Trudy Hamilton is an excellent portraiture, lifestyle and cultural documentary photographer and owns the Tru Shots Photography Blog. She started painting at a very early age and gradually her interest developed in photography. She has also authored an eBook: On The Path: Journeys Through Darkness and Light.
Trudy loves to learn about people and their behavior, she completed her Masters within the behavioral sciences. Besides, being a photography blogger, she is an active psychology blogger. She is an adventurer too!
"I believe that photography is a journey that is made with the heart and mind as the map and the eyes as the compass", shares the artist.
"I believe that photography is a journey that is made with the heart and mind as the map and the eyes as the compass", shares the artist.
While stumbling through her portfolio, I realized that her photographs are a real treat to eyes. Lets know more about Trudy and her artistic journey in the interview below:
Trudy, please introduce yourself to our readers.
I'm Trudy, a portraiture, lifestyle and cultural photojournalism photographer who now resides in the South Florida in the U.S.
While reading your biography, my eyes got stuck on these intriguing lines: "To me, many of my images are juxtapositions between a revealed self and a hidden self; both are relevant, both are true." Please elaborate.
What a viewer sees when viewing a photograph is just as true as what they don't see. I don't create photographs to simply replicate truth, but ones that reveal who a person or what a subject is, while preserving some of its inherent mystery. The space where that mystery lies is the same place where the viewer can then interpret what is seen. Thus, some things are visually factual in an image and some are in fact simply interpretations. Art need not mirror reality; art is its own reality.
Being a child of artist parents, you have always been surrounded by art. How much does art mean to you?
Well, that is really simple. In fact, I tweeted it the other day. "My heartbeat guarantees that I exist. Art guarantees that I LIVE."
You hold Bachelor degree in Behavioral Sciences and is a Psychology blogger. Well, that is an altogether different profession from a Photographer. How and when did you decided that you want to pursue photography?
I have a Bachelors and Masters degree in specific subjects that fall under the family of the behavioral sciences. The actual time-line of how things occurred is as follows: painted and did other arts in childhood --> started still image photography at age 12 during a summer program -->did motion photography for 3 years in high school --> went to college and studied psychology, with a break from photography --> got interested in photography again --> pursued photography as a hobby for years. --> started graduate school --> started photography professionally --> completed graduate school --> continued in professional photography --> started blogging photography and psychology on separate blogs.
You were a painter in your younger age. What drew you towards photography? Is there any story behind it?
I loved paint as a child because my father loved paint. I loved the peace I felt when I was close to paint and how I could express my feelings through paint. Photography became of interest because I attended a summer art program that included painting, drawing, photography, and communications. I was 12. After creating and developing my own black and white photographs, I was enthralled and found that though that love was dormant at different times in my life, it never totally faded. Now, photography is truly my pulse.
What fascinates you most about the photography?
The adventure of the next project from start to finish. Being able to share a solo photograph or tell a full story.
Which form of photography do you enjoy the most?
People, beauty, food, culture, truth.
Who/ What inspires the photographer within you? Do you admire someone?
I admire any photographer daring enough to create something from their own mind and heart and risk the entire world laughing. Though there are photographers with great work that I like, try not to idolize any one specific photographer at any given time. Idolization is a dangerous place, because it can make an artist think that they are "inspired" by someone and start to mimic their work. Beauty is in originality and honesty. What inspires the photographer in me is wanting to share stories about life and its facets.
What is your passion in life (besides Photography, of course)?
I love to read. In the last couple of years, I've connected to a passion for writing. I like typography and graphic art. I am passionate about helping other artists who are genuine in their efforts.
Every artist has his/her favorite. Which image or creation of yours is closest to your heart and why?
Actually, I don't have any one favorite photograph. Many move me in different ways for different reasons. "Which of my photographs is my favorite? The one I'm going to take tomorrow." ~ Imogen Cunningham.
Recently you have released your book called 'On the Path'. What it is all about? What kind of reactions you've received?
This is my first eBook and it is a reflection on the ups and downs, pains and pleasures, trials and triumphs of the creative path that I take as a photographer and experience attained thus far on the path. I reflect upon what it means to be a photographer, important lessons I've learned to overcome personal roadblocks as an artist, experiences that personally changed my creative path, how to be more creatively free and analyzed how I learn to continue learning photography. Through reflection and education, I share my experience so that other photographers of all levels and artists of other types can use them to evaluate their own paths, improve their own learning and dealing with the balance of challenges and change in being creative professionals and artists.
Would you like to share any incident which changed your life as an artist?
Actually, I share several in the book.
Your fan bucket is huge! How does it feel?
I do not get caught up in social media follower and fan counts because those are all relative. While you think mine is huge, to another person it is small. I focus on the personal one on one relationships that I have with other people and the great conversations that I have online and offline. I am an introvert and we focus on deep personal connections with smaller numbers of people. Social media is great for sharing and expansion, but those relationships are not the same as the personal ones that we have in our lives. Truthfully, I think of Kevin Kelly's theory and I don't think I have converted 1000 lesser fans into a 1000 true fans yet. Most artists haven't. And follower and fan counts aren't reflective of true fans. I do appreciate those who are interested in my art or my words enough to even consider being a fan of any type.
What would you advise an aspiring photographer?
Be passionate and be patient. Everything else will fall into place over time. However, everything will not fall into place at the same time, or be in place at all times. Simply love the art and take it from there. Don't expect to be a Joe McNally after a few months. Be YOU. McNally is already taken. Enjoy creating. Learn how you learn (something I explained in my book) so you can continue learning in photography, as it is lifelong learning. I can't think of a better journey to take than a creative one.
Trudy, thanks for wonderful interview and sharing your story with us. It was a pleasure to have you with us. All the best.
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Thanks so much for the opportunity to share my work and my insights with you. (I just want to point out that the first photo in this post is NOT me...LOL...is a client).
I enjoy your blog and I hope readers enjoy this interview. Thanks again.
Beautiful work, wonderful artist.
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