Jamie Mackrill 7/4/21 Jamie Mackrill 7/4/21

Nature Photographer Esther (@Esthers_Eyes) On Macro Photography, Instagram Growth, Photography Gear, And Much More!

Esther (@esthers_eyes on Instagram) is a nature enthusiast from the Netherlands. Esther specialises in macro photography and has a particular interest in floral photography, which is where her excellent understanding of colour science and her talent with a camera combine to produce beautiful images of flowers and foliage. Esther has also become a beloved member of the ‘bpa’ (blissful photo art) community on Instagram. Esther owns the community page: @blissful.photo.art and is a curator for the page: @bpa_nature_.

We found Esther to be an incredibly kind and humble person. Her beautiful photography, combined with her love and passion for the macro and nature online community, makes her a great role model and source of inspiration in our eyes! We wish Esther all the best in her future and look forward to following her on her journey.

We hope you enjoy the interview!

“My advice is to pay a lot of attention to compositions, light and the surroundings of the flower(s) you want to photograph. You should also take your time whilst photographing! Flowers and plants are perfect models…. they are extremely patient!”

Hello Esther, thank you for doing this interview with us! When did you first pick a camera, and when did you start taking your photography seriously?

Thank you for having me, Jamie! It’s an honour for me. I picked up a camera for the first time when I was in 6th grade when I was given mums old point-and-shoot camera. In 2004 I bought my first SLR, it worked with film. It was a Minolta, and I was very proud of it! In 2006 I bought my first DSLR, a Pentax K100D, and that’s when I started to photograph a lot more. The Pentax I used until 2018! I’ve also always owned a digital point-and-shoot camera’; I used that camera a lot too. When smartphones came into existence, my point-and-shoot’ cameras retired.

I was always looking for compositions and things that attracted me. I always wanted to take photos or create drawings of the things that fascinated me so that I could share their beauty with anyone who wanted to see them.

Spanish Daisy - The Netherlands - Esther: @Esthers_eyes

The Netherlands is quite famous for its love of flowers. So many streets in your cities and towns are covered in them. The Netherlands is also the largest exporter of flowers in the world! Do you think that being brought up in this sort of culture and being surrounded by flowers your whole life has played a major role in becoming a flora, and especially floral focused photographer?

Yes, that’s true! We’re a real flower-loving country. I suppose it played a role because I have always looked and still look at what’s happening in my environment, which has definitely influenced me. I think that my late grandma played a large role as well. She always had a big garden filled with flowers and trees. She definitely had a green thumb when it came to growing flowers and gardening. I remember always being very impressed by all the colours, shapes and scents. I think my love for flowers started there; in my grandma’s flower garden.

I have always loved nature and animals. I’ve always been fascinated by all nature’s colours, patterns, smells and unique and diverse animals.

That sounds so lovely! My grandma was the same and always had a colourful and beautiful garden. Do you have a favourite place to go for floral photography? Your local park or a friend's garden, for example?

Yes, I’m fortunate to have a flower garden nearby! It’s an ‘insect garden’ where you can learn a lot about bees. It’s not a huge garden, but it’s the most beautiful garden I have ever seen, besides my grandma’s garden, of course! I’m always going there between late April and early August. When it’s Spring, I always go to a forest nearby. On my way to the forest, I also go by a beautiful lane with blossoming trees. I always park my car there to photograph those. And of course, I’m always growing flowers in my own little garden. In wintertime, when there are no flowers, I’m just buying flowers to bring colour into my house and to photograph them.

North Brabant, The Netherlands - Esther: @Esthers_eyes

Spanish Daisies, North Brabant, The Netherlands - Esther: @Esthers_eyes

It’s always lovely to bring colour into one’s living space. Your photos are so vibrant and beautiful! How much time do you spend playing around with the colours when editing? How do you get them (the colours) to 'pop'?

Thank you! Since colours have always been significant to me, I spend the most time on colour grading while editing. But everything starts with the photography when I’m playing with compositions and familiarizing myself with the colours in each photo. I’m always paying attention to my subjects' light and surroundings so that they look their best and colours already pop a little in the unedited photo. I like to use contrast while shooting, for example, a colourful flower against a dark background, and of course, I’m always using wide apertures. As wide as possible, for macro photography, f/4.0 is also wide!

Maashorst, The Netherlands - Esther @Esthers_eyes

What editing software do you use? Do you use any apps as well?

I’m editing my photos in Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop. I mostly use Lightroom to organise everything, and I edit photos that don’t need a lot of editing there. When I want to use local adjustments, I’m editing in photoshop. My laptop is getting very slow otherwise. When my photo is finished, I’m exporting the photos that I want to post on Instagram to my phone with dropbox and sometimes I like tweaking them a little bit more in the Lightroom mobile app.

Your images consistently appear to have a beautiful soft glow about them, especially in the backgrounds. Is there a trick to achieving that look?

I’m achieving that soft look by using an as wide as possible aperture and paying a lot of attention to my composition and my subjects' light and surroundings while photographing. I’m always trying to separate my subjects from their environment. This way, I don’t have to edit so much too. I’m always trying to get a good photo in-camera. This means that I usually only have to enhance the colours and softness when it comes to the editing stage.

Nistelrode, The Netherlands - Esther: @Esthers_eyes

What camera gear do you use? Does the type of camera and lens set-up you have play much of a role in affecting your ability to take good close-up photos?

I’m now using a Sony A7III, and my go-to lens is the Sigma 70mm macro ART lens. I also love my Sony 85mm f/1.8 lens as it has beautiful soft bokeh. I sometimes pair my 85mm lens with a macro filter to come closer to my subjects. When using a macro filter with that lens, I’m achieving a dreamy look because the filter makes the lens ‘softer’. I have always liked my Lensbaby sweet 50 too, it’s a manual lens, and it’s a very creative little lens! I love it in particular because it creates unusual photos, and everything gets a painterly effect. I am, of course, pairing that lens with some macro converters as well. The gear I have now has definitely played a role as I had never owned a dedicated macro lens before. When I still had my Pentax, I mostly used a 50mm lens. I captured some beautiful photos with that camera and lens set up as well, though. I think the saying ‘the best camera is the one that’s with you’ is very true! But the quality of that sigma lens and the extra MP of my camera are definitely helping to make everything easier. (My Pentax only had 6MP!).

Could you offer any advice to those wanting to improve their floral photography? Do you have any particular rules that you set yourself and follow when you are taking photos?

My advice is to pay a lot of attention to compositions, light, and the flower's surroundings you want to photograph. You should also take your time whilst photographing! Flowers and plants are perfect models…. they are extremely patient! And, of course, practice a lot and enjoy the process. Don’t forget to appreciate all the beautiful colours and shapes.

It’s also a good idea to look through the photos you’ve made while you’re still in the process of photographing your subject; maybe you’ll notice that some are out of focus or that the composition is not right. Then you can go back to try again. It’s also a good idea to move around a lot; this allows you to experiment with taking photos of the same subject from different angles and with different settings. As a beginner, it’s also helpful to take photos in different light settings to learn what effect different light has on your photos.

You are also the owner of @blissful.photo.art. Can you talk a little bit about that? What was your motivation behind creating this page? How long have you had it for? Do you have any plans for its future?

I created @blissful.photo.art in August 2018. In 2017 and I took over @bpa_nature_ and @bpa_macro from a woman I met on Instagram. She was looking for new owners of her pages. @bpa_nature_ and @bpa_macro belonged to a bigger group of hubs many years ago. But they went their own way. So after I started curating those two pages, I’ve always wanted to give a new meaning to ‘bpa’. And I always wanted to create a hub for portraits, still life, fine art and child photography (so a wider variety than the macro and nature hub). So that was when Blissful Photo Art was born! I’m not curating @bpa_macro anymore, but I still have @bpa_nature_ and, of course, @blissful.photo.art.

I’ve met many wonderful people through those pages, and I think/hope that a lot of people have found inspiration and new accounts to follow because of them. In the future, I’m going to continue doing what I’ve been doing with it until now: featuring beautiful accounts, I’m always on the lookout for new talent! I’m consciously trying to support new accounts as well, there’s so much talent on Instagram! I don’t want to be a page that only features big accounts so that the posts get a lot of likes; I just want to feature beautiful posts and talented creatives.

Peonies - The Netherlands - Esther: @Esthers_eyes

There are so many amazing photographers putting their work out there on platforms such as Instagram. How do you think you were able to stand out and grow multiple pages in such a competitive environment and niche? What are some points that you have focused on, and what has been your attitude towards Instagram?

Yes, honestly, I am still surprised that my own page and @blissful.photo.art grew so fast! I don’t think I did something special. I started my own page in 2017. I didn’t know anything about Instagram. Back then I didn’t even understand how tagging and hashtags worked! I didn’t understand what feature pages were, so I had to learn everything from scratch.

I have to say that I’ve always been fairly active on Instagram. I’m trying to respond to all comments, direct messages (only the dm’s that contain more than only one smiley etc) and I’m always scrolling through the explore page to find new accounts to follow and for inspiration. What helps too, I think, is posting consistently. That can mean [posting every day, every other day, or even just once a week. I think that if you can manage to keep to a schedule that it really helps a lot with growing on Instagram. There was a time when I posted daily on my own page and 2-3 times a day on my other pages… that was too much for me. I’m now posting 4 times a week on my own page. And on my other pages, I’m posting once a day maximum. I have noticed the posts are doing much better since I’m only featuring one artist a day. I think that three features a day were way too much; it also felt like I was spamming everyone! And one feature a day is extra special!

Spanish Daisy - North Brabant, The Netherlands - Esther: @Esthers_eyes

Where does your creative inspiration come from? Do you have anyone in particular who inspires and motivates you in the photography world and also in general?

My inspiration comes from my surroundings. When I was little, I was always drawing, and when I got older, I was taking photos of everything I loved. I think I have always had a strong urge to document everything beautiful. I want to share what I see with everyone. That’s why I love the time we’re living in now, with the internet. It makes it easier to share your work with a lot of people.

Esther, it's been an absolute pleasure! Thank you so much for your time. Where can people go to follow your social media pages?

Thanks again for having me, Jamie! It was a pleasure for me too! I’m mostly active on Instagram: @esthers_eyes.

I have accounts on Flickr, Tumblr, Vero and Pinterest as well. But I’m not very active on those platforms. My username on those platforms is ‘esthers_eyes’ as well.

I’m also trying to be more active on Behance again; my username is ‘Esther Es’.

*Online privacy is important for Esther, which is why her last name is not included in this interview. We understand and respect that and hope that you do too.

Forget-Me-Not/Myosotis, The Netherlands - Esther: @Esthers_eyes

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Jamie Mackrill 9/3/21 Jamie Mackrill 9/3/21

German Landscape/Travel Photographer Eric Friese - Photography, Collaborations, Photo Compositions, And Much More!

Eric Friese is a photographer from Germany. Eric has spent the last five years travelling Europe, learning and mastering photography, and growing a following on Instagram. Eric is passionate about connecting with fellow creatives and everyday people alike. He hopes to inspire and encourage people to both explore and connect with nature.

“There will come a time when we can all travel again. Until then, I will stay local and take photos here in the national park. There are always new things to discover near where you live, and that is what the pandemic has taught me and many people I know. Beauty is often closer to you than you realise.”

Hello Eric, thank you for doing this interview with us! Could you tell our readers a bit about where you are from, what you do and when you first got into photography?

Hi, I’m Eric; I’m a 38-year-old photographer from Germany. I live in the state capital of ‘things’, the beautiful capital city of Saxony, Dresden. I started taking pictures five years ago.

Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland - Eric Friese

You seem to be an adventurer at heart! Your Instagram feed is full of various wilderness scenes from many countries across Europe. From Germany's woodlands to the remote highlands of Scotland and even the black sand beaches of Iceland. What motivates you to travel, explore the natural environment and capture and share your images online?

I love to travel and get to know other countries and cultures. We only have this one life, and I would like to use my time and opportunities to see as many places in the world that I can. I would like to inspire people with my pictures. I try to encourage people to travel themselves and discover and appreciate our planet's beauty and hopefully want to preserve it for future generations. Instagram is a very good platform for this as it enables me to reach a large number of people.

One thing that you capture very well is the seasonal changes in Europe. Do you have a favourite time of year to be out and about exploring and taking photos? Do you take a different approach to your photography when you travel and explore in each of the seasons, or does your mindset not change much throughout the year?

Every season has its own fascinating aspects, but I think that Autumn, with all its colours, is very special. It is also a great time of the year to photograph and explore foggy landscapes here in central Europe, which I love to do. I try to plan out my vacations cheaply over the course of a year in order to be able to experience something new each season.

Saxon Switzerland National Park, Germany - Eric Friese

Have you been able to explore much of Germany yet? Are there any areas in Germany that have stood out to you so far as an adventurer and photographer?

There are a lot of great places in Germany. The regions that stand out to me, in particular, are the Alps in Bavaria, and Saxon Switzerland in Saxony. I recommend exploring these regions when visiting Germany.

You've collaborated with models and many other photographers on your journey so far. Has this been an integral part of your journey and growth as a photographer?

I have been lucky enough to meet a lot of good photographers. Here, in particular, we are closely networked and have a good community. It is a great advantage to travel with other photographers/friends or go on a weekend adventure... You learn from each other and have a great time together. It is also important to keep exchanging ideas and trying out different things.

As a result of these connections, many of your nature photos have a human element to them. This can help with enhancing a greater sense of scale in a vast landscape, for example. How else do you use people in your compositions? What is your approach to using models and giving stance and posing directions to enhance your compositions?

It is always advantageous to have a person in the picture to show the true size of the motif. There is also something epic and fascinating about staging a model on the edge of the abyss, in a forest or even just a street. The viewer is drawn to this part of the picture and tries to imagine themselves being there in place of the model.

Does the collaborative process come about in any other ways? Is it as simple as reaching out to people on Instagram and asking for a collaboration?

In most cases, it's not collaborations but friends and other photographers. In the rarest cases, one asks models. You have to keep in mind that there is a safety risk involved when hiking, and when you want to take photos on precipices in the mountains for example.

Solheimasandur Plane Wreck, South Iceland - Eric Friese

We are currently still in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. How have you adapted to Europe's current situation regarding the travel restrictions and the lockdowns? Have you been affected much? And how are you staying creative and motivated in a time where you've had to make changes and adapt to a volatile and uncertain societal situation?

