An Interview with Portrait
Photographer Natalie Dybisz
http://www.photographyblog.com/articles/an_intervie
w_with_portrait_photographer_natalie_dybisz/2
1. Briefly describe a Day in the Life of Natalie
Dybisz!
I get up between 8am and 9am, and go for a jog
(most mornings) by the sea. After showering and
having breakfast, I seem to spend most of my time
on my laptop; processing pictures, replying to
emails, preparing material for my blog and other
website pages, and doing accounts, etc. Some
afternoons I will go out and shoot, most often self-portraits, though the occasional
collaborative model shoots too. I do intermittent chores throughout the day to take a break
from the screen, go to the butchers and supermarket and generally try to take a break often. In
the evening I may watch some TV or a film with my boyfriend. I find that I work all the way to
late evening, towards midnight, with intermittent leisure activities, rather than designating one
definite half of the day for work and one half for relaxation.
2. What is your favourite kind of portrait photography, and what is it that interests you so
much?
Out of all the different kinds/styles I may have explored in my images so far, I find I most enjoy
using motion, especially in low light or with slightly slower shutter speeds to capture subtle
blurs of body or clothing. I find it a very spontaneous, a kind of lucky dip, and therefore a
rewarding way to work. Often the result will be more interesting than if the subject is static.
The movement might be
strong with a highly blurred
or ghostly result, such as my
images 'An impromptu
performance' and 'Her
fleeting imprint', but others
might have slight
movement, such as a flicker
of the hair, which leads to
clarity but a sense of
dynamism, such as 'Her
frame game', 'The balcony
breeze' (where I swayed the
gown), and 'The
adjustment'.
3. How did you make the break-through to becoming a full-time pro photographer?
I started doing photos in 2006 whilst studying, and carried it on alongside my degree till 2008
when I graduated. After graduating, I looked for a full-time job and worked in a publishing role,
but had to leave after 5 months because of an opportunity that came up with my photography
with Microsoft, involving live shoots and photowalks in Seattle and California. I was
comfortable ending my job and going to America for the trip, not only because it was such a
great opportunity, but also because I considered it the moment to plunge into photography fulltime, much earlier than I had expected. I had anticipated working in a full-time job for someone
else (most likely non-photographic, at least not directly concerned with photography or art) for
at least a year or even more. Confidence is the main thing one needs to pursue selfemployment and I felt that other people around me buttressed my strength to take the plunge:
people at Microsoft, viewers/'fans' online, and even also the people who worked at the place I
left (who were happy for me and very
encouraging!).
4. What kind of equipment do you use now, and
what did you start with?
I had played with Sony compacts in the very early
days, without a tripod. I was then given a tripod
and a bigger camera: a Sony R1 with which I did
about 2 years of images. This camera had a
convenient swivel screen. I then found the
transition to my first DSLR in Sept 2008, a Canon
40D, quite a challenge because I realize that the
progressive state of technology does not consider
the swivel screen a crucial feature! I got used to
the 40D over time then recently upgraded to a 5D
Mark II. I now also have a larger sturdier tripod
and some flash guns. Plus, a big reflector!
5. What has been the single most important technological improvement for your
photography, and why?
I only started in 2006 so I guess it's the combination of three important technological things
that made it possible for me to begin with: the availability of digital cameras, and of digital
processing i.e. Photoshop, and also, the proliferation of Internet use. I think that from 2006 to
now, the Internet has become more of a powerful tool than ever before in the way artists can
build an audience, via Facebook, Twitter, etc., and their own mailing lists, and have an instant
worldwide audience with whom to communicate. However, since 2006, it's probably become
more competitive than ever because more and more people are doing this.
The other aspect of technology I would comment on is the easier availability of high-resolution,
full-frame cameras. The Canon 5D Mark II is the first full-frame camera of its ilk to become so
accessible, with many young photographers choosing it. At just under £2000 It may not sound
so cheap in some people's contexts, but it is certainly good compared to what this kind of
camera would have cost a few years back.
6. What's your favourite
ever image, and why?
