The 4th Annual Photography Exhibit is going on now at the Elk River Arts Alliance, and will be up until August 31st. Our featured photographer and 'Best in Show' winner for the second year in a row is Roger Williams. Get to know the artist better by checking out the interview below and come down to see the show for yourself!!
Grace, Roger Williams (Best in Show 2013)
Tri-colored Heron, Roger Williams (Best in Show 2012)
Arts Alliance: Is there a particular subject that interests you? Why?
Roger Williams: Birds are of particular interest to me. A number of years ago, I stumbled upon a reference to Arthur Morris and his concept of "Birds as Art". The idea here is to photograph birds with backgrounds that are non-distracting. I purchased Morris' first book, "The Art of Bird Photography," invested in suitable camera equipment (long lenses are a must) and began my love affair with photographing birds. I also enjoy photographing other forms of wildlife and have spent more time recently with close-up/macro photography. We don't see many of the mini-treasures around us until we go afield with only a macro lens.
AA: What inspires you to take photographs?
RW: The challenge of creating likable images and the joy of being in the out-of-doors. Flight photography is particularly fun for me.
AA: How important is composition to your work? What do you look for?
RW: Composition is extremely important. Proper placement of the bird (or other subject) in the frame, accounting for the direction the bird is looking or flying, along with the perch or other elements in the field of view makes the image a winner or loser. Perfect composition is not always possible in the field, but can often be attained through selective cropping.
AA: Do you have a favorite time of day to take pictures? How does lighting play a role in your work?
RW: I prefer shooting in low light conditions, particularly early morning and late afternoon when the sun's colors are the warmest. I also like cloudy days which even out the light and minimize bright spots and allow longer shooting hours.
AA: Do you have an online portfolio or website where we can view more of your work?
AA: Is there anything else you would like to tell us?
RW: I appreciate the efforts of the Arts Alliance and its staff in fostering the arts in the Elk River area of the State.
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