What Camera Does Valerie Jardin Use
Valerie Jardin is non merely an achieved street photographer, but also a podcaster, teacher, speaker and writer. Originally from France, Valerie currently lives in the Usa. Valerie'southward international workshops and speaking engagements often sell out over a year in advance. This is why I experience so lucky to accept been able to attend one of her workshops this August in Vancouver, Canada.
After the first day of the workshop, Valerie was gracious enough to sit down down with me and respond a few questions for Photography Life readers. Following is our chat:
I know you lot first started out photographing your children and this led to your portrait business. How did you lot move from portraits, to shooting food and interiors for commercial clients?
Well I never really said no! When somebody would ask me, "Practise yous shoot food?" I would say, "Certain I practice!" I am 1 that always wants to learn. I always did my best, and it worked in my favour.
Can you tell us a fleck almost the transition to teaching and workshops?
I have some prior pedagogy experience and I think you either love to teach or you lot don't. Didactics what y'all dearest and sharing that passion is so gratifying. Teaching workshops was merely a natural progression for me.
When I started my workshops I jumped correct into it. I started with a weeklong workshop in Paris. And fifty-fifty though I had a very pocket-sized audience at the time, the workshop filled up. To sell workshops, information technology's very difficult; you need a very big audience. It was amazing that the first workshop sold and that I had a waiting listing for the adjacent one! It was simply dandy! I went from teaching one workshop the first year to nine the following twelvemonth. Then I knew that was it, and I phased out my commercial photography business organisation!
Did you take a career before photography?
Well yes and no! I have a groundwork in education and international business. And I was a translator for many years before starting photography. I've always been self-employed.
When did you become an official Fujifilm X-Photographer and how did that come about?
Well, when I ditched my DSLR I switched to Fuji, and I really loved it. I am a very passionate person. And when I'chiliad passionate near something, I'm very vocal! So information technology didn't take Fujifilm very long to detect.
When Fujifilm approached me to become an Official X-Photographer I made it very clear that I didn't want Fuji to be involved in my workshops. I wanted to continue them completely separate since I have worked very difficult to brand my workshops my brand.
I love the fact that through Fujifilm I tin can attain out to more people and share my passion and vision . Existence an X-Photographer allows me to teach what I honey by speaking at conferences and so forth. People are always so excited to learn that they don't demand to own large and expensive gear to make art . It'due south been a corking feel.
Although I'm actually passionate most Fujifilm, I don't talk well-nigh the gear whatever differently than I did before I became an official 10-Photographer. They make swell cameras, period. Anyone who has a take a chance to shoot with one will probably get hooked.
Y'all only released your first eBook, " Street Photography: First Steps and Beyond ," and you are currently writing a print book. Tin can yous tell us a chip about this new book?
The volume is going to be a collection of photographs and the stories behind each one. I'll describe what's going on in my head as I approach a scene. How I see it, and how I shoot it, the whole feeling behind the process. It's going to be a very personal approach to a selection of images.
Congratulations on episode 100 of your podcast "Street Focus" on the TWiP network! How exercise you juggle producing a podcast every week with your workshops, writing and family and when exercise yous have fourth dimension for your own photography?
That's still my top priority, to be out with my camera, and so I definitely make time for that. I never go out the house without my camera. As a street lensman information technology's not like you lot have to go to an exotic location to practice. I still shoot a lot every calendar week. It's like therapy, like do. I need to exercise every day, and I need to shoot every day. If I couldn't practice that, everything else would endure and nobody around me would be very happy!
Information technology is a juggle, and at this point it is probably fashion too much for one person. I'm working on finding some assistants to take over some of the tasks. My eBook for example, I didn't do the layout. I hired somebody to do that. The new print book, of course I have to write it, merely once it's written I tin can hand it off to someone else and they will do the balance. Considering I travel so much, I record several episodes of the podcast at a time. It is just a constant juggle!
I estimate it'due south mostly nearly prioritizing and beingness organized. The workshops and my clients are my top priorities.
Who have you learned the most from?
I recollect I larn from people everyday. I learn from my students, I acquire from life. I learn from people I photograph on the street. I get inspiration from and so many places.
For the podcasts, I learn from the all-time podcasters out in that location. They are my function models, and I only want to be equally good equally them some day.
As for photography, I never stop learning. My wish is never to feel I'm in that location. I think that would be very sad, to feel you have goose egg left to learn.
What do you do to keep motivated, and not lose your passion for photography and teaching?
The students brand teaching exciting. When you run across that ah-hah moment when they start understanding light, or they just go it, it is so satisfying. You always see something waking upwardly in a pupil and that is actually gratifying.
For my photography, I try to raise the bar all the time. I'm always challenging myself. I challenge myself past either finding more hard situations to shoot in, like more difficult low-cal. Or, I limit myself with gear. There are so many ways you can push yourself and keep information technology fresh.
And I pace myself. I could probably teach 5 more workshops in a year, simply I know that I would burn out if I did that.
I think I've reached a good balance. There is a sparse line that you don't want to cantankerous, where what you love becomes a job and the fun goes away. And if you loose the passion, so why would people come and larn from y'all? The passion has to be contagious, and I desire to go on it that fashion.