Covid 19 hit us all hard, especially being a nature photographer as it is difficult to have to stay at home. But extraordinary times require extraordinary measures to protect people. In this case, photography takes a back seat. There will come a time when we can all travel again. Until then, I will stay local and take photos here in the national park. There are always new things to discover near where you live, and that is what the pandemic has taught me and many people I know. Beauty is often closer to you than you realise.

What's your go-to camera set-up for your photography? Drones can be an expensive investment. Has buying a drone been worth it in your case? What drone do you own, and what do you believe makes it worth the investment for nature photographers?

For nature photographers, drones are an essential tool to look for certain spots from a different angle or perspective. For me, buying a drone made sense, and I never regretted it for a moment. I own a DJI Mavic Pro.

My current camera is a Sony Alpha II. I use the Sony 16-35mm F4 for this 70-200mm F4 Sigma 35mm F1.4

Photo editing is a skill that every photographer needs to learn and master. What is your approach to editing, and what programs do you use?

Editing images is, of course, one of the most important and interesting things in photography. This is where a photographer's own style emerges. You try hard and learn by practising. I use Adobe Lightroom CC, Adobe Photoshop and the InShot app.

Thank you for your time, Eric! We look forward to following you on your journey. Where can our readers go to follow you on Social media and find out more about you?

Thank you very much! On Instagram, my handle is: @ericfriese

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Jamie Mackrill 23/2/21 Jamie Mackrill 23/2/21

Australian Based Realistic Acrylic Wildlife Artist Carla Grace - Art, Career Growth And Motherhood

Carla Grace is a South African born, Australian based wildlife artist. After going full-time in 2016, Carla has won many awards for her realistic acrylic paintings and has been featured in art exhibitions worldwide.

In her interview with us, Carla shares her beliefs and methodology on everything from pricing her art throughout her career to painting techniques and creating online workshop tutorials. Carla also talks about her experience and perspective as a full-time artist raising her very inquisitive and playful young daughter, Emily - Carla has a way of making everything work out with her positive attitude and professionalism!

Carla Grace with Emily and ‘A Mother’s Crown’

“There are so many artists out there doing great things that if you don’t market yourself, no one will. Emotionally distancing yourself from the work you create when you want to put it out there in the world is a way of protecting yourself and remaining professional no matter what feedback you get.”

Hello Carla, thank you so much for doing this interview with us! Could you tell our readers a little bit about yourself and give a summary of your history as an artist? How do you personally describe your artistic style?

My name is Carla Grace; I am a wildlife artist based in Adelaide, South Australia. I was born in South Africa and spent the first 23 years of my life moving between Zimbabwe, New Zealand, Zambia and Australia. I started pursuing art as a career in 2016 and am blessed to be able to do it full time. My artistic style would be realistic acrylic painting, focusing on bringing each subject I paint to life on the canvas.

Before we delve deeper into the artistic side of your life, I'd love to talk a little bit about your adorable daughter, Emily. She accompanies you in so many of your social media posts and YouTube videos. How old is Emily currently, and how does your average workday with her in your art studio look? Does she get to spend much time in there with you?

Emily is 17 months old. She loves being part of everything I do in the studio, especially the videos. She also loves being the one operating the camera gear, which can be scary at times and has resulted in a broken filter already. For the first 12 months, she was with me full time, but as she has an incredibly extroverted personality and craves being around lots of people, she goes to daycare four days a week now. She still demands painting time in the studio every day when she gets home though, no matter how tired she is.

You have uploaded videos of Emily painting and playing around in your art studio. Does it take much encouragement from you to get her to play around with paint and her surroundings, or is she a naturally inquisitive toddler? Do you think that there will be advantages for her growing up around art and creativity and being exposed to the wonders of creativity and artistic expression from such an early age?

I have to bribe her to stop painting! Since she watched me paint for so long before she was physically able to do it herself, she is like a kid in a candy store. She chooses the colours, and I have to open the tubs as that part is a bit challenging for her at the moment. I think if her physical abilities matched her passion and imagination, she would be painting all the time. For now, though, I still have a little control over how far the paint is spread throughout the house. I think its incredibly important for her to be set free in the studio. I don’t stop her from painting (unless she is trying to paint the carpet or furniture) and do my best to keep my personal ideas to myself. If she really wants to paint black over the green that she has just smeared all over the canvas, I enable her to do it. It’s like seeing pure and innocent creativity set free. I will not drive her to a life in art if she isn’t going that way naturally. Still, I think there is a lot to be said about the incredible learning, and developmental opportunities painting creates for children.

Running your own successful business as a creative is a commendable feat in itself. Doing it all whilst raising a young daughter is remarkable and a testament to your character! I'm sure there would be so many people struggling to find the right formula when trying to attain a healthy balance between their family life and professional life. What do you believe have been the most important factors in your situation in allowing you to get to the stage you are in regarding your career and family commitments? Is trying to find the right balance with your time management and attention the right way to look at it? Does the support of your friends and family play a big role in allowing you to continue doing what you love?

I think having a supportive network of friends and family is incredibly important. The first 12 months were obviously the hardest for me as Emily was with me full-time. So I can speak from that experience here, and it is with great reluctance that I say ‘balance’ is a mirage that keeps shifting and changing the closer you get to it. It’s something I keep trying to achieve, but as soon as I thought I was getting some form of balance in my life, things would change. The days and weeks in the life of a baby are constantly changing as they grow and develop. As a result, what was working last week, won’t be working this week. I worked as much as I could during Emily’s naps, I worked with her awake and playing in the studio, and I worked when she went to sleep for the night. I believe it is important that children know they are loved but not the centre of their parents’ world. So working while Emily was awake and playing in the studio by herself is something I enforced as much as I could. She just loved being around me, watching me, and being part of my day. This also depends very much on the baby and the family's situation, but the way I saw it was that if I was able to do anything in the studio, no matter how small, it was an accomplishment. It was also important that I was kind to myself and knew when I had to stop pushing myself and sleep.

I also find it quite interesting that you are a self-taught artist. What have been some of the most valuable aspects of your learning curve from beginner to professional over the years, and what resources have you utilised in the learning process? Have you had any mentors or inspirations along the way?

I have had many inspirations along the way, no real mentors, though. I’d say the most valuable thing I have learned would be emotionally distancing myself from my work when it comes to selling it. The most helpful resources I have used along the way would have to be Google and Youtube.

How long does the average painting take you to complete? What are your favourite aspects of the journey from conception and design to sending your art off to an enthusiastic buyer?

On average, my paintings take me 6 weeks to complete since I am not in the studio as freely as I could be before Emily came along. An animal portrait used only to take me 2 weeks to finish! I think the best part of the process is the sale, not because of the financial reward, but because someone out there has loved what I have created enough to invest their hard-earned money into it. That is incredibly humbling, and I never take it for granted.

Valuing one’s art can be a daunting process, especially in the beginning, when you are trying to turn a passion into a sustainable career. What is your take on art valuations? How do you land at a price point at which you feel is fair for both yourself and your prospective buyers?

Pricing art is such a tricky thing because it not only depends on the type of art but also how it is presented, the quality and then ultimately, what a buyer is willing to spend on it. In the beginning, being able to charge minimum wage per hour, taxes, and material cost of the artwork is great. When the artist's brand starts to get somebody behind it, and a reputation starts to form, the artist can add value to their brand in a variety of different ways to increase the overall value of their art. Valuations, as done by art consultants in galleries and museums, rely on the artist's academic and recorded history, such as their exhibits, awards, education, and gallery representation. Sometimes notable collectors form part of an artists resume too, which adds value to their work. Ultimately, the buying market will determine the value because people will only pay what they believe the artwork is worth.

You have also chosen to diversify your income portfolio by offering tutorials in the form of e-books and video tutorials, which can be purchased via your website. Could you summarise what you are currently offering in these tutorials and what your aim was when creating them for your artistic clients? Your customers' feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, so you must be doing a fantastic job with the tutorials!

I currently have three tutorials available that teach artists how I paint realistic fur, feathers and expressive eyes with acrylic paint. When I create these tutorials, I think about everything I have learned along the way that I wish I had been able to find in one lesson when I was starting out. I don’t want to teach people how to copy what I do - that seems limiting. The whole purpose of these tutorials is to teach artists the thinking and principles behind my process so that they can take what they learn in the tutorial and apply it in every area of their practice. That is why I am not doing tutorials on how to paint a specific animal; rather, how to paint a certain aspect of an animal, like fur or feathers. So far, the tutorials have been really well received, and I am thrilled because I have no experience in teaching at all!

A close-up of ‘An Invitation’ by Carla Grace

Another part of your success has come from getting noticed in the upper echelons of the art world. This has partly come through being featured in art exhibitions and various articles and magazines, winning awards and accepting commission work from galleries and art collectors, which we have previously touched on briefly.

In light of this success, could I bring up three points and ask for you to offer your thoughts on each briefly? The first is regarding the importance of putting yourself and your work out there and reaching out to people?

This is one of the most confronting things artists have to face at some stage in their career because it confronts the fear of rejection. It’s safe behind closed doors, hoping that someone will discover and represent you someday, but the reality is that it never happens anymore. There are so many artists out there doing great things that if you don’t market yourself, no one will. Emotionally distancing yourself from the work you create when you want to put it out there in the world is a way of protecting yourself and remaining professional no matter what feedback you get.

The second is remaining confident in yourself and your ability to succeed and consistently do your best. Has self-doubt or a lack of motivation ever hindered you on your journey? If so - how was that overcome?

Whenever I face doubt or a lack of motivation, I look at my statistics. I look at where I started and where I am now. I also usually just make myself work. Since this is the only job I have, I am fully aware that nothing will happen if I don’t sit down and do it. In the past 12 months, the market has changed a lot, and it is constantly changing. Being able to adapt along with the way the world is changing is incredibly important, so being open to experimenting with different business ideas helps a lot. This also means I need to be willing to let something go that isn’t working or that is taking away from the core of who I am as an artist. Sometimes I find myself saying that perhaps I should go get a part-time job just to take the pressure off myself, and my husband always replies with the same answer “Are you crazy? You’re too good at what you do to give up, it might be quiet now, but remember the last time this happened?”. The business of being an artist is an ever-changing, fluctuating cycle that is unpredictable and devastating. But it is also the best job I have ever had in my life, and I wouldn’t give it up for the world. If I have to change what I’m doing to tap into another market, then I am willing to do that.

The third and final point I would love for you to address is your professionalism. From communication to packaging, what’s your outlook on customer experience and presenting both yourself and your work to prospective buyers and aspiring artists?

Customer experience is everything. The experience starts with what they see online, so the way I photograph and video my work is the first thing that has to be incredible. Then, the one-on-one experience a collector has with me deepens their connection to both the work and my brand. They must have my undivided and genuine attention. They not only get a painting, but they get a friendship. Then the packaging is another thing. Not only does the painting need to be delivered undamaged, but when they open it, they need to see care and diligence in the way their investment is packaged. The extra things like authenticity packages, thank you notes, protective covering, signage and quality of the actual artwork itself all add up. I ship my work framed and ready to hang because I imagine that it would be awesome to open a painting and put it straight on the wall. Basically, I put myself into my collector’s shoes, and I treat them with the utmost respect, regardless of how much they have spent on my work. There is no room for compromise here.

Once again, Carla, thank you so very much for doing this interview with us here at Culture of Creatives! We look forward to following your artistic journey and wish you and your lovely family the very best that life has to offer! Where can people go to find out more about you and your art pieces and tutorials? And of course, where can we all go to follow you and your journey on social media?

Thank you so much! These were really great questions, and I could have spent much longer on each one. You can find everything on my Instagram, Facebook or website.

Instagram: @carla_grace_art

Website: www.carlagraceart.com

Facebook: Carla Grace Art

Youtube: Carla Grace

Emily exploring her surroundings in the art studio

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Jamie Mackrill 8/2/21 Jamie Mackrill 8/2/21

German Landscape Photographer Manuela Palmberger

Manuela Palmberger is a nature photographer from Germany. She specialises in landscape photography, which compliments two more of her passions, the mountains and hiking. Manuela has amassed a large following on Instagram over the years and has worked with brands such as Globetrotter, Nordweg, American Express and Porsche. In this interview, Manuela talks about her photography mindset and journey. She also discusses how she has adapted and is staying focused during the Covid-19 pandemic, and much more!

“Last summer, I did a lot more hikes than in years previous, and I love all the memories that I’ve made during my trips. In the past, I have always said that there are beautiful places everywhere; you just have to find them. Maybe now during the pandemic, it`s the opportune time to look for and explore them.”

Hello Manuela, thank you so much for doing this interview with us! I’d love to start with how you first got into photography, and what first drew you to it?

I started my photography journey about five years ago, which is also when I started travelling. At the beginning taking pictures was just an excellent way to capture all the memories. What I like most about photography is that you can show how beautiful and impressive nature can be and how you can transmit emotions through your pictures.

Your website portfolio and Instagram feed are full of photos taken in mountains and dramatic landscapes from all over the world. What attracts you to this photography style, and what keeps drawing you up into the mountains of Europe and beyond?

Well, the reason why I like to shoot landscapes and especially mountains is that I grew up in a very scenic alpine region around Garmisch-Partenkirchen. My parents took me hiking every single weekend, so I have always loved that kind of setting. Mountains are, for me, just the right mix of adventure and that feeling of being at home. The landscape is so varied and unique.

Madeira Island, Portugal - Manuela Palmberger

With so much going on in these dramatic landscapes, where one’s eyes can wander everywhere with ease, how do you go about finding the right compositions? What are you looking for? What are you trying to emphasize in your photography?

I always look for that one special moment when the first light of the day hits the mountain peaks and makes them glow. When after heavy rain, the clouds begin to clear up and move along the mountain ridges. Basically, it`s all about the weather, light and season that gives a landscape a special touch. I often go hiking to visit one special spot where I like to take pictures, but a lot of the time I find the more unique views and compositions along the way.

Soca Valley, Slovenia - Manuela Palmberger

It's also quite pleasant to see you enjoying the little things along the way, such as small shrubs and lush foliage that you like to get close-up shots of. Does this come naturally for you, or are you actively trying to experiment with your photography and capture every aspect of your experience, for example?

