We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Victoria Barnes a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Victoria, appreciate you joining us today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?

This is an interesting question because I’ve thought about this quite a bit. I think I started my creative career at exactly the right time. As much as photography fills my soul, I believe that had I started 20 or even 10 years ago, I would have fallen into the wedding or portrait photographer world, and probablywould have burnt out. I have been taking photographs all my life, and was always doing something involving a level of creativity. Seven years ago, I found out I had a brain tumor. After the surgery, I started having severe anxiety. Not wanting to treat it with medication, I would take long walks and take photos along the way. When I started diving in and seriously focusing on creating pieces of art, and not just photos, I found that it helped control the anxiety. Now I call it my therapy, and it really is! Creating these pieces of photographic art has changed my life, helped me find a sense of calm, but also a sense of purpose. I really believe that had I started down this path sooner, it would have just been a job. Instead, it’s an ever=changing path and I can’t wait to see where I’m headed next.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

As I previously described, I’ve always loved photography. . Like most photographers, I seek out details that spark my imagination. A few years ago, I started experimenting with different methods that would help me capture emotions and not just a take a picture of a scene. I use techniques such as intentional camera movement, slow shutter speeds and multiple exposures to try to capture the emotions I am feeling at the moment I click the shutter.

I believe that everything tells a story and I want my photos to help you see something you might have otherwise overlooked. I want you to experience the sensation of comfort that a forest full of trees brings, or the sun spreading its glow as it rises or sets. If you can sense the breeze that was blowing, or feel the warmth of the sun, then I know that I’ve accomplished my goal.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

The biggest lesson for me to unlearn as a photographer was to break the rules. I think that is something that sets me apart from some other photographers. I’m not afraid to use harsh lighting, or to take photos of things that seem mundane and turn them into something interesting. Rules can be limiting. Art isn’t about coloring inside the lines, and my work definitely pushes a lot of boundaries. It’s not for everyone, but I’m fine with it, because it makes me happy and fills my soul.

While foundational techniques and “rules” help artists learn structure, control, and tradition, it’s in the act of pushing beyond those boundaries that your personal voice and originality emerge. That’s definitely true for me. I appreciate the traditional lessons I learned along the way, but I’ve forged my own path and I love where it’s taking me.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me, the most rewarding aspect is having someone tell me how that my work makes them feel something. When I’m at a market and someone stops and asks me about a particular piece, and says that it makes them feel a certain way, that just energizes me. It validates what I’m doing. Selling a piece of work is definitely rewarding, but at the end of the day, I just want my work to be appreciated.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.victoriabarnesphotography.com
• Instagram: @vbarnesphotography
• Facebook: Victoria Barnes Photography

Image Credits

Image credit to Victoria Barnes Photography for all.