Macro and close-up Photography by Arlene Colby Mullins
Tell as a bit about yourself?
As a person, I am naturally inclined towards the creative and photography is just another facet of my personality, albeit the biggest! As an amateur photographer, my passion lies with macro-photography and my favourite subject is flora of all kinds. Warm-hearted, open-minded and graceful are the words that family and friends use to describe me and those being the characteristics I hope reflect in my work.
When did you discover you have a passion for photography?
I bought my first SLR camera in 2008 and since then I have been bitten by the photography bug in a big way, growing my knowledge of the art exponentially each year.
What’s your favorite form of photography, example: Photographing landscapes, objects, people etc. and why this particular form?
I love macro-photography and my favourite subject to photograph is flora of all kinds (and the critters that come with it!). I love these subjects because nature has some of the best artwork on offer and the only way to truly appreciate it is to capture it in its full beauty.
What camera and accessories do you currently use?
Canon 550D and 650D along with a macro lens, 55mm – 135mm and 55mm – 200mm to name a few! My tripod is also valuable to me when taking photos.
What makes your photography different to other photographers work?
I hope that my natural, creative flare is evident in my photos – I feel that I see subjects in a different light to their commonplace perception, capturing different angles, colours and depths that you would not ordinarily expect to see. I am also not afraid to get ‘down-and-dirty’ to get the perfect shot and I know that the extra effort to get the right photo goes a very, very long way!
Do you have any advice to anyone wanting to become an amateur photographer?
My advice would be jump in with both feet and experiment. Photography is mostly learnt in the field by trial and error – you will need to learn your camera, learn your strengths and learn what subjects you love to photograph. A good camera, one decent lens and a tripod are essential to a flying start and the rest will come with experimenting (and don’t be afraid to go wild!)
What features do you normally like to shoot in, “most of the time” (manual, RAW, AV, TV etc.) and why do you use this specific setting most of the time?
I usually enjoy shooting in manual because each situation you are in differs and you need to adjust accordingly – lighting, wind, subject etc. These all change from moment to moment and I prefer to be able to adjust my own settings as need be for the best possible outcome. With manual, you have full control of your camera!
Arlene Colby Mullins Arlene@sarea.co.za 082 066 3825
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