Sarah McLean

"Taken all over the world, my photographs investigate the concept of travel through their focus on 'intermediate spaces'. Often seeking out the more mundane aspects of life and the built environment, I seek to explore the contrast between presence and absence which is fundamental to the act of travelling" (Taken from Sarah's website)

Sarah Mclean is a London based photographer who can find beauty in anything she comes across. An old shard of mirror, a dirty hob, a simple table and chairs - all looked at in a new, interesting light through the lens of Sarah's collection of film cameras. A sort-of 'anti-tourist', when abroad, Sarah appears to stray away from the usual suspects, and photograph the places and sights that others over see. Take a whole afternoon to browse through her photographs, as you will find yourself completely absorbed in her view of the world

What got you into photography? I still don't know how it happened, exactly, but I believe it sort of started when my boyfriend of the time gave me an Exakta SLR for Christmas in 2004 and then suddenly took off when I bought myself a light-weight Canon SLR the following year.

Which of your own photographs is your favourite? An impossible question!

Who are your favourite photographers? Burtynsky, Eggleston, David Lynch, Taryn Simon, Thomas Demand, Lillian Wilkie, Helena Kvarnström. The people who, years ago, took the black and white pictures you now find for sale at flea markets. The kids who flood flickr with the minutae of their worlds.

Where did you grow up? I grew up in South East London, about twenty minutes from where I live now.

What were you like as a child? I would only eat eggs, but was completely allergic to them. I liked to climb trees and boss my brother around. I suffered from chronic shyness.

What, or who inspires you? Large empty spaces, bright light, travel, the internet, patterns, all the incredibly talented people I know who make photographs, paintings, who write and whose brains are always fizzing with ideas.

Who or what would you most like to photograph? I'm planning a trip to Russia this summer, I'm hoping to find some wonderful things there.

What cameras do you use? I mainly use a Pentax Super ME, Canon EOS 30, Olympus Trip, disposables. I only really shoot 35mm film.

What music do you listen to? At the moment I'm listening to tune-yards, Owen Pallett, Nico Muhly, Pass Out by Tinie Tempah and In Utero by Nirvana.

What are your favourite blogs? I read a load of livejournals and twitter and not so many blogs. But I swing by myfunnyeye.blogspot.com, whorobbedthewoods.tumblr.com, hiyababes.blogspot.com and codeforsomething.com daily.

What are your ambitions with regards to your photography? Just to be better. I don't have any illusions about making a living from photographs - who would buy them? who would buy enough of them?! I like looking at my photographs more than anyone else I know, so I don't expect to be a great public 'success'. I just hope that I continue to enjoy the whole process, and keep finding things that inspire me to take more.

Sarah's website
Sarah's flickr