Photo Series + Interview: 'Secret Garden' by Daniela Majic Photography
'Secret Garden' is an enchanting and ongoing series by the extremely talented Daniela Majic Photography, based in Canada.
Not only are these images some of the most stunning photographs we have ever seen, but they also serve a heart-warming and admirable purpose - to help Daniela raise much-needed funds to donate to children's charities.
"The entire garden set is hand made and built by me in my small attic. I treat the garden set as an art installation. Every month I re-purpose the entire set to create and shoot new concepts and characters," explains the photographer.
Although we could talk about the beauty and magic behind this photographic project for hours on end, we thought it would be best to delve into the process and inspiration through the words of the series' mastermind - Daniela. We hope you enjoy our exclusive interview with her below :)
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Q: When did your love for photography first blossom? A: I have always loved taking photos even as a child but it wasn't one of those things that I ever thought I could do as a career. I would photograph with a five dollar plastic disposable camera and my mom's Polaroid camera just because it was fun. I also took a film course in high school but I still didn't have that "Aha" moment until I was about 19 years old when I received my first DSLR as a gift from my boyfriend (now husband). It's almost as if photography was following me around waiting for me to realize that it was what I wanted to pursue.
Q: Your series titled 'Secret Garden' is both beautiful and enchanting! Please tell us about the experience you had whilst creating the images for this wonderful project? A: It's been an amazing experience working on a series. The series is still a work in progress as I have about 7 or 8 more concepts to shoot. I started the series back in March of 2014 then took a long break from conceptual photography. I was going through a bit of a creative block. When I finally got out of that block I jumped right back into the series and I have been creating a new concept for the series every month. I think when you start to dedicate yourself to creating a series like this it can be a bit intimidating. You don't really know if all your ideas will come to fruition or if anyone will like the series. That's how I felt. However as the series comes along it has become a much more exciting and almost emotional experience.
I make all of the costumes, and I recreate the set (which I also made) with every new concept. That part is a load of work but it is the best feeling when you are standing in front of something you made by hand photographing a model who completely embodies a character that you have been producing all month. It is a magical experience. It is also a huge learning experience trying to get the next character ready in only 3-4 weeks time makes me realize a lot about how I work. Also, being able to push myself to create these little worlds has been a huge learning experience for me.
Q: We understand that you will be raising money to donate to children's charities through the series and find this to be truly inspiring. Can you please explain to our readers what motivated you to create a project in support of these charities? A: Thank you! The idea to raise money for children's charities came to me while I was in the midst of my creative block. I was really starting to notice this online trend where artists were creating for the sole purpose of being recognized and praised. Or just wanting to be in the latest trendy places or gain popularity and I began to look inward and think about why I was creating the work that I was. I asked myself if I was creating images to keep up with the trends or if I was just doing it for myself. It really hit me when I realized that it was possible that I could create art and have it change the life of someone else. I wanted to find a way to merge what I loved doing with a way to give back. I think the greatest thing about creating art for those in need is that it pushes you to keep creating. There are somedays where I want to give up but just knowing that I will be donating to children in need through the series really keeps me going. I think we as artists can do a lot for others in need and it's something I want to keep exploring and hopefully have other artists doing it with me.
Q: Was there a particular image from your 'Secret Garden' series which really stood out as your favourite? If so, why? A: They are all very special to me because in my head they tell a cohesive story. With every concept shot I feel like I have developed more. I have to say though that the one image that sticks in my mind a lot is "Wisteria Princess". It's the first image in that concept. I just remember receiving 100 artificial wisteria in the post the week before and thinking to myself "Wow, I'm really doing this". I had to hang the wisteria from my attic ceiling and it was freezing cold. So cold we could see our breath. The attic isn't insulated so the set and where we shoot / work changes with the seasons.
On the day of the shoot we gathered up all the extra wisteria and put them around Bri. It looked like she was standing at this magical fairytale podium like she was a queen about to deliver a speech. Then we lit a smoke bomb and it filled the set. It just looked so surreal and like this explosion of flowers. It was a really defining moment in the series for me.
Q: How would you describe an average day in the life of Daniela Majic? A: It's a bit like a roller coaster. Haha, some days are more slow and relaxed and other days are crazy busy. When I'm not shooting I'm usually spending time editing, social networking, getting ideas ready, and working on props and set design for Secret Garden. I also like to have some down time and enjoy watching movies with my husband.
When I am shooting usually it's for Secret Garden. I am really excited the night before and never really get a great amount of sleep. We start in the afternoon with hair and make-up then shoot for a few hours. Then the shoot is over and I go directly to my computer to start editing.
Q: Lastly, what do you hope to achieve with your photography in the not-too-distant future; Do you have any more exciting, upcoming plans that you would like to share with us? A: I really hope that the goals I have for the series will come to fruition. I hope that I will be able to hold gallery shows where I can give to children's charities. I also hope I can inspire other artists to give back with their art and to know that they don't need a fancy set or a big place to shoot. Every aspect of Secret Garden is shot in my tiny attic. I make everything by hand or re purpose things. If you have an imagination you can create anything.
My only exciting plans at the moment are that I am taking a little tiny break from the garden to go to Europe. I will be shooting in Europe as well so I will get to do a little bit more "fashion" styled shoots which is fun. As soon as I get back from Europe I will getting ready for my first ever solo gallery exhibit in my home town, and from there I will be continuing to work on Secret Garden and maybe putting together a DIY Fairytale workshop in the near future. :)
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We want to thank Daniela for taking the time to share her beautiful project with us and for answering our questions! We whole-heartedly encourage you to check out Daniela's website, as well as her Facebook and Instagram to keep up-to-date with her work. Enjoy!
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Don’t forget that if you too want to create mesmerising photographs just like those featured above, you can learn everything there is to know about whimsical and dreamy photography (including how to get published online) in our eBook: The Whimsical Photography Playbook – Check it out!