Alexandra Sophie Photography

 http://www.alexandra-sophie.fr

https://www.facebook.com/AlexandraSophie.photography

 

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

 

I use a Canon 5D mark II with one single lens, a 50mm f/1.8. I also have an underwater case which I use when needed. That’s about all! I recently purchased a medium format film camera, but that’s another story I hope to talk about once I develop my first film roll.

 

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

 

I’m using this same single lens for over five years, and I love it. Before having the 5D mark II, I had a Canon 400D, that’s the only improvement I ever did since I started with DSLR. I strongly believe than having a limited range of material, plus my only lens to be a prime lens, made me become a better photographer, and I recommend this to everyone starting in this field. Don’t adapt your material to yourself, but start by adapting yourself to what you have. You will learn to think more and will notice many things that you would not have if you had too many lenses to think about. After several years, you will really know what you need and depending on that, you can purchase more material, or not.

 

What is your favourite lens, and why?

 

As previously mentioned, it is a simple 50mm f/1.8. I loved it on the crop-sensor of my 400D many years ago, and I still love it as much on my full frame. I use it to shoot everything, fashion, portraits, art, wedding and even concerts. I find it not too wide neither too short, and the light, deep of field and flares it produces are perfect for what I create.

 

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

 

I carry everything I own, everywhere I go. Be it the neighbourhood or the other side of the world.

 

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

 

I use Photoshop. CS3, CS4 sometimes CS5 or CS6. The truth is that it depends whose computer I am using, and since we are often travelling, it really depends at whose place we landed.

 

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

 

I got my first non disposable camera twelve years ago, when I was eight and requested one for my birthday. It was film, and soon my parents took it away from me because I shot too much and it was really expensive to develop everything! Later, after taking photos with everything possible, such as video-cameras found here and there, I saved money and purchased my first DSLR when I was fifteen.

About faces, I tend to find important not to see models before the shooting. I like to keep this first impression raw, not knowing anything about their life. I like to imagine who they are more than knowing who they really are. I love spontaneity, and often I don’t know where the photo shoot is going to happen either. Models tell me about their favorite place they found some time ago and we go there together. I look around, set my camera depending on the conditions and the shooting starts.

My style used to be very natural and light, full of youth and freedom. I still like these photos, which represent me for most people. However, I feel more inspired to create stronger images now, with deeper meanings, often in relation to identity: human kind, human kind and its environment, sexuality, age, feminism…  For some strange reason, it often leads me to take darker photos often related to water.

 

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

 

Photos I like watching are rarely similar with the ones I create. It may be high end fashion photography, parents photographing their children, strong art projects…

 

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

 

Goals keeps changing, and I doubt I will ever feel like I have “reached it”. I guess that is in the nature of humans and that is what make us evolve and progress. I feel like I pass milestones, though. Younger, my biggest dream was to have a photograph featured on a book cover and it soon came to reality. It’s still one of my favorite job to do, but I now aspire to create strong and meaningful series which would be exhibited around the world and why not published into a book. I’m working hard for this, but I don’t want to rush. On a very different type of work, I also dream to shoot a campaign for a big brand and shoot editorials or covers for big magazines.

 

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

 

My favourite picture is this one: http://a1.4ormat.com/vfs/4588/thumbs/135705/0x550.jpg

I don’t really know why, it just is. It’s not my favourite series, though.

 

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.

 

I have a hard time classifying my own work, as most photos doesn’t really fit in any category. But I guess it would be more artistic/portraitures/fashion and with a touch of nature?

 

Are there any photography websites that you visit regularly?

 

Does facebook count? If yes, facebook.

 

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

 

It certainly is a lot harder to apply than to say it, and I myself sometimes suffer from this, but you should not compare yourself and your art to others. And work hard for your projects. When you think you are working hard, work harder.

 

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

 

Without hesitation, Alain Laboile and Jacqueline Roberts.