Photographer of the Week: Caitlin Smith
Spring is a natural time to dream about summer vacation. But with the recession, many of us are unlikely to be planning trips very far from home. I don't mind living vicariously, so I asked RAW regular Caitlin Smith, an inveterate traveler, to assemble some of her travel photos and write about her thought process and technique when capturing her images.
Nikon D80, 1/400 second, f/5, ISO 400, focal length 70mm
By Caitlin Smith
Arlington
I've been taking pictures since I was a little girl, when my dad gave me a gray square camera with a red plastic viewer. I remember watching him prowl around in our greenhouse, crouching down to photograph what looked to me like a bunch of dirt. But projected on the slide screen, his quirky shots turned out to be luminous images of tiny green shoots or intricate networks of roots. My dad also traveled extensively, bringing home photos that captured the colors and personalities of far-away cultures. I caught the travel bug, and the shutter bug, from him.
My favorite country to visit and photograph is France. Everything there deserves to be documented, from the food to the trees to the tablecloths hanging outside the shops. Like my dad, I look for unlikely subjects, framing what I see in my mind's eye as I go along. Or I try to approach something that's been photographed to death (like the Eiffel Tower) from an unusual angle.
I especially enjoy being able to capture a moment that’s rich in some aspect of local culture, a candid shot of daily life. That's why I often portray people from behind, absorbed in their activity rather than posing for the camera.
One of my favorite shots is of a woman and a hat shop. I was waiting for a friend in the pedestrian shopping zone of Avignon, France when I noticed this woman stepping back to check her work on an elegant façade, framed by her own ladder. I loved the contrast between the polished display and the practical materials on the ground, between the formal hats in the window and the painter's colorful turban. Before she turned around, I quickly composed the shot, hoped for the best, and clicked the shutter.
Canon PowerShot S410, 1/60 second, f/3.2, focal length 9.1mm
Another photo that I really like is the one of the men sitting on a bench, watching a game of pétanque in Arles, France. They appear to be good friends, enjoying a traditional pastime in the shade of some graceful plane trees. Time seems to stand still for these gentlemen, like the metal ball suspended in the air. It's a scene that may be harder and harder to come by as generations pass, so I'm glad I was able to capture it.
Nikon D80, 1/1600 second, f/5.6, ISO 1600, focal length 200mm
Nikon D80, 1/4000 second, f/8, ISO 1600, focal length 200mm
I'm always looking for ways to break out of the standard tourist photos. To get a unique view of the Eiffel Tower, for example, I stood under it and looked up. For a fresh take on a popular castle, I backed off into a field of sunflowers. I tend to frame my pictures slightly left of center in order to add some energy to static subjects like architecture and landscapes.
Canon PowerShot S410, 1/800 second, f/8, focal length 10.8mm
Canon PowerShot S410, 1/160 second, f/4.9, focal length 22.2mm
I also keep an eye out for visual motifs that recur in my travels, making them a centerpiece of my photo narrative. For instance, once I noticed that Europe is full of spirals, I had fun photographing everything from snails to staircases. Later, I used these thematic pictures to create visually harmonious photo calendars as thank you gifts for the families I'd visited.
Canon PowerShot S410, 1/13 second, f/4.9, focal length 22.2mm
Canon PowerShot S410, 1/8 second, f/2.8, focal length 7.4mm
Nikon D80, 1/13 second, f/5.6, ISO 400, focal length 200mm
My husband gave me my first SLR for my birthday last year: a Nikon D80 with an 80-200mm VR lens. Up until then, I had used Canon Sureshots and Elphs, but when given the chance, I went for the Nikon because my dad always said its lenses were the best. I am in love with it, and bring it everywhere in my favorite Slingshot 100 camera bag.
The D80 has opened up a whole world of photographic potential for me. I feel that there is so much that this camera can do that I have only begun to discover. I'm looking forward to attending my first photography workshop this fall, to learn more about lighting, exposure, composition, and digital manipulation. In the meantime, I try to take my photos in such a way that I can skip the editing process, photographing my subjects as naturally as possible and deleting the awkward shots as I go along. This approach simplifies my life when I'm sorting the hundreds of images that I manage to take during any given trip.
I feel very lucky to be able to travel and take photos all over the world. As a French teacher, I get to visit France with my students at least once every other year, and I make the most of it by creating photo essays of our adventures. I especially appreciate being able to share photos with my dad, who is currently living in Albania. Thanks to photo sites like Flickr, he and I can compare our latest travels and stay connected overseas.
