empowering.

Kate&Mariam: Are you working on anything at present?
Queenie: At present I’ve had a little falling out with my camera [laughs] so no big ideas at the moment. I’m still enjoying taking lots of unconventional shots such as taking some of my old images and blurring them in the dark room. I enjoy the change of atmosphere [that] blurring a picture can bring. It starts to become slightly darker, eiree and haunting. Just appears a little empty and unsatisfying.
I recently did a body of work, printing objects on accetate then holding them in front of the lens so that they can be seen in or out of focus and scale next to other objects. Becoming a misfit.

Kate&Mariam: What are your plans for the future?
Queenie: Honestly, I’m not sure. At the minute I’m just going with the flow. I’m trying to see if I can start networking and getting my name out there.

Kate&Mariam: Just because we love tips, where’s your favourite place to shop?
Queenie: Ebay, its the best way to find nifty little things as many people don’t know what they are giving up. I also like to shop at little boutiques abroad when I get the chance. You find some unusal items, without them costing a great deal as little boutiques in london still have a big price tag to them, especially the jewellery.

Kate&Mariam: And what would be your dream outfit?
Queenie: I’m not too sure. I may even already have it at home. Found in my moms closet, an 80’s sailor type jacket and beautiful matching high waist belt. Reviving the past is always fun! I’ve also noticed I have a soft spot for anything that looks 80’s. I have a sequined 80’s style dress that I’m dying to wear but I don’t think anywhere is good enough to wear it to [laughs].  

All images provided courtesy of Gabrielle Cooper. See more of Gabrielle’s work at www.gabriellecooper.co.uk