Shutter Sisters

Behind the Book : An Interview with Susan Tuttle

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 We’re thrilled to kick off our brand new author interview series, Behind the Book, with the lovely and talented Susan Tuttle.

An Interview with Susan Tuttle

Shutter Sisters: First, tell us about your new book.

Susan Tuttle: The title is Art of Everyday Photography: Move Toward Manual and Make Creative Photos. It was published by North Light Books in August 2014. My publisher did an awesome job of creating a brief summary about the book as seen on Amazon. I’d like to share that with you… “In this easy-to-understand book, Susan Tuttle encourages the reader to get her camera out of “auto mode” and finally learn how to use its features to create beautiful photos capturing the everyday moments of life, including portraiture, landscape, still-life scenes, food, pet photography, street photography and more. In addition to camera basics, Susan includes many tips and techniques for getting the most out of smartphone cameras and photo apps.”

I was thrilled to have a variety of talented digital SLR and mobile photographers contribute to the book. Within its pages you will find the work of Tracey Clark, Susannah Conway, Vivienne McMaster, Daniel Berman and many more!

Since I wrote more than the book could hold, my editor and I came up with the idea to include it in an e-companion to the actual book, which you can access through a link mentioned at the bottom of every other page of the book.

SS: Tell us why you wrote the book Art of Everyday Photography.

ST: I get so excited by the process of teaching and learning! Before my photography/author/online instructor career, I was a K-12 public school music teacher for 10 years. So, I’m definitely a teacher in spirit and feel a calling to share my passions with others. I feel fortunate to be able to share through my blog, books and online photography, iPhoneography and Photoshop classes.

Art of Everyday Photography by Susan Tuttle

SS: What did you enjoy the most about writing the book?

ST: A digital SLR camera is a tool plain and simple. I am excited to be able to empower the reader to learn about all of his/her camera’s functions so that he/she may make more creative photos. Yes, you can learn to shoot in manual, and I guarantee the process of learning how is way less daunting than you may think. Shooting from the gut will always be the most important factor when it comes to making beautiful photos, but think how much more powerful your photos will become if you know how to use your tool to best realize your creative visions!

SS: What was the most challenging part of writing it?

ST: That is easy to answer. It would be making sure that all of the technical information was spot on, especially as information was edited and shifted around during the layout and design stages. Also, I made it my top goal to make sure I presented this technical information in a fun, easy-to-understand and inspirational way. This required me to make multiple drafts and edits, to make sure I was giving my best teaching throughout the book.

SS: Did you shoot the photography specifically for the book or did you curate the images you already had, or both? What was the process like?

ST: Both! Every image in the book had to be selected with such care as each needed to demonstrate a specific technique or tip. I also wanted them to not only be technically-good, but infused with something much more which comes from ‘shooting from the gut’ — something spiritual, if you will. Some of the images that I had in my archives made perfect fits, so I used them. The meat of the book was composed during the winter months. Drawing from my archives allowed me to include photos from multiple seasons, thus allowing for color! I also took fresh shots — for one I wanted to include new shots never before seen on my site. I also needed to take shots of things I didn’t have examples of in my archives. For instance, I needed shots of lightning and some fireworks. I think I got some spiritual help along the way — we experienced a lightning storm like never before, so I had lots of stunning lightning shots to choose from.

SS: What is your favorite photo you shared in your book? Why is it your favorite?

ST: I honestly don’t have a specific favorite, but one that always makes me smile is this wide angle shot I took of this little girl at a birthday party. Wide angle shots taken from above like this distort figures and can give them a cartoonish effect that looks adorable with kids and pets.

Interview with Susan Tuttle

 

SS: What one tip would you share with  people who want to start taking better pictures right now?

ST: Shoot from the gut!

