Debbie Poulin
Artist's Statement
I began taking classes here just one year ago. It's been a wonderful continuation of a lifelong love of photography. I've learned so much from all the wonderful teachers here about lighting, composition, exposure, digital developing and printing. But more importantly I've learned how I like to take a picture.
Since early March like many Chicagoans after a tough winter, my eye was drawn to anything green or growing. Early morning walks with a camera revealed new growth and tiny uncurling leaves reaching towards the light on cement walls, stone pillars, wooden fence posts, metallic garage doors, and peeled paint sheds. I found them in alleys, parking lots and busy boulevards. There are vines and ivy growing all over this city.
As I looked through the viewfinder, mindful of the light and exposure, I took several shots trying to frame the vines so that no post cropping or editing would be necessary. As much as possible, I try to compose the final image in the camera. Other than some slight straightening, these images are all presented as I saw them through my hand held cameras' viewfinders.
I work with both a Nikon d70 DSLR with a fast f1.8/50mm lens and more recently a Leica M8 digital rangefinder with an f2/35mm lens. Switching back and forth between the two exercises my left and right brain as well as my eyes. Each lens and camera offers me a different perspective through the viewfinder: the Leica a wider view and more depth while the Nikon has a closer focal range with more straightforward results.
Henri Cartier Bresson says that to be a good photographer you need to know how and where to look. "One eye looks within, the other eye looks without." Looking at a wall or post where ivy grows reveals shapes and patterns and life opening up. Just take a look.
