Judy Heath
SSAPS.
After a lifetime of photography, Judy still finds photos, she doesn't construct them. "And sometimes you have to decide not to take a photo" is her view. Coming from a background in film photography Judy understands the need to look and think about the composition of a photo. Judy started her photography when she was 10 with a Box Brownie taking photos around the farm. She was lucky enough to be able to choose photography as her hobby lesson at school where she was tutored in composition. She still believes that developing reliable techniques and thinking about composition are the keys to taking great photos. As a documentary style photographer, Judy enjoys sitting in a location and photographing around her. "Photos are a record of time passing" Judy says, laughing that she makes her family sit for the yearly photo which traces their changes. |
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Monument Valley Vista |
"My real thing is landscape," her interest in geology and geomorphology add another dimension to her photographing vistas. "I grew up in the country so landscape is part of my psyche I guess. It's the space , I like big sky areas." So photographing the changes in landscape has become part of her collection. |
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Judy has travelled extensively on safari style photo tours and taken some amazing shots of wilderness areas. From the Kimberleys to Namibia, Turkey, Alaska, Monument Valley and Bryce Canyon, Judy has an enormous slide collection of varied and beautiful landscapes. "I like Marbles in the Morning (right)because of the balance of the shapes. I saw a similar photo in a book and thought mine was as good!" |
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Bryce Pinnacles
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" This Bryce landscape was taken at dawn. I like the way the light works and the glow of the pinnacles." |
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| Graphics is another area of strong interest. Judy finds shapes, patterns and design all fascinating. The many courses Judy has completed have developed her skills and enhanced her interest in black and white photography. "All photography is abstract, but black and white photography makes you look at the subject. You can't take a photo which is true to a scene, but black and white can be true to form." Judy also finds that black and white conveys emotion whereas sometimes colour can be a distraction. | ||
| "I took Red in North Devon. I like the simplicity of the composition. It has strong lines" | Red
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"This is one of my favourites of my granddaughter. The framing of the tube makes you focus on the face. And she is beautiful." Judy mostly uses point and shoot and this grab shot shows how well trained she is in composition. |
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| Judy has been a judge for 20 years and believes that her involvement in AAPS and APS folios has allowed her to develop her critical knowledge. Her main tip for learners is to think about composition and mood. She also believes looking at other photographer's works can help. Apart from Ansell Adams she recommends Bill Brandt and Cartier Bresson. | ||
With a full and busy lifestyle judy has chosen not to pursue the digital changes to photography. "I have too many other things I enjoy to spend the time at a computer learning how to construct images." With her depth of knowledge and skills she has a lot to offer new photographers who lack a sound knowledge of the craft. Hopefully we will have the opportunity to see the breadth of her work. |
One Mitten
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These slides taken at Monument Valley are as shot. No manipulation here. DK Feb11 |
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