Photographer Interview: Geminiroze

1. Who are you? Please give a brief background information.
My name is Laurie Painter, I am from Silver Cliff, WI. I am 39 years old, have two beautiful daughters, one beautiful 3 month old grand daughter and another beautiful granddaughter one the way and due any day now.

2. How long have you been doing photography?
I have been doing photography since Iwas 12 years old.

3. How did you start doing photography? What got you interested in it?
I got started in photography when I was about 12 and I asked my grandma if I could use her 110 camera, which was pretty old but still worked. as to how I got interested in it, well, I guess it was because I wanted to take some pictures of my uncle's horses and it just progressed from there on and has now become my passion.

4. Do you earn living from photography or you do photography as your hobby/ your half time job?
at the moment it is my hobby/passion. I would eventually love to earn a living from my photography.

5. What's your day job?
I am unemployed at the time and am looking for a job so I can save up enough money to upgrade to a DSLR camera. and I will then take a few photography courses at a college so that I can eventuallu get my career going.

6. Do you have special education? Did you take courses or go to a school learn photography?
I only had a course of photograhphy in my senior year of high school.

7. Are you specializing in a particular area of photography? What are your favorite places/objects to shoot?
I want to specialize in professional freelance photogrpahy. some of the things or places I like to shoot are animals/wildlife, concerts, waterfalls, scenery, cityscapes, sporting events, etc.

8. Who are your big photographic influences?
I have come to like Art Wolfe. I haven't really got into the names of other photographers yet..I know I have seen quite a few that do the National Geographic pictures but I don't know their names right offhand..I guess I will have to do some research on some photograhers..LOL

9. How do you educate yourself? Do you read special literature, visit photography galleries? What photo books/magazines do you have on your bookshelf?
Well, I haven't really read any books or magazines so I would have to say that I self educated myself..but I would like to eventually do some research/reading.

10. What equipment and software do you use (camera(s), lenses, film, etc.)?
I have a Minolta DiMage A2 8MP digital camera..it has a fixed lens. And I use various versions of Photoshop but prefer to use the Photoshop Elements software.11. What is your opinion on post-processing, especially enhancing pictures?
Well, I do mostly just the basic enhancing of post processing and I like it...even if it takes a little bit of enhancing it is still your own work that you are enhancing and you should be proud of your work non the less whether it has a little post processing done to it or not.

12. What advice would you give someone who is interested in photography and wants to improve their photography skills?
I would tell them to go for it. esp if it is something they really love doing.

13. What's the most challenging aspect of photography for you? What's the best part of it?
Hmm, the most challenging part..I haven't really had much of a challenge on things yet. But I'm sure I wil once I get into the DSLR aspect of digital photography and I can get to some sporting events..I think that will be an interesting challenge for me. The best part of photography for me is my passion for it, as well as to see how well my photos turn out and people coming up to me and commplimenting my work.

See Geminiroze's profile to find more information and more photos.