Tell us about yourself, your passions, why you love photography, what drives you to take a better shot, where you would like to go with your photography etc. Help us form a picture in our mind of you as a person with your text.
My name is Ingrid and I am from France. I have been a hobby photographer for 4 years now. Robert Doisneau was the one who made me discover photography: I was fascinated by his photography especially “Le cadran scolaire” (year 1956). I admired that picture which I hung in my room as a teenager. When I was 20 years old, I wanted to learn photography. Unfortunately, I was told that I had better choose a study that I can make a living out of it. So I did! I had to forget about photography and I decided to concentrate on business! 15 years later I took a break from my Business career to spend 6 months in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. During this period of time, I had the chance to meet some people who were/are into photography. It made me want to start photographing again. It was so much fun to discuss about photography and share moments with them. But I was missing the most important thing: technical skills. Once I was back in Europe I decided to attend travel photography seminars but it was not enough. I needed to learn more than listening than I could from listening to some advice and looking at great pictures! I wanted to take great pictures, experience it and feel it. I was looking for a combination of practical and theoretical aspects of photography. It took few weeks to find a suitable project. I went on a 2 weeks tour around Ireland with a German professional photographer and 4 other hobby photographers. From morning to evening, I learned and practiced; it was all about photography. It was a regeneration! I started developing an eye for photography, we were taught how to take sceneries, sunrises, and sunsets etc. I was often told “get the most of the actions” and “keep it as simple as you can”. Within two weeks, ISO, AF; WB, RAW; Aperture, Shutter, Editing with Lightroom etc were not a secret any more. It does not mean that I mastered them all! Based on these techniques, the photographer’s valuable advice and critics I put into practice regularly what I had learned. It requires time, patience, perseverance meaning lots of practices. It has been a fantastic challenge ever since. What drives me to take a better shot is this constant improvement, movement, and experiment by bending the reality. I am well aware that a 2 weeks tour will not replace an entire study course but it literally changed the way of seeing things and taking photos. Everything around me looks different when I have started to see the world as a photographer. Suddenly I noticed (and still noticing) lights, shapes, colours, textures, people, buildings, trees, flowers, emotions, tiny details that (for me) make the differences etc. Something I was not taking attention before. I try to see the beauty all around me. Photography is a way of expressing myself too. I considered cameras as a mechanical art. It is not only to capture memories but the essence of a person, the atmosphere of places, the beauty of water drops on petals, animals etc. It goes beyond boundaries, languages and culture too. A picture can make people smile, laugh or it can express sorrow, surprise, wonder or even anger. Indeed, photography at its best speak (my) emotions. This very moment shared with others has no price. As I shoot, I learn more about myself, what I value, and how I see the world. I am so focused that forget my worries. I enjoy every moment. The last but not the least, what would mean for me winning the competition? During a 22 months Asian tour from 2014 until 2016, I had the opportunity to associate travel and photography. My pictures got inspired by people, places, and the beauty of the nature. I developed interests in photography that I was not even thinking of i.e macro. It was both exciting and challenging. Travelling and photographing was magic and it was an unforgettable experience but I have to admit it was sometimes complicated and tough. This photo tour took me to places where I would never have thought of going not only in countries or cities but also in remotes areas. Thanks to photography, I lived in places where tourists don’t go and I had the chance to meet some tribes and villagers. They were pleased even without asking when I took a picture of them. It remained until today incredible memories for each other. Wining a ten days travelling and photographing trip is a unique chance to come further. I am eager to develop my skills especially learning from a professional photographer with experiences in that field. Robert Capa said: “if your photograph aren’t good enough, you are not close enough”. Are my pictures good enough and close enough to be the winner?
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