It was my dad’s Canon AE-1 that started my intrigue into photography when I was about ten years old. He taught me everything he could including how to load the film in and how to focus the lens.
Since then I have had my share of point and shoot cameras, both film and digital, and every now and then I still fiddle with the same AE-1 that was handed down to me. But it wasn’t until two years ago that I decided to turn a hobby into something more.
My degree in graphic design has given me a technical and creative eye for taking photos. Photography has always been a learning process for me. I find myself studying magazine editorials and photos on the Internet wondering how the shots were taken. I am always eager to learn more.
I love all aspects of photography. I like to think that the work I have done covers a broad range of what photos have to offer. I enjoy fun and creative photo shoots, fashion and studio photography, photojournalism, special events, and also landscape photography.
One of my favorite things to experiment with is light, whether it’s from using the sun to off-camera flash or any other light source. Using light to help produce a creative and dramatic photo, especially when little to no editing is needed, is something that motivates me. Another branch of photography I would love to delve deeper into is music/concert photography. There are so many elements that can be captured in a photo such as the emotions of the artist and the overall atmosphere of the venue.
I find inspiration in many styles of photography, from old to modern. Vivian Maier is someone who inspires me greatly. She was an amazing photographer during the mid-twentieth century that had a unique style of capturing moments of everyday life in Urban American.
I also admire street style photographer Scott Schuman and Mario Testino, who have had many photos featured in top magazines like Vogue and Vanity Fair. Even the sometimes controversial Tyler Shields can be an inspiration.
It is my dream to be able to put my name to a photo that may eventually become iconic such as the Beatles walking across Abbey Road or “The Kiss” photo, with the sailor kissing the nurse that was taken at the end of World War II. To me that would be the ultimate “job well done.”
My name is Abigail, but people call me Abby and I’m from Anaheim, California.
Wow! It’s nice to see someone else that has a graphic design degree and is also into photography. Personally, I have my associates degree in graphic design and have changed to photography right now! Your work is fantastic and your story was lovely. amazing work 🙂