Always when you`re outside, you may look for the big impressive photo spots. But a hike it`s much more than just that one view. It`s the little things along the way that makes it special and unique, for example, some water drops on a plant early in the morning or some wildlife that crosses your path. And this little thing makes me just as happy as the big views; they make the whole experience complete.

Is there a particular camera and lens combo that you carry around with you everywhere? Do you like to experiment much with different camera gear? Do you utilise your phone camera sometimes?

When it comes to equipment, for me less is more. I have a Sony Alpha 7III with a 24-70 2.8 lens, and that`s my most used combo. I have just one additional zoom lens (70-200 4.0) and my drone, and that`s it. When you`re hiking a lot, you don`t want to carry a lot of equipment, because it`s just too heavy. I think that it also makes you more creative when you have to use what you have instead of having too many options. I use my phone very often to find a nice composition or setting.

How does your workflow look like in regards to your editing? What program/programs do you use for editing your images?

I first sort and rate my images with Adobe Bridge, and then start to edit them with Adobe Lightroom. I have created my own presets on Lightroom for every kind of light situation and season. But editing is more than just laying a preset on the pictures. It`s always just a base for the special edit every pic gets. Sometimes I also use Adobe Photoshop if there are some bigger retouches, but not that often.

Eibsee, Bayern, Germany - Manuela Palmberger

Has there been a standout photography experience for you over the years? What's your favourite place to explore and photograph in Germany?

There was not just one special experience; there have been so many! And I ́m lo lucky for all that special moments and memories, For example, to see a sunrise on the Seiser Alm in South Tyrol, to view the northern lights in Iceland or to face 6000m high mountains in Peru. My favourite places in Germany are the Alps, especially the region around Garmisch-Partenkirchen where I grew up. I love to explore new places there and find new perspectives on well-known spots. But Germany has so much to offer. There are so many photogenic regions and national parks that are worth a visit.

We are conducting this interview amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Firstly, how are you doing? How have things changed for you are, how are you staying motivated and creative through lockdowns and travel restrictions?

Oh, I`m doing very well. The travel restriction prevents long-distance travels for me; I haven`t been on a plane for a year now. But I`m lucky to live in a region where you can easily travel to so many beautiful destinations by car, like Austria, Switzerland and the Dolomites. Last summer, I did a lot more hikes than in years previous, and I love all the memories that I've made during my trips. In the past, I have always said that there are beautiful places everywhere; you just have to find them. Maybe now during the pandemic, it`s the opportune time to look for and explore them.

For someone who may be reading this and wanting to improve their photography or maybe thinking of giving it a try, do you have any words of advice or encouragement that you would like to give?

I think that in the beginning, many people believe photography is such a big thing. They believe that you need the perfect camera and have to travel to the most beautiful destinations, but it`s not like that. You can start anytime and just need to use the gear you have, and, if it`s just your phone, then that`s no problem. Photography is more about the right light, the right weather and that one special moment than having the most expensive gear. Don`t be afraid of giving it a go; everybody was a beginner at first. What was very helpful to me was watching YouTube tutorials about photography and editing, there are so many good videos!

Thank you so much for taking the time to do this interview with us Manuela, it has been our absolute pleasure! Where can people find you on social media and find out more about you on your website?

You can find me on Instagram: @manuela_palmberger

You are also welcome to visit my homepage: www.manuela-palmberger-photo.com/

Austrian Alps, Austria - Manuela Palmberger

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Jamie Mackrill 5/10/20 Jamie Mackrill 5/10/20

Digital Artist And Professional Photographer Ted Chin Discusses The Journey And Mindset Which Lead Him To Create "Teds Little Dream"

Ted Chin Is a digital artist and photographer based in San Francisco, USA. Ted has always taken interest in the creative arts and found his creative outlet through photography and Photoshop. Ted fittingly summarizes his journey of self-expression, storytelling, and creativity as "Ted’s Little Dream” which is also the name of his Instagram page: @tedslittledream.

“I’m constantly challenging myself to create new projects. The process while creating and picking my own brain is really interesting. It helps me to understand myself more.”

Thank you for taking the time to do this interview, Ted. Could you please tell our readers a little bit about yourself? Are you originally from San Francisco? Is being a digital artist a full-time job for you and what else are you passionate about and like doing?

My name is Ted Chin and I’m a digital artist/photographer. I’m originally from Taiwan and now I live in San Francisco. When I’m not using my photoshop skills to make surreal fantasy art, I like to take photos and travel around.

Have you always been the creative type? Is this something that you knew you wanted to pursue when you were in school? If not, what set you in the direction of photography, digital artistry, and discovering the wonderful world of Photoshop?

I’ve always liked to paint since I was a kid. Animation, film, and other artwork were the main sources that inspired me when I was growing up. After studying a few traditional art classes in college, I took an interest in digital art and pursued it for my career.

Are there any other programs or apps that you use for your composites? How long does the average one take you roughly before you are ready to publish it? What is the most time-consuming aspect of your work?

I mainly use photoshop most of the time for my work. The average time for my creation really depends on how complex the project is. Sometimes it takes 10 minutes but sometimes it could take up to a few hours.

You are also an avid photographer! How do you find that your photography compliments your digital artistry? Is there something that you get from, or enjoy about photography, that you can't get from photo manipulations? How often does your photography show up in your digital art pieces?

I actually have a great passion for shooting black and white street photography and high fashion. You can find some of the models that I shot in my composite work sometimes. I try to keep my street photography separate from my surreal artwork since they are very different styles.

Where else do you find the images that you use in your composites and how do you go about working with brands or clients who have a rough idea of what they want in the composition? Do you make sure that you have a certain amount of creative freedom and maintain a high level of communication for example?

Yes, strong communication is very important when working with clients. Depending on the projects, sometimes they give you more creative freedom and sometimes they give you a direction for their concepts. I use Adobe Stock for my client’s work.

What branded content or job for a client was your hardest creation and what challenges did you have to face and overcome?

One of the tough projects I had to work on was for a mattress company. We had a minor misunderstanding on the project and I had to do a few revisions to make the composite right. But after that clients were happy with the final turn out and it was fun to work with them.

Where do you find your inspiration for your high level of creativity and feed your unique imagination? You've managed to turn clouds into flamingos, pyramids into camels, and plastic bottles Into whales, for example.

Animation, film, and other artwork was the main source that inspired me when I was growing up. To see how our mind works really made me wonder about how far I can push myself with my dreams and imagination. There is no limit to it and I want to share what I saw with people who haven’t realized that they have the same ability to see it too. I’m constantly challenging myself to create new projects. The process while creating and picking my own brain is really interesting. It helps me to understand myself more.

Do you believe that each image that you create is - in part - an extension of yourself and your current mood, experiences, and feelings? Art can be a fantastic way to express oneself in ways where words or one’s courage may not always be able. I was wondering if you have thought much about this or not? Or if there are any other reasons driving you to keep motivated and creating and putting out work? Is creativity an outlet?

I believe some of my art is an extension of myself and an impression of a mood, story, or a message from my perspective. Sometimes it could mean nothing and just for fun too. Art is a way to express my feelings and photoshop is my tool.

You consistently have reoccurring themes showing up in your imagery such as the moon, clouds, or scaled up animals to name a few. Is this just coincidental or is there something in certain subjects and aesthetics which you have a particular interest in?

A little bit of both. Most of them have stories and hidden messages within.

Would it be correct to place your work into the categorical realm of surrealism? How would you personally define your creative style? And do you have anyone or anything in particular that you admire heavily or use as a source of inspiration for your work?

Yes. Surrealism is actually what I study first when I start my photoshop composite work. I would call my work a surreal fantasy style. There are a lot of artists that inspire me. Man Ray, Dali, René Magritte are a few that come to mind.

Have you gotten much support from your friends and family? What do they think of what you do? Have you ever had to deal with much destructive criticism online before? Being judged negatively for their work – or at least the fear of it - is often what holds people back from posting it online. Could you offer any advice to anyone that isn't so sure of themselves or what they have created and how they could deal with negativity and rejection online?

I’m very lucky that I have the full support of my friends and family. I’m not too worried about online criticism unless they are offering helpful advice. I focus on myself and consciously try to figure out how I can do better. If you are posting your work because you want to share with people and just have fun, you should be able to enjoy that too. But if you are posting your work and seek feedback from others, you will hear a lot of different voices online.

My advice would be to work on yourself first. Figure out what kind of art you want to do, what stories you want to tell, what message you want to send. From there you can then look at how to perfect your craft and get better.

Is Teds Little Dream a destination or end goal or is it a journey of expressionism? What was that dream and has it changed at all over the years? What would you like to do more of, or try in the future?

Storytelling has always been something that inspired me when I was growing up. When I was in grad school, due to a lack of time and money, I was not able to travel as much as I wanted to. I’ve always dreamed about visiting different places, to see and experience new things, and to tell stories. So I started to dream about it. I find it easier to tell my stories with images rather than words. By using my imagination and photography/photoshop skills, it becomes my passion to recreate and share my surreal fantasy with the world. I place it into a lifetime project - “Ted’s Little Dream”

The concept of the project has been adding more elements to it over the years. I’m always trying new methods and new projects so it will never stay the same. One of the many goals I have is to travel more and see more. Maybe collect more stories to tell with my photoshop skills.

Most of us are driven by a dream. Yours has to lead you to a very respectable level of success Ted. Many people would admire that and wish to replicate your success in their own lives and chase down their own ambitions, hopes, and dreams.

How do you stay focused and on track in the age of distraction and immense competition? Is being true to, and understanding yourself an integral part of standing out and becoming successful as a creative?

I think as long as I’m focusing on improving myself and have a clear idea of what my goals are, I shouldn’t be lost or distracted too much. After all, I am doing what I love the most.

Once again, your time has been very much appreciated Ted, thank you. Where can people find you on social media? If people want to buy a print, where can they go?

You can purchase my prints at https://tedslittledream.darkroom.tech/

My social: https://www.instagram.com/tedslittledream/

My website: http://www.tedslittledream.com/

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Jamie Mackrill 11/9/20 Jamie Mackrill 11/9/20

Ashraful Arefin - An In-Depth Interview On Photography, Cinemagraphs And Creativity

Ashraful Arefin is a Fine Art photographer from Dhaka, Bangladesh. Ashraful exudes a strong sense of creativity and self-expression in his art. In his interview with us, Ashraful sheds light on the type of creative mindset necessary to excel in a whole range of photography subgenres instead of just sticking to, and excelling at one. (being just a portrait photographer or a wedding photographer for example)

We venture into the depths of each of Ashraful’s major interests in the realm of photography and learn how diverse interests and a desire for new challenges and change can be channeled into growth and success in the competitive world of photography.

“I consider myself an artist and that is all I’ve ever wanted to be, regardless of the media. Photography for me is a way to express my thoughts and dreams. My intention was never to just take photos. I wanted to create art, be it through painting or photography.”

Hello Ashraful, thank you for doing this interview. Can you tell us about where you are from? How did you first get into photography? and at what stage did you start looking at photography as a viable career path?

Thank you very much for having me! I was born, and am currently based in the city of Dhaka, Bangladesh. I got my first camera back in 2010, I was a student of Fine Art. I got the camera to take high-res images of my artworks. But eventually, I got more interested in the art of photography. With the goal of pushing myself to use my camera a bit more, I started doing a 365 photography project in 2013. Doing this project made me fall in love with photography even more. I never really had as much fun being creative with any other media. After completing the 365photography project, I decided to put all of my time and energy into photography.

Creativity seems to be bursting out of you! A lot of professional photographers choose to concentrate on a single photography niche and stick to it throughout their careers. Refreshingly, you both photograph, and excel in a variety of creative genres! You dabble in Street photography, travel photography, still life, miniatures, cinemagraphs, and floral photography! Has your attitude always been to just photograph and share what you love and what interests you? Would it be fair to say that all your photos and videos fall under the broader umbrella of fine art photography?

Sure, you can say that. Personally, I consider myself an artist and that is all I’ve ever wanted to be, regardless of the media. Photography for me is a way to express my thoughts and dreams. My intention was never to just take photos. I wanted to create art, be it through painting or photography. I chose photography because I liked the process and also it takes less time for me to create than painting. I think if you know yourself, what you want to create, and the message you want to deliver through your images, then regardless of the genre or niche - your own personal style will shine through.

Does having a wider variety of styles and genres give you more creative freedom to express yourself, experiment with, and interpret what's around you?

Definitely. It opens more doors to explore yourself and the environment around you, and helps you to stay inspired. Art is a vast world and I never wanted to limit myself. When I was shooting only still life, at one point I felt uninspired and too comfortable with my work. So, I tried something new on the streets and it was very refreshing. I love the lack of control in the streets which is in complete contrast to still life photography where I can control every single element. It also gives me the opportunity to try new things and see things with different perspectives.

I think that this interview would be a great opportunity to explore and broadly break down each of your styles and interests and get your opinion of them all. Let us start with floral and still life photography. Flowers are consistently used in your still life compositions and are often the focal point. What draws you to frequently use them? Can you offer any advice for those wanting to improve their still life and floral photography?

I have always been fascinated by the beauty of flowers. When I was a student of fine art, I got to study symbolism and it was really amazing to know how different flowers symbolize different meanings! I feel like I can tell stories and portray emotions through them easily. The kind of concepts I work with, for instance; fragility, beauty, or strength can be strongly portrayed through the use of flowers. All the different shapes, varieties, and the colours… there are so many ways you can use them in photographs.

Still, life is about storytelling through inanimate objects. Every object has a connection with human emotion; for example, an old photograph can take you back to so many memories and make you feel nostalgic. So, having a clear concept about what and why you’re doing is the key. My advice is to concentrate on what you really want to portray through your images and think about the subjects that can help you to achieve that. For instance, if I want to show fragility, I would probably use a flower with soft, fragile petals and pastel in colour. I’d use the same approach if I wanted to show strength, I would use one with more bold, vibrant colours. So, you really need to think about and consider everything. Also studying a bit about symbolism can be a great way to really help you form your ideas.

Flowers are often incorporated into your cinemagraphs as well. Can you give a brief breakdown of how a cinemagraph works? How did you first get into making cinemagraphs?

