To capture the liveliness of the moment is something that just comes natural to the young American photographer. Maybe it´s because Sarah Jehan is self-taught and therefore her eyes are not distracted by any studies, and she can approach her art uncontrolled and fresh. We wanted to know more about her…

What means photography for you?
Learning how to use a camera isn’t very difficult, so having a good camera and knowing how to use the settings does not equal photography. Photography is the art of seeing. The world suddenly because a series of still frames in which everything, no matter how mundane, becomes beautiful. For me personally, photography is a release, a creative outlet, a hobby, as well as my favorite subject to read and talk about. It’s so much a part of who I am, that I don’t know what I would be without it.

Your inspirations?
I wish I could tell you I lived in a big city and was constantly bombarded with art, fashion and interesting people. Unfortunately, I live in a small suburb somewhere outside of San Francisco. I resort to getting inspiration from the things and people I see in my normal, daily life. A tea cup, a shopping cart, kids playing in an elementary school, a woman drinking a cup of coffee. My mind wanders, wonders and dreams so much during the day that sometimes I can’t even fall asleep at night – I love that feeling!

Talking about street photography. What fascinates you?
While I love taking a photo that is planned, as with fashion, there’s something to be said about photographing life as it comes to you. This is why I love taking pictures of unkempt San Francisco streets, old men, and lounging teenagers. Their imperfections make them natural. And isn’t it funny how much time photographer’s spend photographing a model or important person, trying to make them look natural?? There’s nothing like the real thing, like taking a candid photo of an old man sitting alone or photographing a San Francisco cafe in the morning.

Do you compare yourself with other photographers?
There are a lot of photographers I respect and admire, but I don’t think I’ve ever really compared myself to any of them. A lot of my favorite photographers, believe it or not, have work that is very different from mine! There are some photographers though whose work I find to have a sort of common ground with mine.

What makes a perfect picture for you?
A perfect picture is one you can FEEL become a perfect picture. I used to shoot only film, and during that time, my only knowledge that I had got the shot was the feeling I got after taking it. In the age of digital, you kind of lose this intuition because you can look at any photo instantly after taking it. I also love taking fashion photos that look natural or candid, and there’s definitely a feeling of fulfillment if you can capture a photo you had imagined in your head before taking it.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Future questions are always so hard to answer – life is so day-by-day and it can change at any given minute! Well, here I go anyway – in 5 years I see myself as a successful photographer and writer. I hope to have traveled to at least 5 new places and would like to have made a lot more friends in a variety of places. I want to go to Coachella again and do a cheesy American road trip. I want to camp on the beach and publish a novel.

Many thanks for your time!

More of her work on
www.sarahjehan.com and flickr.com/skams

Interview Christine Guggenberger