Meet Joyce Perlman

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Joyce Perlman a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Joyce, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

THE ETHEREAL SERIES

My personal project, “The Ethereal Series”, explores three interconnected themes that capture the ethereal essence of human experiences: “Ethereal Beauty: Women in Transition”, “Ethereal Journey: Porch Series”, and “Ethereal Spirit: The Beauty of Aging Wisdom”. Living on the north coast of California, the fog possesses an ethereal quality that penetrates my soul. It creates a way of life that is not entirely clear, existing in the liminal space of transition and uncertainty.

“Ethereal Beauty: Women in Transition” captures the moments when women prepare for their journey into marriage.

I am drawn to the ethereal beauty of human interaction during this rite of passage, seeking to understand it in a broader context beyond the represented subject. The women in the “Ethereal Beauty” series are ambiguous, open to interpretation based on how they perceive marriage.

These images strike a balance between the apparent and the uncertain. What is evident is the woman’s transition, her reflection on the past, and anticipation of the future; what remains uncertain is the ambiguity of what lies beyond, after she undergoes this significant rite of passage. Through these images, the ethereal beauty of transition emerges, revealing both the clarity and mystery inherent in life’s pivotal moments.

“Ethereal Journey: Porch Series” portrays people isolated in their environment, enveloped by it. Emerging during the pandemic, this project explores the interplay of isolation and strength, reflecting on how the current state of politics can foster new solidarity or breed conflict. There is always a choice.

I asked the subjects, “What choices have you made since March 2020, when sheltering in place started in Mendocino, California, that, when you think about them now, you notice how you have grown during this time?”

The series highlights the importance of the private environment and the close relationships within a family or couple. Houses and gardens reflect the personalities of their owners. People seem to be a part of the place rather than its most dominant element.

The feeling of love and companionship conveyed through the portraits makes us view the houses and gardens from a more personal perspective. These places have become safe shelters or nests, holding everything valuable. In these portraits, the ethereal quality of human resilience and connection becomes a testament to the strength found in shared spaces and quiet reflections.

“Ethereal Spirit: The Beauty of Aging Wisdom” embraces the “being” stage. After years of growth and learning, it is a time to focus on my wisdom—the wisdom of not knowing. I am studying spirituality alongside women in a similar phase of life, connecting to an ethereal spirit that surfaces during our gatherings.

There is a sense of a higher power within the energy of the environment. This energy opens my boundless heart. I am one who believes in a higher power—the power of the moon, the sun, the stars, and nature itself.

In progress, “Ethereal Spirit: The Beauty of Aging Wisdom”, focuses on documenting older women in their natural settings. This series aims to highlight the beauty of aging and express deep admiration for our elders by revealing diverse experiences that offer valuable insights into how people connect with one another and pass down their traditions.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Telling stories is my way of seeing the world.

As an artist, photojournalist, storyteller, and educator, I have found my true passion in capturing the beauty and complexity of real-life moments. At the heart of everything I do are people—their lives, relationships, and stories. Through my lens, I strive to create memorable visual narratives that resonate deeply and authentically.

My journey into photography was profoundly influenced by my love for the visual art form and the technical aspects of photography. After moving to California, I began my career in 1983 at The Photographer’s Gallery of Palo Alto. There, I immersed myself in the works of photography masters like Ansel Adams, Edward Weston, Imogen Cunningham, Henri Cartier-Bresson, and André Kertész plus many others. My role involved not only selling their work but also educating the community about the aesthetic and technical aspects of photography. Serving on The Photographer’s Gallery Board of Directors from 1990 to 1998, I honed my fine art vision, focusing on subject matter, composition, and technique to tell stories that capture life’s raw, unfiltered essence.

This deep immersion in the world of photography inspired me to start my own business. My journey began with wedding photography, where I discovered a recurring theme that resonated deeply with me—capturing everyday women experiencing life’s transitions. This evolved into “Ethereal Beauty: Women in Transition”, an ongoing project that explores real women’s stories of marriage.

Each of my projects reflects a piece of my personal journey. They embody my desire to capture the fleeting, intangible moments that define our lives. Through my work, I aim to reveal the profound beauty in life’s transitions, the strength in human connections, and the spiritual depth that emerges as we grow and evolve.

I offer my clients an artful, timeless style of documentary photography—a classic fine art approach that captures life’s real moments with authenticity. My technical process is unmanipulated, focusing on genuine interactions where there is an energy within the image. My work has been recognized with International awards for wedding and lifestyle portrait photography, celebrated for its storytelling essence.

