Photography major publishes zine at Starlandia
Featured Image Courtesy of Karina Rovira
Before school began in the fall, Karina Rovira a second-year photography major from Altamonte Springs, Florida published a zine titled “Too Slow, Crooked and All Wrong.” The zine documents her summer in Savannah and her experience of living on her own for the first time.
During the end of spring quarter Rovira thought of possible ideas for future photography projects. Her original idea for the zine was to just have it document her summer in Savannah. The concept then changed to experimenting with shutter speed and angles as well as documenting her summer.
“It represented me being here in Savannah, going through this new experience, living totally on my own for the first time,” said Rovira.
Rovira explained that she first began with taking a ton of pictures but in the last month of her project she began organizing the images, deciding how she wanted the laid out in the zine, what goes with what, what doesn’t go at all, what the cover would be like and the title for the zine.
“When you just take lots of picture you just get to experiment and really be open to any changes,” said Rovira.
Unlike some photographers who like to plan out and document their process, Rovira prefers not to plan anything out and just go with whatever new experiences and different things attract her.
“I would just go out in my day, not having anything planned… take whatever is in front of me, see what inspires me,” said Rovira.
Rovira also emphasized the importance of timing in photography — particularly street photography — and how a lot of her more popular images have been accidental or a result of good timing.
“A lot of my photos that people end up really liking are the ones that I just happened to be in the right place at the right time… and the people around me, I was lucky enough to be around them and have their presence around me and be able to capture that moment.”
The work presented in the zine document Roviras’ experience of living alone for the first time, Savannah, what it has to offer and her experimenting with her camera.
“I like to be really open to new things and I like to view things in the perspective of trying to capture its uniqueness but still relate to it,” said Rovira.
One example of a new experience Rovira had over the summer was going to a punk show. Before this she had never taken pictures at a live music performance.
“Hard-core punk rock isn’t something I’m totally into, but I was amazed with everyone around me and it just really inspires me to capture those moments… that new experience,” said Rovira.
A goal of hers was to try and capture her emotions during the moment; the energy and shock value of being there. Rovira also added that she began doing more street photography during this summer and that she is trying to get more comfortable going up to people and taking pictures, whilst still being respectful.
“It helped me just grow as well, as a person, a photographer and as I student in photography,” said Rovira in regards to the effect creating and publishing the zine had on her. Rovira also mentioned that she would like to continue doing more zines in the future, possibly with a different theme.
“Too slow, Crooked and All Wrong,” is currently being sold at Starlandia and the Appreciation Society for $5. For more information on the artist and her work, visit her website.
Written by Asli Shebe.
Asli Shebe is a senior writing major from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. She began working for District in 2014 as a staff writer, then copy editor, A&E editor, Chief Assignment editor and finally, Editor-in-Chief in 2017. Asli currently holds the record for obtaining the most job titles during her time at District. When she’s not writing for District you can find her biking around the Historic District of Savannah at odd hours of the day.
