Mixed Medium Photography by Lynette Botha
Tell as a bit about yourself?
I currently live in Durban “Bluff based”, but originally from Margate. Actually I spent many years between Margate and Richards Bay, so who knows where I’m really from, main thing; I’m back in my birth place! I’m a wife, and mother to not only an 8 year old boy and 18 year old stepdaughter.
My hobbies are clearly photography, horse-riding “or anything to do with horses”, art, cultures, and SHARKS “My dream to swim with one one day… like Ocean Ramsey”. I enjoy my family time, camping, fishing and mountain….viewing (you didn’t think I was going to say CLIMBING did you?)
When did you discover you have a passion for photography?
I think when I was little… always viewing photos of ANYONE wherever I went. I could spend hours looking though them, and making up my own imaginary happening behind that photo. Then of course when wind-up cameras came out, that’s all I did, take photos of everything, only to develop them and you get photos of grass, the wall, something blurry, and something else… thank goodness for digital!
What’s your favorite form of photography, example: Photographing landscapes, objects, people etc. and why this particular form?
While I love the colours and shapes in landscapes, I love people! Portraits, weddings, you name it… people! I think it’s because of the emotions that display from a single photo… the expressions will never be copied on another photo again! I would love to of course get more into wildlife, but I find someone really needs all the time in the world to be able to get that ONE bird it always flies away! Like when you fish…. It always gets away.
What camera and accessories do you currently use?
I have an Olympus SP-570UZ (which I don’t use) – I use a Sony A550 (mainly) and second camera Sony A330. Lenses, 18-55mm, 18-70mm, 70-300mm, 170-500mm, and my personal favourite… 16mm fisheye!
I also have an underwater housing for the Sony A330, which I can take 60m under water.
Then I have all my umbrellas and soft boxes for studio shooting…
What makes your photography different to other photographers work?
I find because I love art so much, I mostly incorporate ART into my pictures in terms of angles, colours, cropping, editing, or just shooting different things… arbitrary items! Like instead of the flower, I’ll shoot the leaf, maybe half eaten by a worm. I see detail the ‘’common’’ eye misses! Simple things wedding for instance, I like natural, unopposed, getting them when they don’t know I’m there!
Do you have any advice to anyone wanting to become an amateur photographer?
Just do it!!! Cliché? Maybe, but you will never catch a fish if you don’t put bait in the water! Take your camera everywhere! Never miss an opportunity to shoot something! You will be amazed at how your eye picks up things you have never noticed before, practice makes perfect! And for the best advice I can give… never try and compete with anyone else. You style is unique… keep it that way! Some might hate it… Others will LOVE IT! Someone can teach you about lighting, and give you tips, but no one can give you a style!
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 shoot mainly in MANUAL – as I like to get my lighting, colours, etc. right. – I change it according to how I want it. When I’m in a hurry and very quickly want to get something, ill quickly put in on the ‘’landscape, sunset, night, etc’’ as those setting are automatic
I find I also like MACRO as I like details!
Photos by Lynette Botha Email address: lillybphotos@gmail.com 0796169218
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