Sherri Talon
Sherri Talon
Welcome to the Artists Blog
When did you first become interested in art, in general?
When I was a young teenager and we had a tour of the high school we would go to, we saw this course called Graphic Arts. I was determined that’s what I would be doing with my life as I was fascinated.
I majored in Graphic Arts during high school and then worked in the industry for a couple of years as well as working as a photographer.
When did you first become interested in photography, specifically?
Probably years before then. My parents were older when I was born and my family on both sides were in their 70’s and 80’s by the time I was a young child. They had photos going back to the late 1800’s of family members and I loved looking through them and seeing history being held in my hands. I think that was the beginning for me. Being able to document the way I see life in pictures. But then I got away from it for many years.
Lily On Black
A passion for capturing my kid’s lives and looking at real estate got me back into it and I started my business with real estate photography.
In what other forms of art do you also work, if any?
A bit of digital art and, my personal favourite, digital photo restoration. Being able to repair memories is a passion!
On which style(s) of photography do you specialise?
It seems everything some days. I do a lot of product photography and have regular clients for that as well as real estate photography and event photography like small weddings and birthdays.
Has your style changed from when you first began? If so, why?
When I first got into digital I was obsessed with trying to achieve technical perfection so I would ignore any photos that I didn’t feel were “perfect”. Then I realised that I was missing so much art and so much expression. I went back through my old photos one day and thought “I’ve got some great shots here!”. So my priorities changed and now I just shoot what I love and try to capture it the way I see it. Unless it’s for a client, then the technical route I go.
What kind of equipment do you use?
I have a Canon 400D with the 18-55 kit lens, a 28-135IS, a little 50mm and a 580EX speedlite and various other lights for products. I do my processing and editing with both CS2 and Photoimpact 12.
What made you choose that equipment?
My first DSLR was a Canon 350D and I loved it. I actually wore out the sensor with just over 50,000 shots so I upgraded to the 400D when it came out.
Mommy’s Hand
How do you choose what you’re going to photograph?
If not a shoot I’ve been hired to do, I just let it choose me. I try and see things from an angle that may be missed and shoot moments that capture a feeling.
What kind of editing do you perform on your photographs, if any?
I shoot in Raw, so of course there is the original processing, then I just play. Some pictures need nothing but with others I just play with levels and saturation. Some pictures really ask to be played with though and then I’ll start applying filters, working with layers, that sort of thing until I get the art that I feel conveys my message.
How much time (on average) does it take to complete a work?
I have pictures that have taken seconds and others that have taken hours. But on average, I’d say a couple of minutes per picture.
How do you know when a piece is finished? Is it easy to walk away?
When I see that “pop”. But I have learned how to walk away. With both photo editing and restorations, sometimes you have to leave it for a day and then see it with fresh eyes. It wasn’t easy at first and I used to play for hours!
Natural Bridge, Queensland, Australia
What do you do to overcome a ‘block’?
I either lay on the floor with my kids and my camera or grab my teenage son and head out to nature.
How well do you take criticism and how do you make use of it?
I guess pretty well. Depends on who it’s coming from. Art is so personal that a great shot to some is not to others. And when the criticism is of a technical nature I tend to ignore it now. If someone is looking for technicalities in my work, they are truly missing the big picture.
Who is your favourite photographer?
There are too many to name! And it depends on my mood as well and what I want to look at but photographers like Mel Brackstone, Mike Dawson and Marc Adamus really inspire me for their beautiful imagery.
Which one of your photographs is your favourite?
I love Rainforest Rest. It was taken on a walk with my son and I just love the fairytale feel to it and the memory attached. The rest are pictures of my kids, I can’t narrow it down.
Rainforest Rest
Have you exhibited any of your work in galleries?
No but I would love to!
Will your work be included at any upcoming contests or galleries? If so, where and when?
Not at this time. I just had a baby a couple of months ago and so haven’t had time to do anything but run my business and be a very busy mum.
What are your plans for the future?
To grow my business both in photography and restoration. I’m also want to get into real estate. And we are planning on moving to a smaller town in the next year or so. I just want to finally achieve a balance between all the things I love to do, like photography, real estate and restorations and make enough money to support them all. Besides that, I just plan to raise my kids with as much love as I can give them.
North Gorge
What advice do you have for budding photographers?
Learn your equipment! Learn the “rules” of photography so that you know how to break them when needed. Look to other photographers for inspiration and never be afraid to ask how they did that. And most importantly, just keep taking pictures!
Your photographs are spellbinding Sherri. Thank you very much for participating in my Interviews!
You can see more of Sherri’s work at www.talondigitalimaging.com
