Photographer Interviews: AnneRN

1. Who are you? Please give a brief background information.
I am a Mom and a Registered Nurse.

2. How long have you been doing photography?
I have always liked taking pictures of my kids and their activities. Last spring I bought myself a new camera for Mother's Day (I decided I did a particularly good job this year so I deserved this, ha ha). I bought a Canon S3IS and I love it. The very day I bought it, I took my first picture of a purple flower - it was so pretty, I was hooked and I have been "addicted" since then.

3. Do you earn living from photography or you do photography as your hobby/ your half time job?
right now it is just a hobby. I would be afraid, if I ever got good enough to make a career out of it...that it would lose the joy it gives me if I felt I had to do it - so I intend to keep it a hobby forever.

5. What's your day job?
Full time 24/7 Mom.

6. Do you have special education? Did you take courses or go to a school learn photography?
My education is in child development (B.A.) and Nursing (A.A.S)

7. Are you specializing in a particular area of photography? What are your favorite places/objects to shoot?
I like seashore, nature and macro.

8. Who are your big photographic influences?
so many....too many to name.

9. How do you educate yourself? Do you read special literature, visit photography galleries? What photo books/magazines do you have on your bookshelf?
I have some photography books but mostly I learn from online forums. When i see a picture I like I might ask the photograph how they took the picture. I also like to read up on equipment websites.

10. What equipment and software do you use (camera(s), lenses, film, etc.)?
I have played with many editing softwares. I love picasa for organizing and minor edits - like straightening horizons. I like GIMP for more involved edits and resizing. I like Neat Image for cleaning up noise.

11. What is your opinion on post-processing, especially enhancing pictures?
I think it is a part of digital photography. If that is a part of the art that you enjoy - I think that is great. I do not care for overly edited shots - like wings on children or "fake" backgrounds - but to clean up a picture or remove a telephone wire or to enhance a good picture - I am all for it.

12. What advice would you give someone who is interested in photography and wants to improve their photography skills?
get involved with photog websites and ask people questions. most are happy to help. I would also suggest trying all the free software you can - don't be intimidated. And take lots and lots of pictures. buy a big memory card. sometimes I will take 100 pictures and end up with one I like. but that is the cool part of digital photography - I can throw out the 99 I didn't like and its no big deal.

13. What's the most challenging aspect of photography for you? What's the best part of it?
Finding time to do it is the most challenging. The best part of course is getting a good response to a picture i post!!

14. Could you please attach or send links to 3 favourite photos you took? only 3?
ok, I have posted three of my photos...thank you - this was fun!

Learn more about AnneRN and find more photos by the photographer