National Geographic Music (National Geographic)

Like a lot of rock and roll greats before her, rocker Neko Case got her start in music the old-fashioned way... in art school.

Before her debut as part of the country noir wave in the late '90s with her old band of "boyfriends"; before her critical success as part of Canada's esteemed indie-rock collective The New Pornographers, before her Grammy award for her 2009 solo album Middle Cyclone, Case was an art student at Vancouver's Emily Carr University.

And it was there that she acquired her taste for photography - and the critical and technical skills that elevate her pictures above those of your average hobbyist.

We recently caught up with Case to discuss her work and participation in Nat Geo Live's Music on Photography series. Case will be appearing at National Geographic headquarters in Washington D.C. as part of the series on December 1st, 2010.

VIEW NEKO CASE PHOTO GALLERY HERE

Nat Geo Music: How did you first get into photography?

Neko Case: I took a class at my art college, Emily Carr University in Vancouver from a lady named Diane Evans. She was a great teacher and was the first person to really drive home for me what it means to "push" an idea. I was 26 at the time and I still had NO idea what I wanted from my education. I thought I was going to be a print maker. Alas, no... I did a lot of things with pinhole cameras, and even used them for my grad project. I LOVED them, and I loved the encouragement I received from my teacher. After I left school I took my Polaroid Spectra with me everywhere.

What kind of formats and equipment do you prefer to use? Do you develop your own work?

I love large format but it's totally impractical for my kind of traveling. My heart still belongs to the Spectra. I haven't developed my own work in years, I did enjoy it though. These days I use my point and shoot Cannon and my iPhone. I have to admit it bums me out a little.. I love contrast and dark shots. I wanted to be the Tintoretto of the Polaroid instant camera... sigh. I love the effect of a cheap flash as well, I like it to be border on "intrusive".

Of all the photographers we've had, your work is the most experimental - do you gravitate towards less representational work?

Yes, on the road I fell I love with "Forgotten things" old chairs, couches in alleys, gas pumps, ANYTHING that looked lonely. I wanted those little moments to live, like there were their own little single cells of movie film. The Polaroid was also so great at turning the little movie stills into paintings. That heartbreaking color and grainy sparkle under the plastic. The are little visual chapter headings for my memories. The past looks like a beautiful 60's technicolor stream of movies in my mind's eye.

Are there any photographers who have influenced or inspired you?

William Eggelston. That man made frozen vegetables in a crappy icebox look BEAUTIFUL. He pointed out that they ARE beautiful. Everyday beautiful. Wim Wenders. I wish I could get a Leica to do that! I love the quiet drama in his photos. Margaret Bourke White. There are SO MANY others I don't even know where to start.

What else inspires you as a photographer?

Movies are a huge inspiration. Painters too. I'm really obsessed with Australian painter Sidney Nolan. His color, form and emotional power are a huge influence on me. Especially the Ned Kelly paintings.

What do you look for when composing a shot?

I look for static things that sort of glow, that give off something that animates them in a weird way.

Does being on the other end of the camera ever influence the way you act when you're in front of the camera?

I might be a little too opinionated, I might be a little bossy. I'm not a fan of having my picture taken, so usually I end up working with friends and so that all ends up more relaxing for everybody. I would always rather have the photo be odd as opposed to "nice", dressed up or trying to look "pretty". I can't pull it off.

Are you ever tempted to "shoot back" when you're being photographed?

No, I'm usually counting the seconds until I can take the makeup off.

How does photography influence your music, if at all? Does thinking visually impact your songwriting? Or are they two separate idioms for you?

They really aren't separate. I think of songs visually. I think of songs as movies, paintings as movies, photos as paintings, and so on etc.

Do you take a lot of pictures while on tour? What kind of things attract your eye?

I try to, I haven't been as good in recent years, I miss the Polaroid too much. But I still do I fairly decent amount. I love color and contrast and texture. I'm a bit like a Magpie too, I like shiny things... Lately I've been obsessed with tiles and things like huge piles of cell phone chargers. Groups of things that are the same in different colors. Wildly exciting, isn't it?

Why did you agree to participate in Nat Geo's Music on Photography program?

I've been taking photos on tour for the last 14 years or so and the opportunity to show them to people is too much to say "no" to. It's also really scary in addition to being a huge honor, especially since I'm obviously not a professional. I love the lonely, micro, late night, truck stop world of touring in a van across North America. I don't know if other people will be as enthused, but I can't get enough of it. I can't help but be really self conscious about the photos, but I need to get over it and stand in my underwear in front of the class.