Our artist of the month for the month of August 2021 is talented photographer Jean_C. He has been a member of Renderosity since 2000. That's 21 years of membership! Jean-Claude has a great bio on his page which I will share with you here:
"I live in the south of France, in the Tarn. I have always been passionate about images, especially photography (ah, black and white film …) For a few years, I created images with 3D software: Poser of course (Poser4 at the start …), Cinema4D, Vue. You can see some of these images at the start of my gallery on Renderosity. Then, with age and fatigue helping, I returned to my first graphic love: photography. I especially like to show what is not always considered interesting: insects, animals that we meet without seeing them, and if possible to make a portrait of them that we enjoy seeing. I also really like the architecture, especially religion, that I discover during my rare travels. My partner Danielle is also present on Renderosity, under the pseudo of Leije."We congratulate Jean_C for being voted the best artist of the month (by a wide margin)! We have a brief interview to share with you and a video gallery of 10 items from his gallery. Jean_C is one of those rare people who still look deeply at the world and shares a sense of wonder with his photographs.
Renderosity: What kind of equipment do you use for your photography? Do you do any post processing on the image?
Jean_C: I use amateur material. For several years, I have taken my photos with a Panasonic Lumix bridge. Recently I completed with a Panasonic compact camera. They are not very expensive devices like reflex cameras, but both are equipped with Leica lenses, the compact has a large sensor too. I use one or the other depending on the circumstances ... I don't really like postwork my captures on the computer, but I allow myself to frame and accentuate the contrast a little with filters
Have you always been interested in insects and birds as subjects in your photographs?
Jean_C: During my activities, I also like to visit monuments or ancient villages and take pictures there. But it is true that I have always liked to take pictures of animals. Insects, especially beetles, I was interested in them from my teenage years! I am also interested in their roles in nature.
What is the a typical photo session like for you? Do you plan ahead?
Jean_C: I have an amateurish approach: I walk around and I look around me attentively. A butterfly that lands on a flower, it wouldn't wait for me to install a photo stand, lol! So almost all of my photos are taken freehand, looking for the right angle, the right light, and ... by "photo strafing"! This is the big advantage of digital! When I started, it was argentic film and I made enlargements on photo paper, it was necessary to be more economical!
How do you decide which photos to keep and which to throw away?
Jean_C: I do the first choice on a computer, and I keep only one photo in 5 or 10! Then I test the enlarged photo and I see if I can find an interesting framing.
Do you have any advice for beginning photographers?
Jean_C: It's a question I don't know how to answer ... The technique, the camera, the depth of field, the light ... everyone can be a judge and do their own tests! But in any case, it takes patience and be humble in relation to the subject.
How has Renderosity made a difference in your life as an artist?
Jean_C: If I take pictures, it is of course for them to be seen, and the community of artists at Renderosity allows them to be distributed around the world. I would like to take this opportunity to thank those who allowed me this award, but also those who by their benevolent comments have supported me for many years, and allowed me to avoid discouragement.
Any last thoughts before we close?
Jean_C: The first camera is our eyes! Look around you, on your balcony, in your garden, along the path during your walk, in a park ... everywhere there can be little wonders of Nature!
