'THE FLANEUR IS ABOUT CAPTURING PEOPLE THAT I FIND AESTHETICALLY INTERESTING AND INSPIRING"

LYDIA COWPERTWAITE IS AN AUCKLAND PHOTOGRAPHER AND CREATER OF WWW.THEFLANEUR.ORG/. A STREET FASHION BLOG

... IN CASE YOU ARE WONDERING, fLANEUR IS A FRENCH WORD, WHICH FROM THE VERB FLANER, MEANING "TO STROLL' lYDIA DESCRIBES HERSELF AS "A VOYEURISTIC STROLLER ARMED WITH A CAMERA."
ME: WHAT IS YOUR EDUCATION/BACKGROUND?

lYDIA COWPERTWAIT:I did a degree in Fine Art at Elam School of Fine Arts, Auckland University. I am also close to completing a Bachelor of Arts in Art History and Sociology.

ME: OTHER WORK AS A FASHION PHOTOGRAPHER?

LYDIA COWPERTWAIT:I freelance as a photographer and photography assistant. I have worked for a wide range of publications, nationally and internationally.

ME: ARE YOU ALWAYS ARMED WITH A CAMERA FOR THE FLANEUR, OR IS IT ABIT MORE PREMEDIATED?

LYDIA COWPERTWAITE:I aim to always take my camera where ever I go and to photograph people I find aesthetically interesting. My photographs are never premeditated.

ME: IS YOUR WORK ON THE fLANEUR YOUR PERSONAL INTERPRETATION OF FASHION?

LYDIA COWPERTWAITE:Ha!Good question. I think it would be too simple for me to say The Flaneur is my interpretation of fashion, as I find fashion a complex subject. The Flaneur is about capturing people that I find aesthetically interesting and inspiring.

ME: WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN TERMS OF STYLE, WHEN PHOTOGRAPHING PEOPLE, FOR THE fLANEUR?

LYDIA COWPERTWAITE:I like photographing people who look quirky or beautiful in some way. A lot of people say that Auckland is not a stylish city but I think our city is full of interesting looking people who celebrate self expression.

ME: WHOSE STYLE DO YOU ADMIRE?

LYDIA COWPERTWAITE: So many people! A recent inspiration the late Isabella Blow.