Rebecca Cruz ~ Our new featured artist! Please read her interview and pay her a visit.

I’ve always loved to take pictures. I remember when I was little, perhaps 6 years old, my mom let me use the camera for a day to take pictures of anything I wanted. I thought it was so great! I still have the little photo book I filled with pictures of our pet cat and the big, ancient oak tree in my grandmother’s yard. Of course I’m all grown up now (ha!) and I’ve left the pictures of the family cat by the wayside. Although I have to admit I’m still a sucker for the big, ancient oak tree.

Why photography?

Hmm, best to answer this with a little story, I think. :)

I recently visited some family in Tennessee and took a walk with my camera down to the creek that runs through the back side of their property. It was so lovely, just the beginning of spring and I was quickly filling my camera with photos.
After I returned from my walk, we hooked up my camera to the television to scroll through the pictures. We had gone through several and we reached a certain point, my Uncle said “STOP!” I stopped..:) “Where is that?!” he asked, pointing to the photo on the screen “It’s so beautiful!” I told him that picture was taken down by the creek. “That’s MY property?!” he said. I laughed and smiled and assured him it was, his property. “Wow, I’ve never seen it look so pretty!” he said. I was thrilled, of course.

THAT is why photography! It can show us things we think we know or have seen before in such a different way to make us stop and smile or laugh or sigh…

What motivates you?

Well, relating specifically to photography…I am motivatied by trying to push myself to know enough of the craft to begin to photograph in an instinctual way. To see the image in my mind before it is created and capture it in a way that is a bit unexpected. I have so much to learn, but little by little, it is coming!

Who is your favorite artist and why?

This may sound strange, but I don’t have a favorite artist. I’m inspired by so many images that I see..and there are so many artists with so much to offer that I could not say there is ONE artist who is above the rest and that I return to over and over.

What can you tell us about your lighting/and/or reflection techniques?

I’ve just begun to really focus on photographing light. Of course light is essential to all images, it can make or break a photo. But I’ve found specifically photographing light to be a different thing altogether. For instance, there are two images in my gallery of the interior of the Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine, FL. This was my first experiment with photographing a strong light source, and they are by no means perfect. I found patience and a sturdy tripod to be helpful above all else. I keep reminding myself, if I think I have the shot in the bag, it never hurts to change a factor and just take one more. You’ll never regret having three extra pictures, but I’ve certainly regretted having one too few!

What are your goals?

To keep pursuing this passion of mine, to keep learning new ways and techniques. I may not be able to purchase the best camera on the market, but that doesn’t mean I can’t learn everything I can about the essentials of our craft to take full advantage of the equipment that I do have! And if I am resourceful enough, lucky enough, this obsession that is photography will take me to places I have only dreamed of now.

Anything else you want to share?

Yes! I can’t leave without highly recommending a book by the title of “Understanding Exposure” by Bryan Peterson. This book really gave me some outstanding fundamental knowledge and helped me to feel ten times more comfortable behind the lens! It’s definitely worth a read no matter your current skill level.

You’re a STAR Rebecca!!!! Can I have your autograph????

Congratulations Rebecca.
Not only is your photography brilliant, inspirational and incredibly ‘artistic’, for want of a better word, but it encourages and educates those of us striving to achieve greater expertise and ability.

Well Done!!!

Hey congratulations Rebecca on the feature… it was an interesting write up to read :)

Well done. An inspiration… I thankyou for such a from the heart caption of a true artist. Rebecca you have raised the bar high!

Congratulations Rebecca, wonderful read

Congratulations Rebecca!

Happy Shooting,
Patricia

Well done. An inspiration… I thank you for such a.. from the heart caption of a true artist. Rebecca the bar is high!

Excellent work Rebecca! I particularly like “At The Fair IV”.

Congratulations Rebecca – and thanks for the book recommendation!

congratulations Rebecca!

Congratulation, Rebecca.

Well done on being featured Rebecca, your work is beautiful.