Olivia Bee
Photographer, director
About
Olivia Bee is a young photographer from Portland, Oregon who now lives in Brooklyn, New York. Her mother is a hairdresser and her father is a high-tech worker, they both have been interested in art their whole lives. She first started taking pictures when she accidentally signed up for a photography class in sixth grade. At first she wasn't a fan, but soon fell in love with the art.
Her Work
Olivia Bee's photos are unique, just like her personality. Her photographs stray from the typical guidelines most photographers live by (rule of thirds, filling the frame) and often times she places her subject directly in the center. Her seventies inspired pictures filtered with washes of colors are an innovative take on a classic art form.Her work has a dreamy, youthful, and nostalgic feel to it. She categorizes it as "real, obsessive emotions put in a pop context.”
"It lends itself to memory; it's magical. I want to evoke nostalgia in everyone, and to take photos you can relate to, regardless of your situation, your gender, race, where you grew up, whether you're a teenager…"
The Rule of Thirds
The rule of thirds a technique most photographers use where you make sure the main focus points of your photo are not directly in the center. People use this because it is said to make an image more complex, add depth and give it balance. Olivia Bee rarely uses the rule of thirds because placing your subject directly in the middle makes it stand out in a crowd and makes it more jarring and to the point.
Accomplishments
Olivia Bee is an inspiration to many and has spoken at a TED talk in Athens entitled “Talent is an Illusion” where she encouraged young girls to pursue their passions, even if they don’t think they are good enough. A few years back, when Olivia was a freshman in high school, she was reached out to by Converse to do a shoot in Portland. Nike also reached out and she was flown to Hawaii to shoot for them. She has also done shoots for Adidas, Levis, and the television show Degrassi. Her work is displayed all over Portland coffee shops and has been in exhibits in Paris, Berlin, Spain, New York, and California. She has a book titled "Kids in Love" which is a collection of her photographs.
Talent is an illusion: Olivia Bee at TEDxAthens 2013