Tell us where it all started, what or who inspired you to want to pick up a camera and get behind it.
10 year old me started taking snaps with an old 110 film camera and my interest in capturing moments never stopped from there, but it wasn't until later in life I started to think seriously about my photography. It was 2016 and I was in the USA Managing a group of youth basketball players, and while over there I constantly had my little Canon instant camera in my hand snapping everyone and everything. Head Coach Paora Winitana said to me " Racheal you need to get yourself a good camera to take your photos with, I can see you love it."
Little did he know how much this made me think.... from here I bought a Canon 1500D and thought I was the bee's knees, still driving in auto I wanted to learn more. I moved from Hawkes Bay to Manawatu in 2019 and joined the Manawatu Camera Club and from there started my journey of learning, I was introduced to Ucol lecturer Gerry Le Roux and began the Photography beginner class at night school. From here the addiction of learning and developing my skill began and in 2023 I became a full time student again studying my Diploma of Photography at Ucol Manawatu for the next two years! Becoming a member of the photographic family has been some of the best years of my life and I love that everyday I still continue to learn and grow.
I have achieved so much more than I could have ever dreamed, including being awarded the 2024 NZIPP New Zealand student photographer of the year!
(I also now drive my Camera in Manual ;)
2. Whats your vibe? describe your style?
I am still developing my style and think I will be for some time yet, though I have to say I am very much an intuitive photographer. I am the fly on the wall who sits back and observes and captures the natural behaviour and special moments in my event work. I thoroughly love my event work, connecting with the community and people I am capturing to me is crucial. Respectful and friendly and fun are my key components to this type of work. A documentary style of photography, which follows through in my journalistic work too. I carry my camera on me 90% of the time, I would be devastated to miss a moment!
In the polar opposite my creative art photography is very much my imagination running wild! I have a fascination with light and colour, which is why I now paint with light. I love to take the things you know about in your life and show them to you in a different and beautiful way.
3.Dream camera, unlimited budget, what would it be or do you already have it!
I don't really have a dream camera.... but I do have dream lenses! I would love to own my own art lenses in the near future 85mm, 70mm and 16-35mm for astro work at night and a lens baby for some fun! I believe you can create beauty with whatever you have, your imagination and skill behind the camera are crucial as are great editing skills.
4.Tell us about a photographer whose work inspires you, what do you like about their work?
I am inspired by a range of photographers for my event and documentary work, but Ans Westra really stands out for me; her style of work and the way she fully immersed herself in her subject really speaks to me.In my art work, I am inspired by many talented fine art photographers and artists Janyne Fletcher, Esther Bunning, Rachel Smith and Jackie Ranken. The softness and beauty of their work inspires me to find my own way to create beautiful pieces of work for others to enjoy.
5.Mentors or someone who has helped you greatly, encouraged you in your photography passion
I have been fortunate to have had many mentors along my photographic journey, but huge gratitude goes to my Ucol Diploma lecturers Ian Rotherham and Paul Gummer of late. These two amazing men shared their knowledge and skills with me while pushing me to find mine. The skills they have passed on have really helped me to become the photographer I am now, they have enabled me to follow my heart and to challenge myself to believe and be a little braver every day.
My biggest encouragement has come from my partner Chris, his support and encouragement is always with me. Let me remind you .... I take my camera with me 90% of the time, which means a lot of waiting for me. This man is a legend and I love him with all my heart.My two daughters Tayla and Maia have also played a huge role in where I am, modeling for me, coming on location with me and now even second shooting for me, love my darling girls!
6. Mac or PC and why?
I use both.At home I use a PC and at Ucol I used a MacI dont have a preference, I just need plenty of memory and a calibrated screen to be happy.
7. What's in your kit , send us a pic with a description of your gear
I'm a Canon girl, and I love my Canon gear.I have my basic kit set up which stays in my backpack.
Canon RP with 70-300mm and the kit lens 24 - 105mm and a 50mmI have various filters, back up battery and SD cards, reflectors and lens hoodsI also have 90D back up camera or second camera for events, a 60D which is permanently set up for shooting IR (Infrared) (that is a whole other story)
8.Any challenging shoots youve experienced, how about your pet shoots?
Challenging shoots would be events in challenging light! In these cases I always do a recce where possible first to plan my attack and gear needed.Animals are difficult and I don't do these types of shoots a lot, I tend to capture animals spontaneously rather than set up shoots. In saying that, it is an area I am keen to explore more!
9.Tell us about a project or an image you shot that you are really proud off and why?
My DOG image is one of the most important and special images to me.This image was taken on my faithful 90D while visiting my daughter in Wellington, while out on a street photography recce I spotted this beautiful boy in the window of a house. He was hanging out the window looking at his Mum across the road. I took the time to photograph him and catch the emotion of the love in his eyes as he looked at his Mum, his Dad was behind him and I chatted briefly to him too and then happily continued on my journey.
On returning home I uploaded my day's images and realised what a beautiful moment I had caught, I decided to spend time working on this image as I knew it was special. The colour palette for this image was naturally perfect! I entered this image into the NZIPP awards last year and was awarded with a Silver Distinction Award for this image. A very proud moment and a very special image.
