It has been my privilege to have interacted with this “Flickrite”. She has inspired me with her photographs and encouragement from the beginning of my time with Flickr. Her ability as an artist is truly amazing.
Her name is Sue Thompson, a.k.a. Sue90ca. Sue has always been interested in art and sketched and painted from a very early age. When cameras were made cost effect through digital format, Sue made the transition from sketch pad and canvas to photography.
After that there was no stopping her. She put it this way, “As soon as I saw my first uploaded picture I was hooked.” Allow me to add here that with every upload I see of hers I am hooked. Her work has moved me on many occasions.
I had the opportunity to ask Sue what inspires her about photography and what drives her to be a better photographer. She said that the work of others “greatly” inspires her. She is driven by pushing simplicity to its edge in making great photographs, “Part of my passion in photography is to make a simple [point and shoot] camera [do] what isn’t expected from it. I’m always pushing it to the limits.”
And she certainly does that. Sue uses a Canon PowerShot S5 IS, but to look at her photographs you would think she had a top of the line set up with all the “bobbles and jangles” that go with it. Some of her most impressive work is done with macro water drop and bubble photographs. Again, to look at them you might think that she was using a camera in the $4000 to $5000 range. (She also uses a Sony Cyber-shot sometimes. Photographs from that can be seen in her Sony P&S 2009 Set.)
As for technique in photography Sue has been more a purist when it comes add-ons. She has not really used filters or “additions” on her camera when photographing. She is moving that way a little bit in the future and seems to be excited about the prospect.
In looking at the photographs of others Sue mainly favors landscapes, water, and still life. She has been involved in many assignments and contests consisting of a broad range in photographic subject and technique on Flickr and within other forums. She has been recognized for abilities and talents in many of these. Sue draws inspiration from other’s photographic work and concepts and I believe it is in that willingness to see, and not just look, that you will find her desire to stretch her photographic abilities and skills to the edge.
Earlier this year Sue introduced me to PhotographyBB Online, their Forums, and photography assignments. Shortly after that introduction I found that she had been highlighted in an issue of their online magazine. Her photographs have won many assignments there and have been included in their magazine on more than one or two occasions. She assisted in bringing PhotographyBB to Flickr broadening their reach to assist the photographer in improving their skills.
I also did my first photo assignment with PhotographyBB and several Flickr groups, because of Sue’s encouragement. I cannot thank Sue enough for that. I have grown as a photographer, because of her willingness to share her thoughts about my work and for sending me to photographic groups and places where I am challenged and sometimes taught to make better photographs. Just viewing her work in and of itself challenges me to think outside the box and grow.
In finishing this article I would like to share with you what Sue wrote to me when I asked her if she had any advice for those who look to pursue photography as a hobby or trade. This is what she wrote and I believe so very important:
“The advice I always give is to practice and to take pictures of what "you" like. I found out very quickly that you can’t please everyone and everyone has such different tastes when it come to what type of photos they like.
The last thing I’d like to say is just because you don’t have all the fancy equipment and all the expensive lenses doesn’t mean you can’t take a great photo. Never let this stop you from doing what you love. It should be less about the equipment and more about the eye of the person taking the picture. Most of all if you enjoy photography it will show.”
In this final statement you can see why Sue was chosen to be a PhotoCapM “Flickrite” in the Spotlight. Please visit Sue’s photostream by clicking on her Flickr name above and see just how much someone can enjoy creating fantastic, although one must be tenacious like Sue, photography with a point and shoot as a hobbyist or a professional.
Until next time…
Did you know that Sue sells her work? You can see images that she is promoting right now at Susan Thompson Photography. (Important notice: The image in this article was used with permission and is copyrighted by Sue Thompson (Sue90ca). All rights reserved.)
February 8th, 2010 at 12:34 AM
I fully agree to what’s said here above. Sue makes the impossible possible. Oh, sorry, this isn’t true. Sue doesn’t know the word “Impossible”. What she sees, she can shoot (or she strives to learn it soon) and she sees a lot !
Best prove for this was when her cam had to be repaired. She felt lost, but in her pics she showed that there still was nothing wrong with her eye and her great feel for composition. Even with her Simple Sony, she took the most wonderful pics.
I’ve often argued that she knows how to talk to birds and other animals. Her pics look as directed and “her” animals love to pose for her in the way she wants them to be shown to us. It looks like this. Of course it’s her talented and trained eye and feel for timing which works this out.
Her color treatment is outstanding and most of all I admire her capabilty to give greatness to the things of daily life.
She is rather well known for her water treatment at Flickr, but in fact she is less the person for these spectacular shots. With pain in my heart i see that some of her great daily life pics (recently, a cup of yogurt) doesn’t get the credits they deserve. People go for the spectacle. Sue can be great in that but in my opinion people underestimate her when they only see this.
It may be clear, i have a great admiration for her work, but also for her as a person. She is always willing to return my visits to her page, often she is the first to comment on my pics. Even when i didn’t show up at her stream for a while. She is encouraging and I think she has made me enthusiastic for photography in my first year on Flickr. Not only by her spectacular moments, but especially in her daily routine and work. Sue, thank you for that !