Winner of Colour Photo Contest

By Rita Button

Congratulations to Kristin Ross who has been taking pictures for 43 years since she was eight. A purist, she connects to what is natural, and, for example, will wait for someone to move a vehicle in order to get the shot of a totally natural environment. Not keen on Photoshop, she delays her shot until the light is right for her to get the picture she wants.

Light is of particular interest. Her parents gave her a series on Monet that showed his works in different light at different times of the day. Kristin has tried the same technique of photographing the same subject at various times and seasons to reveal the impact of light on the viewer’s response to the image. As well, she used black and white film for a while in her experimentation with the impact of light on a subject.

Noticing the contrasts in light, dark, and shades of grey, Kristin’s appreciation of contrast extends to the history of architecture and the dramatic impact of a contemporary building adjacent to one from a different era. She also enjoys photographing people, but these are candid, un-posed shots where the subject is comfortable in familiar surroundings.

How did Kristin become a keen photographer? Family support, friends’ interest, a happy choice of classes, and a lot of practice. In grade 4, she chose a photography option from a list of possible classes. At school, the darkroom was demystified, and she was able to develop her pictures.

Both grandfathers were interested in photography, so they would often discuss the photos Kristin took with her. One grandfather even had a dark room, and although Kristin never actually used it, she did enjoy watching the process as he worked. Other family members, too, discussed her pictures with her and encouraged her to continue.

Kristin has moved mostly to digital photography where the image is accurate. She does not want to alter the image in ways that a certain kind of black and white film she was using about seven years ago invited her to do. Kristin wants to show the image that existed at that moment her finger pressed the button.

Currently, Kristin is an instructor at Camosun College, teaching future support workers how to help those with mental health and addiction difficulties. Often, she uses images to show her students ways of interacting with people who do not respond easily to written words. Although she has never used her own images in the work, she sees the possibility of using them in the future.

She doesn’t always walk with a camera, she says, but invariably, when she doesn’t have one with her, she wishes for one. The winning picture was taken with a pocket Canon Power Shot A710. She’s still learning about her Canon EOS Rebel T3, the most sophisticated camera she has owned at this point.

Congratulations, Kristin!