Photographic Visionary, Layne Underwood: Creator of Sublime Images

Layne Underwood's work caught my eye last summer. Her captures, be they people, animals, or landscapes, offer the viewer an intimate look at her subject. Working in both color, and, black and white, Layne's images tell a story and capture emotion, something many try, but only for the true artist and visionary can do.

Tell me some basic information about yourself: ie. age, location, education, etc.
AGE?? Auugghh... okay, I will turn 40 July 17th but it's not all bad my "vision" is much clearer now than when I was younger. I was born and raised in southern Minnesota. Most interesting thing about my education was attending a small 3-room Lutheran school grades 5-8, there were 6 kids in my class, 36 in the entire school! In high school I learned to develop black and white film for the annual staff. In college I studied mass communications, art history, graphic & interior design.

What first sparked your interested in photography?
My first camera was a 110 film Kodak - very cheap, but I remember fogging my tiny lil lens to get soft effects on portraits of my cousins. I was quite the loner and I think hiding behind my camera but carefully studying my subjects is what drew me into it.

How did you learn the ins-and-outs of life behind the lens?
Practice, practice, practice!!!! I have a photographic style memory, which helps, and I can envision how something will look by placing and replacing objects in my mind before I shoot. One of the best art classes I ever took studied positive negative space - once you expand beyond your subject to the rest of the frame, and you seek a balance - or possibly an unbalance due to subject or leading line... you find more than what you may have originally seen. I believe that balance is met when you look at any art and find "it works".

I generally dislike photographs of cats, but I could look at your images all day. They are fresh and offer insight into the feline. What's key in taking good pet photographs?
Again it goes back to my childhood, most of it was spent with animals and not other kids. Cats, pigs, horses & dogs were like siblings and friends. You have to be able to relax around animals to get them to go about their business and let you enter their world. Possibly I was a cat in a previous life, or perhaps reading Animal Farm in advanced English scared me into not wanting to be on their bad sides!

Your black and white, and tinted images, are memorable. How do you decide what color an image should be?
For me it goes back to the balance of the project. Often color distracts. Black and white has its own mood, sometimes haunting at other times it adds age/history to a piece. A black and white photo can be like a good book, you see the colors in your mind that please you and those colors aren't the same for any two people.

You do a lot of Macro work, what's the secret to successfully shooting close-ups of plants, insects, etc.?
Patience! Timing, lighting, heat of the day - environment causes multiple changes in subjects each day. I suggest shooting the same subjects throughout the day and then reviewing your work to see what you prefer. My favorite natural light is the extremely brief period before the sun is completely set and everything has such a warm glow. As far as insect photos I recommend digital due to the cost effectiveness, I can take 100 pictures of the same bug before I get the one I was hoping for! It can also help to manipulate an uncooperative bug with a long blade of grass ;-)

You capture a lot of still-lifes from interesting perspective. What do think about when setting up a scene? What thoughts go into the composition, lighting, etc.?
I'm a huge fan of shadows and what they can do for and against an artist. I like photos that draw you into them and encourage questions. In still life I want to question why the object was left, was it happened upon? Did nature alter the composition? I try not to stage objects but I may move other objects around my subjects to get better lighting. Often I'll find an old building or a forgotten piece of equipment but the lighting at the time I find it is bad - I'd rather take note of the subject and come back to it at a different time of day to shoot than use artificial lighting.

What's your favorite photograph (that you have taken) and why?
This is a very tough question - I don't believe I have a specific favorite - but I often share with friends a few of my favorites. Posting these on Gather and getting reactions from such a wide variety of people is a great joy for me.

What keeps you inspired and your captures fresh?
Love of subject, media, and art in general. If I find I'm having a bad day or series of days I usually realize I haven't had my camera in my hand, so I'll grab it and go for a walk - I always feel better.

What kind of gear are you using?
My Nikon D70 has been a real joy but I'm already hoping to step up again as soon as I have the money (or don't need heat). Happiness in my life is my current priority and I am willing to give up just about anything material to hold onto what makes me happy. Last year when there was a possible tornado heading toward my home I put my cameras in my truck along with a few cd's with my writing - that was it!

What are your tips for up-and-coming photographers?
Buy the best equipment you can afford (or just a 'lil better) and USE IT!!! Be aware that our minds like to divide what we see into thirds so watch your horizon lines and placement of subject. Study and understand that the space around your subject is as important as your subject. Shoot what moves you and it will move others.

See Layne's work at:
http://www.imagekind.com/MemberProfile.aspx?MID=301d136b-dd42-4ded-998c-a4f13292e1c9
http://www.cafepress.com/candidlyann