Patty Maher Photography    

http://www.pattymaher.com/

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

https://www.facebook.com/pattymaherphotography

 

 

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

 

I shoot with a Canon 5D Mark III and use one of a few different lenses: 85mm 1.2, 50mm 1.2 or 24-70 2.8. My tripod is a Manfrotto. I also use a wireless remote.

 

 

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

 

I actually really love all my equipment. 

 

 

What is your favourite lens, and why?

 

It really depends on what I’m shooting. If I’m doing a portrait shot and have enough space nothing beats my 85mm (it has a bit of zoom), but recently I have been finding that the flexibility of the 24-70 is invaluable…most specifically when I want to include more background.

 

 

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

 

My camera and lenses, a lens cloth, my remote and usually a wig.

 

 

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

 

I use photoshop CS6 and Lightroom.

 

 

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

 

I have been taking photos for just over 3 years now. I find inspiration pretty much everywhere – in books, songs, landscapes, art, and from other photographers. I generally just go out to a location, set up my camera on a tripod and start shooting. Sometimes I have a very clear idea of what I want to shoot, sometimes I just wing it. Both have their merits.  I tend to do a lot of burst shooting because I like to have the feeling of movement in my photos.

 

 

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

 

I like a lot of different styles of photography – far more than just what I do in my own photos. If it’s well done I probably like it – whether it is a simple macro shot or a highly photoshopped surreal photo.

 

 

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

 

I think the most important goal I have in photography is to keep being inspired and challenged by it. I also want to take photos that mean something – both to me and to other people. The beauty of these goals is that they are always in front of you. Reaching goals can be a stopper, in my opinion.

 

 

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

 

My favourites change fairly regularly, but I think my favourite right now is this photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/closetartist/9253072600/
I like it because it’s simple and reflects something of how I was feeling at that time. I also like the location – those fields have been ploughed now, so if I’d waited any longer I wouldn’t have been able to capture it quite in that way.  I like that I was able to capture a moment in time that has now moved on.

 

 

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.

 

Fine art, conceptual for most of my personal work, but I also will shoot nature, landscapes and lately I’ve grown a passion for wedding photography.

 

 

Are there any photography websites that you visit regularly?

 

I’m pretty much a regular on flickr.

 

 

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

 

Never give up. You can do better if you decide to. Maybe those are two lessons…they’re both important though.

 

 

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

 

Too many to mention there are a lot of amazing photographers out there.