“I believe that there is extraordinary to be found in the ordinary, and that we can elevate our everyday lives by embracing and honoring that which is simple.” – Susan Tuttle

Susan Tuttle Author of Art of Everyday Photography copy

Susan Tuttle is both an iPhoneographer and DSLR photographer from Maine, USA. She is the author of four instruction-based books (published in the US and abroad by F+W Media, North Light Books) on the subject matter of mixed-media art, digital art with Photoshop, iPhone photography and DSLR photography. Her fourth book on DSLR photography and iPhoneography called Art of Everyday Photography: Move Toward Manual & Make Creative Photos has just been released. Susan’s iPhoneography has won numerous recognitions and awards, including American Aperture Awards (AX3) 2013 first place in the ‘nudes’ category, first place in ‘portraits’ for the Paris Mobile Photography Awards 2013, and several honorable mentions for the Mobile Photography Awards 2012 and 2013. Her mobile work has been exhibited in New York, London, Paris, Prague, and was recently part of the Photo Independent Art Fair in Hollywood. Susan just released an online course co-taught with mixed-media artist Alena Hennessy, called Co-Lab: Paint, Paper and iPhoneography Magic. She also offers an online course called The Art of iPhoneography Self-Portraiture. Susan was recently named Technical Advisor for Somerset Digital Studio Magazine.

Her past titles include Photo Craft: Creative Mixed-Media and Digital Approaches to Transforming Your Photographs (North Light Books, 2012, co-authored with Christy Hydeck), Digital Expressions: Creating Digital Art with Adobe Photoshop Elements (North Light Books, 2010) and Exhibition 36: Mixed-Media Demonstrations and Explorations (North Light Books, 2008).

Susan shared a stunning photo essay with Our Collective this month. Don’t miss it! And be sure to take advantage of the amazing discount she’s sharing with us for her Art of iPhoneography Self-Portraiture class.

Find Susan Tuttle: SITE/BLOG : INSTAGRAM : FLICKR : FACEBOOK : TWITTER : PINTEREST

The Adventures of Shutter Sisters and Lensbaby

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Image courtesy of Henry Lohmeyer

Image courtesy of Henry Lohmeyer

Ladies and Gentleman, Sisters and Brothers, we are proud to announce a brand new photography project full of exploration, intrigue and visual delights. Brimming with creativity, community and fun, this is a project of great adventure where we send a lens off on a journey like no other. Yes, we said a lens.

Introducing The Sisterhood of the Traveling Lens.

It’s got a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?

On this, the maiden voyage of the Traveling Lens project, we’re partnering up with none other than Lensbaby, the innovative folks behind the unique lenses we all love so much. Yay! In case you hadn’t heard Lensbaby has recently released a new mobile baby, the LM-10. Yes, mobile! As in, a sweet spot lens especially made to use with mobile cameras. Isn’t that awesome? We sure think so. Which is exactly why we wanted to take the new baby out for a spin. Or rather, we wanted YOU to.

You follow? Let us continue. If you’re interested in showing this lens around your hometown for a week, while using it to capture the moments of your daily life, all you’ve got to do is jump up and down, wave your arms, and shout out “pick me, pick me!” JK. We’ll save you from all that and just ask that you follow three simple steps.

First off, you’ll need to submit a few images to tell us you’re interested. Either shoot new images for your Instagram stream or sift through your archives and find images that capture the essence of travel, adventure or exploration. The visual interpretation of the theme is up to you. Be as creative as you’d like with the images you submit. Feel free to submit 1-10 images. Please note: We will take submissions from 9/17-9/22 through Instagram only.

Second, hashtag these images with the project hashtag #travelinglensproject AND add the city, state, country where you’re located. Your location is important for this project.

And lastly, give Lensbaby some love on Instagram by following them @seeinanewway. And if you don’t follow us already, please do, @shuttersisters. You’ll want to keep tabs on the Traveling Lens, right?

Three steps. Simple as that.

What happens then? From the submissions, we will select 30 participants that span the globe with the intention of giving this Traveling Lens the trip of a lifetime; all the while inspiring and delighting each of the 30 photographers along the way and showcasing and sharing the images they capture on the journey!

As for “the fine print”,  you knew it was coming, right? There are a few details we need to mention. Please pop over The Sisterhood of the Traveling Lens project page, scroll down and take a peek before you summit your images.

Bon Voyage! We’ll see you on Instagram.

The Must-Have List

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Vintage Camera Collection

We know that no two camera bags (or their contents) look alike (nor should they) , which is exactly why we’re asking YOU for your photographic opinion. We’re working on an article for Digital Photo Magazine’s annual “Buyers Guide” issue and we’re looking to compile the coolest, most useful and inspiring list of photo gear ever. Well, that might be an overstatement but still, we need your suggestions.

That said, answer us this:

What is the one piece of photo equipment you could couldn’t live without and why?

What piece of photo gear do you covet (we’re taking wish list) and why?

