Still & Cozy: An Interview with Ariel Berk
The gallery show that opened on June 6th was a special one for the Rare Device family. We celebrated our very own, Ariel "Earl" Berk, who has worn so many different hats with the company during her time with us. Her budding talent as a photographer was showcased in last year's staff show, creating a much deserved buzz from customers and a demand for her pieces specifically. It only made sense that she should be our first gallery show of the summer. Her photos fittingly have a nostalgic qualtiy to them, reminding us of summers past and warm-hued days. 
We sat down with Earl and asked her more about Exhale and her process as an artist.
What equipment/camera do you shoot with?
I have a Yashica T4, a point and shoot with only a few flash settings that I almost never use. It almost feels like a toy camera - super light and really easy to tuck into a pocket, but it has an incredible lens that captures a lot of detail. I love the simplicity of the camera and how it does a lot of the hard work for me, but I would eventually love to learn more about the craft of film photography and all the factors and technical aspects that go into having more control over the outcome of a photo, like camera settings and film types.
How would you describe your style?
I would describe my style as having a softness and quietness about it. Photographs are quite literally stills, but I think other photographers successfully evoke a lot of boldness in their photos either through capturing more movement or bright colors. My photographs feel especially STILL, maybe almost more ambient, and I think I gravitate towards more muted colors, negative space and this element of calmness.
Having known you and worked with you on a few gallery projects, I know you dabble in many forms of art (weaving, painting, etc.) Why has photography become your chosen art form for self expression?
Of all the art forms, ceramics is the one where I feel most out of my head and in my body - throwing on the wheel is such a touch-specific art form. But photography has been something that I’ve loved since I was in high school - for me it feels like a way of moving through the world. All art is a really personal way of engaging with the world, but photography is quite literally seeing the world through someone else’s eyes. Even when I don’t have my camera with me, I still sometimes try and practice this way of “seeing” - really taking my time to look and appreciate the little moments and frames around me.
What is it about your photography style that resonates with audiences? Has their response to your work shaped what you continue to shoot?
It’s only very recently that I’ve come to realize that people beyond my immediate family and friends appreciate my style enough to purchase it and put it on their walls which has been very, very special. My mom always told me that I have a “good eye” which I think she has to say because she’s my mom, but more recently, especially in the past couple years with exploring film and taking fewer, more intentional photos, I think the composition and framing of my photos is mostly what people appreciate.
The process of actually printing my photos (vs. just sharing them on social media or looking at them on a screen) has made me appreciate how film, with its grain and rich colors, really almost demands to be printed and tangible, so I think now when I’m shooting I’m not only capturing the details that I see and appreciate but I also think about how it would look printed at a larger scale.
Who or what influences your work?
There are so many photographers taking amazing photos and just seeing what other people are doing always gives me this little boost to get out with my camera. I love seeing how other people notice the world around them. My friend Nora Lalle curates a SF-based magazine dedicated to film photography called Pamplemousse and I think it’s such a gorgeous celebration of the diversity in the film community both in the photographers she features and also in the content and projects that they’re capturing.
What part of the world that you’ve photographed has resonated with you the most?
One of my favorite rolls of film is from Venice, although none of those photos are featured in this show. I spent an afternoon just aimlessly wandering around, getting a little lost and finding myself at a lot of dead ends. But there were so many little moments and scenes that I stumbled upon that had this sort of magical, intimate quality to them that felt like they were waiting there for me to find.
What details do you believe make the best photographs? How do you go about focusing on them in your work?
When I first started taking photos in middle school I was obsessed with taking these really close-up, macro shots of things to the point where they were almost abstracted. I don’t take the same kinds of photos these days, but I think there is something really interesting in photographs that make small details that you might normally overlook more of the focus.
How do you see your style evolving? Is there anything you’d like to experiment with shooting in the future?
Other than some candid shots of my friends, I haven’t really taken a lot of portraits, but I think there’s something so captivating about portrait and self-portrait series. A lot of my images are completely absent of people, but I think people are fascinating, and it’s a really beautiful skill to be able to capture them in a way where you can really feel their essence. I find myself spending more time looking at portraits - there’s something so intimate about those human details.
Finally, if we captured a snapshot of your life today, what would it look like?
My life has changed a LOT in the past couple years, but the consistent snapshot is always some version of this - of finding a cozy, quiet moment to cuddle up with my cats.
Exhale by Ariel Berk opened on Friday , June 6th. Her opening reception was sponsored by Fort Point Beer, with flash tattoo artist Sue of @snappy.dots at the event. The show is up until July 20th. Pieces can be viewed and purchased on our website.
Photos of reception by Dave Medal.