Today we’d like to introduce you to Elise McKeown Skolnick.
Hi Elise, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I received my first camera at age 10 as a Christmas gift. From the moment I held it in my hands, I was intrigued. Even opening more presents lost its appeal. Instead, I made photos of my sisters and cousins (and I still have those photos!). Photography never lost its appeal for me. Wherever I went, I took a camera, and still do. Those initial photos I took with that 110-film camera were of things in my everyday life – people, pets, birthday cakes, Christmas trees… I still do some portrait photography but found my true calling to be in nature photography and photographing what I see around me. I shoot whatever intrigues me. I rarely shoot a whole scene, focusing instead on a small part or parts that catch my eye, only including what’s important for the story I want to tell.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Once I started making photos I wanted to make instead of trying to figure out what other people and jurors wanted, I found success.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I consider myself a fine art photographer. I love to visit new places and make photos of what I see. It might be a spider web shining in the sun, a flower, or a message someone scrawled on a wall. I look at everything around me, noticing the smallest details. I also find plenty to photograph in my everyday world, such as a downtown wall covered in vines or a tree. There is always something to see! I occasionally set up a shot, using things such as yarn and bits of nature I find.
What does success mean to you?
Enjoying what I do! I never want photography to feel like work or a burden. It’s my happy place.
Contact Info:
- Website: elisemckeownskolnick.com
- Instagram: @eliseskolnick
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emskolnick
- Twitter: @photosbyelise
Image Credits
Elise McKeown Skolnick
