ROXANNE
BOUCHE’ OVERTON
“My quest begins with light”
ROXANNE BOUCHE’ OVERTON -Portrait-by-Dan-Shehan
I started, like most photographers, with a simple camera, shooting family and postcard-pretty pictures. The cameras became more sophisticated, and as I traveled the world, so did my subjects. My camera became a bridge to diverse cultures and environments; an entry into intimate relationships between me, other people and other lands. Taking photographs expanded my world and vision until I found I was no longer an observer. I became an equal participant in in the experience.
Through the lens, I find the grandeur of nature, the wonders of man, the mysteries of shadows and reflections, and a connection to the infinite. My quest begins with light. It has a way of dancing; reflections, shimmers and rays grace scenes with magic.
Light also adds visual depth taking a two-dimensional photograph and giving it a three-dimensional feel and appearance. But lurking there in my peripheral vision, I see more. Sometimes it’s snippets of the whole; lines, shapes and shadows. I hunt them; always chasing the light.
My work is twofold. First, I capture the photograph and then second, I refine it in post processing. Everything is shot in RAW. Lightroom and Photoshop help me polish my vision. My intent is that when one of my images is studied, it will evoke the same sense of wonder that inspired me to make the photograph. The photograph that you see is my imagination created with reality.
Andre Kertesz said it best: “Seeing is not enough; you have to feel what you photograph.” It takes both shooting and processing to make this happen for me.
In this collection, my muse is San Francisco. The city has endless gifts for photographers. Regardless of the subject, each photograph is made of the same elements. They are the first things I look for and they are the components that I use to build each shot.
ROXANNE BOUCHE’ OVERTON on Lens Magazine Issue #39
The details tell the story, but it is the light, the lines and the shapes that frame it. My philosophy is to keep things simple. I find the heart of the image and shoot only what is necessary. This means that I compose the image first, isolating key elements, and then fine tune it from there.
Windows. ROXANNE BOUCHE’ OVERTON on Lens Magazine Issue #39
I find inspiration in the work of other fine art photographers. When I see a photograph I like, I study it and determine all the reasons why I like it. It’s this process of understanding why a photograph is good that keeps me inspired and improves my own work.
I believe photographers are the luckiest of people.
We don’t just look with our eyes; we see with our hearts. Often, we capture moments others would miss. In our sharing of these moments, we allow others to experience the vision and insight that are uniquely ours.
You will find more of my photography and information about three instructional photography books that I have written on my website. The books have been developed to help other photographers reach their own personal goals. Also, my collaborative book, 100 Words, pairing my street photography with writer / photographer Sam Stapleton’s story telling is featured here. My Instagram feed is filled with a wide variety of my photographs across many genres along with my critiques, or analysis, on each one.
Read the full article on Lens Magazine Issue #39
