Getting to know YOu! (Zoundz)

Hi All, here's another round of our Getting to know YOu! series

And this month we have Zoundz, who will also be taking over the Getting to know YOu! threads from now on



YOP: Zoundz - Tell us how you got involved in photography?
ZOUNDZ: When I was 5 or 6, my parents bought me a little camera (I can't even remember what it was now!). It wasn't amazing - but it was pretty darn good really - especially for someone of 5 or 6! I went to Slimbridge with my primary school, and took some photos there - and got one very flukey, top notch shot of a pair of swans feeding - taken from above. It looked really impressive, everyone loved it - and I was so ecstatic with all the praise that I knew I loved photography from then on!

My father has always been a keen amateur photographer - and done a few weddings etc in his time. He was member of a coupleof clubs, and had a few good cameras in the house. I started playing with those when I was about 15 I suppose. He had a Yashicamat, a Box Brownie, a Chinon SLR and the Canon AE1 Program (which he gave to me when I went to Uni). I didn't do much with photography when I was in Uni, as I just couldn't afford to - but I did study the philosophy of photography, which is a subject I find endlessly fascinating.

When I finished Uni, and stayed in Swansea, I also started breeding rats. I got a decent point and shoot in order to photograph them, and their litters for the website - but always yearned for a DSLR - I just couldn't afford it. Anyway - I practiced like mad, trying to get the best out of my little Pentax - and I think I managed.

When I moved back to Ireland in August 2008, I saved up for and bought my D80 - and things have gone from strength to strength. I've been a member of camera clubs both in Wales and Ireland - and am currently an active member of Clonakilty Camera Club - and enter the competitions regularly. Hopefully next year I can start entering at national level.

YOP: What in your opinion creates a great image?
ZOUNDZ: So many things... Everything from soft, subtle muted tones, straight out of camera, to highly tuned and processed works of art. I love most photography - or can at least find merit in most. I am a big fan of the work of a number of photographers listed in the answer to the next question - for me they are creators of some of the greatest works of art. Of course, composition is important - but more than that - light. Light is the most important componant of a photograph... it can make or break an image - the Dutch Masters knew that - and I think we could do far worse than to be inspired by their techniques.


YOP: Who, if anyone has inspired you - photography or just generally?
ZOUNDZ: So many people inspire me. In the obvious sense of the phrase, photographers such as Yann Arthus Bertrand, Annie Liebovitz and Weegee are huge inspiration (there are so many more too)... but more than that these days I am inspired by the people I class as my 'peers'. Other amateur photographers... There are a good many people on this forum who I find the works of to be truly inspirational. There's a photographer on Deviantart called 'Majida' if you get a chance to look - the photography is outstanding. There's something to be learned from almost every image I view, I try to keep that in mind.

YOP: Which type of photography do you find most enjoyable, or challenging, and why?
ZOUNDZ: I adore wildlife photography - I'm not great at it at the moment, for whatever reason - but I really enjoy it. I find it very relaxing as a pastime - it allows me to connect with nature, and it's a follow on from enjoying watching wildlife I suppose. I love macro work - that's my favourite area I suppose, and I think I'm getting pretty good. I find it fairly taxing physically though. My most challenging area is landscape. I really do want to be good at it - so I keep trying, but I do find it very difficult to get the photos I want - or to create an image that's pleasing to others.

YOP: What's your personal fave photograph?
ZOUNDZ: I'm not sure whether this means a photo I took, or one I love of someone elses. I will say my personal favourite photograph by someone else is *anything* by Yann Arthus Bertrand - and the most incredible photographs which keep throwing themselves into my mind at force... Gustave le Gray. Two photos from the 1850s called: 'Seascape' and 'Ship in Harbour'. For their age the depth and quality is phenomenal. I cannot get them out of my head.

My personal favourite photo - not sure - but probably the one of the White Faced Scops Owl - I love that so much <3

YOP: What camera/lenses do you use most of all, and why?
ZOUNDZ: I use the Nikon D80 - though I'm hoping to upgrade to the D300 soon. Lens wise, I usually use the Nikkor 105mm f2.8 VR Macro lens - which is just <3 wow! I also use the 50mm f1.8 a fair bit since I got it - it's a pleasing little lens to work with. I use the Sigma 50-500mm for most wildlife stuff - but it's a pain - so I frequently don't bother . I also like shooting landscapes - and use the Nikkor 18-135mm kit lens for that.

YOP: What is the future of photography?
ZOUNDZ: I'm not at all sure - I think if I knew that I'd be a very rich lady! I'd like to think that it will become more affordable - considerably so! Though I doubt that'll happen for a long time.

You can read more about Zounds at her profile here

Thanks for sharing all the Zounds, interesting reading!

Another great read.

It's weird reading about myself!

xx

It's nice learning a bit more about you Z! Look forward to the next one now

Nice one Zoundz!!

I've only just realised that you've gone 'back' to Ireland.

I'd always asumed you were Welsh.

I am! You assumed correctly. I was born in Swansea, lived in the valleys most of my life (Gilwern, Nantyglo.. basically 'Near Abergavenny'. I moved to Ireland when I was 16 - then moved back to Swansea for uni when I was nearly 19.

xx

I love the Abergavenny area Zoundz - it's lovely!

It's not bad as South Wales goes I suppose, but I wouldn't live there again, not after here - the crime was horrendous

xx