A cinemagraph is basically a hybrid of a still image and a video. The idea is to create the impression of a living photograph. The most common way to create a cinemagraph is by taking a short video with a continuous movement in a loop. Next, you need to create an endless loop by matching the first and last frame of the footage. And finally, take a still frame from the video and place it on top of the video as a layer and mask out the parts where you want the movement to be visible.

My first idea came from the moving paintings in Harry Potter movies. Later I saw some cinemagraphs on Behance and tried to create one. I watched a few tutorials on Youtube by PHlearn and that really helped me to understand the process.

Your miniatures are also very creative and unique! How do you go about selecting your props, creating your set, and getting that beautiful bokeh effect in your compositions?

Thank you! I always try to have a clear concept about what I am going to create and what my purpose behind creating it is. I also think about different things like the kind of story and emotion that I wish to portray and the colours that I want to achieve. Once I know what I want rest becomes easy. I select props, subject material, and everything else according to my concept. For example, I love to use old rusty toy cars. The dents and rust make you wonder about their journey and what they have gone through.

For the bokeh, I use a large aperture like f/1.8 and a longer focal length like 85mm or 105mm. This separates the subject from the background and creates that beautiful bokeh effect.

Street photography gets you out into the city observing the vibrancy and capturing all the little moments that catch your eye. What is it that draws you to shoot street photography? What are you looking out for to create a good composition and find an interesting subject? Taking strangers photos can be daunting for some people, what is your approach to this aspect of street photography?

I think what inspires me most to street photography is capturing the raw, unfiltered moments and people. And knowing that those split-second moments are unique and won’t happen again. The first thing I look for is light. I am totally obsessed with light and I think good light can turn any ordinary scene into something amazing. I location scout a lot and look for the streets with interesting light, background, etc, which helps to compose a scene. Next, I’ll wait there for someone to pass by. When selecting the subjects, I look for expressive faces, also I see if the light I am working with is complimenting my subject or not. Mostly I focus on capturing emotion and expression in a person.

I can totally understand how intimidating taking people’s photos can be. Even I was scared when I started shooting the streets. But I think a positive attitude and a smile can go a long away. I always try to be friendly and if any curious person asks why I am taking photos I explain to them and most of the time they don’t mind. Staying confident and friendly will help immensely.

Your love of street photography has also spilled out from your home city of Dhaka, Bangladesh, into other cities around Asia. What drives you to first select, and then travel to certain cities and photograph its people and culture? What are some of the most rewarding things about street photography in your eyes?

There are some places I always wanted to travel to. India and Nepal were on top of the list and luckily both are very close to my country. I like to explore cities where I can see the old-world charm and traditions. And it’s always great to see how different other parts of the world can be in comparison to yours. It provides you with a fresh new perspective on your own city.

I think street photography brings you closer to the people and gives an opportunity to experience their daily lives. You get to observe life as it is; real and raw. You start to appreciate more about your surroundings and the people whom normally you wouldn’t pay any attention to. For me, the best parts of shooting streets are making a connection with people, the little moments and interactions you will come across, and exploring new parts of the city.

Maeklong Rainlway Market, Bangkok, Thailand - Ashraful Arefin

From the complexity of cinemagraphs and miniatures to the relative simplicity of phone photography. You are more than happy to document all aspects of your life with your iPhone it seems, Nature, travels, architecture, etc. What do you like about using your phone in this way? Do you use any phone apps for editing images?

I like the idea of having a camera with me all the time. Sometimes I just want to document the moments without thinking much and using a heavy camera. A phone camera serves that purpose perfectly. I usually don’t edit images on my phone, but when I do, I use Adobe Lightroom mobile. Also, I use Moment app to take raw photos with my phone.

Dhaka, Bangladesh (iphone) - Ashraful Arefin

The relatively recent advancements in technology now mean that almost everyone can go out and enjoy photography, even children get introduced to it at a younger age than ever before possible. What are your thoughts on this? How can one stand out from the crowd when everyone around them also has a camera of some sort and post pictures on social media?

I think there are both good and bad sides. There are so many resources available and the technology is getting better rapidly which is great! But at the same time, it may get oversaturated with too many photographers. I think the key is to stay true to yourself and photograph only the way your heart wants. Because it doesn’t matter how crowded it gets, the ones with a uniquely personal style will shine above. So instead of running after the trends or creating what’s popular on social media, people should always focus on what they personally like to create.

Is there a certain style of photography that you find particularly challenging? What has been the most rewarding for you on the whole as a photographer and a creative?

I have been shooting still life from the beginning and yet I find it most challenging. The most difficult part for me is to come up with a new concept and turn it into a photograph. It has happened many times that I am trying different setups again and again but nothing is working. This can be a bit hard sometimes to create something meaningful as you are working with inanimate objects which are not going to give you any expressions like a human model. So, creating a connection with the viewers is always going to be difficult.

Whenever I think of the most rewarding part of my photography journey, I think it’s the whole process and being able to see your visions come to life. Photography has also opened my eyes and heart. It has made me appreciate all the simple things in life and I know now that to create something beautiful I don’t need fancy things. I think as an artist it’s very liberating and rewarding.

I would like to finish up with a couple of aspects of photography that carry across all of your work. Lighting is something that every photographer must always consider. Does your approach differ much between working with natural light and artificial lighting? Can you share a few tips for working with them both?

Well, light is just light, doesn’t matter if it’s natural or artificial. Of course the artificial light will give you more control and time to work with. I tend to use natural light always, especially for my street images. In most cases, except night shoots, I am utilizing and working with sunlight. For my still life shots and cinemagraphs, sometimes I do mix up natural light with artificial light like an led or Speedlight.

I’d say use the kind of light you like and that is most suitable for your style of imagery. Studying light is important. If you are shooting with natural light pay particular attention to the time of day. Each kind of light has a different purpose. For example, harsh mid-day light would create a more contrasty and graphic look whereas warm afternoon light would be more suitable more soft, romantic images. It gets a bit easier when you are using studio lights as you’re in full control of it. Lighting totally depends on the kind of mood and emotions you are going to portray. So always try to have a clear idea about the kind of result you want and go for the lighting setup which will help you to achieve that result.

Camera gear and editing software is also a constant and integral aspect of your work. Can you give a brief overview of your go-to camera gear and editing software?

Right now I am using the Nikon D850 with the NIKKOR 105mm F/1.4E ED, NIKKOR 85mm F/1.8G and NIKKOR 50mm F/1.8G lenses. And for the editing part I use Photoshop.

Thank you very much for your time Ashraful! Where can people follow you on your socials and go to see your website? Could you offer up a final piece of advice for someone aspiring to improve as a photographer or get into photography?

It’s absolutely my pleasure! If anyone is interested, they can follow my works on Instagram @monsieur_arefin and @ashrafularefin. Also, my website www.ashrafularefin.com.

And sure, I’d like to say to anyone interested in photography: just enjoy the process. Do it from your heart without thinking about others. Make mistakes and learn from them. Photography is an expressive art form and everyone does it differently. So, there’s no right or wrong way, there’s only your way. You may watch and learn from others but follow only your path.

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Jamie Mackrill 1/9/20 Jamie Mackrill 1/9/20

Camille Demyttenaere and Jean Hocke share the story behind their Instagram account and blog: Backpackdiariez

Camille Demyttenaere and Jean Hocke are the Inspirational travel couple behind the very popular Backpackdiariez Instagram account which has amassed over 350,000 followers as of September 2020. To complement their Instagram account they have an incredibly informative and engaging blog: backpackdiariez.com where they also offer photo presets and a variety of online courses.

In this interview, we discuss their transitions from full-time corporate jobs in London to becoming successful travel bloggers. We also discuss topics like making money online, low-cost traveling, their 2018 TEDx Talk, and their clothing brand Atypique.

In this interview, we discuss their transitions from having full-time corporate jobs in London to becoming successful travel bloggers. We also discuss topics such as making money online, low-cost traveling, their 2018 TEDx Talk, and their clothing brand Atypique.

“ It’s a good opportunity to use this time to prepare and equip yourself as best you can to achieve whatever it is that you do really want. If it’s becoming a blogger for example, then use this time to learn as much as you can about all the aspects of this job and how you can become the very best at doing it.”

Camille and Jean, first of all, thank you for taking the time out of your day to do this interview with us! Could you please share with us a few things about yourselves, how you met, and what got you started on Instagram and blogging?

We are Camille and Jean, a couple of Belgian content creators with a huge passion for travel and photography. We travel the world and share our passion through our Instagram account @backpackdiariez and our blog www.backpackdiariez.com.

We met in high school (which feels like so long ago!) and before our travel blogging era we were working normal jobs, and just like most people, we loved to travel. We were both strategy consultants in London - a much more serious job, and a world of difference to what we are doing today. We were working long hours and not seeing much of each other. We took every opportunity that we could to hit the road and go explore the world together.

The Backpackdiariez story started almost 3 years ago when got married and decided to go on an extended honeymoon to Asia. We created a joint Instagram account @backpackdiariez to keep our family and friends updated of our travels. A couple of months into our honeymoon we realised our Instagram was starting to grow which pushed us to get better at taking photos and post more consistently.

We started posting about some extreme places we were going to - like camping in the middle of nowhere in Bhutan or surviving a couple of days on a deserted island in the Philippines and soon realised people were interested in what we were doing and where we were going. By the end of our honeymoon, we hit the 10k follower mark and started to get requests for collaborations. This is when we realised we could turn our passion into a full-time business.

Bali, Indonesia - Backpackdiariez (Camille Demyttenaere and Jean Hocke)

You both had full-time jobs before you made the huge decision to quit and try and make a living doing what you both love – traveling. Could you think back to that period in your lives and share your thought process with us? What were some of the pros and cons that you had to consider before you made this life-altering decision?

We both had built up a nice career in Consulting. This job was something that we knew we would not do forever however, as it takes a huge toll on your private life. Saying that - it was still an amazing learning experience for both of us. At this stage of our lives, it felt like a good time to take a step back and rethink what we actually wanted to do with our lives. We were still young and didn’t have any commitments like a mortgage or kids so we thought why not give the whole blogging journey a try.

Of course, we had to give up a lot of things such as the security of a job, a fixed salary every month, benefits, and medical insurance… But the idea of working for ourselves, not having to report to a boss every day or having to go to an office, and being able to travel wherever and whenever we wanted was so alluring that we decided to just go for it!

Colosseum, Rome, Italy - Backpackdiariez (Camille Demyttenaere and Jean Hocke)

What were some of the biggest challenges that you both faced in the beginning? What was your main focus/goal at the time?

The biggest challenge, in the beginning, was probably that we had to figure out everything ourselves. We didn’t have a background in ‘blogging’ and didn’t know much about photography or how to grow and make money on Instagram. So we had to start from the beginning, which wasn’t easy at first. When we first started we were also not making enough money to live on, so we were living off of our savings and had to change our lifestyle to make things work (coming from two well-paid jobs in London this was quite an adjustment!)

But our focus has always been to grow our page and keep working hard to create good content, which enabled us to grow our page to over 350,000 followers today.

Bora Bora, French Polynesia - Backpackdiariez (Camille Demyttenaere and Jean Hocke)

Capri, Italy - Backpackdiariez (Camille Demyttenaere and Jean Hocke)

In a TEDx Talk that you both did in 2018, you talked about different things that related to your lifestyle, such as traveling as cheaply as possible and watching free YouTube tutorials on how to use editing software. What are some of the things that you did to make sure that you could travel cheaply yet comfortably and gain experience and Instagram followers as quickly as possible?

The amount of knowledge that you can find online nowadays is mind-blowing. We did not know much about photography or editing images and videos. We actually learned everything through a combination of researching online and by trying things out and experimenting ourselves. We always pushed ourselves to improve and to create better content.

Slowly our content started getting featured more and more by other pages and in the media which accelerated our growth even more. We were starting to get better deals with hotels and brands reaching out to us asking for collaborations, which is when we realised that our hard work was starting to pay off.

A huge reason why so many people love to travel is the experiences you obtain and the memories you make along the way. What better way is there to travel than with someone you love and share all these memories and experiences with!? In your case, what are some of the best things that have come out of this journey that you have both been on as a couple?

The most amazing thing for us is probably that this entire journey has reinforced and deepened our bonds as a couple. We are together 24/7, we learned to work together, we are doing what we love and living the life we always dreamed of living. We saw some places that we never imagined we could such as some of the world’s most remote places and even discovered foreign cultures we never even knew existed. It’s opened up an entirely new world for us and changed our perspectives dramatically. Another important part of all of this for us is that we are free to do what we want when we want.

Ho’omaluhia Botanicle Garden, Oahu, Hawaii, USA - Backpackdiariez (Camille Demyttenaere and Jean Hocke)

Everyone with a smartphone has the ability to take, edit and share photos and capture these and many other special experiences. We've talked about watching free tutorials on YouTube to learn about editing: can you talk about which software/apps you use predominately and which camera/phone you started using to capture your travels together and what you are using now?

We edit all of our images with Adobe Lightroom which really is the best programme out there to edit pictures. We have developed our own photo filters that we apply over our pictures to make the colours pop, which we also sell on our website.

We’re currently using a Canon 5D mark iv camera which we love as it works very well in any light condition and the quality of the images is simply amazing. However, when we started off we had a small pocket-sized camera, the Canon GX7 which you can buy for 500 EUR. This camera got us a very long way. We actually used this camera for at least a year before switching to the more expensive 5D Canon model.

When you are just getting started there’s no need to spend thousands of euros on a professional camera. It’s much better to start with a smaller cheaper one which is usually still great quality, and very good to learn all the basics on. Only when you want to move to more advanced photography such as shooting in very low light conditions, for example, we recommend upgrading to a more professional camera set-up.

Mo’orea, French Polynesia - Backpackdiariez (Camille Demyttenaere and Jean Hocke)

Wailua Falls, Hawaii, USA - Backpackdiariez (Camille Demyttenaere and Jean Hocke)

Camille, what would you say are Jean's most endearing attributes? Do you handle different aspects of your social media presence and income sources separately, or do you work on everything together complimenting each other’s strengths and weaknesses?

Jean is the artist behind Backpackdiariez. He is the one who handles the camera and the settings, and who edits all of our images and he’s very good at it. On the other hand, I take care of all the operational stuff that goes on behind the scenes such as replying to emails and messages, setting up collaborations, planning trips and arranging hotel deals, managing the website etc. So the work is evenly split between the two of us.

