34 8 June 2019 I http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk I subscribe 0330 333 1113
Atjust14,IsabellaSmithwonYoung
TravelPhotographeroftheYear.She
speakstoAmyDaviesabouther
photographichopesandaspirations
Whendidyoufirststart
takingphotosandwhy?
WhenI wasnine,myfamily
andI wenttoFrance.I was
boredlookingatmonuments
andstatues,soI askedmy
motherif I coulduseher
camera.I foundit funtoview
themonumentsina different
way.At13,I gotmyown
cameraandhaven’tstopped
takingphotossince.Whatdrawsyoutowards
travelphotography?because I feel if I found
someone whose work I admire,
I might end up accidentally
copying their style – and I want
to be original. I do admire
what Joel Sartore is doing with
The Photo Ark, and I follow the
Dogist on Instagram because
he combines photography with
dogs (my two favourite things!).What photographic
equipment do you use?
I use a Pentax K-S2 with a
50-200mm lens, 50mm lens
and 18-50mm lens (the Pentax
is weather-resistant which
is handy if it’s raining).
Occasionally I also use my
mother’s Canon EOS 70D. For
accessories, I use a few things,
including a reflector, lens ball
and light box.Rising staR
Isabella
Smith
all images © isabell a smith
The reason I like travel is that
I see things and in my mind
automatically picture the
scene as a photograph. I like
to tell a story with a single
shot and share it with people
who aren’t there. I also like the
challenge of not having a lot
of time to take a photo – you
have to decide instantly
because you might not be
there again. I also love to
photograph animals and
nature, and I have started
doing portrait photography.Have you had any
photographic training?
I took one semester in high
school and my teacher,
photographer Nick Simpson,
taught me a lot in his class. I
read books on photography
and learn online.What has been your biggest
photographic obstacle?
Right now my biggest obstacle
is night-time photography.
I am super impatient so I
struggle to sit there and wait
for the photo to process, and
most of the time I am not
happy with the result.Who are your biggest
photography influences?
I try not to get too influenced
by other photographers’ workIsabella has been taking photos since she was nine years old