Weirdvis (a.k.a Lynne Lancaster) really needs no introduction. She's been a member of SXC for over three years and is one of the community's biggest, most vocal supporters. Those of you who don't know her from the forums only need to look at her wonderful SXC gallery to understand who she is. What you'll see are an array of subject matter and styles that relfect a person with diverse interests. How diverse? Well, she's an ex police officer; ex civil servant; wife; mother; freelance archaeologist/researcher and occasional English/creative writing teacher (She returned to full time education in 2000 and took BAs in Archaeology and English with Linguistics). She's been a keen amateur astronomer for many years.
How long have you been involved in photography and how did you get started?
My interest in photography dates back to the mid seventies. I had never wielded a camera in anger or artistic pursuit until I trained as a Scenes of Crime Officer. I was handed this Russian armoured tank version of a camera and taught some very basic photography and given instructions on how to use a black and white projector and a dark room. I bought my first camera, an Olympus Trip, shortly after that. I quickly graduated to a Canon AE1 which I traded up to a fully mechanical Nikon FE2 because the Canon's battery operated shutter didn't like being at the business end of a telescope on chilly winter nights. After eleven years of hard use the Nikon lay neglected for four years due to film processing costs (we'd recently moved house and money was tight) and I was persuaded to part with it on the promise of a digital SLR, What I actually got was an old HP Photosmart 720 which I chucked into a cupboard and forgot about. I began to explore the world of digital cameras and Photoshop about two hours after I accidentally stumbled across SXC whilst looking for a suitable background for a project.
Your first SXC photo, Wyre Estuary and Barnaby Wharf, was uploaded over three years ago on March 30 2004, and since then you have been an active member, image reviewer and SXC leader. You've dedicated a lot of time and heart to the community (THANKS!!!)
What was it about SXC that initially attracted you to it?
Blushes. Thanks for the compliment Steve. What initially prompted me to sign up with SXC was viewing all of those wonderful, and best of all FREE images and thinking...I can do that. So I did. I dusted off the Photosmart, bought myself a Photoshop manual and a copy of Adobe CS and threw myself headlong into my rekindled love affair with photography. My choice of a first upload was a little perverse. In the upload blurb it suggested refraining from certain types of images because they were oversubscribed. I took up the gauntlet and shot a sunset. To my surprise and delight it was accepted. My relationship and commitment to SXC began at that moment.
What has impressed you the most over the years?
The most impressive thing about SXC, apart from the whole ethos of being a free resource, has to be the community that has formed around it. The generosity, the camaraderie, the general friendliness and good humour of the people I've come to admire and respect (both uploaders and downloaders), makes SXC very special indeed. Not only that, the site is a melting pot of ideas, advice and diverse nationalities and I like to think of it as my home on the web.
Where would you like to see SXC in five years time?
Hmm, that's a tricky question. I've seen so many changes since I joined. The site and it's community have gone from strength to strength and the majority of changes have had a positive or at least beneficial effect. We have a firm hand at the helm and the ship is heading in the right direction. I would like to see SXC continue its nurturing of fledgling talent, to encourage people to be the best that they can. I suppose I'd like to see more of the same but even better.
Last, but certainly not least, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Peter Hamza, for creating SXC and for being the driving force behind its success. It was his idea, his dream that made all of this possible and I for one am so very glad he did.
tips & tricks
» Aperture, ISO and White Balance, what is it by carlos24
This is an explanation of white balance, ISO, shutter speed, aperture, and when you should use them. Some of the most important things when you taking a picture.
» Create Hi-tech Dimension
The Direct Selection tool and the Stroke command combine to provide a quick way to create a depth effect.
graphics.com »
» Five minute Warhol painting
If you want create a quick Andy Warhol style pop art painting out of your favorite photo follow these 8 quick steps.
creativebits.org »
current sxc favourites
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competition time
There's no SXC competition going on at the moment, but how about the
First Annual Stockxpert Image Contest?
Start taking pictures now and win some fantastic prizes!
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