Written by Lilli Donohue, Photographs by Robin Maaya
Robin Maaya, a fourth-year photography student, has created a photo documentary series titled “Home Away From Home.” Nine year-old twins Ava and Ruby and their teenage sister Alexa were the main muses of the project.
Maaya said she is passionate about photographing children as a way to connect to her own inner child. “I feel as if I am getting my childhood back by photographing them,” Maaya said.
There is a bittersweet sense to gain from seeing her work. The transition from childhood, to college and soon graduation is daunting for Maaya. Being with Ava, Ruby and Alexa allows her to let that go. “I am coping with the end of my childhood, but I still get to be a child with them,” Maaya said. “I just go over there and have fun with them and I just happen to have a camera in my hand.”
There is an interesting blend of spontaneity mixed with Maaya’s planning process as she creates bodys of work. Unlike some photographers who create a narrative by selecting cohesive works, Maaya starts with conceptualization and ideation first. She researches her ideas and inspirations heavily before even picking up the camera.
Maaya uses a 4×5 Victorian camera with a lot of history. On the surface, this beast has wooden legs and a cloak. It takes 5-10 minutes just to set up; this can be a challenge, especially when photographing children. “I learned to be spontaneous with a camera that really doesn’t lend itself to spontaneity,” Maaya said. “Shooting the 4×5 has made me a better photographer by making me slow down, focus on composition.”
SCAD has played a huge role in the content of her work in many ways. Ava, Ruby and Alexa’s parents, Christine Hall and Scott Pendergrass met while they were students at SCAD. Maaya met the family through her photography professor Jaclyn Cori Norman.
The women are all connected by Tom Fischer. He was Norman’s mentor and the chair of photography and Dean of Media Arts at SCAD before he passed away in 2019. Fischer also taught Christine during his time as a photography professor. The story comes full circle with Maaya. Fischer gave her a tour of SCAD, her first time visiting the college as a junior in high school. His legacy lives on after Fischer’s wife gave his 4×5 camera to Maaya. She shoots Ava, Ruby and Alexa with the same camera their mother, Christine, was taught on.
An important lesson Maaya has learned from Professor Norman is, “Photography the moments between the moments.” This sweet phrase perfectly encapsulates Maaya’s work and the concepts behind it. Find Maaya’s work at the Cedar House Gallery or permanently on her website.
