Photographer Spotlight: Lisa Robertson

Lisa Robertson has been a star student right from the beginning, awing us with her incredible ability to capture motion through long exposures without sacrificing colour. The same can be said for her night photography work and her consistent talent to capture gorgeous colour and sharpness in her work. She has been a finalist every year in our Photo Contest since 2014, with her work presented at our annual Photo Exhibits. You may of also seen her work exhibited at Contact Photography Festival in the past few years!

We’re so proud of her achievements as a student and her continued success in our photo contests. We took a little time to ask her a few questions and get to know her and see what’s next for her photography.

When and how did you fall in love with photography?

I have enjoyed photography for most of my life and was initially exposed to it through my Father and his various film cameras. Over the past five years or so I decided to focus on improving my skills through various classes and getting out and taking photographs as much as possible.

How would you define your photography style?

I enjoy visualizing the end result as I proceed to work. I then set up my lens and look for the right vantage point. It is the combination of seeing in my mind what it is that I want and then the mental and physical combining of the two.

What was your most memorable photoshoot or photograph?

I suppose that would be the first year I did Toronto’s Scotiabank Contact Photography Exhibit with another photographer, in 2016. We called our exhibit The Art of Junk. We combined efforts and created photographic art from abandoned rusted out vehicles.

Which piece of gear (lens, tripod etc.) is your favourite?

Oh easily that is the RRS (Really Right Stuff) L bracket and quick mounting tripod head. So fast, so precise.

What’s your next photography purchase?

My next purchase is going to be the DJI Mavic Pro drone and I’m also eyeing the new Nikon D850 DSLR!

What advice would you give to amateur photographers?

I would say learn all you can from courses and reading – but going out and actually shooting images, methodically, is the best way to improve your skills.

What workshops/courses have been your favourites and why?

GTA Photography courses Photo 101 and Photo 201 gave me the skills and confidence to shoot on manual mode and have full control when taking photos.

Just so we can find out a bit more about the person behind the lens, could you tell us…

1. If you could photograph anywhere in the world, where would it be? I love landscape photography so I am keen to visit and explore Iceland.
2. Where’s your dream vacation destination? Iceland and Norway.
3. What’s your favourite movie? Cinema Paradiso
4. What you would do if you won the lottery? Travel and photography!
5. What you got for your last birthday? An iPad Pro.