Style Sunday - An Interview with Photographer Laura Evans

Step into photographer Laura Evans' Etsy shop and you will find images that make you take pause to consider the vast beauty in the world. Her artist's eye finds sweet serenity in views that many of us might dismiss as mundane.

Evans graduated with a BA Honors in Photography in 2006 from Leeds Metropolitan University; while she came out with an extensive background in her craft, she says that she also left with a mindset that made it difficult to create solely for her joy of creating.

A stint as a photography teacher in a high school helped her rediscover her passion for the craft as she watched the creative spark ignite in her students; shortly thereafter she and her husband moved to Germany where her husband is stationed in the military. According to Evans "life happened in a big way and photography got pushed to the side."

Last year she purchased a Nikon D300 and really began to delve back into taking pictures for herself again. "I hate cliches, but this year has been the real 'turning point,'" she said. Evans opened her Etsy shop in April of this year where she sells her fine art photography.

"I came to Etsy wanting to showcase my work and see if I could make a career out of photography after all," she said. "I've met so many fabulous people, photographers, military wives and inspirational people who have helped me discover new things. My macro lens really opened my eyes as well."

FPOE caught up with Evans, who braved a late night interview over in Germany to discuss her work and her blossoming shop.

FPOE
You say that this year has been a turning point for you. What are some new techniques that you're trying?

Laura Evans
Right now I just feel more free in my photography; it's all about loving what I'm doing and in some ways I'm learning much more about it through trial and error than I ever did in college. Saying this I want to do some work shops because I still feel I need help technically, but artistically I feel like I'm making huge leaps and loving the variety of work I'm producing.

FPOE
What are some of the things that you are doing right now that you love?

Laura Evans
Right now I'm loving experimenting with the vintage feel - muted colours and the dream like quality. But a few months ago, after buying my macro lens, I went nuts with close ups of everything. I have a bunch of vintage cameras I want to shoot with, but getting the film developed & scanned isn't cheap. I also want to have a go at some self portraits and of course more portrait work itself, with maybe getting a business going eventually

FPOE
Are you focusing on finding some paid client work in Germany?

Laura Evans
Yes, around the airbase. I aim to work with Americans here but find it's hard. There are a lot of portrait "photographers" here who work for cheap, but the work is what you pay for. Cheesy smile, Sears catalogue - everything I dislike about portraits.

FPOE
What are some of the things you aim for in a portrait?

Laura Evans
I want my portraits to be about the people in them -to sum those people up through their clothing, expressions, the environment they are in. For my degree show I produced a series of portraits (very editorial in style) and I want that same feel in the work I do now. Whilst I may ask an individual or couple to do something, stand somewhere I etc., I let them do it in a way that's comfortable to them. If it's not natural for them then you'll see it in the image. I also talk the entire time I'm doing it.

FPOE
Yeah sometimes I have them have a conversation with someone off camera.

Laura Evans
That's what makes shooting couples easier, because they can just talk with each other. It doesn't matter if they're talking about the camera, because they're still concentrating more on their their half than me.

FPOE
Definitely; I'm looking at some of your portraits on Facebook - really wonderful stuff!
They definitely have an editorial style and a fantastic mood.

Laura Evans
Thank you. That's really new to me and much more fun than i imagined. I like using locations; it stops images from getting stale - the same poses for the same couples kind of thing. Whilst I use similar set ups, it's never going to be the same.

FPOE
So can you tell me a little bit about the equipment you use. You have a Nikon D300 (a great camera!) - what kind of lights do you use?

Laura Evans
I still don't own a flash for my D300!!!! I recently met a wonderful photographer who brought his flash along on the shoot with Erica and it was so much fun. A speedlight is high on my light (and my birthday is next month!!!) I have bought an umbrella and reflector but have yet to try them out. I work with natural light or long exposures which in itself helps the exploration process. When you're limited in what you have, it forces you to think some more and be creative.

FPOE
Definitely! What kind of processing do you favor- especially in terms of your fine art? You talked about using muted colors and achieving that dream like quality. How do you do that?

Laura Evans
I use Colour Balance and Hue/Saturation. My computer knowledge is also in the learning/exploration stage. I started using Photoshop in the same context as I would use a dark room. There are a lot of techniques out there that I find (and this is just the British snob in me) take away from the basic principles of photography. Somewhere along the way I feel like some people have stopped thinking about the initial image, but the ways they can alter it on a computer. I have no problem with using a whirlwind of computer techniques, but then in my eyes it becomes graphic based piece of art.

FPOE
So what do you hope that viewers come away with when looking at your art and your shop?

Laura Evans
Apart from some insight in my mind, I like to think that my images give you a new view of some of the less obvious, random things. I hope they can find something that appeals to them, as I shoot such a variety. I find that I'll work with a technique or idea for a while and then find some new pretty & shiny! I have a low attention span so there is so much variety in my store and I see thing differently. I love bold bright colours, lots of contrast and images that really pop out at the wall. But then I also love classic black and white images that are simple and elegant. When I see something, I don't know how it's going to look at the end - colour or black and white. Then sometimes when editing, I'm completely surprised by the images that, in my mind, are stunning compared to those I imagined working at the time of shooting. But that's the fun of editing!

FPOE
So last question: what has been your favorite part of having a store? Has is expanded your horizons as an artist?

Laura Evans
Running a shop can be long and tedious work sometimes, but also surprising and exciting at the same time. To me the best part of Etsy has been the people I've met and the chance to talk and learn. It has also given me the inspiration and help in pushing myself to do the thing I love. Whilst my sales are super low and that it can be frustrating, I know that this is what I want to do. And I know my work is good enough to do it! It's just a big scary world out there and Etsy has allowed me to start off slowly - hopefully preparing me for the giant leap I plan on eventually taking.

FPOE
Wonderful! I really appreciate your being the first to volunteer for this interview -thanks for doing this.

Laura Evans
It's been an exciting weekend for me so having this is like the cherry on the top!