All Snapped Up .1 ~ popoks

~ An interview of a talented artist in our General Photography Community.

bebefromtheblock, tell us a bit about yourself! How did you get into photography and why?

Well I'm Bebe,30+ , Female , I really like The Peanuts cartoon and Clint Eastwood, I like DeviantART too.
How do i get into Photography?
When I was little I remember it was always exciting to be in front of the camera as a model. Kids love that and so did I.
I got my first analog in 1989 and I took a lot of pictures of my family and nature. I got my digital camera in 2001 and I only shot portraits no still life whatsoever. In 2006, I saw a friend's DA page where he posted his tattoo art, and thought what's this? This sites so boring...I left.
But then in 2007 I checked DA again and I started to browse through it and I thought not bad, I created my account and uploaded pictures. While still wondering how do people create bokeh, or how do they create such a beautiful picture with beautiful color like this, like that, so I bought my DSLR Camera in 2009 and tried to create my own bokeh and beautiful picture in my own style, I think I did it and I liked it. I can live without photography but just not complete. This is the only activity that I love besides whistling.

Why are you on deviantART?

Why, yeah why? Because this is the only place I like to share my pictures, and to show people what I like (what I like) not what people like to see from me
You could say that DeviantART is a second home to me

What type of photography do you most like to do and why?

I think I like all kinds of photography, PORTRAITS (spontaneous) because I think people look good in that situation. SELF-PORTRAITS yay (I used to take a lot of pictures of myself when I was a teen) self-portraits really fun to do, very exciting, but the problem is that I am a shy person, if there are people around I can't do that. My dream is to take some self-portraits in a place where people are around me, like in the city, that's just a plan, I don't know if I dare enough.

• STILL LIFE: Love it because it's not easy, being a stylist and a photographer at the same time. Love it because I also collect a lot of stuff and make pictures of them, there's always an excuse to go shopping…for photography purposes, so 2 in 1.
• ABSTRACT: Love it because it reflects my feelings, imagination and fantasy in the dream.
• Nature/Landscape: Love it because I can create some fantasy forest colorful red; forests that don't really exist in this world.
• I like to take MACROS too; I just don't really love it that much.
• And oh yeah NUDES! I'd like to shoot nudes, I have some cool ideas, and the problem is I have no models.

How did you get into Still Life Photography? What do you most like and dislike about it?

Like I said, I like shopping and collecting small stuff, cute things and unnecessary stuff.
I like to arrange them, to combine them and experimenting with them, for instance like how to get this natural texture and other effect that I prepared before shooting them.
Dislike about it, afterwards...messy everywhere and sometimes if I don't like the results …it can be frustrating.

Do you use any specific settings or techniques when shooting?

No, I use the manual setting (I like manual) and no tripod most of the time.

What is your equipment list and what contributed to the choice of your equipment there?

Can I keep that as a secret
Well I am a fan of canon, because the sounds of C-a-n-o-n …I just love it but, I won't tell the type of it.
I use 3 kinds of lenses.

How long does it take you to set things up for a shot?

To set up for a shot depends on, if I am home alone it takes 10-20 minutes. I normally edit it right away and upload it on DA. Sometimes I upload also some old pictures because I don't have motivation (ideas) on making new pictures.

How do you come up with your ideas and concepts?

Ideas just come up...just like that, like when I’m sitting on the couch and starring at the ceiling...and thinking about the red dotty cup I just bought…so I get up and set the things up and shoot them.
But the most inspiring is RAIN, oh my God how I love rainy days.

Do you struggle with photography at all?

Not really, I've got a plan,I wanted to learn photography to be a professional but, I realized it that these days everybody has a good camera, and that they don't need a pro to take their pictures anymore because they can do it their selves.
I'm an RN but, at the moment I'm a stay at home mommy (and that's cool)

I notice that you are a fan of colour and the square format. Are those key things that you always keep in your photographs?

There's no key, I love colorful (it's hard to explain, let's keep it a mystery) even though sometimes this colorful picture gives me a headache.
and square because square looks more artistic? No?

What is your favourite piece and why?

There are many, many, many.

-energy
(I had like 30 pictures from this shoot, it was fun, I jumped and jumped and got this one, the best.)

What advice would you give to aspiring photographers?

I can't give any, I'm not good at it, maybe just be yourself, don't overuse Photoshop actions (no offense) ...I just think not all actions work very well on all kinds of pictures.

Are you doing any projects at the moment?

My 365 days (Self-portraits) project, it's online alright.

Why do you do a 365 days projects?

Still life and nature can be boring (sometimes).
I want to challenge myself if I'm still good at self-portraits. I have a lot of ideas and I want to put those ideas in the picture. Although 365 days sounds way toooo long, I don't know if I can make it.

Second to last question. What was it like receiving your first Daily Deviation?

Hmmm, what was it like...proud? Finally a DD, yeah I was confused it was maybe about a month since I logged in on DA, and when I logged in I saw people congratulating me, and it felt good because the picture was my favorite one too.

Finally, is there anything else you would like to add?

I am still looking for models (for nudes) men and women (seriously) and I am still looking for a tree (trees) I could climb on, I have a plan…self-portraits climbing a tree.
 I also want to say a huge thanks to a sweet friend o'mine goRillA-iNK thanks for everything

Thank you bebefromtheblock!

3wyl, posting on behalf of communityrelations