Hi! My name is Tasha Joy Miller.
I make songs and photographs to reflect the truths of our delicate lives.
When writing songs, I start with curiosity. Add words. Then the piano.
When making photographs, I start with curiosity. Then I see you. A human being. With thoughts, feelings and facial muscles running through your beautiful head. How ARE you feeling today? What is driving you or holding you back? Where are you right now? The split seconds that emote from your insides…And land in your eyes. I respond with gratitude, love and a Nikon F100 loaded with a single roll of 35mm Ilford Delta or Portra 400. It’s my favorite vehicle for seeking truth in human beings.
Behind a camera, I am interested in one thing: How do you REALLY feel within your current situation and stage of life? What does happiness really look like in you? What about other emotions? You are the only you. There’s no rapid fire, because film is expensive. I watch and wait. Anticipate and wait more. Sometimes it’s not authentic and we move or change topics before I ever click the shutter. But yeah…you’ll know when I’m in love with you. After the image has been developed and processed, there is no post production. No computer or software. What I saw [in you] during that entire split second is what you may see in yourself for generations. Hard facts. Truth. If you’re not ok with your wrinkles or blemishes, don’t hire me. If you are intrigued by the moment of truth and curious to see what it looks like, I’m your girl! I’ll find your beauty. I’ll see your love. I promise.
Sometimes, we decide to enlarge a song or a photograph.
To enlarge a song, I record, mix and master. Thereafter, loading it into outer space and singing it in listening rooms for generations to come. I hope to make films someday.
To enlarge a photograph, I hire the highly selected humans who hang out in a North Portland dark room for a living. It’s one of my favorite places: Blue Moon Camera & Machine. The owner/creator of this treasure trove is Jake Shivery. He and his eyeball angels are my gentle friends. They take the delicate and valuable pieces of your soul and make them become something we can hold… using water, a stop bath, fixer, an easel, pins, a timer, a glossy finish and a very VERY dark room. When the door is cracked open, you magically appear on fiber paper that was once blank. Under museum grade framing techniques by Melanie Townsend at Mel’s Frame Shop in downtown Portland, your piece of art will last for generations to come.
Thank you for being here with me.
Each and every one of us [every single moment] have the option not to be.
This is life and it’s fascinating to dissect it into split seconds and whole emotions.
If I can make a photograph sing and a song make time stand still, then I’m doing my job.
My name is Tasha Joy Miller. I am proud to be alive and I hope to see you soon.