Jaipur Rajasthan, India - Backpackdiariez (Camille Demyttenaere and Jean Hocke)

Jean, what are some of Camille's most endearing attributes? In what way do you think that you both complement each other the most, and what do you believe are some of the main reasons why you have both found a high level of success so far working and traveling together?

She has a very get-things-done attitude. The reason why our page has been so successful I think is because we complement each other very well and we both do what we’re good at. The fact that we do what we love also plays a huge role in our success as you will always be better-off doing something that you like.

Santorini, Greece - Backpackdiariez (Camille Demyttenaere and Jean Hocke)

The more one travels, the more likely one is to come across unforeseeable situations, setbacks and challenges. Especially when you combine business and travel! A clear example of this is the current COVID-19 pandemic, which has crippled the entire world’s travel industry and, in countless ways, has affected the lives of all of us in one way or another. How are you both coping with this? How has it affected you both socially and financially? What do you try and concentrate on to get through trying times like these?

The lockdown and the current pandemic have been a huge setback for us. 2020 started as an amazing year for us but in a period of just a few weeks all of our travel plans got cancelled, collaborations halted and we were stuck at home not being able to create content. So we focused on releasing an Instagram Masterclass on photography, and editing courses to share the knowledge we built up in the past few years.

Also, something else happened in those months at home: we’ve been wanting to have kids for a while and during the lockdown, it just became a reality. We’re expecting a little one to join us in our adventures in January which will definitely turn our lives upside down. It couldn’t have happened at a better time for us. The travel industry is very slow and unpredictable at the moment so there’s it’s the perfect time to take it a bit easier and prepare for this new chapter that awaits us.

Rio De Janeiro, Brazil - Backpackdiariez (Camille Demyttenaere and Jean Hocke)

Rome, Italy - Backpackdiariez (Camille Demyttenaere and Jean Hocke)

That is so exciting, congratulations to you both! Along with inspiring so many, you both come across as positive and genuine people. You've even recently started a new Instagram page @backpackdiariez.tips which seems to be centred around giving free advice, tips and other educational content. It complements your main Instagram page and your already extremely inspirational and educational blog perfectly! What influences you both to want to help, inspire and give back to the community that has undoubtedly played such a vital part of your success?

Thank you! The idea behind @backpackdiariez.tips is that we learned so much over the past few years and just want to share our knowledge with others who want to do a similar thing to us. It’s such an amazing job, and it’s not something that you can learn in school. There are so many tips and tricks out there that will make all the difference for people.

Blue Train, Sri Lanka - Backpackdiariez (Camille Demyttenaere and Jean Hocke)

A common theme for successful bloggers, influencers and other creatives that we have noticed is diversity in income sources. This seems to be something that you have actively focused on as well as part of your business as you partner with brands, sell presets, workshops, have a clothing line, etc. If you don't mind, could you share a few thoughts on diversifying your income sources and providing different products, both digital and personal?

The income we receive from collaborations with brands is almost never ongoing - but instead something that we have to renegotiate every month. Therefore, we realised that having our own products gives us much more stability, certainty and something we can fall back on if suddenly collaborations cease to come in or stop.

Our clothing line Atypique the Label is something that we always wanted to do and want to keep on doing on the side. It’s a very fun business to be in but it’s a lot of work as we have to do everything ourselves (logistics, customer management, marketing, etc). That’s why we only open the shop a few days a month and work with a limited stock so that we can still have time to travel and work on Backpackdiariez which remains our main focus.

Our courses and photo filters (presets) are our other two main products where we want to help other aspiring bloggers to do what we do. We enjoyed creating our own courses a lot, and it’s something we really like doing. We are looking to launch new courses soon!

Bruges, Belgium - Backpackdiariez (Camille Demyttenaere and Jean Hocke)

Once again, if you don't mind discussing, Is there any income sources that you have tried but wouldn't recommend? And for those starting out, what are one or two income sources that you would recommend persuing as a good starting point?

When you’re just getting started, the easiest one-off source of income is collaborations with brands. It’s easy and fast, it won’t give you a steady monthly income but it’s a great way to get started. Afterwards, we would definitely recommend thinking of launching your own products. This is much more work of course - but it will give a steady income over time. And there are so many products that bloggers can sell: think of travel guides, tailored trips, clothes, jewellery, workshops, courses, templates, photo filters, Instagram stickers, coaching sessions, etc.

Algarve Felesia, Portugal - Backpackdiariez (Camille Demyttenaere and Jean Hocke)

I previously mentioned your clothing line, Atypique the Label. Could you share some backstory behind its conception and the process to get it through to the launch stage? What exciting plans do you have moving forward to take this amazing store to even greater heights in the future?

Atypique the Label is our little side project in which we have put a lot of love. We wanted to create high quality comfortable and sustainable clothes that inspire people to do what they want to do and get out of their comfort zone. We chose for a T-shirt and sweater line, where every piece has a special inspiring touch: a short power sentence in the neckline that makes your T-shirt unique. And every piece is made from 100% sustainably sourced organic cotton so we give something back to the environment too.

Launching a clothing line is not an easy straightforward thing especially when doing everything on your own. It took over a year to launch the first collection and finding the right supplier was probably the hardest part. We wanted to make sure that our products were of high quality and sustainable and ended up choosing a small family run manufacturing centre in the North of Portugal. Then we had to design the product, create samples, choose fabrics, etc. so it was a long time-consuming process but the launch made it all worth it.

We’re planning to add more products to the line soon - so stay tuned!

Munduk, Bali, Indonesia - Backpackdiariez (Camille Demyttenaere and Jean Hocke)

For someone just starting out, or a young couple hoping to emulate your success, what encouragement and advice could you give them? And how can people use their time wisely during this pandemic to plan for their future and give themselves the best chance of making it as a creative?

In order to be successful in anything, we think the key is as always to work hard. The key to our success was that we were constantly striving to do better: take better pictures, be more creative, learning to edit better on a daily basis. And when you work hard eventually, it will always pay off.

This pandemic has been detrimental for everyone in so many ways, but it has also given us, and so many others, a great opportunity (we think) to take a step back and take the time to think about what you really want. It’s a good opportunity to use this time to prepare and equip yourself as best you can to achieve whatever it is that you do really want. If it’s becoming a blogger for example, then use this time to learn as much as you can about all the aspects of this job and how you can become the very best at doing it.

The Taj Mahal, India - Backpackdiariez (Camille Demyttenaere and Jean Hocke)

Thank you both so very much for letting us interview you! Where can people follow you on your socials and check out your blog and clothing range, presets, workshops, etc?

Thank you! It was a pleasure to participate. You can follow our adventures on:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/backpackdiariez

Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@backpackdiariez

Our Webshop: www.backpackdiariez.shop

Our travel blog: www.backpackdiariez.com

Velassaru Resort, Maldives - Backpackdiariez (Camille Demyttenaere and Jean Hocke)

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Jamie Mackrill 20/8/20 Jamie Mackrill 20/8/20

Avid Birdwatcher And Photographer Ambika Bone Discusses Her Lifetime Passion For Australian Birds

Ambika Bone (@ambikangela on Instagram) is a Victorian-based birdwatcher and photographer. In this interview, Ambika shares the story of how that through her son, she rediscovered her passion for birdwatching and received the encouragement to start sharing her images on Instagram. Ambika also shares her fondness for the large Australian birdwatching community that both welcomed, and helped her out so much, and that she is now an active member in. Ambika now travels all throughout Victoria and the rest of Australia on a mission to photograph and document as many Australian bird species as possible.

Ambika Bone (@ambikangela on Instagram) is a Victorian-based birdwatcher and photographer. In this interview, Ambika shares the story of how that through her son, she rediscovered her passion for birdwatching and received the encouragement to start sharing her images on Instagram. Ambika also shares her fondness for the large Australian birdwatching community that both welcomed and helped her out so much, and that she is now an active member in. Ambika now travels all throughout Victoria and the rest of Australia on a mission to photograph and document as many Australian bird species as possible.

“If you have your own garden, this a great place to start. Creating a bird-friendly home brings the birds to you. A birdbath is a great starting point. By strategically leaning a stick over it you can create a perfect place for a bird to perch, and bingo! - There is your clean shot. ”

Hello Ambika, Thanks for doing this interview with us! Your beautiful Instagram feed on your main page is centred around birds. What first got you into bird photography, and when did you start photographing them on a regular basis?

Hi Jamie and the Culture of Creatives community, It’s my pleasure. My mother and her passion for conservation and wildlife had a big influence on me as a birdwatcher and on my interest in nature. As a child, I remember going along on field naturalist, and bird watching excursions. These trips usually involved attempting to locate small birds high up in the canopy with binoculars. At thirteen my father bought me an SLR (this was before the age of the DSLR). It was an old second-hand Pentax ME Super and I took it along to a local photography course with aspirations of becoming a nature photographer. Somehow, it fell by the wayside when I moved to the city and became caught up with university and my social life. It wasn’t until many decades later when my own son was about twelve that we re-found bird photography together, with the superior photography equipment that is available these days. I’ve been photographing birds on a regular basis for about five years now.

Rose Robin - O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat, Queensland - Ambika Bone

What are some of the main challenges that you faced in the beginning when you were trying to locate, and then get a clean shot of your subject bird? How did you overcome them?

We are fortunate to own (but I’d prefer to call it care-take) a 39-acre property which is surrounded by bushland, some of which is state forest. We had our land declared as ‘Land for Wildlife’ with the Victorian government scheme to confirm our commitment to providing a safe place for wildlife to live and feed. We have an abundance of native birds and wildlife literally on our doorstep.

Nevertheless, diversity is important to any bird enthusiast. The best thing that we did was to join our local Birdlife Australia group. The group was heavily weighted with retired people, many of them extremely knowledgeable and willing to share, and pass on their passion about birds. Whilst birdwatching in a large group was not very conducive to photography, it honed our skills on bird identification, taught us about bird behaviour and showed us the best local places to find and easily access birds. Group meetings also brought member’s trips from further afield to our attention and alerted us to other possible locations.

There are some wonderful books out there about locating Australia’s birds and Australia’s best birding locations which helped us along the way. Online resources such as Ebird and Birdline still aid us enormously. These days, we also like to explore less frequented sites. Being able to recognise good habitat for a particular species enables us to find birds that others may miss.

Finding birds is one thing. Getting a clean shot is something else again. Photographing birds whilst they are feeding or drinking, whether it be on open wetlands or bushland, is a good place to start. Bird-hides or blinds often overlook wetlands but don’t always provide a great angle, as mostly you want to get down to eye level with your subject. However, I have visited some great hides in bushland where water troughs and perches are set up to allow photographers nice clean shots of the birds at eye level. I have my own portable hide which is made of camouflage material, this allows me to seemingly hide. Visiting places where birds are used to people such as local town lakes is a great place to start as the birds are more likely to be out in the open and less skittish.

White-fronted Honeyeaters - Victoria - Ambika Bone

What camera equipment did you start off with, and what are you using now? If some of our readers were interested in getting into bird photography, what would you recommend as must-haves in a basic hobbyist kit?

Discounting the days of my Pentax ME Super, in more recent years, I first came across a modern Bridge Camera or Super Zoom, a Nikon P900. At the time I was more of a bird watcher wanting a visual record of birds that I saw on my travels. The bridge camera, however, ignited a passion for bird photography and it soon became apparent that the shots that I wanted would not be possible with the gear I was shooting with. I took a step, which was in hindsight probably a bad move, but it was at the time, an affordable option without making a big commitment. I bought an ‘enthusiast-level’ camera, a Canon 80D with a Canon 100-400mm f 5.6 lens which I also often used with a Canon 1.4 lens extender to give me more reach or ‘zoom’. I have no complaints about the gear, it was great but I realised quickly that I wanted to take it to a higher level still. I then bought professional level gear a Canon 5D Mark IV body which I generally combine with a prime lens, a Canon 500 f/4L mark II. Depending on where I’m shooting, I often use the 1.4 lens extender with my current set up too and I use the 100-400mm for pelagic trips, close confine rainforests and when I want to carry less weight. I have both a tripod with a gimble head, and a monopod, but I really love the freedom of the monopod.

I’d shoot more handheld if I could, but the weight of the big lens is too much for me to walk about with for long. Buying pro gear is a big commitment and a big expense. To start off with a bridge camera might be the best step or if you already have some skills then a mid-range camera like the Canon 90D with a Sigma, or Tamron 150-600 lens might be a good place to start. A lot of the young Australian bird photographers that are really making their mark at the moment are using this sort of gear, or the Nikon equivalent. Mostly I take bird portraits so my camera body is not what I’d be recommending for the best bird in-flight shots.

Masked Lapwing - Corangamite, Victoria - Ambika Bone

Painted Buttonquail - Fryers Ridge Nature Conservation Area, Victoria - Ambika Bone

An exciting aspect of bird photography is that almost anyone can do it! Birds are all around us and the more you start looking for them the more you start seeing them. Could you offer some advice to someone who might be thinking about photographing birds in their local area?

If you have your own garden, this a great place to start. Creating a bird-friendly home brings the birds to you. A birdbath is a great starting point. By strategically leaning a stick over it you can create a perfect place for a bird to perch, and bingo! - There is your clean shot. Leaving out food is controversial, but if it is in accord with your ethics, then some fruit or wild bird seed can also attract native birds to your garden. The most important thing is to ensure that the birds don’t become dependent on human suppliers and still mostly forage for themselves. Secondly, local town parks and lakes where birds are more used to people are great for getting close to some species and thirdly explore your National Parks and beaches.

When you go out to look for birds, remember to ‘switch your ears on’. Seriously, when you consciously listen to the bird calls, they will lead you to the birds. From the raucous feeding calls of Lorikeets to the cackling calls of Crakes and rails, listening will both lead you to the birds and help you to identify what is in the local environment. Worldwide there are published bird apps that you can get on your phone, that not only have visual images and information about the birds of a certain country or region but also have samples of the bird calls so that you can learn to identify them.

Golden-headed Cisticola - Lake Corangamite Lake Reserve, Victoria - Ambika Bone

Location and landscape are usually huge factors to consider when trying to photograph nature. For example; wetlands have always been popular for bird watchers and photographers alike. What are you looking for and taking into consideration when you are finding somewhere to shoot your feathery subjects?

