Amelia Fletcher Photography

www.ameliafletcher.com

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ameliafletcher/

http://500px.com/ameliafletcher

 

What kind of equipment (camera body, lens, filters, flash, tripod, cleaning equipment other) do you use?

I have a Canon 5d Mk 2, a 50mm 1.4 lens, gorillapod, ballhead tripod, Pocket Wizards, and I use Paul Buff lighting from time to time.

 

What do you like and dislike about your equipment, specifically your camera, and how would you improve it?

I wish it was waterproof! Haha, other than that it has been a great camera. I’m not very technically inclined so I tend to research what I need, this verse that, then stick with whatever will get the best end results. Mostly I just want my photographs to be as close as possible to the image I have in my head and the equipment is simply the means to that end.

 

What is your favourite lens, and why?

I have to say my 50mm because it’s the only one I own and a great lens for the price.The majority of my images were made using it. However I would love a 35mm or 85mm.

 

When you travel, what is in your essential photographic kit bag?

The Gorillapod, camera, lens, Pocket Wizards, a reflector if possible and a pen and paper to jot down ideas.

 

What kind of software/tools do you use for post-processing, if any?

Lightroom 4 and Adobe Photoshop CS6 with a Wacom tablet.

 

How long have you been taking photographs? How do you find inspiration? How do you take your pictures?

Photography is something I have been interested in as long as I can remember but I started focusing on fine art and portraiture work when I entered college 5 years ago.

I find inspiration in many different ways; music, art, stories, people I meet, dreams, etc. Sometimes ideas come from the oddest and most unexpected places. We live in such a beautiful world, there are countless ways to find sources of inspiration if you don’t try to force it.

 

Which style of photography do you like the most, and why?

Portraits are what I find myself most connected with. I believe that photography at its core is a very human thing. It’s part of our nature to create these records, which happen to be in the form of photographs, to tell the stories of our lives. I’m always drawn to photos of people no matter what the genre is.

 

What goal are you working towards within your photography and when will you know you have reached it?

The past year my goal was to complete a 52 week project of self-portraits that I was proud of. This weekend I have finally finished them! It is a great sense of accomplishment but I am now at a new beginning. I have a big trip planned for next year and would love to shoot more documentary-style images. My goals and plans are ever changing right now.

 

Looking at your own work, which piece is your favourite? Why? Please provide a link to the picture.

“Of Grit and Grace” is my favorite. Even though when I look at it now I see a lot of little things that I would change in editing, it was so much fun to shoot and means a lot to me. My sister came to visit and I covered her, and then myself in the glitter which was literally everywhere. I used glitter to make us look more like each other and different from everyone else, since siblings often have a mutual understanding and bond that no one else can come close to.

“To the outside world we all grow old. But not to brothers and sisters. We know each other as we always were. We know each other’s hearts. We share private family jokes. We remember feuds and secrets, griefs and joys. We live outside the touch of time.” – Clara Ortega

http://500px.com/photo/17809621

 

Does your work fit into any one or more distinct genres  (nature, landscape, long-exposure, black-and-white,  infra-red, urban, artistic, macro, vintage, vernacular, social, street)? If other, please specify.

Ohh fine art with a few other categories mixed in I suppose.

 

Are there any photography websites that you visit regularly?

Sure, Phlearn, Flickr, 500px, Fstoppers, and Petapixel are my favorites.

 

What is the one most important lesson that you have learned since you started taking photographs?

To be patient with myself and understand that I’m not going to learn everything overnight. Improving, finding my personal style, and figuring out where I want all this to go is going to take time. Overcoming periods of self-doubt have been a struggle but I think that’s something every artist goes through and I’ve gotten better at not letting that prevent me from creating work I’m proud of.

 

And finally, what other interesting photographers would you like to see in this blog?

Mike Brodie, Kirsty Mitchell, Alain Laboile, and Joey L are some of my favorites right now.