We asked a couple of our favorite photographers to express their inspiration in the best possible way they can; through a photograph. Artists usually have a muse; with photographers this isn’t any differently. What or who is their stimulus for the impressive photographs they make? Elza Jo (29) is one of our favorite photographers who works with marvelous elements in her images. The photograph is just the start of a much bigger discipline and is followed by illustrations, animations and collages. Elza Jo graduated of the Royal School of Arts in The Hague and she shot for Vice, Code, Nylon MX and BLEND amongst others. She exhibited internationally including Cokkie Snoei Gallery and Chelsea Market in New York.

‘The Mandrills, a West African baboon with a red bottom, inspired this self-portrait. Since I was a little kid I’ve had a fascination for these monkey species. Impressed by their extraordinary colors yet shocked by the obscenity of this outgoing and shameless body part. It’s disgusting and beautiful at the same time. This picture is the start of a project where in I’m capturing monkeys and their hierarchies, which is very familiar to the balance of power in humanity. Besides, I find the exaggeration of banality and obscenity in the monkey kingdom an interesting fact.’

Is there a special fascination for animals, since your cat Rico also often features in your photography?
‘Animals always intrigue me and I like to use them in my work and to put in the similarities and relationships with humans. With the Rico projects the fascination is mostly on the projection that people have on animal behaviour. People like animals best when they behave humanly…’

Who or what inspired you to work with all the illustrations and elements in your work?
‘I look at painters a lot. I try to bring variety in my sources of inspiration so it won’t narrow down too much. I like to look at things that are well crafted and good in their concept.’

How do you play with all of the accessions in the images, do they just come up as you work or is the photograph taken with the knowledge of the outcome?
‘It differs; mostly I set up a full plan on forehand and it all turns out differently in the end, just like in real life.’

www.elzajo.com