9th Cycle Studios was named for Christine Weimers’ fascination with the number 9 and the cyclical nature of the world – the seasons, fashions or even just the notion of something with neither beginning nor end.
Originally from Toowoomba in Queensland, she moved from Australia to the US about 7 years ago. “My husband (an American) lives here in San Francisco, so this is where I ended up. Like most places, San Francisco has its fair share of good and bad things. It’s a very artistically-oriented city and always provides plenty of opportunities to be be entertained.”
She does miss Australia though. “San Francisco reminds me a lot of Melbourne. But, to be honest, I actually prefer the vibe in Melbourne. Perhaps it’s homesickness, but I miss the general attitude of Australians. I’ve met many wonderful people over here, but there seems to be quite a difference. That ‘she’ll be right, mate’ thing.”
Despite her claims about being “a self taught photographer who has no defining style”, there is a characteristic thread of minimalism running through her images. They are cropped to essential form, with space playing a big part in composition. Having said that, there is also a wide range of subject matter, from architectural abstraction to surrealist scenarios – Christine is full of surprises.
She remembers picking up a camera at age 7, and thought that the idea of collecting memories was quite magical. “Photography has always been a very personal and cathartic thing for me, and it was only a little over a year ago that I started sharing my work with the public. Making money from doing something you love is a great incentive to start a shop, especially when you see people appreciating your art.”
However, it’s still only a hobby for her at the moment. Living in a small room with her husband, her creative “space” is limited to the bed she sits on. Her day job is working in a record store, and she says that while “retail work is certainly not the ideal ‘career’, it is nice to be surrounded by music and film all day. Art, in all its forms, is a major influence on the photos I take. Inspiration is from everywhere… My eyes are open and I want to capture it all.”
Christine doesn’t really have any particular method of working, but tends to pick a location and just starts to explore. Occasionally when she is working on a series, she collects a batch of photos, takes them home to put on her computer and leaves them for a while. “This way, I can return to them later and attach some new feeling to them that reflects my current mood. Photoshop definitely plays a major role in my work; I like to alter things in a way that creates a different atmosphere than what was initially presented.”
Budget is always an issue for her. “It’s only been in the past two years that I’ve managed to upgrade from a basic point and shoot to a mid-level camera. In fact, some of the photos on my site were taken with that earlier camera. It’s frustrating knowing that most phones have better capabilities and resolution than the equipment you sometimes have! But, you learn to work with what you’ve got and make the best of it.
“There are so many things I want. I don’t currently have a tripod, a light box or countless other things that would make photography life so much easier. In the meantime, I’ll just make my own tripod, light box etc…
“Last year was a good year for me. I was asked to have my War Games series featured at a gallery event, and I participated in my first arts and crafts fair. I never thought I’d get these opportunities, and I was thrilled.”
If her current portfolio is anything to go by, Christine has a bright future. You can find more work from 9th Cycle Studios here.