Seven Questions is a section of Newsnibbles where we ask one of our Twitter followers seven questions (duh). Because we do it via email they are free to answer in more that 140 characters, which is nice.
1. How does being a Pagan/Witch/Druid effect your art do you think?
My being a pagan/witch/druid gives me an affinity for the type of photos I take. As I say, my photos are not of grand vistas, mountains, or oceans. I find beauty in the simple beauty that is around me. I use the guidance of the elements that I as a pagan consider sacred, air, fire, water, earth and the universe. I find facets of those in everything I see. Being a pagan allows me to tune into nature so that I can feel it’s energy whether it is a plant, a crick, or a rock.
2. When do you know the time is right to take the perfect photograph?
As I never plan where I’m going to go or what I’m going to take before leaving, I trust that nature & the Universe will guide me. I let myself tap into the energy that is sent to me by the source. Once I connect, it’s like I enter a type of altered sense of being and my awareness heightens. It’s then that I see things and begin to shoot.
If I have to stage a shoot, I have to envision what it is that I want to have the photo say. I touch the objects, feel their energy, arrange them, look at them and feel the synergy they create as a whole. I then look at them from different angles and feel the energy. Then I shoot.
The next step is in editing. Again, I have to feel the energy. Not all photos taken make it into the public eye. I can take up to 1000 photos and only 100 will ever be seen. That doesn’t mean they all won’t ever be seen, it just means that the time isn’t right for them to be seen. And some will remain unseen.
3. Describe your artistic style
I have been complimented by one person as a female Ansel Adams and by another as another Margaret Bourke White… but I’m not sure I have a style … I enjoy taking a variety of photos. Nature/wildlife/Sunrise/
Sunset/Moon/Black & White/old buildings, barns, abandoned homes are my dominant photos but I also enjoy any oddity that captures my fancy and cemeteries are a passion for me as well. So I guess I would my style is kind of eclectic. Ansel Adams once said, “Every man’s work is always a portrait of himself,” and I think that is really true. My photos are always a reflection of who I am at the time I take the photo. Each photo has a small piece of my heart in it. I truly take them out of love. Love for what I do … love for what I’m taking a photo of … love for who will see it … love for who purchases it.
4. Do you have a favourite badger?
I have 2 favourite badgers! Grumps & Bucky Badger, the mascot for the Wisconsin Badgers! ;)))
5. If you could meet and photograph anyone from history, who would it be and where would you do the shoot?
I would want to photograph Biddy Early, Ireland’s most famous Witch & Faery Friend. And I would want to do the shoot in Tir-na-n-Og, The Land of the Young … where else? ;)))
6. What advice would you give someone who wanted to break into a career in photography?
My advice to beginning photographers is to take as many as you can, listen to other photographers, look at the work of other photographers and experiment. But most importantly, take your time, there’s no rush to do it all at once. Start by taking photos of what you love and follow your heart.
7. Describe your ideal photograph, the one you’ve always wanted to take.
My ideal photograph is the next one I’m going to take!
And you can find WildThing404 all over the internetz, including:
- her personal website where you can buy work directly from her. Tell her the badger sent you, you won’t get any discounts, but you might get a funny look.
- Facebook – because apparently everyone is there. We certainly are, why haven’t you liked us yet?
- Her full portfolio – look, don’t touch
- Her new blog – you never know, might feature an interview with a badger… hint hint…
- Featured on: www.latenightfootfalls.tumblr.
com/ (a beautiful site by Cletis L Stump featuring a combination of Poetry & Images where she has approximately 15 photos featured with poetry from various poets) - And www.downtownlalife.com/ (for the last year she has been a guest artist featured seasonally, but as of January 2, 2016, she will become the Resident Witch & contributing artist on a monthly basis where I will choose various photos to be showcased).
If you would like to answer 7 Questions, then why not give us a tweet?
