Nine François

Nine François received her MFA in photography from The University of Texas at Austin. Her work has been internationally published and exhibited (including the Steven Clark Gallery in Austin, TX and the Oswald Gallery in Jackson Hole, WY), and is included in numerous private and public collections. She currently teaches photography at Texas State University, The University of Texas at Austin, and Austin Community College.

Ms. François applies her training in the arts to the commercial work she also does in addition to her teaching and fine art photography. She photographs weddings and portraits, and has worked for such publications as Paris Passion Magazine, Houston Metropolitan Magazine, and the Washington Post.

Nine François lives in Austin with her husband and two children.

Statement

When I started the "Animal" series, my intention was to create an alphabet book for children that would appeal to their zany sensibilities and delightfully skewered perspectives.

I was quickly seduced by the sport of "catching" animals in my viewfinder in a way that would transform their shapes into graphic, letter-like symbols. I photographed vicious bunnies, amorous tigers, charging elephants and crazy crocodiles. It was exhilarating. I learned how to get close, work fast, hold my ground in some cases, and run like hell in others. I enjoyed the "hunt" so to speak and the reward of sometimes capturing the animal in just the right way.

Photo:
Monkey #1 (dangling), 1999
Photograph, 16x20