The organizers of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year contest have been kind enough to share a preview of some of this year’s Highly Commended images. The full list of competition winners, and the Grand Title and Young Grand Title Awards, will be announced in October. Wildlife Photographer of the Year is developed and produced by the Natural History Museum in London. Captions are provided by the photographers and WPY organizers, and are lightly edited for style.
As an artist in Jackson, TN, how has the local community influenced and inspired your artistic journey? Are there any specific aspects of the city or its culture that have had a significant impact on your creative process?I am truly amazed by this town! Even though I am new here, I have already had the pleasure of meeting some incredibly talented artists. Witnessing their passion and seeing how they live through their art is truly inspirational. I feel so fortunate to be surrounded by such interested and passionate individuals.
I wanted to share with you my approach to art and photography. On one side, I like to deliver my work with a documentary or journalistic style, capturing authentic moments and stories. However, I also find it intriguing to explore the opposite side by creating strong, manipulated images in post-production, giving rise to a surrealistic aesthetic.
It’s fascinating how these two contrasting styles allow me to connect with different audiences. A significant part of my audience is international, and my documentary approach helps me showcase the true essence of people and life in America.
Thank you for your interest in my work!
In what ways do you find inspiration and motivation in the rich artistic history and heritage of American art? Are there any specific American artists or movements that have influenced your work, and if so, how have you incorporated those influences into your artistic practice?I wanted to share some of the American artists who have been a great source of inspiration for me. Andy Warhol, Steve McCurry (photographer), Richard Avedon (photographer), and Robert Frank (photographer) have had a profound impact on my artistic journey. Robert Frank’s book “The Americans” is simply amazing and has deeply influenced my project “Faces in North America” and other works like “The Humans of New York.”
The talent and vision of these artists are truly unparalleled, especially Richard Avedon’s ability to capture the most beautiful portraits. Their influence has been significant and continues to inspire my work in photography.
I hope this message finds you well. As an artist, my primary aspiration is to create a comfortable life for my family, including my wife and two sons, through my artwork. Currently, I am working on a couple of projects. One of them is a private endeavor where I document the lives of my family. Another ongoing project is “Faces in North America,” which is still in progress and doesn’t have any upcoming exhibitions at the moment.
I am deeply committed to contributing to the growth of “American Artist Appreciation.” One of the specific ways I could to do this is by documenting various activities, artists, and events related to the appreciation of American artists. Through these efforts, I hope to bring more recognition and appreciation to the talented artists in America.
Thank you for your support and interest in my work!
For more interviews with local artists, click here.
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Faces of detainees who were disappeared during the Augusto Pinochet dictatorship are projected on the facade of La Moneda palace, commemorating the International Day of Victims of Enforced Disappearances
Photograph: Joshua Arguello/Zuma Press Wire/Shutterstock
The western, rural, and ag life has been a part of Michelle Mensing’s entire life, and now she’s sharing it with the rest of the world through her photography.
Krysta: Can you give our audience a little background on yourself and you got into photography?
Michelle: I grew up on a family farm in southwest Iowa and was active in 4-H and FFA where I began learning more about photography and showing some of my images at the fair. Following college, I started my career in the agriculture industry and picked up a camera again as a hobby. I loved how that creative outlet kept me connected to the family farm I grew up on. My husband and I also enjoy traveling to see and photograph beautiful rural America.
Krysta: Has your style of photography changed at all since you started your business? If so, how would you describe your style then compared to now?
Michelle: My photography style is always changing as I continue to learn more about the art of photography and improve my editing skills. I definitely lean towards rustic and warm vibes in my editing style but like to make sure the colors remain authentic.
Krysta: What inspires you as a photographer?
Michelle: Farming and ranching includes long days and nights, sacrifices, tough decisions, and an uncertain financial reward. But it provides an incredible way of life for so many families. I love capturing these everyday moments to let them see the beauty of their hard work and I think it is so important to preserve the memories of generations learning and working together.
Krysta: What do you want people to feel when they look at your photography?
Michelle: At peace. I hope it makes people feel the comfort of home no matter where they are from. People are becoming further removed from agriculture, and I love being able to help others feel more connected to the industry through my images.
Krysta: What is something you wish people knew about being a professional photographer?
Photography does not feel like work to me. I truly love capturing these moments for families to look back on and helping small businesses showcase their products and services.
Krysta: Can you tell us a little more about your idea for offering stock photography to rural businesses?
Michelle: My photography hobby turned into a business when I realized there was a demand for these agriculture and western photos I had been taking. During a call in the online Cowgirls Over Coffee group, several women expressed the desire to share their farm or ranch story, but struggled to have time to take photos while juggling their many responsibilities with work, kids, etc. I realized that my photography skills could help fill this need.
There are many stock photo memberships available, but a lot of the photos are perfectly styled flatlays with pink and bright white colors. I felt like that type of image didn’t resonate with anyone in farming and rural communities. I had tons of photos of my family’s farm that were just sitting unused on my computer, so I decided to make them available to rural entrepreneurs to share their story or help promote their businesses by using photos that resonate with their communities. As I’ve continued to build my stock photo membership, I’ve added additional photos for service providers with a more rustic feel, beef and dairy photos for producers to promote their products, as well as other rural, ag and western inspired photos.
