17 September 2024

Astrid started by explaining how she started in photography and about her first camera, a HP digital camera with a 3 Mp sensor. Once embarked, to help develop her photographic skills, Astrid started taking workshops.

In 2010, Astrid held her first exhibition, jointly with fellow photographer Huw Alban. Astrid’s strongest memory of the event was of a visitor who shared that she was going through difficult times, but looking at the photographs made her feel much better.

It was at that point Astrid realised how important it was to her to convey emotion through her images. So Astrid read Brooks Jensen’s book “Letting go of the Camera” a collection of essays. In the book Brook challenges photographers to photograph what they feel, so that you “let go of yourself and let your subject speak directly to your audience.”

Astrid began to focus more on what she felt when exploring a scene and how her state of mind influenced the resulting photograph. Over time, this awareness changed the way she created images, hopefully evoking an emotional response in viewers.

Astrid presented a number of techniques she uses to capture the emotions of the moment in her photographs: Abstract, Hi-Key, double (and multiple) exposure, Texture overlays. Getting closer to the subject to remove distractions. Intentional Camera Movement (ICM) and deliberately defocussing.

Astrid concluded the talk by showing an image from her latest “letter” project.

Overall a thoroughly stimulating talk, presenting many ideas for creativity in photography.

If you would like to see more of Astrid’s work or book a Workshop check out the following:

Website: www.astridmcgechan.com and Light and Land: www.lightandland.co.uk

Facebook: AstridMcGechanPhotography

Instagram: astrid_mcgechan

YouTube: @AstridMcGechan