Diversity and photographing a range of species relies upon visiting a range of vastly different habitats. Deserts, islands, grasslands, mountainous regions, rainforests, open heathlands, seashores, wetlands and even pelagic boat trips to the edge of the continental shelf are all part of my great plan to photograph as many Australian bird species as possible. I generally plan three or four trips a year to places outside of my local area. The seasons need to be considered, and the light varies vastly in different habitats. Most weekends I’m also out photographing local species. We are lucky to have the Western Treatment Plant (a vast water and sewage treatment facility) within an hour and a half’s drive from where we live. Access is granted to birdwatchers to visit the ponds of treated water that are home to hundred’s of species of both resident and migratory birds. We have the Great Otway National Park to our south where we love to visit the birds that inhabit dark ferny gullies such as Pink and Rose Robins and to our north-west, The Grampians where dryer bush attracts a vast array of Honeyeater species. In summary, I suppose a good variety is most important to me.

Eastern Yellow Robin - Lake Elizabeth Forest, Victoria - Ambika Bone

Do you find a particular time of day preferable for bird photography? Seasonal changes govern the flowering of native flora, bird migrations, etc. How much does this factor into your decision making and planning?

I definitely love the soft light of early morning, and late afternoon merging into the evening for bird photography the best, but as I have a full-time job and generally only have weekends for photography, I utilise any light at any time of day if possible. In the harsh midday light, I try to seek a shady spot to photograph birds to avoid harsh shadows. Around August (the end of Winter merging into Spring in Australia) the birds begin to become more active where I live, as they begin their springtime antics to attract a mate. Whilst they are a little bolder and are adorned in their brighter breeding plumage (some species such as Fairy Wrens) it’s a great time to capture them on camera. Flowering plants make for a beautiful setting for birds in Spring, as do coloured leaves on deciduous plants in the Autumn. Spring is also a time when we look forward to the Cuckoos, Orioles, and other migratory birds returning to our area. It’s also a great time to visit the Western Treatment Plant, and also beach-side towns to photograph the migratory waders.

Spotted Pardalote - Inverleigh Flora and Fauna Reserve, Victoria - Ambika Bone

Crested Shrike-tit - Campbelltown, Victorial - Ambika Bone

What are some of your favourite birds to watch and photograph and why?

I love to watch and photograph all birds, however living in the Australian bush, surrounded by eucalyptus forests, does tend to direct my focus to the small bush birds around me. I do have a soft spot for our Australian Robin species, Fairywrens and little bush Pardalotes. I am drawn to their colours and their vulnerability. I find our shy and very elusive Australian Grasswren species fascinating, and they are a big drawcard for me. However, they are generally located in remote arid habitats that require significant travel. At the other end of the scale watching and photographing Brolgas in their mateship ritual dance, and Raptors such as our Wedge-tailed and Sea Eagles at the Western Treatment Plant can be a truly breath-taking experience. Bird watching and being outside in nature is deeply inspiring for me. All of my senses become honed, the stress falls away, my heart opens and I find myself very present in the moment. I used to teach yoga and meditation and I find that many birdwatchers have similar experiences to those who meditate, it’s a past-time that can be conducive to a deep inner experience.

Pink Robin - Great Otwar National Park, Victoria - Ambika Bone

Is there an Australian bird species that has so far eluded you? Where are some of your favourite spots in Australia for bird photography?

There are many Australian bird species that I am yet to photograph, and certainly a number that has eluded me. On a recent trip to South-east Queensland, we spent a couple of days searching unsuccessfully for Black-breasted Buttonquail. We had a second trip booked to the area to search for them further but had to cancel due to the COVID epidemic. I’d love to go back there one day to find and photograph one. There are a couple of species that I’ve come infuriatingly close to, but not managed to get a clean shot of as well. I think I have an out of focus shot of a tail of a Chestnut rail from Darwin, and a photograph of a bush where a Thick-billed Grasswren had just hopped inside from the Strzelecki Track in South Australia.

Last year we had an inspiring trip to Mount Ive Station in the Gawler Ranges and Whyalla, and the year before to Arkaroola and the Strzelecki Track. I love the arid landscapes the best. I love the colours, the red sands of the desert, and the creamy browns and greens of the heathlands, saltbush and stunted vegetation.

Rose-crowned Fruitdove - Mount Glorious, Queensland - Ambika Bone

What is your attitude towards using Instagram? The good and the bad. What have been some benefits for you as a photographer using it? Do you showcase your images anywhere else and have anything exciting planned for the future?

In the past, many bird photographers have gained renown through entering and winning photographic competitions. Competitions just aren’t my thing, but I’d hate to leave my work sitting inside a hard drive unseen gathering dust, and I really enjoy putting images up on Instagram. My teenage son initially introduced me to Instagram and I found (after beginning to put up some images) that I had discovered a community of like-minded people. It was really exciting when photographers such as David Stowe, Heather Thorning, Shelley Pearson, Jan Wegener and Karl Seddon (just to name a few, so many more), who I deeply admired for their work, began to take an interest in my work. This helped encourage me to step up my game, and to upgrade to professional level gear. It has also been great to form friendships and meet up with people who I’ve met on Instagram to photograph birds together. Scientists such as Barry Baker and Josie Styles, and generally people who I would otherwise not have met.

Instagram has been kind to me, and my account has grown rapidly. Instagram has really put my work out there, and I’ve had international magazine feature articles, provided images for Birdlife Australia magazine, local Birdlife brochures and a field guide that will be published by the CSRIO in the next few years. I also recently had the honour of providing images for the international launch of Jennifer Ackerman’s new book The Bird Way. I think for me there is always a bit of an internal tug of war with choosing my posts for Instagram. I find myself torn between what gets more coverage and viewer likes, and my own need to display my creative work. With the small phone screen, I personally have found that I get more exposure and positive feedback for close-up portraits of colourful birds, so my way has been to put these out there but to sneak in a few more interesting, creative shots in between. Sometimes it feels like a game!

I’d love to set up a web page sometime but my big love is being out in nature enjoying the birds, the landscape and the wind in my face, so, for now, it’s Instagram.

Rainbow Lorikeets - Brisbane, Queensland - Ambika Bone

Thank you so much for doing this interview Ambika! Where can people go to follow your photographic journey and see some more of your beautiful work?

Thanks, Jamie, and thank you to everyone for joining in. People can enjoy my bird photography by following @ambikangela on Instagram.

Crimson Rosella - Enfield State Park, Victoria - Ambika Bone

Eastern Spinebill - Wombat State Forest, Victoria - Ambika Bone

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Jamie Mackrill 18/6/20 Jamie Mackrill 18/6/20

Talented Ukrainian photographer Nastia Shavshyna and her furry travel companion, Senia!

Nastia Shavshyna is a photographer from Ukraine. She has a unique little travel companion, a pug named Senia! In this interview we ask Nastia questions about her creative process, her journey as a photographer, and how she goes about traveling with a dog. We absolutely love her enthusiasm and her positive outlook on the current COVID-19 pandemic and hope that you are left as inspired as what we were!

Nastia Shavshyna is a photographer from Ukraine. She has a unique little travel companion, a pug named Senia! In this interview, we ask Nastia questions about her creative process, her journey as a photographer, and how she goes about traveling with a dog. We absolutely love her enthusiasm and her positive outlook on the current COVID-19 pandemic and we hope that you are left as inspired as what we were!

“The one and only tip for people who want to photograph their dogs outdoors: Have a lot of treats and they will do whatever you want!”

Hello Nastia, thank you for doing this interview with us and giving our readers an insight into your life! We would love to find out a bit more about where you are from and where you got your love for photography, nature, and travel from? When did you know that this is what you wanted to do? Is photography your full-time job?

Hello, Jamie! I am very happy to be a part of Culture of creatives. As you already stated, my name is Nastia Shavshyna. I am an outdoor enthusiast and a travel photographer based in Lviv city, Ukraine. I was born and raised in the Eastern part of Ukraine. After graduating from university, I decided to move to the Western part of Ukraine. The West is known for its incredibly picturesque, seemingly untouched nature and its many historical and cultural sights.

My first journey abroad was a trip to Georgia and Azerbaijan. It was amazing for me to see all the beauty that these regions had to offer! I have explored almost all the cultural and natural sights of these countries. The one and only thing which left me in absolute awe, however, was the mountains. I still remember how It felt standing at the summit looking across the gorgeous peaks of the Caucasus Mountain range - it was unbelievable!

After returning home I soon realized that it was important for me to live somewhere close to the mountains. For now, I am happy to have some of my absolute favourites – the Carpathian Mountains, just 90 minutes’ drive from my home in Lviv city. Ever since that first adventure more than seven years ago now, I have tried to venture outdoors as much as possible and explore the most beautiful corners of our planet.

I used to be a hobbyist lifestyle photographer many years ago. Then around three years ago I went on a trip to Iceland and only took my iPhone with me. I was sad that I couldn’t capture all the amazing memories and otherworldly views the way that I wanted to. After that trip, I decided that from then on I would photograph all the special moments on my travels. In the beginning, it was just a hobby - to capture photos from interesting places and post them on social media. Everything happened so quickly after that and my hobby turned into my job! As of right now, I am proud to call myself a photographer. I am still endeavouring to improve and grow myself in this profession.

Kawah Ijen, Bondowoso, East Java, Indonesia

You always seem to find the most incredible places to photograph! How do you find your next location to shoot? How much planning and research goes on once you have found somewhere that you want to visit and photograph?

I feel like you will not be surprised when I say that most of the incredible places I visit, I find on Instagram. When I am looking for a destination, I am also trying to find some interesting and less touristy spots. I also check travel forums, social media pages and even online articles targeting the locals.

Usually, I am aiming to plan my trips a couple of weeks in advance. Sometimes it is difficult to plan journeys to certain countries weeks before the trip starts, however. Patagonia, Chile, in high season, for example. It took me one month just to book all the campsites in Torres Del Paine National Park! But in most cases, I need one-two weeks beforehand to plan out my trips. Sometimes, I like to book flights only two-three days in advance! I love being spontaneous.

Where are some of your favourite places to travel? Could you share with us your favourite things about, and favourite locations in Ukraine?

All the Nordic countries in my eyes are paradise on Earth. I keep going back to them, especially Iceland! Patagonia is another favourite destination of mine. I even thought about moving there! This still could be an option for me in the future.

In Ukraine, my favourite destination will always be the Carpathian Mountains. I like to return to well-known places in different seasons and hike the same trails. I enjoy the seasonal colour changes which transform the landscape.

Valle Da La Luna Desierto De Atacama, Chile

We must know more about your little travel companion, Senia! @roamwithpug has amassed quite a following! And Senia looks to be one photogenic, happy, and lucky little pug! What made you decide to create an Instagram page for your dog? Can you offer any advice to people wanting to photograph their own furry friend?

Thank you, I think Senia is very pleased, haha! He really is the best travel buddy ever! Some people ask me why I chose a pug. Pugs are not strong enough for travelling and especially for hiking trips. But he came into my life before I started travelling. I was so happy to have not only the new family member but a new best friend!

So, we started traveling together. Our first road trip was a Christmas adventure to the western part of Europe. After reading a lot of information regarding the pug breed, I was afraid that he might not be able to cope well on a big road trip. But for now, I think that he is doing great. He seems to like all this outdoor stuff more than me sometimes! He was even able to hike up Trolltunga by himself!

The one and only tip for people who want to photograph their dogs outdoors: Have a lot of treats and they will do whatever you want!

You visit some fairly remote and wild places with this lucky little pug, how much carrying does mum have to do and what do you take extra care with to make sure that your furry friend is safe and healthy whilst on the road and in the wild with you?

Dogs do not require too much on road trips. I always take his dry food (for his weight I need 170g of dry food per day), a dog water bottle, some medication (like treatment for parasites), and, of course, a lot of treats! It’s easy to buy dog food on the road as you go, so I don’t need to carry kilograms of extra stuff when traveling with my dog.

During an overnight stay in the tent, he usually sleeps with me in my sleeping bag or just on the sleeping pad when it's hot outside. This works well as I don't need to take a special dog sleeping bag on our hiking trips. I also have a dog hammock for the car.

Do factors such as time of year define where and when your next adventure will be? What are some factors that should be taken into consideration?

I like to travel all year round regardless of the season. The main factor which defines when and where I go is my dog. I don’t like to travel too much or for too long without him. For this reason, I don’t fly a lot as I can’t bring him on the plane. Sometimes, I will cancel upcoming trips and choose another interesting destination where I can bring him with me. Most of the time we are road tripping around Europe together.

Glacier Perito Moreno, Patagonia, Argentina

You have had experience growing a couple of Instagram pages to a respectable size now. What do you believe are some factors that are key to growth and getting yourself out there in an extremely competitive platform such as Instagram?

Uniqueness and quality. In my eyes, these are the main factors for growing on Instagram. Nowadays, the platform is oversaturated with travel accounts. This is great, but it makes growth extremely hard. Only a small percentage can present high-quality unique content and find success. This is what I strive for.

You have some beautiful presets on your website! Is this a viable way for creatives to make an income in 2020 in your eyes? What income sources have you tried? Is there anything that you would like to do more of or have a go at in the future to earn a bit more money doing what you love?

For now, I am not selling the presets. I do plan on creating new preset packs and have them available for purchase on my website soon - so stay tuned! My main income is from selling photos to different travel agents and brands. I do this not only through Instagram but also through stock photography websites. I have had, and still have private contracts with some brands as well, and I do specific photography projects just for them. I do have one big project which I hope to implement soon. I can’t share any details with you yet, but I am sure that you will like it!

That sounds exciting! Do you have a go-to camera and lens that you take with you everywhere you travel? Or does it depend completely on where you are going? What drone do you use, and does it go everywhere with you?

The standard photography equipment that I take with me on all my travels is a Canon 5D Mark IV camera with my favourite lens, the Canon 24-70 f2.8. I also take a drone, my DJI Mavic Pro. I am currently trying to sell the drone however and upgrade to the newer version.

I used to take photos with Canon equipment when I was a lifestyle photographer all those years ago. But my journey as a travel photographer began with an unprofessional, but lovely Fujifilm XT-20. You can see some photos which were taken one-two years ago with it on my Instagram.

What programs do you use to edit your photos, and do you use any apps? Can you offer any tips on improving your editing and coming up with your own unique style?

