NZPhotographer Issue 20, June 2019

TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR WORK…
WHAT GOES INTO CREATING A FINISHED
IMAGE?
My image of a single white rose (previous
page) was taken at Eden Gardens in 2018 and
was probably the image that made me realize
that I had found my favourite subject, signature
style, and mood.
I love the painterly look and always envision
a painting when I edit so I love when people
comment that my work looks like a painting
instead of a photograph or reminds them of a
painting.
I mostly shoot outdoors, preferring early
morning or afternoon light and am at my
happiest on a cloudy day out in a garden, this
is where I can breathe and totally be me, doing
exactly what I love as I am a bit of a loner, an
introvert, a creative at heart! In my camera
bag you will find a Nikon D7200 and a Nikon
105mm micro lens. I shoot handheld, I don’t like
tripods unless I am doing a still shot at home.
Post processing is my yoga! I love nothing more
that coming home to edit after a crazy day in
the office. A lot of what I do at this stage is trial
and error so from capturing my image to a final
print can take me either an hour or days!
So many people have asked for tutorials but
I am a shocking teacher and follow no rules
and seldom have an exact idea of what I want
my final result to look like. I do however love
textures and my go to are Kathleen Clemmons
textures, I hope to create my own someday.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR ROSE IMAGES
LEADING YOU TO LONDON...
The 6 images that you see here are part
of a portfolio of 6 Roses submitted to RHS
(Royal Horticultural Society) Botanical Art &
Photography show that takes place in London
in July 2019. It’s an open and international
exhibition and is the longest running and top
juried botanical art show in the world plus the
largest juried international art show in London.
I had confirmation in March that I have been
shortlisted to present my work at the
RHS Horticultural Halls in July this year. I honestly
did not think that I would be selected and I am
so grateful for this opportunity to take my work
to London and potentially receive a medal for
my efforts, I can’t think of a higher honour for
someone who started a couple of years ago
with nothing but a dream.
I have started a Give a Little page to support
me with printing and shipping my work to the
UK.
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE,
BEYOND LONDON?
The dream is to be an artist full time. I can’t
think of anything I would rather do than spend
time in gardens! I have so many New Zealand
gardens to explore (and capture) then I hope
to do the same overseas.
WHAT WORDS OF INSPIRATION CAN YOU
GIVE TO OTHERS?
I am so grateful for every single opportunity
that has come my way the last couple of years,
every no, every yes, every single person that
I have met on this journey have made me more
determined to succeed and be the best I can
be.
So often I think back to what if I said no
because I didn’t have the right equipment
or no when I felt scared or overwhelmed or
no when I felt vulnerable or no I wasn’t good
enough to enter the London art show… so
my words of wisdom are ‘just do it’! Find your
unique style and develop that as each one
of us has a different story to tell. I talk to so
many photographers, especially woman, who
compare their work to others so I say trust in
your journey, work hard, and love what you do
and do what you love.
WHERE CAN WE FIND YOU ONLINE?
instagram.com/mdewitphotography
facebook.com/marinadewitphotography
marinadewit.smugmug.com
albums.excio.io/profile/MarinadeWit
June 2019
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