"If I could tell the story in words, I wouldn't need to lug around a camera. ~Lewis Hine"

 

Location and studio photographer 

from Lake Illawarra, NSW 2528 Australia

 

Education: B.Ed (Info. Tech. and Comm.)

When did the photography bug bite? Photography is an important part of my life. Ever since I can remember I have loved capturing precious moments. My earliest photographs were portraits of friends and family.

Why do you enjoy photography? I enjoy freezing a moment in time, capturing images that are fun and full of expression. I also enjoy the challenge and believe, as Plutarch did that - "The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled."

Where can I buy your photos? I have a red bubble store, a stock photo account with fotolia and a profile on gekko images. I enjoy doing photography courses and photography challenges.   If you would like to purchase or rent an artwork for your business or organisation please contact me. 

What services do you provide? I am available for a wide range of photography subjects including, but not limited to

    * Advertisements
    * Architecture
    * Business events
    * Commercial headshots
    * Food photography
    * Portraits (baby, engagement, family, Trash the Dress (post wedding portraits) etc
    * Product Photography
    * Website design
    * Website developing (php, mysql database)

What education have you received in Photography and Design?  I have a Bachelor of Education with a specialisation in Information Technology and Communication from the University of Wollongong. As part of my course I studied multimedia education, photography, website design. During this time I borrowed a digitial camera from the Curriculum Resources Center and used the photos taken in assignments and personal websites. Later I purchased my first digital camera and started selling photos to publications and stock photography agencies. I have upgraded cameras several times since then and although I love to shoot with film it is through digital photography that I was able to experiment and learn through trial and error.

 

What Workshops have you attended?

I have attended a number of workshops in Wollongong and Sydney as well as online workshops and taking part in the Adobe Roadshows over the past few years.

Some of the off-line workshops I have enjoyed include:

   * WEA Digital Camera Workshop 1 with Alex Ball - introduction to digital camera technology, colour temperature, exposure, composition, lighting, weekly assignments and feedback
    * WEA Digital Camera Workshop  2 with Alex Ball -digital asset management and workflow, the Digital Darkroom, weekly assignments,composition, light meters, metering mode, etc.
    * People Photography workshop Sydney Photographic Workshop with Daniel Linnet

 

 Software:

As part of my Bachelor of Education (Information Technoly and Communication) degree I learned a range of software related to design, multimedia and web design including:

    * Adobe Lightroom
    * Adobe Photoshop
    * Macromedia Dreamweaver
    * Macromedia Flash

I use Adobe LightRoom to import and view my collections and Adobe Photoshop CS3 to edit my photos. I have been working with Adobe Photoshop since 1995 and since I believe in automating tasks I have created some Adobe Photoshop Actions (.ACN files) , Adobe Lightroom  Presets and  Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) presets that  are available to download.

 

Websites with CMS

I also have experience with the following Content Management Systems (websites based on php, mysql database and template driven websites) which manage content and create a very user friendly website platform for people with varying level of website management knowledge. Once the software is installed most areas of the site are easily added to and maintained through a simple 'What You See Is What You Get' aka WYSISYG editor which is almost as easy to use as writing an email. Joomla is my preference but I am versent in the other two popular platforms.

    * PHP Nuke
    * Joomla
    * XOOPS

I  started taking photographs of people, places and events as an amateur photojournalist. I support non profit education and culture based organisations such as Picture Australia and the Powerhouse museum. Food photography became an interest with a food blog created featuring local restaurants and food stores in the illawarra region and during my travels. This year I have taken part in two exhibitions - the first at Kiama in July with the Kiama-Shellharbour Camera club and the other in September with the Wollongong Pictorial Mafia at Project Artspace, Wollongong.

Vanessa Pike-Russell Photography    ABN 13 429 487 247