NZPhotographer Issue 55, May 2022

Connecting With The Natural World Through
Representational & Abstract Landscapes;
Interview With Sarah Smith
My family introduced me to travel at a young age,
and I have been lucky enough to travel to the USA,
Japan, the UK, Europe, Canada, and Australia over
the years. I have also travelled extensively in New
Zealand and lived in a variety of places, including 15
years in Queenstown, a year in South Westland and
most recently, 4 years in Northland. Late last year, we
moved back to the mainland to be closer to family
and the mountains.
My years in Queenstown fostered a strong interest
in the outdoors, where I tramped and skied my way
around the hills. This is when I fell in love with our
landscape and wanted to capture what I was seeing
on my adventures and take it home with me.
I think my real obsession with photography came after
being given a Canon EOS 450D and completing a
landscape workshop with Jackie Ranken and Mike
Langford in South Westland. I realised that with more
know-how, I could create images that captured more
than just a record of what I was seeing - an image could
convey a feeling, and I wanted to be able to do that.
SARAH, TELL US ABOUT YOU AND YOUR
JOURNEY INTO PHOTOGRAPHY...
I live in Canterbury with my partner and our two black
and white cats, Barbie and Ken. I work remotely from
home as a Learning and Teaching Specialist for a
polytechnic here in New Zealand.
I grew up and went to school, university and teachers’
college in Dunedin. After leaving school, I graduated
from university with an Art History degree and headed
overseas. I returned to New Zealand and began a
career in education which is my main income. Most
recently, I have started to focus more on photography
and last year achieved Licentiate honours with the
Photographic Society of New Zealand (PSNZ) and a
Diploma in Professional Photography.
WHAT ARE YOU SHOOTING WITH TODAY?
Recently, I spoiled myself and upgraded from a
Canon EOS 6D to the Canon EOS R5. Upgrading feels
like ditching your best friend for a new friend that you
have to spend lots of time with and get to know! We
are working on that!
My go-to lens is the Canon EF 24-105mm. It’s especially
good when I want a light set up for day walks or
overnight tramps. I also throw in a polarising filter and
a 6-stop circular ND filter for any Intentional Camera
Movement (ICM) and long exposures I want to make.
Other gear I have in my bag include a Canon EF
50mm, Canon EF 70-200mm, and Canon EF 17-35mm.
I also have a Benro Landscape Filter Kit and a Benro
600ex tripod.
WHAT DOES PHOTOGRAPHY MEAN TO YOU?
Photography is a creative outlet for me. It is how I
express what I observe and feel in the landscape, and
it is a way to connect with the natural world around
me. Typically, I photograph on my own, so it becomes
a type of meditation - it’s just me, my camera, the
landscape and light.
42 May 2022 NZPhotographer