Q&A with A…
Here are some answers to questions you are probably keen to know
about your Pen & Lens Photographer, Alison.
What was your first camera?
I remember using my mum’s box brownie – that only took 8 photos.
Then I had a little camera with the rotating cube flash on top.
Photos were expensive to have developed so I didn’t get to take photos as a kid.
My dad always took slide photos though. I remember slide nights and trying to figure out which way to put the slide into the tray, so they came out the right way on the screen but they often ended up sideways or back to front.
When did you start to get really interested in photography?
Probably in my year 11 art class. We did a photography unit which included developing our own black and white photos in a make-shift dark room. Fast forward a few years to when I had kids… things really picked up when I got a DSLR then went digital. I was always the parent at school events taking photos of not only my own kids, but my friend’s kids and teachers’ kids as well.
How have you developed your photography skills?
I’m very big on learning by doing.
I had been taking photos of a local soccer team for several seasons and one of the managers encouraged me start taking photos at church. I attend a large church and we have a media team. Mind you I was one of the oldest. Most of my mentors were the same age as my kids. Before I had my own digital DSLR, one of the guys set up his camera for me, handed it over and said, “Go have fun.”
My church is really a great place to learn different skills and they tend to be more gracious if you stuff up. Apart from regular services, I’ve done conferences, camps, kids events, Easter and Christmas productions, Creative academy concerts. Whatever needs photographing.
Candid or Posed Photographs?
Definitely candid – most people shy away from having their photo taken, so shooting from a distance enables me to grab great expressive shots without the self-consciousness.
I’m also an introvert so I find it a challenge to interact with people at times.
My favourite is managing to snap a photo of another photographer and later have them go “How did you even take that? I didn’t see you”. Ninja photography is a handy skill-set.
Do you prefer taking photos of landscapes or people?
As I mentioned, I’m an introvert, so definitely landscapes.
The added advantage is landscapes and buildings don’t talk back and they’re not self-conscious about having their photo taken and don’t get impatient while I look for another angle (although the people with me might get bored)
Big picture or detail person?
I’m all about the detail. I know I can’t necessarily compete with the guys at church who take these awesome performance shots of the whole stage. So, I have to look for a point of difference, whether it’s a different way of framing a photo or some detail that others might miss. One of my favourites was when I was shooting a guest speaker at a women’s conference. It was from the side of the stage through the drum kit and I got a couple of awesome shots.
What is your favourite technique at the moment?
I like taking photos from ground level. I don’t get down on my stomach though, I’m too old for that caper. But I crouched down and put my camera on the ground and shoot.
I don’t have a flip screen on my camera so it’s always interesting to see what photos I come up with and if they even work.
Are there any comments from people that stand out?
Two come to mind.
While taking photos of school kids for Father’s Day, (I was an early childhood teacher) I managed to get a great photo of a little boy with significant vision problems and the family were almost in tears as they always struggled to get a good photo of him.
The other was when I did a photo shoot for a women’s conference and one of the media guys said afterwards that the photos were better than he expected. I wasn’t sure if I should take it as a compliment or be insulted that he didn’t think my camera skills were up to it.