An Interview with Louise

One thing I love about taking photos is the number of different people I get to meet and chat to. Out on a walk, or set up on top of a mountain, it’s always so lovely to stand and chat, people from all walks of life, tourists, locals, walkers, other photographers, all with a different story to share.

I thought I'd share my story here, and the questions I get asked most often when out and about taking photos. What inspires me, where I love to shoot, what I love about photography, and why I started it all in the first place. A small insight into my world.

How did you get started?

This is the question I get asked the most. I've always loved cameras and photos ever since my Grandad gave me a camera when I was little. I used to carry it with me everywhere, snapping photos and documenting memories of my adventures. Then I forgot all about cameras and adventures as the world of work beckoned and the exciting adventures I longed to remember were few and far between.

Fast forward to 2018 – I suffered a horrific spinal injury that affected my lumbar spine region and my legs –meaning I struggled to walk for almost a year until I finally had spinal surgery in 2019. During this time it was difficult for me to leave the house, and when I did, I was unable to move that far from the car. Our usual mountain hikes were definitely out. So I bought a camera. Something to take my mind off the constant pain. I would sit in my garden and snap away at the birds, the planes flying overhead, the foxes snoozing in the sun... It was a way to distract myself from the pain and the boredom of being stuck in one place. And I got quite good at it! Teaching myself a new skill and seeing the results gave me such joy that it became my new passion, and it continues to be so.

How long have you been taking photos?

I bought my first digital camera in 2018, a little point and shoot (Powershot SX430). I upgraded to a Canon DSLR about a year ago in January 2019.

What kit did you start out with and what have you added?

I started out with my Canon 750d – its light, versatile, everything you'd need from a more advanced camera but at a good mid-range price. I wanted to learn about manual settings, to be in control of the camera rather than fixed auto settings on a beginner model.

The camera came with a pretty descent kit lens, I pretty quickly bought a Tamron 70-300mm zoom lens for close up shots. Keen to explore astrophotography I took the advice of Alyn Wallace (an amazing astrophotographer) who suggested the Tokina 11-16 both for astrophotography and landscape shots.

After using the Tamron for a year and getting used to panning, the ISO, aperture, shutter speeds, etc, I upgraded to a Sigma 150-600mm lens. This has much better range for close ups, sharper shots and all round better optical performance especially for birds and wildlife. It took a while to get used to balancing the extra weight while shooting but I wouldn’t be without it now!

What’s your favourite subject to shoot?

Definitely wildlife and birds, especially foxes and birds of prey. I love being able to capture their distinct personalities and mannerisms, especially if it’s a subject I get to know over time. Being able to watch their reactions and way of life seems such a privilege. I also love the patience it take to capture wildlife and the peace and stillness you have to find to do so. You could be sat for whole day and not see anything, or have a whole menagerie of wildlife in the first hour. Every day shooting wildlife is different so no time to get bored!

Fox cub exploring his surroundings.

What do you love most about photography?

Learning to be patient! I wasn’t a naturally patient person to begin with, then my spine surgery forced patience upon me. Now I love just taking my time with a day, waiting for a shot rather than trying to find one.

Capturing the Milky Way is another thing I love - I'd never seen it before last year when photography gave me a reason to leave the light polluted skies of Birmingham and the West Midlands and really explore the dark skies of Wales.

I love seeing things from a different perspective, and exploring new places I might not have thought to explore before.

And what’s your least favourite thing?

Getting out to the perfect place or finding the perfect subject but finding the light is too dark for a good shot.

What would you most like to photograph?

I'd love to capture an owl, that’s the next on the list. And more birds of preys. I'd also like to move on to taking ocean shots and capturing the wildlife of the sea. I recently took shots while on a boat tour around Anglesey and adored capturing the sea birds there, especially the puffins. I'd love to be able to capture dolphins, orcas and other sea wildlife.

Where is your favourite place to go for photography?

My heart is in Wales, especially North Wales, and I love a day in the mountains with my camera. You’re never short of things to photograph. Be it stunning views, birds, butterflies or military jets! There’s a picture waiting at every turn. But equally I enjoy finding the nature in my own back garden. Watching the assortment of birds flying overhead, the challenge of capturing a honey bee or hoverfly, waiting for the foxes to bring out their cubs.... I just love finding nature where ever it can be found.

Where would you like to go?

A dream would be to go to the Arctic to see polar bears! I'd also love to go to Canada for the bears and eagles, and another dream is to capture the Northern Lights. Photography is a great way of exploring new places and seeking out the parts of the area that perhaps I wouldn’t see otherwise. Every trip with my camera is a big adventure!