I always use Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop for retouching my images and removing unnecessary things from them. My advice to everybody would be to try to listen to yourself before editing. Think carefully about the tones and colours you would like to use.

Try to believe yourself. It is okay to mimic some editing styles from other photographers in the beginning. I know that sometimes you may think that you can’t edit how you would like to because the photos won’t get enough likes or engagement on Instagram, but honestly, you need to try and believe in yourself and in your talent. Don’t forget that people spend their entire lives growing and improving.

The current COVID-19 crisis is having a profound effect on everyone. How is the current situation in Ukraine? How are you staying busy and motivated with the current travel restrictions in place and the social distancing restrictions?

When the quarantine started in Ukraine and we went into lockdown, I was a little bit sad to cancel all the upcoming trips which I had planned. I had some problems with cancelling flights and car rentals as well. I was meant to be up in Northern Europe right now. I can’t help but imagine how amazing it would be to see the place from my dreams and finally explore it!

But, at the same time, I am really happy that I have had a chance to slow down, take a deep breath and concentrate on getting all the things which I have a habit of putting aside for later done. It has also been nice to enjoy all the simple moments at home, to think about what I want to do in the future, who I want to be, and where else I’d like to go.

Sometimes chasing dreams and achieving goals all the time gets tiring. It can be easy to forget what is really important to us. Thanks to the quarantine, I think that a lot of people have learned to enjoy the little things in life more. We get a chance to reflect on and appreciate our lifestyles and all the opportunities that we have.

The current COVID-19 situation in Ukraine has improved a lot. We are now free to walk around the cities and have social gatherings. The government has also allowed the cities to open their malls, shops, and the summer terraces in restaurants. Recently we had a public holiday in Ukraine and we had lots of tourists visiting Lviv from all corners of our country. It is great to see that things are slowly starting to get back to normal here.

Once again, we really appreciate you taking the time to do this Nastia! Where can people find out more about you? Where can we all follow your social media pages? We wish both yourself and Senia, the very best in the future and we look forward to following your journey!

I was happy to answer all of your questions. Thank you again for the opportunity, it means a lot for me!

My main social media page is on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bammbanana/ I would appreciate your support on it. You are also welcome to check out my page for Senia: https://www.instagram.com/roamwithpug/

My website is: www.shavshyna.com Soon there will be a preset sale and I am excited to upload some blog posts soon. I welcome you all to come and visit!

Stay safe, and I wish you all a great summer full of outdoor adventures!

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Jamie Mackrill 3/5/20 Jamie Mackrill 3/5/20

The Beauty of Venice - Italian photographer, Jacopo De Michelis

Jacopo De Michelis is an Italian photographer living in Venice and showcasing it’s beauty through his Instagram platform. In his interview with us, Jacopo underlines the fact that you can have a full time job, basic camera knowledge and even just a mobile phone, and still find some success through photography and amass an online following.

Jacopo De Michelis is an Italian photographer living in Venice and showcasing its beauty through his Instagram platform. In his interview with us, Jacopo humbly emphasises the fact that you can have a full-time job, basic camera knowledge and even just a mobile phone, and still find some success through photography and amass an online following.

“Once I have decided on a shot, I can wait a long time for someone to pass by exactly in the position I need them to. I also like to shoot at particular times of day or with particular weather that can completely transform certain places”

Buongiorno Jacopo! Thanks for letting us interview you. Please, tell our readers about yourself! Are you originally from Venice? What do you like the most about living in this famously beautiful city?

I was born and grew up in Milan. I moved to Venice 15 years ago because of my job (I work in a publishing house). Venice is a city with many problems (too many tourists, high water, expensive prices, etc.), but living surrounded by such a timeless beauty is always a joy and a privilege.

What are a few of your favourite landmarks in Venice to visit and photograph? Do you have any secret tips - locations that are not usually visited by tourists? And please, do share with us your favourite café in Venice! If there is one thing one has to do when traveling to Italy, it's drinking an espresso somewhere outside in the sun.

There are too many! There are plenty of wonderful hidden spots everywhere in the city. A couple of my favourites are Sotoportego del Filatoio and Scala Contarini del Bovolo.

As for bars, in Venice, they are more famous for spritz and “ombre” (small glasses of wine) than for coffee. However, apart from those in San Marco square - really expensive - a lovely one is Caffè dei Frari, just in front of the Frari church.

What do you like best about photographing cityscapes and what got you into it? Do you enjoy any other photography genres?

It’s something natural and spontaneous to me, and I don’t know exactly why I’m attracted by it. Maybe it’s just because I have always lived in cities. If I was living in the countryside, perhaps I would shoot nature and landscapes.

I also tried portraits and fashion for a while. I liked it but I almost completely stopped due to a lack of time.

Have you always shot with Nikon and what has influenced your decisions when it comes to photography gear? If you were heading out into a city and could only take one lens, which one would you take with you?

My technical skills are quite low. I chose Nikon and it works well for me, but I think everybody must decide on his/her own.

If I was forced to choose only one lens to shoot in a city, I think it would be a medium wide-angle lens (unless a zoom lense is allowed, of course).

You are quite involved in a few different Instagram pages such as @alluring_venice, @tv_pointofview, @tv_buildings and, of course, your personal photography page @geidiemme. How did you get involved in such a wide range of community activity? What are your experiences working with an array of people all over the world, and what do you like the most about the Instagram community? And lastly, something our readers are always really interested in: Have you been able to get jobs or collaboration opportunities from your involvement in these Instagram pages?

Those are some feature feeds that asked me to be part of their community, but I only contribute to them with some photos, I don’t manage them. Therefore, it’s not a lot of work at all.

The amazing community on Instagram is a constant source of inspiration, feedback, and creative exchange. I met a lot of interesting and talented people from all over the world thanks to it.

The most interesting job I found through Instagram was with Deutsche Welle, a public German television programme. I did some kind of documentary on Venice through a series of IG stories posted on their profile.

How often do you use your Huawei p20pro for photography? What do you think are the limitations of a phone camera compared to a professional DSLR or mirrorless camera, for example?

I use it often since I take a lot of my photos while I’m around for other reasons (mostly my job) and always have my phone with me.

The main limitations of cell phones are the lack of different lenses and bad performance with low light. But other than that, a good phone which allows RAW format can take really awesome pictures.

However, I’m convinced that it isn’t the gear that makes a great photo, it’s the eye.

You have also done some travelling. What are some of your favourite places that you have visited, and is there somewhere that you have not been yet but really want to go to?

It may sound strange, but since I mostly travel with my wife and son, I shoot less on holidays than during my everyday life. I’m in love with Paris, anyway, and shooting there was awesome. I also dream about going to Iceland, and I really hope I will be able to visit it someday.

Minimalist themes seem to be a common occurrence in your photo compositions: one or two people in a shot, a single gondola on the canals, or a moody, foggy cityscape are the views that dominate your feed. Do you consciously look for minimalist/moody compositions when you go out? In other words, do you purposely avoid bustling and crowded streets to shoot? If so what do you like more about this style of photography?

There are themes I’m quite obsessed with regards to photography: symmetries, frames, reflections, a lonely and melancholic mood. I take great care of the composition in my photos, but I also like that there is a living element inside them (one or two people, a gondola, a seagull). Once I have decided on a shot, I can wait a long time for someone to pass by exactly in the position I need them to. I also like to shoot at particular times of the day or with particular weather that can completely transform certain places (Venice with fog, for example, becomes so mysterious and dreamy). Taking photos is a lot about exploring the endless expressive possibilities offered by the variations of light.

How do you go about contacting and working with brands? Do you ever have brands reaching out to you? For someone wanting to start working with brands or models, what advice could you give them?

I’m quite passive about it, I must confess. But if a brand contacts me proposing something interesting and that is coherent with my style, I like to do collaborations from time to time.

Have you got any exciting projects or trips coming up that you could tell us about?

I had some but, unfortunately, as has now happened to many, the virus postponed them indefinitely.

Is there much editing that goes into your photos? What programs do you use to edit, and do you enjoy the editing process? Do you sell prints as a source of income?

I use different editing apps like VSCO, skrwt, Snapseed, and Photoshop. I think in digital photography, post-production is fundamental, but I try to maintain a natural feel in the pictures I edit.

For me, photography is a passion, so I don’t do much to get money out of it; although when it happens, I’m not unhappy.

Instagram is full of photographers, bloggers, and influencers who seem to always be travelling the world. Your account, therefore, stands out because you mainly explore and photograph the city that you live in while creating a really interesting and beautiful feed. I think that it is a good example of what you can do in your own "backyard" - if you're willing to go out and look at what is around you. Surely, it is also a lot easier for people to do. Do you have any thoughts about this or insights that you could share with aspiring photographers and other creatives who might not have the means to travel the world?

I have a full-time job and a family, so I don’t have much time to travel, but I’m lucky enough to have a charming “backyard”. I shoot what is around me, which is mainly Venice, where I live. I look for beauty in everyday life, subtracting instants of ephemeral harmony from the flow of time.

I think that you must learn how to shoot a city, capture its mood and soul, and this may take time. It happened to me to find difficult photographing places I didn't know. [Don't really know what he wants to say in this last sentence]

I don’t want to pretend I can teach anything to anyone, but there is a piece of simple advice to take better photos that I can share: shoot more, publish less!

Where can people find out more about you and follow you on your photography journey?

My Instagram profile @geidiemme is where I post all my photos. Everything can be found there!

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Jamie Mackrill 16/2/20 Jamie Mackrill 16/2/20

Western Australian photographer Allysha Cartledge tells us her favourite beaches in WA and talks about drone photography, painting, and shares her thoughts on social media

We interviewed the very talented Allysha Cartledge, who is a photographer from Perth, Western Australia. She shares with us some of her favourite locations in WA and talks about her photography goals moving forward, her inspirations, painting, social media and much more! Allysha has quite recently quit her job and started pursuing photography full-time. She is gaining exposure and growth on Instagram through her beautifully composed drone photographs which are mainly comprised of the extraordinary Western Australian coastline and the local wildlife which inhabits it. Allysha admits that there a lot of challenges pursuing her career change but she is very committed, hard working, talented, and we wish her all the best in the future!

We interviewed the very talented Allysha Cartledge, who is a photographer from Perth, Western Australia. She shares with us some of her favourite locations in WA and talks about her photography goals moving forward, her inspirations, painting, social media and much more! Allysha has quite recently quit her job and started pursuing photography full-time. She is gaining exposure and growth on Instagram through her beautifully composed drone photographs which are mainly comprised of the extraordinary Western Australian coastline and the local wildlife which inhabits it. Allysha admits that there a lot of challenges pursuing her career change but she is very committed, hard-working, talented, and we wish her all the best in the future!

“ It’s great to be able to express what I visualise on either paper or with editing a photo. I usually try to paint or edit something to emphasise the way I see it, for example, how the light hits certain areas or how silky the waves look. ”

Allysha, can you tell us a little bit about yourself? When did you get your first drone, and what is the story that led up to the moment of purchase? Did you fall in love with drone photography straight away?

I was born and raised in Perth, Australia. I’ve had a creative side since I can remember: When I was a kid, I loved drawing and painting and just being out in nature, as nature really inspired a lot of my artwork. I got my first drone (which was a Dji Spark) in October 2017, mainly because I just wanted a different way to view things. I had just been using a DSLR from 2013 to then, so it was time for a change. I didn’t know much about drones when I got one, but I was instantly hooked!

You are also quite talented at drawing! Are there any similarities between the feeling you get when you draw/paint a picture and edit a photograph? What does your creative process usually look like? For example, before you start editing or drawing, do you visualise the end result and try and create something from there, or do you just go with whatever inspires you in that particular moment?

Thank you! I still think I have a lot more practice to do though! [laughs] Yes, I think there are many similarities between the two. It’s great to be able to express what I visualise on either paper or with editing a photo. I usually try to paint or edit something to emphasise the way I see it, for example, how the light hits certain areas or how silky the waves look. So yes, I usually visualise the end result.

Here at Culture of Creatives, we are trying to inspire people to follow their passions, and we want to motivate them to do what they love. Of course, this is not always easy. Especially with certain types of creative businesses, this can be quite daunting. How long before you started making money off your drone photography and how did you start finding clients?

It’s a great feeling to follow your dreams and do what you love - but you’re right, it takes a lot of time and commitment! I think it’s very important to be patient as these things don’t happen overnight, but if your drive and passion are story enough, things will work out. I quit full-time work about 9 months ago to focus more on doing photography full-time, which I’m still working hard towards every day. I found most of my clients by travelling and visiting new places and meeting new people. Facebook and Instagram help a little too!

Could you offer any advice to those that might want to try and start selling their artwork online and finding clients?

I would say go for it! Make an Instagram and Facebook page - advertise your work or products there to start with. Don’t have high expectations, just do it because it’s your passion and something you enjoy. Don’t compare yourself to others - we are all different. And last but not least, put as much work into it as you can! Persistence pays off.

Western Australia is famous for its incredible beaches. Can you share with us your personal favourites?

Ooh, that’s a hard one! They’re all so amazing. But I’d have to say a few of my favourites would be:

Lucky Bay, Esperance

Meelup Beach, Dunsborough

Cable Beach, Broome

Roebuck Bay, Broome

Where in Western Australia are your 3 favourite locations to photograph and what do you love most about the locations?

My 3 top favourite places to photograph in Western Australia would be: Broome – This place is incredible, from the orange sand beaches with the turquoise water always changing with the tides to the beautiful red cliffs: it’s easy to see why this one is a favourite! Esperance – The water colour and clarity here just take my breath away every time! It literally looks like the water has been photoshopped! Dampier/Karratha – I was surprised by the beauty of this area. The landscape is so different from everywhere else with its huge rugged red rock formations and the engravings in the rocks left by the indigenous thousands of years ago. This place really has a special feel to it.

Have you any big plans for 2020? What goals have you set yourself and what are you hoping to improve on?

In 2020 I have a lot of goals! Some of my goals include learning more about video production and making small clips. Getting more work with photography. Doing more with digital art, improving my editing skills and just getting out and exploring more of Australia and capturing it to the best of my ability.

In your opinion, what are the best and worst things about Instagram?

