Have you met Joanne?

[Dahlia Ambrose]

This time around we learn a little more about Joanne, @vanpraag

• Tell us a little about yourself and your photography journey.

Where do you live?

I was born in Cardiff, South Wales.  I spent my childhood running amok in the area of Cardiff Docks where I spent many idyllic years running free watching ships, tugs and sometimes submarines sail in and out on the tide.

I currently live on the Heritage Coast in the Vale of Glamorgan with views of the Bristol Channel and surrounding countryside with only a few hundred metres walk to the pebble beach.  I also have a 4-acre woodland on an iron age and roman fortress (no ruins just undulating ground) with the ruins of an 18th century Folly in the middle of the wood.

Hobbies & interests?

My only real hobby is Photography, but I do enjoy cooking and baking.

How long have you had an interest in Photography?

My interest in photography started about 10 years ago.

What got you interested in photography?

With my kids growing up and needed something to occupy my mind, I was a typical point and shoot Mum with hundreds of pretty poor photos of my children growing up, I just thought I wanted to do better.  I asked for a bridging camera for my birthday and received my Lumix FZ28 which was amazing.  I initially used all the scene settings and Auto and once I had got used to it decided to do an on-line course with Amateur Photographer.  My real passion started after I was awarded Student of the Month and was featured in an article with some of my images.  Oh, by the way I never finished the course but cannot remember why!

• What is the best advice you have received so far regarding photography?

Be fearless – never worry what other people think of your photography – if you love it that’s all that matters.

• How do you maintain inspiration?

Such a relevant question especially at this time in our lives with Covid – I tend to look at what other people are photographing and get inspiration from that.  At the moment I am determined to try and photograph the night sky – especially the milky way and am deep into research for settings and of course locations.

• What is your favourite subject to shoot & why?

I love to photograph the youngest members of my family.  They are so fantastic with their expressions and energy.  I just sit on the floor and let them play naturally, they quickly get used to me being there and I just snap away.

• Do you have a favourite type of photography?

I love portraiture, especially if I can capture the subject naturally without posing.  My favourite light is natural and if photographing indoors having a net or sheer fabric on the window, the softness of the light is wonderful.

• How would you describe your photographic journey to date?

I am self-taught but did an Open University course at the beginning of lockdown, which was interesting, but I knew 95% of the course already from trial and error over the previous years.

• Are you currently involved with any photography projects? If so, what?

Nothing at the moment as I am occupied with Family matters so just plodding along until I have more time.

• If you could only use one camera/lens combination for a year, which would you choose?

My Canon 5D Mark III and my EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM because it’s just a good all-rounder.

• What is your favorite image right now?

My favourite image right now is “Splash”.  I took this in the summer when lockdown was lifted. It is of my great nephew Harri delighting in splashing in his new paddling pool.

• Is there a photographer that inspires you?

Yes – My Father.  One of my fondest childhood memories is my Dad locked inside his darkroom for hours.  He would emerge triumphant with his latest image of usually myself and my 3 sisters or nature.  He had an interest in photography for years and had a box brownie as a young lad which was his fathers before him.  My mother found some box brownie negatives a few months ago and I managed to bring them to life using my scanner (YouTube is wonderful for a solution to almost every problem).  Here was a look into my family history dating back to the early thirties. He had to give up when his Parkinson’s became too severe and he wept when he sold all his equipment. I have now been gifted all my father’s negatives from his 35mm Praktica, meticulously stored and documented and with the purchase of a digital negative converter I will be bringing my fathers photographs to life once again.

• What is your biggest challenge when it comes to photography?

Anything technical, it takes me ages to get my head around things.  I prefer to be shown rather than read about it.

• Is there anything specific you intend to learn or improve in your photography?

Landscapes – I just cannot seem to capture what I see with my eyes.

• If people want to follow more of your work where should they go?

I don’t have anywhere specifically for my photos, it’s something I haven’t really thought about.

• Provide links to 3 or 4 of your favourite images that can be displayed with the interview

Mint Tea

Alpacas

Land Meets Sea

Pools

cc: @admin

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Here is a list of our members who were featured in the past if you would love to read. I have attached a link to their profile and their interview.

