The master photographer I chose was Alicia Sparaco. Almost a year ago I ran into her website and was blown away by her SX-70 multi-exposures, as well as her black and whites. I emailed her immediatly and told how refreshing it was to see someone doing the things she was doing. We've been electronic pen-pals ever since.

Aaron Rentrope:  Hello Alicia, good morning!
Alicia Sparaco: Hey Aaron!!    

AR:  So how's everything been going so far?
AS:  So far so good...    

AR:  That's good to hear.
AS:  Just working on this half a pot of coffee...     

AR:  I love your polaroids, I have to first say that!
AS:  Thank you!    

AR:  Let's talk about the candid and black and whites first.  What inspires them?
AS:  Those who surround me, my friends mostly.
AR:  uh huh..
AS:  I just see the composition and create the shot.    

AR:  Are you a stalker, or an impulse shooter?
AS: (hee hee) I guess a little bit of both... my friends are used to my flash & they totally support my images (my art). I only shoot people who want to be shot... well most of the time.  

AR:  They always have a really clean look to them as well, like the one with you and Lizzie,  it's great that you do that with polaroids; especially when most fine arts photographers use the polaroid as only a tool to get distorted..more conceptual images.  You get really wonderful pictures with it; is there som sort of thing you like to do different?
AS: Believe it or not  I just flip the camera around put my thumb on the button, compose backwards and shoot. I love the instant gratification & the true color you can only get from Polaroid.  Actually, it's funny that you pointed out the "Dancing with Lizzie" image... she says she only feels like herself & totally comfortable in front of a camera when I am behind it ( I almost cried when she told me that).    

AR:  Ok, ok..the SX70 multi-exposures...what's the deal with those??!!!
AS:  Well, a few years ago my friend Raul (who is a great photographer) gave me my first SX-70 Polaroid camera. I had been shooting with a 600 & a spectra so I had no clue what to do with this old crazy thing (they fold up really cool). Anyway, I bought some film and played around with long and multiple exposures. About a year later I stumbled upon this particular technique. It was a complete gift... pure magic! The self portrait thing just happened... though the discovery  I opened up to express that moment. The link to the titles and astrology just became, each series had its own distinct feeling.      

AR:  I've noticed that more photographers are doing work that is more religious or spiritual like Zen, Astrology, even Tarot.  Can you express why you've chosen to work with Astrology?
AS: It wasn't planned out at all...actually it just happened. I love astrology ( in a detailed chart sense not like what you read in the paper) Anyway, I was organizing my images from my four most successful bodies of work & attempting to title them (I can't stand the untitled & numbering thing, so boring). And when I stepped back from the images and looked at them as never seeing them before it hit me.... How different they all where in feelings & expression. Yet how they all flowed together... it was cool & creepy at the same time.    

AR:  Can you describe a favorite one you've done?
AS:  I don't know if it is #1 but from the "Water" series, "Pisces Moon"     is definitely one of my personal favorites.    

AR:  My favorite series (because it's hard to pick one by itself) would be the purple and blue with the really bright lights; the latter one you did somewhat.  It's obvious you were really feeling it that day, the emotion is almost overwhelming..even in the calmer ones, it's like there's magma rumbling inside about to blow out.
AS: Why thank you! Those are the "Air" series, I was very surprised by the way those images formed that day. I was feeling mentally loud.    

AR:  So now we talk about the important information that's more-or-less required content for school reports.
AS: O.K.   Let's go...

AR:  When did you first begin taking photographs?
AS:  When I was 9 years old I bought my first camera for 50 cents at a yard sale. I took shots of my cat & my friends... humm, does that sound familiar? When I was 14  I took a graphics class & we had a term of black & white photography , I loved it! Then in high school, I would shoot local glam rock & heavy metal bands in both color & B&W.  I got over the band shots real fast (too boring). It was in college that my current style took form.    

AR:  What was your first publication?
AS:  Shots magazine issue #59.... and it was a complete accident! I subscribe to that fine publication and I had moved so I sent my change of address notification on the back of a photo postcard and they printed it & put it up on their web site! It was a total surprise!    

AR:  Do you enjoy being where you're at in photography?
AS: Definitely, it is my art, my passion (or maybe I just don't like anyone telling me what to do).    

AR:  What are your plans for future series?  Any new directions?  Experiments?  Do you see anything out there that really gets you excited?
AS:  I don't plan anything, I just go with the flow... and keep shooting.    

AR:  Well thank you so much for this interview, it was really fun!
AS:  You are very welcome :)

To find out more about Alicia Sparaco go to her website at www.alispara.com.