ViewBug community member SueLeonardPhotography is a member of the very prestigious Royal Photographic Society and a multiple award winner on ViewBug. Sue shares with us some insights into her photography and 3 must know photo tips. Enjoy our conversation and get inspired!
1.Tell us a bit about yourself, how do you describe your photography style?
I have been taking photographs for several years now. I love taking photographs of architectural detail and landscapes. I don’t take photographs of people or animals.
2. In one sentence what has photography done for you in your life?
Photography has given me something to focus on since taking early retirement in 2008.
3. When did you start taking photos and what inspired you to get started?
I started taking photographs seriously back in the early 2000’s when digital photography first started to take off. My first digital camera was bought for a trip to Alaska in 2002.
4. What has been your favorite shoot and why?
My favourite photography shoot has to be my Icelandic trip in March 2015. It had everything - sun, snow, glaciers, waterfalls, mountains, ice beach, abandoned aeroplanes, northern lights.
5. Do you remember a difficult photo shoot session? What happened?
On a beach in Iceland, March 2015, taking photographs of an abandoned airplane in a snow pellet storm, with the wind blowing an absolute gale. Even using a tripod it was very difficult to get photographs that weren’t blurred, ie. being buffeted by the wind.
6. What do you carry in your camera bag?
Canon EOS 40D, 24-105mm lens, 70-300mm lens, Lee Filters
7. Do you have a favorite location and time of the day to shoot?
No favourite locations.
8. Can you share three tips with your fellow photographers?
1) Understand hyperfocal distance to ensure full foreground to background sharpness.
2) Make sure your shutter speed is faster than the reciprocal of the focal length.
3) Learn how to use manual mode.
9. Please share one of your favorite photos with us with a short tutorial:
a. Where did you take it: Vik, Iceland
b. Time of the day and lighting details: early morning, natural light, taken just before a snow pellet storm.
c. Equipment used: Canon EOS 5D Mk iii, Tamron 70-300mm lens
d. Inspiration behind this photo: beautiful church on the hill with interesting light effects
e. Post-processing information: Post processed using Lightroom CC.
10. Please share some thoughts on your ViewBug experience as a photographer!
Great thrill when your photographs are appreciated by others.
11. What is your favourite photo and why?
I had to wait for quite a long time to get this photograph - the light started out as blue and gradually turned to this orange glow that reflected on the black and ice.
12. What photo was the most difficult to shoot form the ones in your Viewbug profile and why? 
When I first went to the top of this mountain, the cloud was so low that you couldn’t see a thing. I waited for about an hour and suddenly the cloud lifted and for about 10 minutes we had a great view.
