Photo artist interview #55 - ANNA CHIPMAN

• In 1-2 words, what do you shoot?

Abstract flowers

• What’s your weapon of choice?

Canon 5D Mark ii with a 100 macro lens

• Where is your favorite place on earth?

My favorite place is with my family…however an actual location would be Costa Rica. I studied Spanish there for five weeks and found such peace living there. The thriving green forests and the ability to commune with nature were a great source of inspiration. It is beyond my ability to express how much I loved it there.

• What would be your replacement Hobby/Profession if photography was dead?

Maybe abstract painting seems about the next closest thing to the way I like to work, I guess it would have to be that.

• Swimming with sharks or toiling with alligators?

I am gonna go with swimming with sharks…you never know, it could be those tiny sharks at Sea World…not so potentially lethal.

• What do you favor:

B&W or Color?

Color

Film or Digital?

I shoot digital but film holds a special place in my heart.

Studio or Location?

Generally studio, as the flowers move too much on location. Vitamin D from being on location is sure nice though.

Night or Day?

I love the evening/night when I can do my own work and I get to be home.

Portrait or Landscape?

Landscape

Dave Lee Roth or Sammy Hagar?

Sammy Hagar....

• What is your most treasured possession?

I am in love with my 5D Mark ii. My husband likes to tell people I paid more for the camera than we did for our car. But you know it is such a great camera that it is easy for it to be a very prized piece of equipment.

• Favorite photo book and/or Favorite movie?

Favorite photobook – Barbara Bordnick Searching
Favorite movie - The Wizard of Oz

• Photographer/s that inspire you?

A couple photographers who influenced me early on are Edward Weston and Imogen Cunningham. Their work has forever changed the way that I look at photography. Daniel Sroka, Barbara Bordnick and my friend ValJean Anderson are some of my favorite living artists that I am influenced by.

• Advice for the younglings out there looking through their first viewfinder?

Talk to other photographers, get their advice and learn something from their mistakes, you are still going to have to make your own and learn from those too. Find your passion and photograph that.

• What’s the story behind the photo below?

Edge of Night was photographed at the very end of a deadline. I thought I had all of the images for that deadline but since I still had time I went back to my studio to shoot more. I brought an iris with me since this was a flower that had never revealed itself to me. Needless to say that is no longer the case. I love this image because it shows me that you never know when will be the time that that flower will show you something totally different than you have ever seen before. This image reminds me to never give up.

• Any future projects or travels?

I am going to be making a trip to the Berkeley Botanical Gardens sometime soon to soak up some Vitamin D.

• Where can we see more of your work?

www.annachipman.com

• In 1 word, last thing you’d say if time stopped right NOW?

Cheese


Photo courtesy of the artist "Anna Chipman"

Thank you

T2