Interview the Artist – Questions
Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I live in Regional Queensland, in Australia, in one of the only parts of Queensland that actually feels the cold. Which suits me perfectly, since the heat & I are not the best companions.
What is your first memory of using a camera?
In my early teens I went to boarding school & I hounded my parents for a camera. As I recall it was a Kodak Instamatic, most likely in 1984 or 85. I wanted to capture everything that happened around me. All the silly girly fun that my friends & I were up to simply had to be captured on film. Of course there wasn’t a single good shot….ever.
Do you have any formal training?
In photography? No. I gave it some very serious thought, but then realised that I was already learning so much from the RedBubble community. I’m surrounded daily by an amazing community of extremely talented artists who are willing to share their vast knowledge & experience with me, so I’m happy to continue along that path at the moment.
What camera/s do you use?
I’m using a Canon 1000D. That’s it. Oh, I also have my beautiful vintage Kodak Duaflex II which I use for shooting my TTV shots.
Do you manipulate or edit your photos digitally and how?
Oh yes, I’m somewhat addicted. I use Photoshop CS3 to do absolutely everything. I’ve become very fond of textured images. I just can’t help myself. I rarely edit an image any more without using a texture in some way. Some times I’ll use textures in a really overt way, but other times it’ll be subtle, barely noticeable, just a nice way to create colour changes without using curves or channel mixers.
What inspires you?
The mundane. I like to look for everyday objects, everyday situations & try to focus on one often small aspect of the subject. It’s the simple things.
Do you think of yourself as having a photographic “style”? If so… what would it be?
You know I wish knew. I’m constantly trying new things & there’s so many new things to try. If I have a style that is particular to me I certainly don’t recognise it. Perhaps you should ask someone else, I just don’t know 🙂
Do you make your living with your photography?
Oh that would be so nice! At the moment I’m lucky to be able to make a teeny-tiny monthly income from the sales from my t-shirts which is a wonderful thing. Is it a living? No. But it is enough that I’m able to feel like my dreams of being an artist aren’t completely fruitless.
Of all of your photographs, which is your favorite?
The Submariner is my favourite. It’s of my son & I’ve loved it from the moment I completed it. I find his gaze completely engaging.
I also love A Thief Lurks. This does have texture applied, but I’ve used it in a different way to The Submariner. I like the whimsy of this. I spent quite a bit of time shooting this as a traditional still life, but it was only when my son really tried to steal one of the apples that I saw what I needed to bring some life into it.
Who is your favorite photographer?
Really? Where do I start. Adrian Donoghue’s work is amazing. I’m on a constant quest to work out how he does what he does. And have you noticed that magical luminous quality in a Paul Vanzella image…. amazing.
Where can readers find your work online?
I’m at RedBubble : Rosemary Scott
Do you have a specific subject or genre you prefer to shoot?
No, anything & everything will take my fancy.
What is the most enjoyable aspect of being behind the camera?
Not being in front of it 😉
Other than that, I get a particular thrill out of breathing life into photographs that are quite dull & dare I say it, boring. I don’t actually consider myself to be very skilled as a photographer (gasp), rather I see my forte in the post processing.
Are you connected to an online photographic community?
Only RedBubble. Many people come to RedBubble after being at other sites first, but RedBubble was my first experience with an on-line art community. I’ve tried the other sites, but nothing else compares. That’s just my opinion of course…..
Some random questions here…
What is your favorite color?
Green…..the whole spectrum
What is your favorite thing to have for breakfast?
Eggs Benedict…… Heaven on a plate.
Who would play you in a movie about yourself?
Why would that happen? OK, supposing it did, Can I be so bold as to hope it would be Cate Blanchett or Emma Thompson?
What super power would you like to have? Why?
Recently I witnessed someone being really intimidating with one of my children & I was too far away to say something. It actually flashed through my mind that I wished I had a superpower.
It would be telekinesis so I could move things just with my thoughts. I would have moved that bully backwards a good 10 paces.
What do you do to relax?
Other than my obsession with photographic art, I like to do nothing. By ‘nothing’ I mean just lying around the house reading a good book, or watching a movie with my family. I’m not someone who likes to fill every waking moment with being busy, busy, busy. My kids do that for me. I’m a big sloth really.
Great interview, Rosemary! I love that “I’m a big sloth, really”… I can really relate ( :
Oh, and ‘A Thief Lurks’ is my favourite of your work!
Micklyn
“Slothing” is my favourite past-time Micklyn, Unfortunately I don’t get too much time for it. Even less than you I would imagine 🙂