inspiredbynadia.com

“It is best that a photographer not simply take a picture. A photographer has a responsibility to share a visual experience with others by every possible means.” ~Anonymous

“When gifts are given to me through my camera, I accept them graciously.” ~Minor White

The world is but a canvas to the imagination. ~Henry David Thoreau

Thanks to all my wonderful clients for letting me use my imagination to create art for you!

I “met” Gina through an online photography site. She, I think, has bought most of my textures, if not all of them. Gina has taken my textures to the next level with the way she uses them. She doesn’t use them in an overpowering way, but a subtle way. That is really what draws me to her work. The way she can be dramatic with her work, but in the most elegant way. This wonderful artist has been so kind as to tell me how much she loves my textures and I can’t help but be grateful to her for showcasing them in the way that she does. Meet Gina Kolsrud… 

Me: What brought you to photography?
Gina: Well, like many others, I definitely wanted to document my children’s growth and special family moments on my own terms and through my own eyes, but another huge factor was that I was looking for a new creative outlet. I’ve always been an artistic person (my mother was my high school art teacher), and although I enjoyed being a graphic designer for 8 years after graduating college, it never really gave me the kind of creative fulfillment I was itching for. In college I took a black and white photography course which I found fascinating, so for years it was in the back of my mind to invest in a good camera. Shortly before my daughter was born in January of 2008, I bought my first DSLR and I was in love immediately. I only wish I had done it earlier!

Me: What inspires the way you process images?
Gina: I’m drawn to rich colors and tones, depth and texture. I love the dramatic, and I’m definitely a *more is more* person :). I enjoy the challenge of adding artistic aesthetic to my photos, and looking for individual ways to enhance the mood of each original image. I love that discovery process. I’ve found that my art background, both in high school and college, influences the process I follow and the final look I’m trying to achieve.

Me: What do you think textures do to your images?
Gina: I love the way textures can completely change the look and feel of a photograph. They can add so much depth and even mystery, transforming a promising photo into an image that compels you to pause and take a second look. I find myself using textures in most of my images because I love the extra complexity and almost painterly quality they bring.

Me: What is your advice to other artists who are trying to find themselves through photography?
Gina: Be sure to take risks, think outside the box, and simply play and try new things, even if the first nine out of ten times, the end results don’t work out. You can learn a lot by what doesn’t work. I think that’s the best way to keep your work new and fresh and to continue growing artistically as a photographer. Look, study, and be inspired by what other photographers and artists are doing around you, and use that information to help develop your own photography style. Never stop taking the time to learn and experiment.
(And this may sound silly, but be sure to read through your entire camera manual! It’s the first manual I’ve ever read cover to cover, but it’s saved me a lot of frustration and opened some doors that would have stayed closed!)

To view more of her work, click here.

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
~Author Unknown