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Photographer Spotlight: Sarah S. Hinchliffe
Those of you who frequent Photo Trek will already know what this entry is all about. For those of you who don't, this is my monthly feature known as the Photographer Spotlight. It is this feature where I put aside my own photography and concentrate on shining the spotlight on another deserving photographer. I have introduced you to other landscape photographers, journalistic photographers, hobbyists, and professionals. There really is no end to the different ways that photography can be explored. The subject of this month is going to be slightly different than previously featured photographers because Sarah Hinchliffe actually documents one of her other hobbies with her camera. Lets take a minute....or two...to sit down and get to know this photographer of many hats.
Photo Copyright © Sarah S. Hinchliffe
Now that I've got your attention...remember when I said that Sarah uses her photography to document one of her other hobbies? You guessed it, or maybe you haven't even caught your breath yet...she raises tarantulas in her home in Buchanan, Virginia. Sarah is 20 years old, and has lived in Buchanan for 16 of those years. Only in the last two years has she become fascinated with these rather large spiders. While she does consider them pets, there are some that she will not handle due to their potent venom and "extremely bad attitudes"...sounds like a glowing recommendation doesn't it? Regardless of the inherent risks of raising poisonous spiders, Sarah really enjoys raising them and learning about them.
There are some other things about Sarah that don't fit the typical "girl mold". She is really getting into riding a motorcycle when the weather permits, and believe it or not, she enjoys small engine mechanics as well. With such a wide range of interests, it is nothing short of amazing that photography can fit into her life in a bigger role that just for documentation purposes. Actually, photography has been a part of Sarah's life for about ten years now, and precedes many of her other hobbies.
With her interest in small engine mechanics, it is no wonder that her love for photography began when she became "totally infatuated with the idea of film and how it works." She sees every camera, no matter how expensive or how advanced as a precision instrument. The concept of capturing an image on film absolutely amazed her, and that interest opened the door for what was to become an integral part of her life.
Photograph copyright © Sarah S. Hinchliffe
When Sarah was about ten years old when she became interested in photography, she found the process very fun. She was always looking for subjects to photograph. It was not until about eight years ago that she started to take things a bit more seriously. As with so many current photographers, it was the advent of digital photography that precipitated the change. This is when photography became more of a serious hobby than just an occasionally one.
Even though the importance of photography in her life has changed over the years, Sarah still enjoys looking for new subjects to photograph. A few of her favorite things to fill the viewfinder with are flowers (as seen above), waterfalls, hiking trails, and of course, landscapes. As if this wasn't enough to keep her plate full, she is starting to explore wildlife photography. This is new to her, but is something that she would love to expand on.
Sarah has enrolled in the New York Institute of Photography, where she has been learning some in-depth lessons on film photography, lighting, and portraiture. These three topics were ones that she knew very little about. What she learned absolutely amazed her, and the rate at which she learned it added to that amazement. Something else that she has learned is something that they are not teaching. While many of these lessons can be applied to your pictures for great results, you still need to find your own style. Sometimes you have to disregard what you have learned about where to place a subject or the "correct" way to light the subject in order to achieve the look that matches your artistic vision.
Part of what drives Sarah's passion about photography now has nothing to do with the photographic process as it did ten years ago. Instead of concentrating on the inside of the camera, she finds her joy on the outside of the camera, enjoying the fresh air and taking in all of the beauty around her. She adds "No photography school or seminar can teach you to truly appreciate the beauty that is found in God's creation."
For those that love to hear about what equipment photographers use, Sarah has a short, but effective list. Her primary camera is a Canon Rebel XTi, which mounts either an 18-55mm kit lens, or a 75-300mm telezoom. Working primarily in nature, Sarah prefers to use natural light for lighting her subjects so she doesn't carry an accessory flash.
Photo Copyright © Sarah S. Hinchliffe
You can view Sarah's photographs in her zoomshare gallery, Sarah's Photography. While it may not have all the flash that she would like, she is a believer in function over form. For now this website suites her purposes. While viewing her gallery, keep in mind that her photographs are for sale. She gains great enjoyment from sharing her work with others, and she is always happy to discuss the selection of a piece of art that will be enjoyed for years to come. Sarah would love to have a full-time photography business which she believes would be exciting and fun.
Speaking of goals, her primary goal, and the driving force behind her love for photography is creating something that others will enjoy looking at. She strives to create photographs that reflect the beauty that she sees in nature...to allow the viewer the opportunity to see what she sees in the viewfinder. When people look at her photographs and say "Wow!", it is like the rush that she gets from seeing a double rainbow....exhilarating. As long as others are enjoying what Sarah is creating she has attained her goal as a photographer.
One goal that Sarah has attained might sound simple, but coming from another photographer, it is actually quite an accomplishment. She is finally able to be somewhat content and comfortable with her own photography. Much like me, she is overly critical of her own work, and often finds it difficult to please her pickiest audience...herself. Oftentimes, she looks at her photographs and thinks "I should have taken it from this angle..." or "I should have angled the camera differently". Sure, these might sound insignificant, but can really weigh on a photographer over time. As with many photographers, she can shoot 100 frames of a subject and only be happy with three of them.
Sarah offers this advice to other photographers. "Try new things, and do not be afraid to be creative with your work. What might not work for someone else might work for you. If there are things that you enjoy photographing, then go for it! Follow where your heart takes you." That brings us back to something that she said earlier in the interview. Find your own style...do your own thing....photograph what excites you. If you do all of these things, your pictures have a very high probability for success.
Sarah is a member of the Photography Board which is actually where I met her. She has found that online community to be made up of "wonderful people" which are extremely knowledgeable. I have to add that Sarah has added quite a bit to the board since she joined a few months ago. Every time she posts a picture of one of her beloved "pets" everyone stops and takes notice.
Sarah would like to thank everyone for reading this article. She is honored to be able to introduce others to her work. She sincerely hopes that you enjoy her work. I would also like to thank Sarah for allowing me to write this article about her and her photography. She has proven to be a very interesting subject, and I have learned quite a bit about tarantulas from her while putting this piece together.
The Photographer Spotlight for May will appear on the 15th as normal. I will beon a long distance Trek at that time. There will be a spotlight done in May, but I am not quite sure when it will happen. Until next time....
Written by Greg A. Kiser
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Great atricle Greg. Thanks for introducing us to Sarah. I've seen her stuff while lurking around the board. She's a wonderful photographer. I'm heading over to check out her photo gallery now.
Martha :-) -
great photographer! :) you know i like getting up and close with icky things with my camera...but not that close! lol good choice for the monthly spotlight.
gina -
Thanks for introducing us to Sarah. I LOVE the tarantula photo but I don't think I'd have the guts to handle it. I'm heading over to check out the rest of her work.
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ewww, tarantulas. LOL I am off to go check out her work. I really enjoy when you spotlight other photographers, Greg. Hugs, Val xox
http://journals.aol.com/valphish/ThereisaSeason
4/17/08 4:11 PM
Lisa