If you like my pictures, you should see his!
 | About Caitlin Caitlin Smith teaches French at Concord-Carlisle High School, and is planning a trip to Versailles with 16 students in April. She grew up in Lexington, now lives in Arlington, and has studied in France and England. She also has traveled to Canada, Egypt, China, and all over Europe. She loves to hike and take pictures on Monhegan Island in Maine. Her next project is to create some prints of island |
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Some great shots and story ... I also enjoy schlepping my camera when traveling, when going to somewhere new, I always try to spend a weekend.
Something Caitlin said struck a chord, when I switched from film to digital a few years back, I was totally unprepared for how much of the 'processing lab' fell to me ... having to learn post-processing (Photoshop), digital image management, and buying a faster PC and (lots) more hard disk storage.
Great shots and nice write up! Congrats. I am also a new owner of a D80 and I share your love for it! The Jump from a P&S to a DSLR has been a challenge and a whole lot of fun.
Are you still just shooting with the 80-200 lens? What's next in store for you in the lens department? I picked a 18-55 when I got my D80, but I also had a hand me down 70-300 so I had the length already. I don't think I'd be happy without the sub 70 range though.
Again nice work! Welcome to the 'cool kids club' ;-)
Hi Pat - I've had a D80 for over a year- it's a creative, somewhat complex yet very enjoyable camera...If I can help you at all let me know and I'll give you my e-mail.
AH HA! This is my best friend since kindergarten and I can tell you that I remember her father taking pictures. I also remember her chasing me around with the black plastic camera when we were little. We got some great shots of our childhood growing up that way.
I also can say that I sat thoroughly entranced for an hour watching her DVD of pictures when she returned from China. The pictures were amazing! I didn't want it to end.
It is interesting to give a kid a camera and see what angle and approach they take. It may surprise you and it will definitely begin their love for photography.
Congrats Caitlin and keep the photos coming!
Well, Caitlin,
We are ALL tickled pink about this! Your photographs are wonderful, and I only wish we could have seen more of them. Keep up the good work.
great!
A splendid set of photos . I like the way you can find a common theme in quite different images. And you write so well too!
Hi everyone, thanks so much for your thoughtful feedback!
I really enjoyed putting together this photo essay, and learned a great deal from the process. It's the first time I've ever put into words what I'm trying to do when I frame a photo or create a photo narrative; by finally articulating my approach, I've become more self-aware. I highly recommend this exercise to all artists!
Pat, I have no immediate plans for adding a lens because I like to keep things simple: less changing of lenses, less weight to carry, less dust in the camera ... but you're right, it would be great to play around with different ranges. I'll be in touch as I add to my collection!
Merci beaucoup for your interest and support, Caitlin
Caitlin's pictures are so beautifully composed and yet completely candid. She is a real "artiste".
Caitlin, we are so pleased to learn of your Boston Globe recognition. Your photographs are extemely fine and we look forward to seeing more of them. I enjoyed most learning how your father "planted the seeds" in so many ways.
Viva Caitlin!
Regards,
Ara of Lara, Sophie, Pam and Ara
Gorgeous! I appreciate your comment about avoiding the tourist perspective in your photographs. The spiral theme was a terrific example. Very inspirational. I am going to play with themes in my own spring photography as a result.
My personal favorite - the escargot!
Hi, Caitlin,
These photos are terrific. I hope you took Janie's advice and offered them to Smith to show.
The similar-form series is brilliant. Spirals here, spirals there, spirals everywhere. Infinitely interesting and beautiful.
Lovely to hear from you, and to see you at Betsey's event last spring.
Annie
Nice work Caitlin, Congratulations!
Ah Caitlin !...
Tu as l'art de cadrer tes photos avec cette touche de recherche et de fantaisie dans le détail qui font le charme de celles ci
Tu embellies notre douce France :nous en avons la preuve
Et puis Caitlin est une grande spécialiste de calendrier avec ses photos dédiées
Prochaine étape La Champagne cela va pétiller!......
Bravo A très bientôt
Mitch
This just in!
If you're interested in seeing photos taken by my father and his wife during their travels around the world, please visit their flickr page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/36338186@N05/
Enjoy.
Women's hats in France were the only ones that fit my large head.
Strasbourg, France, with Magmog Shop held some of my favorites - I spent
hours trying on each one - since US hats never fit me.
Loved the horses portfolio especially - and the feeling of France within
each of your images of such a beautiful country.
Great pictures. I would say that France is a bit too expensive this year (I was hoping for $/Euro parity by the summer, but no luck). China is not for everyone. So how about surfing to an Online Travel Guide - like Fodors, Frommers, Lonely Planet and find something near home. Some of the newer sites - TripSay, etc have user reports, video, etc to help get you out of the house.
This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.
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