Featured Photographer – Christine Milleker (2020)
Our featured photographer this month is our new Vice President of Programs Christine Milleker.
Christine gave a great talk this past summer on macro photography titled “Finding Beauty in Small Things”. If you missed it, you can watch it on the club YouTube channel here. She also gave a great talk and hands on workshop on Cyanotype last year. You can find more about her and some of her images on her website www.creativemonologues.com.
ACC: How long have you been in the Arundel Camera Club?
CM: On and off since Fall 2009.
ACC: What offices have you held in the club?
CM: None until I became Programs Chair this year.
ACC: How long have you been into photography?
CM: I have always liked taking photos, but I really became a photographer when I met John in October 2008, that got me really started taking photos and composition, knowing my camera, and using more than just a point and shoot. I love all the alternative processes he has introduced me to since then including cyanotypes, anthotypes, pinhole cameras, dichromate processes, salt prints, platinum palladium, or wet plate collodion. The history of photography really captures me and I try to learn more and more about it every year.
ACC: What equipment do you shoot with?
CM: Three years ago I switched from Canon to Nikon and my primary camera is a Nikon D850, I have a range of lenses to get anything from wide angle to distant (16mm-500mm). I also use a Canon film camera on occasion, but I am usually photographing black and white film if I’m using that.
ACC: How would you describe yourself? Your photography?
CM: I love to work with people, I am caring and fun loving. I strive to show respect to everyone and try to show that in my photography. My photographs are not necessarily technical, I strive to show the simple things in life in my photos and try to share that with those who see my photos. Sometimes the simple things are enough, and just as beautiful as the elaborate.
ACC: What are your favorite subjects?
CM: I love to shoot macro, nature (especially birds and animals), portraits, and on occasion landscapes.
ACC: How has your approach to photography evolved?
CM: When I first started, I just took photos of everything. Now I’m more deliberate about what I photograph and strive to get my vision in just a few shots.
ACC: Where do you find inspiration or motivation?
CM: I try to find something anywhere I go…to see something beautiful in the every day or in the world…When we travel, I love it, the change of scenery and the beautiful places we go, but I also try to find inspiration in my own home, in the small things around us (macro), I love to photograph children, to capture their playfulness, and their small smiles/achievements. To capture the beauty of an animal as it hunts, rests, sleeps, eats, survives… There is so much around us that if we open our eyes we can capture, if we try.