Life & Work with Tara Jueckstock

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tara Jueckstock

Tara, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Initially, I started modelling around the age of 18 but lived in an area where there wasn’t much work, so I kept snagging my mom’s old digital camera (one that needed floppy disks to save images!) and would practice taking pictures of myself. It would be a while before I connected “self-portraiture” to “still counts as photography.”

My mom gifted me my first digital camera (Canon Powershot A430) for Christmas in 2007 and that’s when I started experimenting more. Again, my focus was mostly self-portraiture and occasionally friends who were willing to model for me, but I didnt actively start pursuing photography until around 2016. Prior to then, it was just something I dabbled in occasionally. 2016, I was able to photograph more models, and started trying out other subject matter. By then, I was working with a Panasonic Lumix DMC FZ200. It wasnt a mirrorless or a DSLR, but it shot in RAW format, so I held onto that camera with a vice grip for a few years before finally upgrading.

I look back at some of the photos I shot from back then and I’m relieved to say I’ve grown a bit in both skill and technique. I’m not saying every photo I took was bad (there were some truly awesome shots), but I’m happy to see how much I’ve grown as a creator.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
If the road was smooth, you’re not doing it right.

A lot of my struggles are and were personal. I hadnt figured much of my own self out while trying to dabble in photography, so figuring out where I stood was the biggest challenge. I went through a lot of mental health struggles on the path to get where I am today, and I think some of my older self-portraits reflect that.

Creatively, I fluctuate between different outlets, but I keep going back to photography. I would say that, physically, the hardest part of photography is the travel. I live in a very rural area, so I must travel to the majority of my shoots. Travel time can be anywhere from an hour, up to 3 one way. I’m sure it’s more difficult for other photographers who are more established though. But based from my own experience, traveling can be rough. Also, where I live is simultaneously saturated with photographers, and it’s hard to get your name out there. For now, I’ve stuck to mostly creative projects with other creative talent, and it’s taken a lot of anxiety off my shoulders.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
While my main driving force is being an artist, I feel I’ve also found another creative outlet in being a Histology Technician by trade (day job). What that basically is is I thinly slice medical specimens and mount them on slides, and oversee the staining process, so that a Pathologist may diagnose disease.

I feel at home in this niche space where I have to constantly wrack my brain to troubleshoot any problems I might be having with the specimens, or the machine, and that also mentally prepares me for photography, as I often have to troubleshoot and change my camera settings until they’re just right for the shot.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Ignore the naysayers. Just keep creating, no matter what. If you are willing to be challenged and willing to grow, you will always improve at your craft.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://enduringdepictions.mypixieset.com/
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/EnduringDepictions
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EnduringDepictions
• Other: https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/1-tara-jueckstock

Image Credits
All credits (C) Enduring Depictions (model featured is photographer)