Madeleine ‘Maddy’ Kramer is a young, up and coming photographer, who has won multiple awards and competitions, most notably The Montpelier Arts Contest. She is driven to ensure that he photographs are the best they can be. She hopes to continue with her appreciation and participation of this intricate art form throughout her life. Below she describes her relationship with the art.
What does photography mean to you?
It means many things but mainly capturing and making an art form out of your surroundings. It allows you to create out of your own memories.
Photograph by Madeleine Kramer
Can you describe the time when you first realized that photography was an interest?
I remember exactly where I was, I was about 12 years old on a trip to the zoo with my dad. At one point during the visit, my dad showed me his “big” camera and demonstrated how to take pictures to of animals with different affects and from different perspectives.
Photograph by Madeleine Kramer
What kind of creative routines or rituals do you have? How do you set up for a photograph?
It depends on the type of photograph. If it’s a portrait, where I’m taking a picture of a person, I usually have to focus more on setting up lighting, as it is a more complex and an important aspect of getting a good picture. If I’m capturing scenery, I know what to take a picture of depending on a certain way that something catches my eye. I always make sure to take more that one photograph using varying angles and composition in order to get one that looks the best.
Photographs by Madeleine Kramer
What are your favorite things to photograph?
I love to photograph sunsets. Honestly, I have to many photos of sunsets, because they’re so beautiful and very inspiring.
Photograph by Madeleine Kramer
Also, I really like taking photos from concerts because you get the full experience of being in the seats and enjoying the concert with others, and that energy is what really comes across vividly through the picture. Additionally, when it’s taken from within the audience, the viewer gets the ability to feel like they’re really at the concert.
Photograph by Madeleine Kramer
What other type of art do you pursue? If any?
I also really enjoy filmmaking, because I’m such a huge fan of movies. With movies, you can do anything, you can get across messages, get people thinking, convey emotions, distract viewers from their problems, or even reduce stress. Also, there are many different styles and types of filmmaking which allow for further exploration of the art form and more opportunities to get involved and find a style that one enjoys.
Photograph by Madeleine Kramer
What’s the best advice you ever been given in regards to taking good photographs?
The best advice I’ve received would be probably to make your photos original and doing so by capturing everyday things with intricate composition. Ultimately, nothing is destined to be a bad picture, it depends on how someone takes the photo.
Photographs by Madeleine Kramer
What advice do you have to give people who are just getting involved with photography?
Honestly, just take pictures of everything you see, eventually you’ll find something that you really like: you can develop your style from those images which you really like. You won’t be able to know and develop your style before you try everything.
Photograph by Madeleine Kramer
*All photographs found in the article are courtesy of Madeleine Kramer*
