Today, we’d like to introduce you to Jessicka Trapani. Jessicka was introduced to us by the brilliant and talented Terrance Brashun.
Jessicka, can you walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I grew up in Ojai CA, a small town inland of the beautiful southern California coastline. Spent summers warming up in the sun after a splash in the waves at the beach or a cool dip in Matilija Canyon. Chased frogs, swatted bees, collected eggs from our chickens, learned to grow and harvest my own food, and sew my own clothes. Being raised in a community where your grandfather was the town’s homeopathic doctor, and everyone knew your name, left little room for getting into trouble. Of all the treasured memories I have as a child, the greatest by far are the memories of the times I spent fishing our local lake and fishing holes or wielding an old Nikon camera to snap photos I’d later develop in my grandfather’s darkroom. I’ll never forget the first time my parents took me fishing at Lake Casitas. Holding the bucket of worms on my lap in the back of the pick-up truck, bouncing down the dirt road, poles clanking next to me, food my mother had packed tucked inside an Igloo cooler and the Eagles playing on the radio. I learned the art of tying knots in fishing line, baiting hooks and casting. And the thrill of my first catch. Nor will I forget the day my grandfather introduced me to the world of photography. Capturing images of the people I loved and the nature that surrounded me, became my everything. I spent hours in the darkroom developing what I’d photographed. All the while daydreaming of becoming the first woman to enter the sport of fishing, or the next female Ansel Adams. Either as a career would have suited me just fine.
Let’s talk about your work and career – what else should we know?
I continued to fish over the years and pursued photography as a hobby while raising my family. Taking courses at College of the Canyons to perfect my craft in the development of film. And fishing the lakes in and around both southern and northern California. Never dreaming I’d find myself deep in the heart of Texas, many years later. The state that sometimes hosts the Bassmaster Classic and is home to more lakes filled with monster largemouth bass than you can shake a lure at. A place where there is no limit to what the eye of a creative may stumble across while prospecting for the next candid or artistic photograph. But find myself in Texas I did, and once established I threw myself into my chosen mediums with abandon once again. Two things transpired to bring me full circle and where I am today with both fishing and photography. Both occurring on different random Tuesdays while scrolling through social media. The first of which lead me to the WBT. Women’s Bass Tour, a tri-state Federation of women who compete against one another in the sport of bass fishing. Which encompasses Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. To say that I was elated at the prospect of finding a highly competitive woman’s tournament platform that could culminate in being afforded the opportunity to rub elbows with the elite, is an understatement. After spending the entirety of my fishing career in the company of men, the concept of finding a sisterhood in the community of fishing was all I’d ever dreamed of. I immediately reached out to them and was warmly welcomed by the Founder, Wendy Lou Kendrick. With a follow up call from Kay Lynn Clifton who ran through what the Federation stood for, what their goals and contributions were to woman in the fishing industry and ultimately afforded me the opportunity to be a part of the tour. I’ve fished more than 30 lakes inside of Texas and several in Louisiana, Missouri and Oklahoma. The world of fishing has blossomed into an even greater love affair for me, and there is no limit to where that road will lead.
So, as we mentioned to our audience earlier, you were introduced to us by Terrance Brashun and we really admire them and what they’ve built. For folks who might not be as familiar, can you tell them a bit about your experience with Terrance.
A chance meeting with Terrance Brashun via the internet, was likely the most fundamentally inspiring thing to happen to me in a long while. As far as artistic endeavors go. Being introduced to someone with as much talent, in as many genres as he represents, has been an eye-opening and moving experience. An author, poet, graphic designer, clothing designer, music artist, videographer, director, editor, screen writer, speaker, manager, executive producer and CEO. He’s one high energy, creative powerhouse. Being that he’s a published author, I was intrigued initially with his many literary offerings. Both for the romantic and ironic nature of his poetry on life and love, but specifically the raw reality of Black Veteran, and the Black Veteran video series. I commented at the time of my reading, that Terrance “holds the door open for you to step inside an intimate look at the wars being raged against the true innocents of our communities. Where families are brutally ripped apart. Accountability does not exist. And injustice holds us hostage… This work truly is the ultimate expression of what we get so devastatingly wrong in our country every day.” And my statement holds true. To intellectualize the circumstances made evident in the book, you’ll have to take that journey too and grab yourself a copy.
Ultimately, I was lucky enough to be invited to photograph a recording session for Tsunami, a music single Terrance wrote and was in the process of producing. This would be the first of many opportunities I’d have, to use my photographic skills documenting his creative processes. Over the last few months, I’ve had the pleasure of being a part of several more projects Terrance has had in the works. And was granted access to their inception, evolution and release to the public. Photographing Terrance in his element and using that to showcase what he does, as well as what I do through the lens of my camera.
Currently I’ve been shooting behind the scenes on a new short film production of his. Being brought on board has certainly been an adventure. Terrance walked me through the idea he was developing for his film, explaining his vision and where he wanted the project to go. We met up to scout the location he intended to use for the set. I watched as he toured the area. Deciding what aspects of the location worked and which would not. While I took direction, photographing the site. It was exciting and inspiring to watch him develop the plan for each scene he’d written and how it would unfold. What the costuming would reflect. How each character would be represented. Directing me to photograph from certain angles which he felt would suit his vision at the location. Checking the photos to confirm that what was shot would translate to his audience. Watching him go through the motion of making changes when things didn’t pan out exactly as he felt they should. There was so much to gain watching what goes into the work he produces. Sharing in his work has opened a whole new appreciation for photography and creative works in all its many forms.
I continue to work on photographing cultural events in and around Dallas, sometimes private events. And always traveling to photograph the multitude of historic and not so historic buildings throughout the state.
Image Credits:
WBT Logo and small group photo courtesy of the Federation.
