the six questions featuring Amanda Gilligan

There's something endearing and authentic about photographer Amanda Gilligan's dreamy images that makes me want to drop whatever I'm doing and dwell in every corner of her little world. But what I love most about Amanda is her beautiful spirit of giving. She shares tips, insights, tutorials and inspiration on her blog Mocking Bird with kindness and sheer enthusiasm, reminding me every day that one of the most wonderful things about photography is the ongoing conversation between passionate people, and the joy we experience by sharing what we love.

Amanda was kind enough to answer 7 of our 8 questions. Here are her answers:

What's the story behind this photo?

This Polaroid is my little sister and my muse. I've been photographing her since she was a baby and have been so lucky to watch her grow into a beautiful young woman. The Polaroid was taken on a special trip away with our mother, just the three of us spending a special time together. She picked up the dandelion and I noticed the beautiful flickerings of the light in the trees behind her. As soon as I grabbed my camera, she knew what to do. She's my perfect model and my muse.

2. What was it that lit your photography spark? Do you remember a particular camera, course, person, roll of film?

From a young age I always loved creating stories and was always encouraged to be creative. I was given my first camera at the age of 8 but remember really wanting to find the art in photography after being given a book of black and white portraits by an Australian photographer. I loved the photojournalistic style of the portraits and it felt like something I could do. The portraits seemed to be taken from quiet places. I tend to be the one sitting in a corner at parties and observing life- those photographs seemed like something I would shoot and it inspired me to buy my first SLR camera. I haven't looked back since.

3. What's your photo philosophy? Does it reflect your life philosophy?

My photo philosophy definitely reflects my life. I believe in shooting from the heart and shooting things that are important to you. I never try to be something I'm not, it doesn't work. My life is quiet, inquisitive, peaceful, full of light and emotion. I would hope to think my photographs convey that too. I believe that shooting photographs is about seeing the truth and being authentic.

4. Where do you look for inspiration?

I look for it everywhere! I'm inspired by my family, friends, music, art, books, my home, food, nature, the landscapes of my homeland Australia and my new home in Vancouver, Canada. I think we need to notice and be aware of the beauty around us. I love the films of Sofia Coppola, Michel Gondry, Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Pedro Almodóvar and the music of Sigur Rós, Radiohead and Bjork. I love attention to detail and it's the little details in the big picture that I look for. The colours of the pebbles in the sand at the beach, the textures of the fruit at the local market, the softness of the brush strokes in your favourite painting...details are my constant inspiration.

5. What would you say is one of your 'signature' editing tricks, themes or style?

Soft light, low saturated colour and attention to detail. I shoot mostly film so I hope I capture that in my Polaroids and 35mm work.

6. If you could go anywhere in the world for an epic, weeklong photo excursion all by your luxuriously unhurried self - regardless of money, time or childcare issues - where would you go and why?

Paris without a doubt. I have been aching to get there for so many years. I dream about wandering the hilly streets of Montmartre with my Polaroid camera, stopping in for a coffee and a baguette, hanging out in the quiet alleys and searching for the Parisian light that I've heard so much about. I will wear a scarf tied around my neck and pretend I am Amélie.

7. Are there women out there that you consider your shutter sisters? Who, and why?

Oh so many! First and foremost my actual sister, Kelly. She is not only my muse and model but loves shooting with me. I love that she has followed in my footsteps with a love of photography. Myla Kent has always been a power of strength and inspiration to me. She is so supportive and a wonderful photographer. I adore my Polaroid girls Jenifer Altman and Susannah Conway. We are sharing a special secret journey together at the moment and they inspire me to be better on a daily basis. I know I can always turn to them for support and when the three of us get together there is going to be some serious Polaroid damage!

Thank you Amanda!

You can see more of Amanda's work on her blog and Flickr Pool.

Breaking My Own Rules

I don't like to think of myself as a "by-the-book" photographer.  I never learned "the rules" of photography, mainly because of my inability to read non-fiction.  Over the years that I've been shooting, however, I must admit that I've developed a few unwritten rules for myself when it comes to photography.  One of my big ones is to avoid shooting with an ISO greater than 800, even though my camera is capable of shooting at much higher ISO settings. In fact, I try to shoot at ISO200 or lower if I can.  Sometimes, though, you have to break even your own personal rules to capture the essence of the moment.

The night I took the photo above, I had been shooting all evening with a speedlight at a comfortably low ISO of 200.  However, when I looked across the room and saw my dear friend Amy as she shared a perfect moment with her son, I didn't think that a flash-illuminated shot would do justice to what I was witnessing. I wanted to capture the scene just the way it was--dim but warm lighting and all.  So I took off my flash and cranked the ISO to 1000.  I know that's still low compared to many other people's standards, but to me it was going beyond my ISO comfort zone.  I'm so glad I broke my own rule, though, because this photo will always remind me of the peace and contentment I felt when I looked at the closeness my friend and her son were sharing in that moment.

As we embark on a new year and a new decade, I hope to challenge myself as a photographer by rewriting my own personal photography rules and by breaking the ones I've already set up for myself.  How about you? Do you have rules that you try to follow when you're behind the camera?  And have you ever broken your own rules and surprised yourself with the results?  Please share with us your rule-breaking stories and images.

On the Table

One of my favorite restaurants in Atlanta is a hip vegetarian eatery known as Dynamic Dish. My friend James introduced me to the owner and chef, David Sweeney, and this lead to a collection of lunches that nourished me with a hearty dose of fine food and visual delight. Looking through this set of images from my dining experience at the Dish makes me think that I should take the time to discover and document a handful of super cool hidden spaces where tables are full of delightful objects and thoughtful conversations. It seems most days at noon, I am too often tethered to my desk with an English Muffin on a plastic plate.

Show us what's on your table today or share the details of an interesting restaurant or kitchen space.

the big picture

 

Through my lens, I've always been drawn to the details. And since my favorite (macro) lens rarely leaves my camera, it's easy to see the things one might often miss.

And then, this summer, I got my hands on the Lensbaby Super-Wide Conversion Lens. My eyes have officially been opened to the wondrous world of landscapes. There's something about capturing the vast horizon at the edge of the world or the endless sky of sweeping cloudsthat makes you feel really tiny. A single grain of sand in the desert. One small yet sparkling star in the galaxy. It's humbling, liberating and inspiring.

Show us your favorite landscape shot today. The kind of shot that takes your breath away again and again. A shot that gives the kind of perspective we all need; a reminder of how big and beautiful the world is.

We're going to Disneyland!

I take it as a personal challenge to shoot in a location where just about every other person there has a camera in hand as well. Every where you look mothers are begging their children to smile next to the furry character and tourists are clicking away to capture the Disney iconic rides and locals with the fervor of a wild game hunt. I make it a point every time I visit, to find the photographs that NO ONE else has yet to capture. It’s an ambitious task, but each visit I am certain I will get great shots. And Disneyland never fails to disappoint.

The added bonus? No one looks at you sideways when you feel compelled to lay down on the ground to get the ultimate shot of the Penny Arcade with a delicious sky. Well, except your husband and kids that is....

Our guess is that you have visited and photographed a highly trafficked and dare we say overexposed locale? Did you go out of your way to discover something else no one else might have discovered? Or framed it with your own unique perspective? Do share your vision.

Photo and words courtesy of Guest Blogger / Honorary Sister Marcy Massura.