I think the best thing about Instagram would be the exposure and that it’s a place where you can really express yourself through the work that you post. The community is also amazing! It’s great to see everyone supporting each other, especially in the photography world. The worst thing would be that there is so much competition, and I guess therefore also the ‘expectations’ which can be quite hard on young people and their confidence levels because we feel like our work isn’t good enough if it doesn’t get many likes or comments. So, I think it’s important to remember that Instagram isn’t the real world and it’s forever changing: as long as you’re happy with the work you’re posting, that’s all that matters.

Do you think that putting yourself out there on social media platforms such as Instagram is a vital step in 2020 if you want to start making money off your art?

I think it is to some degree. It’s hard to build a following, but it’s a great way to start and it definitely helps to get your name out there, but I think there are a lot more ways than just Instagram or social media to make money from your art too.

Do you ever feel uninspired to go out and take photos or to share your work online? If so - how do you overcome this?

Not so far! I’ve been lucky this last year, as I’ve had a lot of time to travel. I always get super excited travelling to a new place to photograph so that always inspires me. In regard to posting my work online: yes, I have been uninspired to do that, as I guess you don’t always know if your work is going to do well online. If it doesn’t, sometimes it’s hard not to take it personally, but I just try and remind myself that I’m sharing it because it’s my passion and something I like.

Can you name three people that inspire you the most, and what do you believe is special about what they do/have done?

David Attenborough is my biggest inspiration. His drive and passion for nature, the environment and animals is amazing, and it’s my dream to make wildlife/ nature documentaries in the future – so he’s a huge inspiration for that. Other than that, it’s mostly other documentaries I get inspired from. When I get a chance or have time to watch something on TV, I’m always looking up new nature or wildlife documentaries. The latest one I watched was ‘One Strange Rock’ which was pretty inspirational.

Where can people follow you and find out more about you, Allysha, or buy a print of yours?

You can follow me or find out more about me on:

Instagram: @ally.photog

Facebook: Ally.C Photography

Or, if you’re interested in buying a print send me an email to allysha_c28@outlook.com :)

Kakadu National Park - Allysha Cartledge

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Jamie Mackrill 9/2/20 Jamie Mackrill 9/2/20

Artist Jono Dry discusses his hyperrealistic graphite drawing technique and shares his inspirational story with us

Jono Dry is a self-taught South African artist based in Cape Town. He uses his art as an antidote to his ADD and as a way to express himself and his emotions in ways that words have always failed him and ultimately fail most people. After over a decade of dedication and hardships trying to make it as an artist Jono is now becoming a respected figure in the art community and has amassed a large following on social media over a number of different platforms where he receives a lot of support from amazed viewers, aspiring artists and dedicated fans from all walks of life.

In this interview, Jono discusses his uniquely adapted and beautifully expressed mental health inspired graphite-based drawing style with us. He talks about where he finds his inspiration, how he conceptualises his projects and explores some of the harder periods of his life and career with us.

Jono Dry is a self-taught South African artist based in Cape Town. He uses his art as an antidote to his ADD and as a way to express himself and his emotions in ways that words have always failed him and ultimately fail most people. After over a decade of dedication and hardships trying to make it as an artist, Jono is now becoming a respected figure in the art community and has amassed a large following on social media over a number of different platforms where he receives a lot of support from amazed viewers, aspiring artists and dedicated fans from all walks of life.

“ I create large-scale drawings in graphite that reflect on mental illness and its metaphors. With these drawings, I explore how one can make the experience of a state of anxiety or depression visible, particularly when those states of being so often seem inexpressible in words.”

Jono, thank you so much for taking the time and agreeing to be interviewed by Culture of Creatives! We would like to give you the chance to introduce yourself: Could you maybe talk a little bit about yourself and try to define the type of artist that you are? How would you describe the style of art that you create? How long have you been drawing for and when did you start taking it more seriously?

Hey! Of course, it’s a pleasure to be featured. I’m a self-taught artist living and working in Cape Town, South Africa. I create large-scale drawings in graphite that reflect on mental illness and its metaphors. With these drawings, I explore how one can make the experience of a state of anxiety or depression visible, particularly when those states of so often seeming inexpressible in words. My drawings are hyperrealistic in style and surreal in content – they appear at once lifelike and dreamlike, being neither real nor imagined. I’ve worked in graphite for over ten years, teaching myself methods and techniques as I go. I have always been serious about art-making and have pursued it full-time for the past decade.

We are absolutely amazed by the intricacies of your work. Could you please talk about the link between self-control and the patience required in your line of work? How do you stay focused and motivated on a piece that you have put hundreds of hours into and spent months into working on?

The irony is that I have ADD – yet I am forever working on drawings that demand time and patience and hours of focus! Learning to work with my limited attention span has been productive and rewarding but also entirely frustrating and demotivating at times. Luckily, I’ve found a way of working and certain habits that help maintain my focus – like regular breaks, good sleep, and exercise. I also listen to audiobooks as I draw to keep my mind from wandering towards distractions and away from the task at hand. That said, I do often grow tired of drawings I’m working on, but there is something in the boredom that accompanies large works which is almost meditative – a particular attention to detail and repetition. It’s part of the challenge, as is patience, and both make the accomplishment of finishing a work all the more rewarding.

Do you ever start doubting yourself and start negatively amplifying things like slow progress, mistakes and micro flaws in your art? I think that most creatives can be extremely critical of themselves, and while that might—in a healthy dose—help to improve and get better at what we do, it can often also lead to hitting a wall: we lose motivation of even stop believing in ourselves. Is there any reliable remedy for this that works for you personally?

Of course! I’m not particularly concerned with flaws or mistakes – graphite is a largely forgiving medium and any error is easily fixed. But I do experience waves of doubt, particularly when I’m planning new works. There’s a lot of pressure to keep coming up with more ambitious ideas, and I have to resist returning to familiar or easier images. As for a remedy, I’m not sure there is one. Instead, I’ve come to find doubt to be quite useful. It accompanies the novel, the unexpected, the different. If I experience doubt, it is because I am taking a risk, trying something new, pushing myself conceptually and technically.

You often use photography as references for your art: do you do this ritually? How much research, visualisation and conceptualisation goes into an idea before you take it to the stage where you photograph props and models?

Yes, I exclusively work from photographs. The density of the detail in my drawings are such that I don’t think one can simply invent them. The creases in the skin are very particular and individual, as is the texture of a body, its curves and folds. I often use the photographic process as a thinking tool. I’ll have a rough idea of how I want an image to look, but in working with props and a model, new and unanticipated ideas will come into focus. The photographic process is very collaborative and productive. I’m not interested in poses, but in the moments in-between.

How do you go about finding the right models for your art and getting the props that you require?

Over the past few years, I’ve worked with the same handful of models. There is something in the familiarity that is particularly productive: a mutual understanding, a willingness to experiment, an openness to chance. Different personalities and bodies suggest different moods, and these all add layers of meaning to my drawings. While my drawings aren’t portraits exactly, each certainly reveals something of their subject. A way of being, perhaps, or a sensibility.

Do you try and control as much of the positioning and posing as possible or do you encourage the model to express and incorporate their own feelings and responses into the equation as the shoot goes on?

It’s very much a collaborative process. Some models are happy to take the idea I give them and interpret it, others prefer more hands-on directions. But in the end, I only offer suggestions, the resulting pose is as much the model’s as it is mine.

In your personal case, how do your creative processes (internal and external) that are involved in drawing and taking pictures overlap or differ?

To my mind, taking photographs and creating drawings are a part of the same creative process as both leads to only one final image. Photographs are quick, a thinking-through-seeing. Drawings are time-consuming, slow and methodical. When I look for a photograph to draw from among the many I’ll take in a single studio session, I look for the image that is interesting enough, aesthetically and conceptually, to hold my attention for as many weeks as it will take to render in graphite. There is something about these two modes of the process – the fast and the slow, the thinking and the doing, the photo and the pencil – that keeps me engaged in the work.

There are certain themes that carry over from your work such as water, birds and horns. Can you describe why certain things stand out to you, and why you use recurring themes in your art?

The recurring motifs in my work are a part of my personal symbolism. Each is an expression or reflection on the mind or a state of mind. The animal horns appeal to those parts of us that are neither rational nor entirely human, the water to all that is fluid, changeable, and cleansing. Nothing is incidental in my work, everything planned and considered. While the meaning of the symbols is seldom ever transparent, I hope the overall mood of my images communicates their feeling.

Which artists have inspired you the most over the years? Is your personal style influenced by anyone in particular or did it all come from experimentation and self-expression?

The artists that have most inspired me, particularly in the early stages of my career, are M.C. Escher and René Margritte. There is something about their experiments with perception and expectation that has always deeply resonated with me. Of course, there are many other contemporary artists that have made a lasting impression on me, like Jeremy Geddes, Kit King and Miles Johnston. That said, I don’t think my style has been influenced by anyone in particular. The way I now work is very much the result of years of experimentation with my chosen medium, and the images I create are a reflection and extension of my own experiences with mental health issues.

Can you try and summarise the story behind the piece of art that you would eventually become best known for – “Pupil”. Why was this such an important piece of art for you and how did you feel when it received the amount of interest and praise that it did? The title of the picture already hints at the deeper meaning that this project had for your own self-development.

In answer to this question, can I direct you to my YouTube video ‘The Hardest Drawing I’ve Ever Made’? https://youtu.be/rzOl1sjrtW4 It explains in detail the challenges of the drawing, both artistic and financial.

Where can people find out more about you, follow you on your journey, and purchase any art that they may be interested in?

People can follow my work across multiple platforms, from my website to YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Limited edition prints of my work are sold via my Etsy store.

www.jonodryart.com

www.youtube.com/jonodry

www.twitter.com/jonodry

www.instagram.com/jonodry

www.facebook.jonodryart

www.etsy.com/shop/jonodry

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Jamie Mackrill 2/2/20 Jamie Mackrill 2/2/20

Ocean and plastic, Eco friendly business, Family/work balance - Australian photographer Ben Mackay shares his thoughts with us!

Australian photographer Ben Mackay discusses his work/family balance, plastics and the ocean, photography and talks about his online eco-friendly store and the challenges that he has faced with it.

Australian photographer Ben Mackay discusses his work/family balance, plastics and the ocean, photography, and talks about his online eco-friendly store and the challenges that he has faced with it.

“As a lover of the ocean, I feel strongly about the amount of plastic that is entering it. I have 3 kids, and I’m concerned about whether or not they will have the same opportunity to enjoy it as I have. Starting this business was certainly a passion for me.”

Can you tell us a little bit about your photography journey? How long have you been shooting for, taking photography seriously for, why did you start your Instagram page, what did you do before photography and at what point did you decide you needed a change in careers?

I’ve been serious about my photography for around 3-4 years and shooting on and off for the last 5-10 years. I decided to take it more seriously when I bought my first drone, a DJI Inspire 1. It cost $4,500, so I told myself I better learn and make the most of it! Prior to photography, I was working for drinks businesses like Red Bull and Coca Cola in Sales and Marketing. But I always had a desire to work for myself, so I quit my job and have been running my own business alongside professional photography/videography for the last 5 years.

I think it's safe to say from your Instagram feed that you're an ocean lover! Can you explain your attraction to and connection with the ocean?

I live in Australia and most Aussies have a connection to the coast. But the ocean for me is so unique. It offers a feeling of peace every time I’m in it or close to it—even when it’s rough and wild, there’s a sense of calm. From a photography point of view, the ocean offers textures and colours which are always changing but pair perfectly with the sky and its colours and textures.

You also launched your Home & Ocean store last year. This beautiful online store is based around and puts a huge emphasis on eco-friendly & reusable products. Has this always been a passion of yours? And what lead you to start the online store?

As a lover of the ocean, I feel strongly about the amount of plastic that is entering it. I have 3 kids, and I’m concerned about whether or not they will have the same opportunity to enjoy it as I have. Starting this business was certainly a passion for me. I felt like I needed to do something. In terms of starting an online store, this has been around 50% of my income since I quit my corporate job. I have a few online stores which I’ve been running for almost 10 years. So, it was only natural to pair those together.

What have been the biggest hurdles that you have had to face with the online store? How long did it take to get it up and running?

I’ve always loved the process of starting new online stores. The hardest part is always getting the best supply partners that can supply the best products with the right packaging. Especially as I need partners who can provide plastic-free packaging. It’s harder to organise than you think it might be! The world has yet to embrace this, and most of the suppliers promise you that they can provide, but really they’re making more single-use plastic in the process.

Could you offer any advice to someone that has been thinking about creating an online store or website but is maybe lacking the belief in themselves or support around them to do so?

It’s never been easier to start an online store. When I first made an online store years ago, I had to learn and generate hard code for the whole website. Now pre-made platforms make it so easy! I also offer help and services on my website for artists who want to create their own print store or online business and make a dream a reality. But if you have an idea, there are so many resources out there for people to make it happen!

You're married with three young children. How do make sure that you find the right balance between family life, travel, and your business commitments and social life? What do the little ones think of dad's photography? And do they get to come with you for shoots often?

I love it—there’s nothing better. They are constantly involved, as many times we book jobs that include them! In my previous work, I’d rarely see them, as I was working the whole time. Now I see them all the time. When we travel for personal reasons or work, they come with us. But when it comes to balance, I always choose them. They only stay this young once, and I’ve realised they grow way too quickly for me. So, if I find myself leaning toward working too much, I remind myself of this and step away from work to be with them.

Drone photography is also a big part of what you do. What type of drone do you use? How often do you fly it, and what's your editing process for your images and videos before you upload them?

I currently use a Mavic 2 Pro. But I’ve pretty much used every drone out there! I fly it whenever I can. But I treat my drone as a camera, not as a drone. I try and keep the same concepts with my drone photography as with my other cameras. I usually like to record video each time I’m out shooting photography as well, as they both are equally a passion for me. I generally edit my photos in Lightroom and sometimes use a little photoshop too. I edit all my videos in Premiere Pro.

Could you give one or two tips to those wanting to grow their social media presence and get their work seen by more people?

Be social. Be genuine. Be yourself. I think Instagram also rewards consistency and quality. Put out your best work and do so regularly.

Where can people find out more about your online store? Where can people buy your prints? And what social media platforms can we all follow you on?

My website and print store: www.oceanfeels.com
My YouTube: https://bit.ly/2kz0SAb
My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benmack_/
My Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/BenMackMotion/
My Podcast: https://anchor.fm/benmack

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