Kyla Meany

Interview by Doris Abdolian, Elly Dawson, and Maya Ash Transcribed by Ariana McGann

Grade

Mediums

Photography

Classes Taken at Harriton

Film-Photo 1, Film-Photo 2, Film-Photo 4H

Self Introduction

I’m Kyla, I’m a junior at Harriton and I have a passion for photography! When I’m not focusing on art, I love to volunteer with animals and within my community as well as spending time with my friends and family.

Interview

What's your favorite medium to create with?

My favorite medium is any sort of camera! Whether its my phone, early 2000s cameras, or my personal camera, my favorite art form to create is photography.

What is it like working with graphics and film and photo?

It’s awesome. I feel like there’s a lot of freedom and you can kind of--I don’t know, there’s just a lot of freedom and you can create whatever you want because you take whatever your vision is and then you can kind of bring it to life and capture it in your own way.

Are there any art styles that you think are underrated? In the graphics world are there any that you find underrated to use as a subject or just in general to explore through graphics?

I think a really underrated thing is capturing people in nature and I think it’s interesting to capture the dynamic of human nature and then our environment. And I think there’s a different type of beauty when you have a subject of a person and then the surrounding beauty of the environment.

Is that what a lot of your pieces mainly focus on?

When I shoot outside of school that’s what I do. Mainly I like to capture a lot of nature, and then I think studio shoots are also awesome for capturing the beauty of a person.

Would you say that’s your favorite subject to capture?

Probably, yeah.

What other art styles are you interested in?

I’ve always had a little interest in painting since I was younger. It’s not my strong suit but I find peace and joy in the entire painting process. I love seeing what I can create with a medium I’m not as comfortable with, like painting.

You said that you’re interested in painting. Do you think that you’d ever cross media painting and photography?

I feel like that’d be awesome. I’m just, I’m not a confident painter or anything. I’m much more confident in photography but I’d love to somehow mix them together and explore that.

What was your introduction to film and graphics?

It was my grandpa. He has--and I still have a ton of his old camera equipment--and he was always passionate about it, so then I decided that I was going to take a course in high school and then I kind of fell in love with it too. And then I got to tell and show him everything about it and he was always proud. And now I have all of his old equipment.

And you think that has definitely grown your relationship with him?

Yeah, yeah.

Do you have any favorite visual artists, or anyone who inspires you?

I don’t have any specific artists. There’s one that Ms. Witman showed me that I can’t remember the name of.

Or any art styles?

One of my favorite styles is the dreamy, like I said before, the beauty, and I just love capturing the different aspects of beauty. And then I look for all my inspiration on mainly Pinterest. I love Pinterest. And then also Instagram because you can find a lot of other artists’ work.

From where do you derive inspiration? How does that affect your artwork?

I derive inspiration from social media including Pinterest and Instagram. I look for images that convey similar messages that I want to capture. It allows me to explore different ideas and see other photographers’ amazing work.

Do you think that your grandpa inspires you a lot? I know you said that you got it from his work.

Definitely. I got closer with him. He’s passed now so I still do a lot of photography just for him because I know that’s what he wanted me to do, and that’s why it’s so--I don’t know, I just love having his equipment, and I never got to fully share all of my present work but it definitely is an inspiration that he was so interested in it as well.

You talk a lot about seeing people and portraying people through your art. Do you see yourself through your art? Do you portray yourself?

Sometimes, for sure. I’ve done specific projects, especially in nature and I can tell that it was taken by myself. My eye in photography I feel like it’s very clear, and my editing style, and I also see, especially when shooting portraits, which I want to experiment with more, sometimes my emotions go into how I have my model pose and that stuff.

Do you plan to keep incorporating your art in the future? How do you plan on doing that?

I want to major in either wildlife conservation or marine biology, or something in the psychology field, so I 100% want to keep doing photography especially if I end up doing something with the environment because then I’ll be able to work it into my studies.

Like National Geographic?

Yes, a dream of mine is to go on a trip with NatGeo and just go take pictures in the safari or something. I like those are so cool. Those pictures are so interesting.

Since you’re going to be trying to incorporate photos throughout your life, how do you as an artist want to grow from that?

It would be cool eventually to get into bigger, more personal projects where I can just do whatever inspires me and I’m really looking forward to that when I’m in college and next year because I’m going to take AP, so then it’s a sustained investigation. I’m just excited to have something more personalized.

Do you have a theme picked out yet?

No, not yet.

Is it AP Film and Photo?

Yeah, I’m going to take it next year.

How do you think your artistic journey will develop/evolve?

It would be cool to eventually to get into bigger more personal projects AP Film and Photo

What advice do you have for students who want to be involved artistically, but are unsure if they can fit it into their schedules in and out of school?

My advice to students who want to be involved in art is to just go for it. Find an art form that makes you feel passionate and happy, and pursue it. Overtime you will find ways to incorporate it into your daily life. I feel as though everyone needs art and should try to have an art aspect in their life.

Do you have a favorite high school memory?

I don’t know. I can’t think of a super specific one, it’s probably that I’ve reconnected with a lot of my friends from middle school and even elementary school. I think that was a main part of my high school journey. It’s probably one of the best decisions I’ve made.

What has been the best part of your senior (or current) year?

Getting more involved with my community. I’ve found many new passions and purposes.

What are the clubs or electives you participate in/take at Harriton?

I’ve taken film photo every year and plan to next year. I’m also a member of NAHS and the media manager of the new ski and snowboard club.

Favorite social media platform?

Instagram, because it allows you to view all types of content as well as interact with the creators.

Do you have a favorite place in Philly or in nature?

My favorite place in the entire world is Maui, Hawaii.

How is that?

My mom and I went there for spring break. We never really go on vacation, so it was a little girl’s trip, and I just fell in love with the whole environment there, and there’s recently been, I don’t know if you guys have seen the fires that happened there so it just made it more meaningful. And my favorite photos that I’ve taken were in Maui.

If you had one wish granted, what would it be?

If I could have one wish, it would be world peace, or happiness.

You could give us a silly one. You can have world peace too. Let’s say all the issues in the world are solved.

Okay, if I could be selfish. I’d want to have a ginormous house on a lot of land near the beach. I just want to create my dream house. Or I want multiple houses across the world.

Now we’ll do the Speed Round: Favorite food?

Pasta

Favorite drink/coffee/tea

Iced dirty chai latte (espresso)

Favorite restaurant/ dining location/fast food chain

Piacere’s in Manhattan

Favorite Pizza or ice-cream/frozen yogurt Topping?

Rainbow sprinkles!

Favorite Animal?

Dogs or sharks

Favorite Song?

Jesus of Suburbia by Green Day