Liz Smith Interview

Wednesday, June 4th, 2008
by Rachel

Liz Smith is currently a 22 year old senior at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. She is majoring photography and minoring graphic design. As an avid traveler, quite a bit of Liz’s work is done away from home in places such as Amsterdam, France, Germany, England, California, and New York. As a student, her perspective on photography is important to us. This is Liz Smith.

Photos

Who/what influenced you to start taking photographs?

Madge Crumpler, my high school photography teacher. I wasn’t into photography until I set foot in her class in the tenth grade.

How long have you been interested in photography?

About 6 years.

What equipment do you currently own?

All different sorts of cameras, Manual Pentax K100, Pentax *ist DL (my baby), Mamiyaflex Twin-lens, and about 10 other film cameras, and two more small point and shoot digital. Also, i have about 6 different lenses for my pentax. And other little things here and there.

What is your favorite piece of equipment?

My Pentax *ist DL for sure, I was a huge film snob until I got this camera. I still work with film but only really when forced to or when I go through my spurts of “medium format frenzy”.

How do you feel about digital imagery alteration?

See this is a tough one. There is a fine line between digitally altering a picture, and turning it into an animation.

How do you feel about others who look at digital photography as not real photography and that the only true form of photography is using film?

I personally believe digital photography is real, but those who are still using only film and a darkroom, you kinda have to admire that. It’s so expensive now; even if I wanted to be purely film I couldn’t afford it.

What do you believe to be the pros and cons of photoshop?

• Pros: faster turn out, and the ability to tweak the contrast (much like you would in a dark room)
• Cons: when someone takes away things that shouldn’t be taken away, when they airbrush everything.

How do you feel about nudity in photography?

Human form is breath taking, anyone who is disgusted by it, doesn’t need to see it. Now i’m not talking porno photography, but I think the curves of a body is the greatest subject.

Do you prefer black and white or color?

Again another tough answer, black and white is amazing, some photos I have taken will never look as good as they do in black and white. Then on the flip side, some photos I have in color would never look as good in black and white… get back to me on this.

What’s your work flow process on a gig or photo job?

On a gig or job, it’s “take as many photos as possible”. Never once take a shoot and say “Yep that’s good enough thanks”, sometimes I’ll take over 200 pictures just to find 4 I really like and I’ll be satisfied.

Where does you want to go with your photography and how has the internet helped you expand your audience?

Honestly, I don’t know where I’m going, I just know that I want photography to be a part. Even if it’s a side job thing, I’ll do it. I really enjoy traveling and taking pictures of other countries and cultures, that’s why working for an Airline really helps out. The internet is a huge helper, I love the feedback I get from strangers. It’s a lot better than showing them to friends and family who will love it no matter what because YOU did it.

Have you sold any of your work?

Actually quite a few, recently I got into Chlorophyll printing (photos that are printed onto leaves using natural sunlight). Turns out there is a pretty big market audience. A number of my photos that were on chlorophyll prints were sold, along with orders that people would send me personal family photos and have them printed. We’re actually putting up a website, it’s in the design process right now.

Linkage:

• DeviantArt
• Flickr
• Myspace

Thanks for the interview Liz! It’s nice to have a student’s input where there otherwise wouldn’t be
-Rachel