A Picture's Worth...,  News

A Picture’s Worth – With Lisa Waddell

A Picture’s Worth… is where we ask mobile photographers that have taken or made, as the case may be, powerful mobile art to explain the processes they took. This includes their initial thoughts as to what they wanted to create, why they wanted to create it, how they created it, including all apps used and what they wanted to convey. We also ask these incredible artists to explain their emotions and how the image projects those feelings. We have published a few A Picture’s Worth articles recently, if you have missed those – please go here.

In this A Picture’s Worth today Lisa Waddell discusses her image ‘From The Depth of Despair’ and explains very clearly her reasons for photographing this wonderful image and processing it in the way that she has. Thank you Lisa for sharing that story and time in your life with us, I feel for you.

If you would like to contribute to this section or if you have seen an image that you would like to learn more about, just email Joanne@theappwhisperer.com and we will get it all set up).

 

Over to you Lisa…(foreword by Joanne Carter).

media_1370604392823.png

 

“It is no secret that flowers, whether living or dying, are my favorite subject to shoot. I buy fresh flowers every couple of weeks; study them from all angles; and capture them in all phases of life. It is also no secret that the week of April 15th was a very sad time in the United States. The week started with the Boston Marathon terrorist bombings, continued with the devastating explosion in West, Texas and finished with the lock down of whole sections of Boston as the manhunt for the bombers unfolded. We were already feeling great sadness in my house because, two weeks prior to the 15th, we watched our beloved Boston Terrier become sicker and sicker until we found ourselves at the veterinarian’s office holding him as he was put down. This sunflower sat on my kitchen counter where I had been photographing it for several days. On the day I captured this particular image I saw in it the emotions of the past weeks. It was very easy coming up with the perfect title for it–From the Depths of Despair.

 

Process:

I shot this image on my iPhone 4s using the 6×6 camera app. I originally used color film but knew it would look much better (and match my mood) if I converted it to black and white. I used the Agfa APX (vignette) filter in the B&W Film pack in Alt Photo. Next I applied a bit of grunge using Scratchcam then finished it by resizing it and adding a watermark”.

Joanne Carter is a British photography journalist, editor, curator, and the founder of *TheAppWhisperer.com*, one of the world’s leading platforms dedicated to mobile photography and art. Since its launch in 2009, TheAppWhisperer has become an international hub for artists of all levels to discover, learn, exhibit, and engage with contemporary photographic practice.Built on principles of inclusivity, accessibility, and artistic excellence, Joanne has spent almost two decades championing mobile photography as a serious artistic medium. Through interviews, critical essays, exhibitions, competitions, and education, she has helped shape and document the evolution of mobile art on a global scale.Her work has taken her internationally, lecturing on photography and mobile art at institutions and events including the Museum of Art in Seoul, South Korea, alongside appearances in the UK and Europe. She has served as a juror for international photography and mobile art awards across Portugal, Canada, the United States, South Korea, Italy, and the UK.Joanne is also the founder of *TheAppWhispererPrintSales.com*, one of the first online galleries dedicated exclusively to collectible mobile art, connecting artists with collectors across Europe, the United States, and Asia.Before founding TheAppWhisperer, Joanne worked extensively in print journalism and photographic publishing, including roles at a paparazzi photo agency and as deputy editor of a leading photography magazine. Her freelance journalism, criticism, and commentary have been published widely in both the UK and the US, with bylines in *The Times*, *The Sunday Times*, *The Guardian*, *Popular Photography*, *NikonPro*, *DPReview*, *Which?*, *Vogue Italia*, *LensCulture*, the *BBC*, and more recently, the *Financial Times*, where her published letters on photography continue to contribute to wider conversations around the medium.Alongside her editorial and curatorial work, Joanne’s own photographic practice has been exhibited internationally across the UK, Europe, South Korea, and the United States. Her work increasingly explores themes of grief, loss, death, memory, and the body.Her current research interests centre on grief, death, and poverty, with forthcoming postgraduate study leading towards doctoral research in these areas.Joanne is currently developing new long-form writing and photographic projects and is available for commissions, editorial projects, speaking engagements, and collaborations.Contact: joannetheappwhisperer@gmail.com)

10 Comments

  • Catherine Restivo

    Your work is not only beautiful, but it always reflects your heart and soul… <3 Thank you for sharing this with us! xoxo

    • Carlos

      Ditto…I sorry for the loss of your doggie…very tough part since they are so much part of our family.

  • Mark Schnidman

    I’m sadden by the lost of your beloved pet. Though, I believe it played a large part in creating this wonderful composition. Had it not been for those sorrowful moments we probably would have seen a different creation. Thanks for the explanation of your process. After viewing your work, I’m always thinking of new ways to compose and title. Your work is very inspiring. Glad to see you’re getting the recognition you deserve.

  • David

    A very powerful and beautiful image, Lisa. Thank you so much for sharing this…and your “recipe” with us! I’m off to check out Alt Photo!!

  • Tracy Mitchell Griggs

    Always love your images. Do you shoot in natural light? Flash? Do you use a photographer’s lightbox or similar set up to avoid background interference?

  • Janine Graf

    [tears in eyes] Lisa, your flower images are always so full of emotion and oh so lovely. Thanks for sharing the story behind this particular one. Muah!

  • Cara Gallardo Weil

    I love your flowers Lisa. Always so beautiful. Your story behind this one is very moving. I can totally relate to the loss of a pet – so sorry that you went through this. Thanks for sharing the story <3

  • Lisa

    I have been remiss in not thanking y’all sooner!! Please know how much I appreciate your lovely comments and the thoughts about our sweet Sam! I’m so pleased that the emotion in this image could be so easily felt. Thanks again! xoxoxo