What is your favorite photo-centric gadget and why?

What’s the coolest photo-item that you own?

What photography accessory are you in love with?

What do you think the coolest “thing” in photography is at this minute?

That’s a lot of questions, we know. You’re not meant to answer them all. But, you get the gist of what we’re doing here, right? We’re crowd-sourcing in our own shutter sisterly (and brotherly) way to find out from you what kind of stuff your photographer-self can’t live without. We want this list to be a collaborative effort and we want to include the stuff that matters to YOU. We promise, that if we include your gear/gadget/equipment/accessory suggestion, we’ll give you credit for it. Yep. Your name, in lights (or perhaps better said, in the pages of DP Mag) because, that’s how we roll.

All you need to do is share with us an item (or 2? or 3?) here in the comments. Be sure you share with us where we can see your suggestions and please do elaborate on why you shared what you shared, if it’s applicable. The why is as important as the what! At least, we think so. You’ve got a week to come up with something. We’ll be compiling our list of faves late next week so please share by Aug 7th. Note: We’re also collecting suggestions via our Facebook Page so feel free to pop over there and add your suggestions to that thread. Easy-peasy.

Thanks for your input! We can’t wait to see what you love/need/want/must have (photographically speaking, that is).

Discovering Magic

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shooting-out-of-focus-by-Tracey-Clark

“As we keep exploring, experimenting, expressing ourselves in our work, we continue to learn, grow and evolve as photographers. No matter how long we’ve been shooting, how well we know our equipment or how many times we’ve read the manuals (or not), there’s always going to be more magic to discover.” -An excerpt from Discovering Magic by Tracey Clark.

This article can also be found in the March/April Issue of DP Magazine.

The Landscape of Black and White

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black-and-white-landscape-photography-by-Tracey-Clark

” Giving an image its own personality, and what’s more, its own (processing) preferences, may border on the absurd, but if my camera is my creative tool and the landscapes are my muses, then the relationship I have to them can only benefit me as an artist, and can hopefully give those who view my work a new way to see the backdrops of our life.” -An excerpt from The Landscape of Black and White by Tracey Clark.

This article can also be found in the January/February 2014 Issue of Digital Photo Magazine.

Winter Wonderland

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winter-photography-tips-by-Meredith-Winn

“Winter presents unique opportunities, challenges and inspirations for photographers of all experience levels. The days are short during winter, so lighting is everything. Snow is a reflective surface—it can be your best photographic companion if you keep the basics in mind.” -An excerpt from Winter Wonderland  by Meredith Winn.

This article can also be found in the December 2013 Issue of Digital Photo Magazine.

Delicious Memories

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food-photgraphy-by-Kristin-Zecchinelli

“My camera tends to look a lot like my kids’ fingers on baking days, flour-dusted and more than a little sticky; I would have it no other way. This is a celebration of the connectedness of food, the stories of family and the feeling of home, all captured through my lens.” -An excerpt from Delicious Memories by Kristin Zecchinelli.

This article can also be found in the December 2013 Issue of Digital Photo Magazine.

The Essence of Place

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shooting-on-location-by-Andrea-Corrona-Jenkins

“You can capture your experiences with pretty much any kind of camera. Whether you’re traveling abroad or just wandering the neighborhood, there are a few things that can help you more fully capture the essence of what you see and the places you experience, wherever you are in the world.” -An excerpt from The Essence of Place by Andrea Corrona Jenkins.

This article can also be found in the September/October Issue of Digital Photo Magazine.

Reflections

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shooting-reflections-by-Tracey-Clark

“Every single element within your image is constantly changing when shooting on or through a surface. There are so many factors involved, it’s difficult to know with absolute certainty what will emerge within your frame. Such is the beauty of reflections. I’ve found that one of the most seductive elements of the process is that there’s no way to be in total control of the outcome.” -An excerpt from Reflections by Tracey Clark.

This article can also be found in the September/October Issue of Digital Photo Magazine.

The Beckoning of Black and White

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black-and-white-photography-by-Tracey-Clark

“With postprocessing, I give myself permission to play with the images after the fact, which is obviously a lot different than plotting and planning prior to the project. This shift has undoubtedly helped to hone a completely different part of my vision as an artist.” -An excerpt from The Beckoning of Black and White by Tracey Clark.

This article can also be found in the January/February 2013 Issue of Digital Photo Magazine.