Shoot the Breeze: Sophia Larigakis

Sophia Larigakis is an upcoming Montreal photographer and student. She also seems to travel a lot, as discovered through the unfamiliar scenes in her work. With an interest in experimental and New Wave film, Sophia’s images feel cinematic, sci-fi even, but retain a soft femininity. – CM

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1. Why do you take photos?
It’s an impulse. I have an ownership complex. When I see something beautiful or weird or ugly in an interesting way I have a strong urge to own it – to make it permanent and mine in some way.

2. Do you carry your camera with you everywhere you go?
Not on the daily pilgrimage to and from the McGill campus (sure, Brutalist architecture can be visually interesting but not when you have to look at it/out of it every day) but when I’m out doing things, yes.

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3. What celebrity would you like to shoot most?
David Lynch and his beautiful gravity-defying head of hair. Oh and Irm Hermann circa 1971, she has such a strange face.

4. What animal would you like to be, if not a human?
A fat, spoiled, fluffy, self-satisfied cat. My mother has been known to say: “When I grow up I want to be a cat” and I’ve come to concur.

5. What is your favorite smell?
Bonfires, garlic in a frying pan, honeysuckle. Not all at once.

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6. Would you like to live forever?

Maybe in a Jitterbug Perfume alternate universe of immortality.

7. What do you think is the best photo you have ever taken to date?
Best? Not sure. But my favourite would probably be one of the photos I took of my grandmother in London over the summer. She always sits in the same chair with these white fur pelts on it and I made her sit outside wearing them draped over her like a beautiful ice queen. She is a very regal lady.

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8. What’s your favorite pastime?
Eating

9. Do you like having your photo taken?
The people who have a special knack for photo taking never seem to be the ones taking my picture, so not particularly.

10. Who are your favorite photographers, currently?
William Eggleston, Nobuyoshi Araki, Cindy Sherman, everything Toiletpaper Magazine does