Calmness and character, photography by Lillie Eiger
Curious beauty from London to Chicago.
[L]illie Eiger is a photographer we love. Her fashion, portraiture and doco images all find the off-kilter, curious beauty in the world. Based in London, but willing to travel and returning home to Chicago from time to time, Lillie can be found in search of “a certain confidence and calmness” in her subjects, eventually taking images that make us question our conventional ideas of what looks good.
After working on her with this Daniel W. Fletcher editorial and this one for Xander Zhou, we caught up to find out what makes an interesting picture.
Who do you like to take pictures of?
I love to take pictures of people who inspire me. An interesting face almost always precedes an interesting character. It’s ideal to have a subject that exudes energy and positive vibes, and there’s also a certain confidence and calmness I look for in an expression or gaze.
What is the most beautiful thing you’ve seen recently?
Recently the most beautiful thing I’ve seen is the tree outside my parents house in Chicago. It’s my favourite thing to come home to. Whenever I get home to Chicago it evolves. In the winter it’s covered with the most beautiful layer of snow and its branches are all spindly; in the summer it’s as lush as ever. It’s got such a unique shape that reminds me of a fish or a pregnant belly…
Can you tell us an image that has had a major impact on you?
This is a hard one. I think the images and visual cues I grew up with defined me the most. In my house I was thrown into this world of culture and fantasy. My parents are collectors of some amazing pieces of asian and native american art that I grew up surrounded by. I distinctly remember being entranced by these Japanese screens that my dad collected. My favourite pictured a grand falcon tied down and I identified a lot with that.
Where are you based and how much inspiration do you get from the space around you?
I’m based in London. I think it’s less about the space and more about the people who inhabit its creative environment that influences me. It’s exciting to live in a place that is constantly changing, creating and influencing the rest of the world. It’s a place where so many important moments in fashion, culture, and music stemmed from and continue to. I’ve lived in London for four, going on five years – all of my adult life so far. It’s home!
Can you give us a review of 2016?
2016 has been a tough one. In my bubble it’s been a year of me coming to terms with what I want to do. I’ve learned how to find comfort in what I love and accept things about me, my work and my process that I have never been able to before. I set a lot of goals and equally made accomplishments. Personally it’s been essential. Outside my bubble, I think we’ll all look back at this year (eventually) with understanding. We had to go through all of this, to come out of it more determined than ever. Shout out to all my friends of colour, to my LGBT and to my Muslim friends in Chicago. I’ve never seen a group of young people more terrified of what’s in front of them. Its an awful thing that our generation is dreading the future.
Gallery