My favourites inevitably
change over time, at the
moment one that springs
to mind is 'The
adjustment'. It's not a
nude, so no-one can harp
on about me using my
body to get attention. It's
not a trick image (only
very subtlety) so no-one
equally can be distracted
by the 'hows' and the mechanisms of the production and query me as to how I 'did it'. And,
whilst it is a slight 'composite', i.e. one small part layered in Photoshop, it's not heavily
processed, so people don't go on about my 'digital techniques' more than anything. It's an
image that uses shape in a way that I think is interesting, and I think it has my style because of
these eye-catching sweeping shapes that are, as I say, not too OTT (over-the-top) and
'Photoshopped'.
7. What has been your most interesting or dangerous assignment?
I have not done that many 'assignments' in terms of being
given a brief by another person or client. Most of my work
has been produced as independent, wanton self-portrait
shoots, so I'll choose from those. By 'dangerous' I can
probably only say the recent four trips I have made to
derelict mental asylums, most of them with my boyfriend,
Matthew, with whom I collaborated to make the images
when we got there. These trips involved sneaking through
fences and over walls to get into the abandoned,
deteriorating buildings. The roofs and ceilings were in
extreme disrepair in most of the hospitals, and there were
warnings of asbestos etc. I felt the most unsafe when we
entered a particular block of West Park hospital, in Surrey,
on our third trip. Although we were on the ground floor,
there were large gaping holes in the floor, and the floor was
slightly caving in as we walked over it. It has been raining,
so it was probably even weaker. It smelt, and I suddenly got
a chill down my spine. I was keen to get out of there.
8. Has the recent recession impacted on your business, and how have you dealt with it?
My work with companies, presenting at tradeshows and events, was the area that was most hit
by the economy. My number of print sales, however, went up. I expected it to be the other way
round. I am very surprised to be making most of my living from print sales at the moment.
However, selling prints is a funny business, you never know when you will get interest from a
buyer. I think that it's important to keep marketing oneself as much as is palatable, and if you
do have to find other ways to bring money in (a manual part-time job for example), make sure
you don't neglect your art.
9. What is the one piece of advice that you would give to other budding photographers?
Get a written agreement for every prospect
or project you find yourself getting involved
with. Don't let anyone (galleries, agents,
publishers, and other kinds of companies)
bulldoze you into doing something straight
away, or giving something upfront, by using
the excuse that time is tight or a deadline is
approaching. Your rights are worth time,
and if they are proactive enough, it doesn't
have to take a lot of time to make an
agreement anyway.
Of course, sometimes you have to take a bit
of a risk, put your trust in people, people
you may have just met, or give a bit of effort
to something before it becomes worthwhile
or profitable. Just don't be scared to value
your own time, and your work. Consult
other people's opinions in situations where
you find yourself offered something. All
these people want something from you.
10. Finally, how do you think photography will change in the future, if at all?
That is a tough question, because I feel as though I have entered photography at a huge time of
change, with the way we produce, and share our images online. A lot more artists are entering
photography through new means, and not having to go via traditional routes of art and
photography degrees. I think the situation will continue this way, with more people taking
advantage of the platforms the internet provides to be able to share our work with the world
without moderation or qualifications. I think it will become a lot more competitive and people
will have to do more to be able to 'shine', which involves promoting oneself in stronger
different ways too. This is something that is largely against convention for artists, it has
traditionally been seen as unsavoury for an artist to talk about him/herself and to self-promote.
Questions:
1. Read “a Day in the Life of Natalie Dybisz”. Does Natalie’s job and work
schedule sound appealing to you? Why or why not?
2. What are some of the ways that Natalie uses motion in her photography?
3. According to Natalie, what is the main thing a person needs to pursue selfemployment?
4. What three important technological things helped Natalie to begin her
career as a photographer?
5. Why did Natalie feel unsafe when she was taking photographs in
abandoned mental hospitals?
6. How does Natalie believe that photography will change in the future?
Critique:
Go to Natalie’s website - http://www.missaniela.com and click on the heading at
the top titled “SURREAL FASHION”. Select a photograph that you like and take it
through the following critique process:
1. Describe the subject matter of the photograph (and be sure to record the
number).
2. How has the photo been composed? Has the rule of thirds been used (and
how)?
3. How have the Elements & Principles of Design been used to create and
effective image? Discuss the use of any five elements or principles.
4. What is your personal opinion? Why do you like the photograph?
***Share your answers with me on Google Drive when you are finished***