Michelle Mensing Photography creates digital content for rural entrepreneurs. Her stock photography subscription provides a library of high-quality images that accurately portrays rural lifestyles. These photos are great to use on social media, for creating graphics, in newsletters, blog posts, emails and presentations. Michelle also does custom product photography for business owners, as well as family farm and lifestyle photoshoots. Follow along on Instagram @michellemensing.photography to learn more. All photos were taken and supplied by Michelle Mensing.
This article with Michelle Mensing was created for the Spring Issue of the Cowboy Lifestyle Magazine which was released in April 2023. You can catch this article and many more by checking out the full issue. For more information on Cowboy Lifestyle Magazine, visit the website here.
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There are a lot of public perceptions when it comes to photographers. There are also a lot of in-jokes amongst the photography community. This ten-and-a-half-minute video from Casually Explained mocks all of them.
It’s an absolutely hilarious take on a hypothetical newbie’s potential future in their photography journey. What camera should you get? What genre should you shoot? How do you make money with photography?
What really got me about this video is that it’s so relatable throughout the entire thing. Some of it, where he starts off sounding sincere, I get into. Then, when I hear the twist at the end of the story, I immediately think of people I knew in my own photography past who were at least a little bit like that, or it mocks the sometimes hard reality of being a photographer.
The biggest decision you can make is the jump from a phone camera to a DSLR or film SLR camera. This is because of two major factors.
Firstly, you can swap the lenses on these bad boys. Meaning you never have to about where to waste your next paycheck. And just as importantly, they have a much, much bigger sensor.
After choosing to make the leap to a “DSLR or film SLR”, it’s time to pick your genre. This is a tough one because it could determine your whole future not just as a photographer but as a human being.
As you can imagine, this topic, too, is tackled with similar silliness.
Disposable camera photography – Even though the very hipster colour palette is caused by the horrendous lens, flash and camera quality, film is nevertheless a full-size 35mm sensor. Meaning you’re technically using pro-level equipment.
One of the downsides of a disposable camera is that it’s fun. Which is in strict contrast to real professional photography, which must always be stressful or else you go to photography jail.
Once you’ve picked your subject matter and want to attempt to make money from it… Well, this is where we’re reminded of all the struggles we’ve either faced ourselves or seen other photographers face.
It’s an incredibly thorough video, with a surprising level of detail. If it doesn’t brighten up your day, there’s something wrong with you. You should probably watch more of Casually Explained’s videos.
The September meeting of the Grand Canyon Photography Club will feature a presentation on composition by longtime member Medford Barton. The program will be held at 7 p.m. on Sept. 12, at the Gmeiner Art & Cultural Center in Wellsboro, after a short business meeting.
“I’ve been taking photographs for about 70 years, having received a Kodak Hawkeye box camera when I was 10,” Medford explained. “Back then I took mostly family photos but don’t remember much else. Throughout most of my adult life it was an on again off again love relationship with photography.
“That all changed when I retired in 2006. Having more time, I started to take photography much more seriously. I had the time to travel and to participate in photo workshops. Most of these workshops were weeklong when I was able to be totally immersed in photography.
“My photography improved but I admit, composition eluded me until these last few years.
“In September’s presentation I don’t plan to discuss the common ‘rules of composition’ but to share some of my thoughts about some lesser discussed guidelines of composition.”
Barton has won numerous awards in club exhibits, including “Best In Show.”
Visitors are invited to attend the photography club’s September meeting. New members to the club are always welcome.
The synthesis between all of their creative visions seemed to have happened organically, prompting them all to evolve their craft. “It was a truly collaborative experience,” Charlotte emphasises. “Our individual ideas fit together so seamlessly, forming the perfect complete puzzle,” Athena concurs. While all of them were so aligned on their point of view, it’s interesting to note how each of them have a different stand-out image. For Charlotte, it’s the black-and-white group shot with art by Kimia Amini in the background. “I think this is one of those images for me where you’re dancing on electricity, when you see every element coming together to sit in harmony,” she explains. For Lydia, it’s the overhead shot of the man lying in a cape of shells, and for Athena, it was that of the character holding woven baskets on her head.
Overall, Charlotte “hope[s] the audience responds to this in an excited surreal way”, particularly taking note of the blending of all the different motifs, inspirations and traditions from around the world. “Our goal is to remind people to always be creative,” she adds. “There is so much content out there and I feel it’s important to push yourself creatively, think of ideas that blur multiple concepts and try to make work that feels exciting to you.”
Henderson found an unexpected guest on her balcony: a possum snacking on a large cicada. ‘There were heads here, wings there,’ she says. She had spotted the common brushtail possum sitting on the windowsill. This nocturnal marsupial, native to Australia, is widespread and locally abundant. Its long, sharp claws are made for a life in the trees, but it has readily adapted to urban environments, where it has come into conflict with humans. Location: Malanda, Queensland, Australia
Photograph: Caitlin Henderson/Wildlife photographer of the year