Is at that place an image that got away or one you have envisioned, but haven't been able to nail yet?
There are always shots that get away. But that's OK; there will be new shots to catch another solar day.
There are some photos I envision. You go to a location again and again, and and then finally you capture it. That'due south the saddest moment in a way, considering once you capture what you have planned for so long, that shot is done. It is so biting sweet. Yous're excited because you lot caught the shot, but it's sad because you accept to try and discover another location and shot to capture.
But, at that place are always new spots and new shots. I don't like to think that far alee though. I like the streets to surprise me! I think its actually working at getting the shot that is the well-nigh fun, that'due south the virtually heady part.
What is your favourite photography gadget?
I'k not really too into gadgets. I really love my thumb grip on my X100T though, and I just couldn't live without it. And of course, I love a cool bag and a cool strap! I recently got a Lúcida strap, its artisan made in Espana and custom made in the leather colour you want and the length yous want. It'due south just beautiful. It is so well made, it will last forever. It will outlast the photographic camera and the photographer.
Do you lot have a favourite photograph that you lot took?
In that location is e'er ane that stands out every year or every trip. It'southward not commonly considering of its technical merit. It'southward more almost its emotion. I don't retrieve I have a constant favourite. I will await at a shot that I loved two or three years agone, and now I think it actually wasn't all that special. I endeavour not to get likewise attached.
If you could go shooting in the streets today with any other photographer, alive or expressionless, who would it be and why?
Today I would love to leave with Jay Maisel. I just love his personality. He is a typical New Yorker. I think information technology would just be awesome to hang out with him for a day. Unfortunately I never made it to any of his workshops, and I don't think he is teaching any more. That is something I would love to take done.
If yous were told that you could merely keep ane camera and lens combination, what would it exist?
The Fujifilm X100T with the merely lens information technology has, the stock-still 23mm lens. I could be happy with that photographic camera forever!
What is your favourite photography volume?
I have a few. I actually like "The Passionate Photographer," written past my good friend Steve Simon. And " Inside the Frame: The Journey of Photographic Vision ," by David duChemin too. It is one of my early on favourite photography books. Information technology's not just nigh street photography; it's only a beautiful and inspirational volume.
What elements do you feel make a really good street photograph?
To make a strong photo, it depends. Information technology could exist a combination of things. A lot of amazing elements can come together. You could have a great composition, a wonderful field of study and peachy light and everything falls together. But that is and then rare. It'due south all most finding an interesting discipline, something yous haven't seen earlier. It tin exist finding something very timeless. Similar when I'1000 in Paris and I photograph a scene that could accept been shot 50 or 60 years ago. When there is nothing that will date the capture, I think that is very special. Often it'southward all near the calorie-free, and at times when the light is bad, it's all most the gesture and the story. It just depends!
Everybody seems to take different definitions of "street photography". Practice y'all attach to rigid rules, or something broader? What is your definition?
To me it's making life extraordinary, or looking at the ordinary in an boggling style. It'southward near seeing the uniqueness in the mundane.
What practice you similar to shoot when yous are on holiday with your family unit? Do yous always have your camera with you?
I dearest shooting architectural details and still life. Information technology's hard for me not to contain people in my shots though. So for example, if I'yard at dinner and I shoot my glass of wine, I'll wait until a waiter walks into the background. I like the human chemical element.
When I'm on vacation I attempt non to take too much fourth dimension for photography. But I always have the photographic camera with me, and I take hold of shots along the way. I try and turn it into a challenge: How many good shots can I get in only a couple of weeks without taking too much time? Sometimes it's the ability of limitations. If you don't have a lot of time, peradventure you volition use those limitations to your advantage and run into ameliorate.
Lastly, do you have any tips for photographers to help them abound artistically?
Just go out and shoot! It'south corking to become inspired by reading books and watching tutorials and so forth, but you need to actually become out and accept pictures. Don't be afraid to get out there.
Also, it is very important to follow your eye. It's great to be inspired past other photographers, but find your own voice. Information technology will happen, it doesn't happen over nighttime, you just accept to be true to yourself. Don't attempt and fit to a mould. You have to shoot what makes you happy. Because when it comes down to it, yous are the simply person you take to satisfy. If you shoot with your center, and yous do something you lot really honey, information technology will shine through. That is when yous will do your best work, and then find your ain voice.
Valerie's passion is infectious. If you always get the opportunity to participate in one of her workshops, or listen to her speak, I would highly recommend it! For me, the experience was highly motivating!
To encounter more of Valerie'due south work or find out virtually her workshops, visit her website valeriejardinphotography.com. Or, listen to her podcast, Street Focus, on This Week in Photograph.
Interview Update (Sept 23, 2016)
Later 104 episodes of 'Street Focus', Valerie has decided to get out the TWIP network to start her own podcast. Her new podcast, called 'Hit the Streets with Valerie Jardin' aired it's start episode this week. It is available on iTunes, Google Play, Pocket Bandage, or you can find a link to it on her website.
Source: https://photographylife.com/an-interview-with-street-photographer-valerie-jardin
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