ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Eleanor Petry

Written By luis aguilera

This July, we’re proud to spotlight Eleanor Petry, a New York-based artist whose photography and videography explore intimacy, movement, and everyday beauty. With a cinematic eye and deep curiosity for people and their stories, Eleanor captures both emotion and atmosphere in her work.

We had the privilege of working with Eleanor on the People of Ridgewood 2nd Anniversary photo show, printing over 70 portraits for the project’s two-year anniversary. It was an unforgettable collaboration that brought her thoughtful, deeply human images to life in a new way.

Eleanor Petry
IG: @eleanorpetry

Who are you and what do you do? 

My name is Eleanor Petry, I'm an artist living in New York City who works in photography and videography.

Tell us about your work and what inspires your artistic style?

I love capturing portraits of people living their lives. Intimacy, emotion and movement are 3 words that I’m drawn towards in the creation of the work. I love taking portraits of objects too. I’ve been watching old movies since I was a kid... Alfred Hitchcock, Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers... and I’ve always been drawn to bold colors. I think that shows through in my work.

Is there any work you're particularly proud of or want to highlight?

I’ve been taking portraits as part of People of Ridgewood for about a year and a half now and it's been a great experience!  Approaching strangers to not only take their photos but also to hear their stories and connect on a personal level. It takes vulnerability and openness to approach strangers and doing that has made me more confident in myself.

How has IMPRESO contributed to your journey as an artist? 

My partner on People of Ridgewood and I were planning a photo show for the page’s two-year anniversary, and we worked with IMPRESO to do all of the printing. There were over 70 photographs in the show so it was a huge undertaking. I was not familiar with Giclée printing beforehand, so I learned a lot during the process... and getting to see my photos in the flesh on Epson hot press natural paper was such a treat! I don’t often print my work, so doing this project made me realize I need to see my work printed out more! It almost takes on a new life when it’s printed. 

Are there any tips or advice you want to give other artists out there?

For me, finding collaborators has been key to broadening my work and meeting with other artists. One of the biggest challenges has been to carve out time for myself to make work alone. It’s a fine balance between too much isolation and not taking enough time for myself.


Follow Eleanor on Instagram and visit the site to explore more of her incredible work and stay connected with her creative journey.

We’ll be back soon with more stories from artists we admire — and more reasons why thoughtful, high-quality printing is an essential part of the creative process.

luis aguilera

Luis Aguilera was born Caracas, Venezuela and then moved to Miami, Florida as a teenager. A street artist by nature, Aguilera has always been intrigued by the innovative ways that photography can capture a moment, especially shots near water. With the use of various DJI drones, Aguilera has been able to capture moments that were only available to those who had access to a helicopter. With his drone photography, Aguilera has been able to capture stunning photos of the oceans in different parts of the world. His series, “Thalassophile”, which means lover of the oceans, has explored the beaches of Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale in Florida as well as Ocho Rios, Jamaica. He’s also captured the exotic beaches in Waipo’o Valley, Waimea Beach, and Two Step in Hawaii. Mesmerized by the beachside scene and its ocean-adjacent atmosphere, this series focuses on the immensity and power of the ocean and how small people are in comparison. Capturing moments that feel authentic and true to the experience of being by the ocean, Aguilera’s series shows how no matter how different humans are, we are all captured the same 400 ft. in the air. The series also highlights how all people end up doing the same things when they see and interact with the water – whether that is sun bathing, lying in an inflatable tube, or enjoying the weather with friends, drinks and some food. The collectiveness of the aerial shots emphasize how people not only react to the ocean in similar ways, they also all love to do the same things at the beach. As Aguilera continues to focus on his drone photography and his “Thalassophile” series, he is looking to explore other regions as well. His next photos will be of the tulip fields and city of Amsterdam, Holland. He will also continue to explore the sands of Miami Beach and this summer the Caribbean beaches of the Dominican Republic. If you’re interested in working or collaborating with Luis Aguilera, please contact him at luisaguileraphoto@gmail.com.

 

http://www.luisaguilera.me
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ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Tomiwa Adesina