Marie Gayeski and Hannah Schneider Discuss Illness, Photography, and the Cosmos
In a recent chat on Lenscratch, photographer Marie Gayeski opened up about her project called 'elemental,' collaborating with artist Hannah Schneider. Gayeski, who earned her MFA from Duke University, created this series in response to Hurricane Michael, which hit her hometown of Panama City, Florida, in October 2018. Through intentional camera movement (ICM), she explores water, plants, sand, and light, connecting her medical journey with nature and the universe. Initially, she documented the hurricane's impact with her iPhone, using those images for her grad application. The conversation also delved into her creative process, the challenges of portraying medical experiences, and advice for artists with disabilities. Schneider, also a Duke MFA grad and photographer from Raleigh, conducted the interview as part of Lenscratch’s annual series.
Key facts
- Marie Gayeski's project 'elemental' uses motion blur photography to explore the connection between the human body, nature, and the cosmos.
- The project was inspired by Hurricane Michael, which hit Panama City, Florida, in October 2018, destroying her parents' home and business.
- Gayeski used an iPhone to document the aftermath, later using intentional camera movement (ICM) with a Canon 5D for large-scale prints.
- Her work superimposes medical symptoms onto images of hurricane-damaged beaches, blurring the line between body and landscape.
- Gayeski holds an MFA from Duke University and has worked at the Georgia Museum of Art and the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden.
- Hannah Schneider, a photographer and Duke MFA graduate, conducted the interview as part of Lenscratch's annual series.
- Gayeski's advice for artists with chronic illness includes advocating for oneself medically and cultivating creative flexibility.
- The interview was published on Lenscratch in August 2026.
Entities
Artists
- Marie Gayeski
- Hannah Schneider
Institutions
- Lenscratch
- Duke University
- Parsons School of Design
- Brooks Institute of Photography
- The Corcoran School of Art
- The Georgia Museum of Art
- The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
- Meredith College
- Photolucida
- North Carolina Museum of Art
Locations
- Panama City, Florida
- Mexico Beach, Florida
- North Carolina
- Raleigh, North Carolina
- Bay County, Florida
- New York