focusinterview.
Karen
Williamson
Karen Williamson is a photographer who loves to travel and lift others’ spirits through her work. Karen’s currently displaying a
series of photos with inspiring quotes, entitled the Inspiration Collection, at Four Espresso in Port Macquarie. She stops by to fill us in on a few of the other services
H
i Karen. You were born in California but have lived in Australia for the past 30 years. What part of the country do you call home these days, and why do you love it? I call home Port Macquarie, because I love the beautiful surfing beaches - it reminds of Santa Cruz, California. I do also live and work in Sydney, selling my photography to shops - and I also sell at the Manly markets. What initially attracted you to Australia ... and moreover, why did you decide to settle here? I was attracted to Australia because of the friendly people and the laidback lifestyle. The air is so clean and the countryside unsoiled. I settled in Sydney first and lived there for many years, and then decided to move to Port Macquarie over 15 years ago. It’s a very friendly town! What's your history behind the lens when did you develop an interest in photography? When I first got into photography, I went to a camera club in the Northern Suburbs, at Gordon. I went to the club to learn photography and was taught by Sydney photographers like Robert Billington and Elaine Norling. I went on three outback trips, where I learned a lot about landscape photography. The first trip was to Birdsville, Queensland and Alice Springs. The second trip was to Uluru and 24 Greater Port Macquarie focus
she offers and to tell us about her future plans …
surrounding areas. For the third trip, I went to April 19th at Four Espresso café from 6 - 9pm selling my work. I also sell gift cards, greeting Broken Hill. I learned a lot about taking photos cards, enlarged prints and acrylic prints. on these trips; I did a lot of sunrise and sunset I took some photos of rowers in the fog at shots in the outback. I’ve used a film camera, and I have a Canon sunrise in Kington, Canberra. It was the middle 7D, which is a great camera. of winter, and I’d decided to go for a walk. I You've travelled to some amazing places. was just looking at the Foreshore at Kington What have been some of your favourite and saw these rowers - it was very peaceful. destinations to photograph (and why)? I walked all around the area. In the past six My favourite months they have built destination is the eastern big high rise buildings coast of Australia. I there and a wharf, so love Hervey Bay; I did that place I photographed I’ve always wanted to give three years ago is no a series of shots there, people inspiration and longer a quiet area. I photographing the uplift their spirits. I’m added the John Carroll whales. And I also visited donating 5% of the quote to the photo: "We 1770, which reminds me proceeds from this can't lead others until we of Port Macquarie - back exhibition to Beyond lead ourselves”. when it was a small Blue - it’s a worthy Another photo is town. foundation. one I took on sunrise Your latest works, the at Colloroy Beach. The Inspirations Collection, people in the canoes are currently on were practicing for display at Four ANZAC Day - I was Espresso. What was surprised to see them so early in the day. I the inspiration behind Inspirations and putting this collection together? just had time to get my camera ready and I’ve always wanted to give people inspiration take a couple of shots. If I was a couple of and uplift their spirits. I'm donating 5% of the minutes later, I would have missed it. I used proceeds from this exhibition to Beyond Blue the Pix Jonasson quote for this one: MINDSET it's a worthy foundation. - each letter has a meaning - M - Mentor, How many works are on display - and I - Inspiration, N - Negatives, D - Discipline, S Synergies, E -Exercise, T - Training. could you describe a couple of the How long will these works be on display individual pieces for us please? at Four Espresso? I have five canvas prints at Four Espresso The works are up for two months at Four for two months. I was also at the Art Walk on
Espresso café, cnr. Murray St and Clarence St, Port Macquarie. The blog on your website, www. ozlandphotos.com is an interesting read. How do you come up with ideas for where you want to travel to next, or what you want to write about? I love to travel from May - August to take photos of sunrises and sunsets; this is when the weather is perfect for photography. I’d like to go to Melbourne and photograph the Great Ocean Road again. I went down there about four years ago. Apart from selling your photos, what other services do you offer? I put my photos into a range of gift cards, greeting cards, enlarged prints 8 x 10 prints and 12 x 16 acrylic prints and my new line of photo blocks, 5 x 7 size. What are your future plans - where are you off to next on your travels? I plan to photograph Vivid in Sydney in May. I have been photographing Vivid for five years now. I love Vivid, but there are always lots of people there. For the past 13 years I have been photographing the fireworks on New Year’s Eve at Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair - you can look at these images on my website. Where can we follow your photographic journey, or find out more about you? You can follow me on Facebook - Ozland Photos, and Instagram - Travel with Karen. Thanks Karen. Interview: Jo Robinson.