As we have already raved about in the news and anywhere we can get typing, friend of Faction, Camilla Stoddart has made the semi-finals for the Red Bull Illume Photo contest. So here to give you a bit more info on the lady is an interview:
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When did you start photography?
I started taking photos when I was at school. I went to photography club and started to get a love for shooting and developing my work. I then carried it on through Art School, although I didn’t study photography, and started shooting ‘professionally’ in the ski industry in 2005 after graduating. I then embarked on back to back winters, following the snow with my camera in hand…
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How do you see ski photography evolving in the next 10 years?
Ski photography, along with the ski industry goes through fashions and changes. From fisheye lenses, to sequences, to flash fill, to tilt shift…. I think the best photography is timeless, and I like to shoot mostly with natural light, instead of using flash to create false atmospheres. Who knows where it will be in 10 years. The first flash filled sequence has recently been shot… Pretty cool, but maybe just another fashion for the ski photography world?
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What skis do you use?
Faction Royals (my fav) and the 3.Zero’s with a touring set up
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What do you like about Faction?
I love the creative free thinking vibe about the company. It is a company that breaths passion and collects creative minds. The graphics are always off the hook (yeah Tony) and the people who ride the skis love not only them but what the Faction Collective stands for. It is a company born out of a love for skiing and good design, passion for the sport and the creative people who live it.
Camilla relaxing at home in Wanaka. Photo: Tim Pierce
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What do you think of the red bull illume contest?
I am so stoked on the comp. It is the only one in the world of its kind. It gives adventure photographers a chance to show of their best work, to the best in the business. Red Bull has done so much for the free sport industry, showcasing not only athletes, but photographers and filmers alike. Hopefully people will get a better understanding about what it takes to shoot images of such incredible sports, and humans pushing their limits using the land. It is a great opportunity for people like me to put my work up against the worlds best and see how you come out. I also love the opportunity to see other photographers work, be inspired by them and check out new names…
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Have you been shooting a lot in NZ lately?
I spent my first summer down here in NZ and my first summer shooting photos… It was such fun and a welcome break from the ski industry. It was great to get stuck into shooting other sports, like mountain biking and BASE jumping. It is one of my BASE shots that is in the finals of the comp! This winter has got off to a bit of a slow start with a lack of snow, but things are changing with back to back storms rolling in this week…
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What are you plans for next (northern hemisphere winter)?
I am going to have another NZ summer. I am basing myself in Wanaka year round now as it is such a perfect place for me to be right now. There is so much to shoot here, from adventure sports to landscapes, mountain and lake life. My brain is starting to think about organising an overseas trip too, who knows where, but I want to get back to Kashmir, India perhaps. Or maybe somewhere different, not ski related? Who knows…
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Thanks Camilla and to check out her photo head to The Red Bull Illume Site click on New Zealand and you can view Camilla’s sweet base jumping photo.