I am particularly passionate about my lifestyle photography, which documents real-life moments within family environments. Whether capturing a portrait session or a wedding, family is at the core of my vision. Family Matters. As a visual storyteller, I am dedicated to documenting unforgettable narratives that reveal the true essence of people’s lives and relationships.

Currently, I am honored to participate in the “One in Six by 2030” project—a global initiative that unites photographers to capture the human stories behind a significant statistic: by 2030, 1 in 6 people worldwide will be over 60.

I am based in Mendocino, and traveling to various locations, continuing to capture stories through my photography.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

When the pandemic hit, my wedding business experienced an unexpected stop. It was a challenging time, but I found inspiration from The Front Porch project, where photographers were capturing images of their neighbors on their front porches, fostering a sense of community despite the isolation. The outdoor setting and physical distancing made it possible to safely connect with others.

I decided to bring this concept to my small town on the Mendocino coast, and thus, the “Ethereal Journey: Porch Series” emerged. This project not only showcased people in their natural environments but also highlighted the unique stories each individual had to tell. People welcomed the interaction during a time of isolation.

Through this endeavor, I discovered my passion for photographing people in their own spaces, capturing the essence of who they are. The pandemic encouraged many to slow down and reflect on what truly matters—their families, their friends, and their personal journeys.

My Porch Series profoundly influenced my approach to photography. Since 2020, my wedding and portrait work has been deeply shaped by this experience, focusing on the authentic and meaningful connections that are revealed when people are photographed in their environments.

I went one step further and asked the question “”What choices have you made since March 2020, when sheltering in place started in Mendocino, California, that, when you think about them now, you notice how you have grown during this time?”

“The longer this goes on the more I find myself splitting in half – one half pre-Covid – that “reality” full of patterns, connections, relationships, habits, interests. The other half is less connected to that reality that I had imagined. I find myself in a quiet, self-reflecting, questioning, observing state of being.

Nothing in this world is solid or reliable, and I realize it has always been this way. Is that scary? No – it is just so. I feel more open to that new reality and to that quieter, calmer existence.“

— Meg

“I have become increasingly aware, during the time of Covid 19, of the presence of Blessings and Curses in all moments. Some moments seem unambiguously cursed and the gifts of healing and growth cannot reveal themselves until much work has been done.

I have noticed that I am quick to file times into one or the other category, Blessing or Curse, often based solely on my initial visceral reaction, and often without much perspective or information. This time of Sheltering In Place, for me, is different. I see that the Curses and Blessings inherent in our time might bleed into each other, each coloring and directing the other and leading, eventually, to a world and a perspective that is less black and white. In every sense of those words.“

— Laura

“I’m a rabbi, and when COVID came, I had to step right up and make some quick decisions about how our community would move forward. I’ve had to be pretty steady, even if I’ve felt a little shaky at times. I’ve had to reinvent some things that have been the same way for a long time.

And in order to do this, I’ve asked for more help than I’m used to asking for. Not always easy for me—both being strong and being pliable. I’m learning new things about myself as a leader. Meanwhile I’ve been trying really hard not to prognosticate about what will happen in the future. So I’m always right up against not-knowing. I kind of like it there. It feels honest.

So there’s this paradox: moving decisively while really not knowing anything. Even though these particular circumstances are fairly extreme, in some way this feels true even when life isn’t as obviously in upheaval.“

— Rabbi Margaret

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is discovering hidden gems within my work. As I sift through thousands of images during the editing process, I am thrilled when I uncover a photograph that truly stands out. These moments often reveal a recurring theme in my fine art—those contemplative, unconscious moments when a subject is lost in thought, unaware of the camera. It’s in these unguarded instances that the true essence of the subject emerges.

Equally rewarding is capturing scenes that naturally tell a story. In my work, authentic interactions between people often form natural tableaus. These spontaneous moments, where individuals are unaware of being photographed, offer a genuine glimpse into their lives and connections. These scenes resonate deeply, showcasing the beauty of human interaction.

Understanding the interplay of mechanics—the interplay of light, shutter speed, and depth of field—enables me to create images that are not only technically accurate but also emotionally evocative. Each element works together to enhance the overall narrative of my art.

In my lifestyle photography, I immerse myself in the environment, becoming a part of the scene. This allows families and couples to interact naturally, fostering genuine moments that I can capture on a deeper level. This experience is rooted in connection and comfort, allowing me to document the growth and evolution of families. Ultimately, it’s about capturing what truly matters most—the essence of family and the beauty of their journey.