I started photographing at age 13 with a disposable camera. I took photos on a 6-month family trip to Eastern Europe. At age 17 I bought my first digital camera – a Canon Powershot. Since then I have only used Canon cameras. When I photograph I rarely set out with a plan, I photograph what I see first and foremost, and let my intuition guide me. I try to capture the presence I feel in what I see.
Nature
I love nature and especially capturing the shadows and light or soft, colorful flowers or rain drops, up close especially, so you can see all the details (the small things are the big things – in life too).. there is a gentleness and peace about nature, while at the same time it can feel so wild and big and uncontrolled. But somehow the constant of the seasons, the predictabiliy of knowing that nature will always awake from its winter slumber, the sun will always come out, the rain will always stop again, reminds me of the ever-changing nature of life itself. Even when things feel stuck it’s never stuck forever. “Life finds a way” to quote Dr. Ian Malcolm.
Home, buildings, statues
It’s only recently I have wanted to photograph buildings. I especially love when I notice a reflection in a window, the light coming through or I find an interesting perspective or composition. Making something dead feel more alive. But the technical part of photographing has never been a focus of mine.
Self-portraits
With being the main model and photographer for my crochet brand, I have gotten used to being in front of the camera. Mostly I have used my body to model my crochet designs, and for a long time I did not like to show my face at all. It felt too vulnerable.
One of the first self-portaits I remember taking was with my disposable camera. I was 13, it was late summer, my arms and legs were tanned. I sat on the hot pavement in front of a white wooden fence with flowers sticking out while a yellow vintage car was parked beside. I tried to capture it all in the photo. Now I still notice colors (and flowers) and experiment with harsh and soft lighting, but most of all I pay attention to my emotional state and expressing it through my face and eyes.
Matilde Rudolph 