Suzanne Clements Photography @ Interesting Photographers

Jan

10

2014

Suzanne Clements Photography

What kind of equipment (camera body, lens, filters, flash, tripod, cleaning equipment other) do you use?

I use a Sony Alpha 99 (full frame) with a variety of lenses (SAL100M28, SAL35F18, Minolta 50 mm, SAL1635Z and finally a lensbaby), and depending on the setting I may use my Hensel studio lights or on the go, I’ll use my lumopro LP 180 and saber strip diffuser – although there’s nothing wrong with natural light either. To keep my sensor clean I’m a big fan of the arctic butterfly.

What do you like and dislike about your equipment, specially your camera, and how would you improve it?

I’d love to take it all with me all the time, but you know, you just can’t. So to lighten the load I have to pick my favorite lens and just go with it. Despite my really nice epiphanie bags, a long day of walking and shooting is hard on the shoulders when I have my bags fully stuffed.

What is your favourite lens, and why?

That really depends on what I’m doing. I own all my favorites so far 😉 Each comes out to play when the time is right.

When you travel, what is in your essential photographic kit bag?

Well, travel is especially tricky. I try not to be a photographer all the time, but I also regret the times I leave my gear behind in the hotel or at home. When I’m on vacation or in a unique destination I try to force myself to use a lens I might not normally consider for the job. So rather than a wide angle for the city, maybe I’ll use my lensbaby and really look at my surroundings from a different point of view. But, I nearly always have the rest of my gear back at the room just in case I see something I HAVE to get and get right.

What kind of software/tools do you use for post-processing, if any?

I’m a big fan of Bridge and raw processing. I pop into Photoshop only if I need to do some heavy work, otherwise it’s all RAW. I know people love LightRoom, I just haven’t been able to make friends with it yet.

How long have you been taking photographs? How do you find inspiration? How do you take your pictures?

I’ve been using a camera as part of my work for years now, but only recently branched out to make that the focus of my creative work. In 2007 I had my first photography exhibit and have been shooting commercially and creatively since. I find my inspiration in the challenge of trying something new, something I may not be certain how to do.

Which style of photography do you like the most, and why?

I love the movement that has taken hold over the last couple of years where the quality of light has become a major element in the final image. Lens flare, blowout, and images flooded with golden backlighting really catch my eye. I think it’s partially because it’s those moments in real life that make me stop and take notice of just how beautiful the world around us can be, no matter your surroundings.

What goal are you working towards within your photography and when will you know you have reached it?

My goal is to keep learning and challenging myself as a photographer. There will always be more to learn as technology speeds along and new perspectives and creative interpretations of the medium come about and so really, there is no end point.

Looking at your own work, which piece is your favourite? Why? Please provide a link to the picture.

I suppose my favorite image would probably have to be the one that gives a nod to my past life and roots as a fine artist. http://www.stocksy.com/27515 I love that it perfectly documents the tools I’ve used over the years to create my paintings. Now it’s a moment frozen in time, when my fine art jumped mediums to photography. I won’t forget everything I learned and experienced in that world and I love that I can see remnants of paintings in my apron, on my pallet knives and tools.

Does your work fit into any one or more distinct genres (nature, landscape, long-exposure, black-and-white, infra-red, urban, artistic, macro, vintage, vernacular, social, street)? If other, please specify.

It would seem that I wear many hats. As someone who is continually pushing myself to grow and learn, I tend to wander from one genre to another. I shoot food photography commercially (and yet you don’t see it in my stock photography much), I love shooting portraits and children, but I really indulge in the still life studio work (see my series of purses or knolling work on stocksy). The still life work gives me an opportunity to play voyeur and invite you along for the trip.

Are there any photography websites that you visit regularly?

Google + – although it’s not technically just for photography, I’ve met so many photographers on there who helped to really push me forward. I also really enjoy 500PX.

What is the one most important lesson that you have learned since you started taking photographs?

Don’t take your work too seriously and don’t force it. If you don’t feel it, step back and ask yourself, is there another way that I could approach this subject? I think we all hit a brick wall now and again, and I know I certainly did a couple of years ago while on vacation. I was surrounded by the beautiful North Woods, on a crystal blue lake, surrounded by nature. The place screamed for landscape photography… instead I turned to my macro and 50 mm lenses and started to capture the ripples in the water in different lighting and different weather conditions. The narrow focus and fast shutter froze time beautifully and I now have a much more memorable collection of work that I truly love. Is it commercial? No. But I love it and it will always remind me of that place.