Diane Wehr   @albirder : Introducing Diane Wehr

Tobie   @tobiepsg : Introducing Tobie

Rob Eyers  @reyers   : Introducing Rob Eyers

Duncan Stewart  @falxy : Introducing the Falx

John Thompson  @nikon-nut : Introducing Nikon nut 

Valery  @valeryp  : Introducing Valery

Tom Dinning  @tomdinning : Introducing Tom Dinning

Christina Brown  @Chrissiebee : Introducing Chrissie Bee

Bobbie  @bobbie : Introducing Bobbie

Gordon James  @gordonjames : Introducing Gordon James

Chris Pook  @chrispook  : Have you met Chris Pook?

Erik Fransman  @erik-fransman : Have you met Erik Fransman?

Gary Zerbst  @garyzerbst  : Have you met Gary Zerbst?

Allen Furst  @3pco : Have you met Allen Furst?

Jim  @Mistyisle : Have you met Jim?

Frogdaily  @frogdaily : Have you met Frogdaily?

Robert Apple  @robertapple : Have you met Robert Apple?

Steve Matten  @stevematten : Have you met Steve Matten?

Cornelia Acorn  @corneliaacorn : Have you met Cornelia Acorn?

Gray B  @grayb : Have you met Gray B?

Dahlia Ambrose  @dahliaambrose : Have you met Dahlia Ambrose?

Patrick @patrickw : Have you met Patrick?

Dave  @pentaxfan : Have you met Dave?

Peter  @peternowak : Have you met Peter?

Beaky @ozride : Have you met Beaky?

Graham Hart @diripics : Have you met Graham?

Daniel Krueger @drkrueger22: Have you met Daniel?

Jasenka @jasenkag : Have you met Jasenka?

Astaroth @astaroth : Have you met Astaroth?

[Federico Alegria]

Thanks a lot Dahlia for always giving us deeper perspectives on our fellow stalkers! That Mint tea shot has always fascinated me, nice knowing more about you Joanne, @vanpraag!

[Dahlia Ambrose]

You’re welcome Federico 🙂

[Rob Wood (Admin)]

Great to get to know you Joanne!

[Peter Nowak]

Nice to know more about you Joanne. I’ve had this small Kodak baby brownie too (present from my grandfather). Really very simple machine but it worked :-).

And thanks Dahlia for your interview work.

[Dahlia Ambrose]

You’re welcome Peter 🙂

[JasenkaG]

Great interview and thank you both Dahlia and Joanne! I agree with Federico about the mint tea shot – such a fascinating scene.

[Dahlia Ambrose]

You’re welcome Jasenka 🙂

[Patrick]

Thank you Dahlia another great read 🙂

Many thanks for taking the time to share some of your photographic journey with us
Joanne, you posted a lovely set of photos with this interview .. lovely work all round and i am also like you I also prefer to be shown rather than read about it.

 

[Dahlia Ambrose]

You’re welcome Patrick 🙂

[Robert Apple]

Thanks for Sharing Joanne, Its been nice you revived this feature Dahlia, really enjoying it.

[Dahlia Ambrose]

Thank you Robert 🙂

[Pat Garrett]

Thank you, Joanne, for sharing your journey. I enjoyed reading about the “person behind the image”

[ElinL]

Thank you for sharing Joanna, great to know more about you. I love your images, look forward to see more of them here on LS. Thank you Dahlia for one more excellent interview.

[Dahlia Ambrose]

You’re welcome Elin 🙂

[LeanneC]

Joanne – I loved hearing about the negatives your father left you. What a treasure and wonderful keepsake. I have brought some of my parent’s images into digital. I still remember watching slide shows as a child. Grèat to learn more about you. Beautiful images you shared.

[Astaroth]

Thanks a lot, @vanpraag and @dahliaambrose , for this interesting interview :)! I’ve enjoyed reading it. And… Wow!, the picture ‘Pools’ is amazing. What a way to capture a look :o!

[Dahlia Ambrose]

You’re welcome Astaroth 🙂

[Author]

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