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Student Spotlight – Anna Koustas

6 years ago
gtapcnew
Adult Classes, Student Spotlight

Anna Koustas is a photographer from Toronto with a passion to capture “real moments”. She came to GTA Photography back in March, 2017 to take Photo 201, and later joined us for our Studio Lighting Workshop as well!

Her photos are stunning and what really caught my eye was her ability to capture her travels abroad so beautifully. See some of her amazing work on Facebook & Instagram; make sure to “follow” & “like”!

We’re so happy to have the chance to ask her a few questions and learn more about the person behind the camera! Get to know more about her passion, travels, highlights & favourite gear.

It is my intention to present – through the medium of photography – intuitive observations of the natural world which may have meaning to the spectators. – Ansel Adams

GTA Photography Student Spotlight - Anna Koustas
1) When & how did you fall in love with photography?

I appreciated photography from a very young age, but I didn’t really fall in love with it until very recently. When I was younger, I really loved looking through my grandfather’s and fathers black and white photographs from Russia. They were both very avid photographers and developed film in their own dark rooms.

However, I never really thought of photography as a career option, so I focused more on my academic career. I completed an Hons. BA in Political Science and International Development Studies and an Masters in International Politics- International Political Economy. I then worked for 3 years as a Policy Analyst/Lobbyist and for 1 year as a Relationship Manager, however I was never fully invested in my work. I kept wanting to pick up a camera, but I was too nervous, until my husband purchased one for me for my birthday. Throughout the past year, I have developed a tremendous passion/appreciation/love for photography and realized what truly makes me happy in life. Now I am focused on improving my technical skills and hope to start a photography business.

indonesia - GTA Photography Student Spotlight - Anna Koustas
indonesia - GTA Photography Student Spotlight - Anna Koustas
indonesia - GTA Photography Student Spotlight - Anna Koustas
indonesia - GTA Photography Student Spotlight - Anna Koustas
indonesia - GTA Photography Student Spotlight - Anna Koustas
indonesia - GTA Photography Student Spotlight - Anna Koustas

Photos from a trip to Indonesia

2) How would you define your photography style?

I am still working to really define my own style. However, my passion is to capture those real human everyday moments, so very natural, colourful, candid street photography is where I tend to lean towards.

3) Do you now own a photography business or freelance?

At the moment, no, however, my goal is to become a freelance photographer and then later on open my own business.

4) What was your most memorable photoshoot?

My favorite shoot is for my friends dive resort in Indonesia, called Kalimaya Dive Resort. Although, I prefer to take photographs of people, this was a special project for me. My friends took a great risk to open the only hotel and dive resort on Sumbawa Island, Indonesia this past year, so being able to visit them and see what they built from scratch was not only motivating to pursue my own passions, but absolutely incredible to see what hard work can achieve.

japan - GTA Photography Student Spotlight - Anna Koustas
japan - GTA Photography Student Spotlight - Anna Koustas
Hanoi - GTA Photography Student Spotlight - Anna Koustas
japan - GTA Photography Student Spotlight - Anna Koustas

Photos from a trip to Hanoi & Japan

5) Tell us about your experience with Travel Photography & your journey! What are some highlights?

I have been fortunate enough to travel quite a bit, however it is only in the past two years that I have really started to capture these adventures (and really it is only this past year, where I began to focus on photography more seriously). This past month I traveled to Vietnam, Indonesia and Japan for about a month. I really found my passion for street photography on this trip. I especially loved Vietnam, the colors, the food, the wonderful people, the sites and history and the general buzz that each city had. This past year, I also traveled to Japan for some skiing, Mexico, Cuba, Miami, Greece (Athens and several islands), Croatia and Italy. Prior to this, because I completed my Masters in England, I was able to travel all over the UK, Portugal, Turkey, Greece and several others.

6) What’s your next photography purchase?

After taking photography 201, I purchased an external flash, the FL-600R Electronic Flash, with a flash diffuser, which I really love, and look forward to learning more about. Additionally, on my trip to Japan this past month, I noticed I generally used a focal length of around 14-35mm, so I purchased an Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO lens. The new line of Olympus pro lenses are really amazing!

Vietnam - GTA Photography Student Spotlight - Anna Koustas
Vietnam - GTA Photography Student Spotlight - Anna Koustas
Vietnam - GTA Photography Student Spotlight - Anna Koustas
Vietnam - GTA Photography Student Spotlight - Anna Koustas
Vietnam - GTA Photography Student Spotlight - Anna Koustas
Vietnam - GTA Photography Student Spotlight - Anna Koustas
Vietnam - GTA Photography Student Spotlight - Anna Koustas

Photos from a trip to Vietnam

7) What advice would you give to amateur photographers?

The best thing I’m learning right now is, if you’re truly passionate about photography, learn everything you can, study your camera inside and out and take courses to improve your knowledge, while also reading about photography online, watching inspirational documentaries and videos about photographers past and present and to just go out there and shoot as much as you can.

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

I really love my new M. Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO lens, it’s an all around fantastic lens. It’s fully waterproof, dustproof, and freezeproof, so I really enjoy running around in thunderstorms with my camera and this lens in hand.

A few fun things you want to know about Anna!

What is your favourite dessert? Dark chocolate

Where’s your dream vacation destination? Nepal

What’s your favourite movie? The Labyrinth

What you would do if you won the lottery? Depends how much, but definitely quit my job, work on photography and building a business, and help out my family.

What’s your favourite holiday destination? It’s a tossup between South East Asia and the Islands of Greece.

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GTA Photography Grad, photo 201, Student Spotlight, travel photography
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GTA Photography Classes
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Katherine Seatree
Katherine Seatree
23:10 24 Feb 20
I recently did the Photo 101 class with Lauren and it exceeded my expectations! Lauren was a great teacher - very knowledgeable and clearly passionate about photography which definitely helped boost my own enthusiasm. The class also benefited from being small, think it was just 6 of us and the content felt appropriate for a beginner. I now have a good understanding of things like aperture, shutter speed, ISO, composition etc. What I really loved was that there were practical exercises and steps explained that made it so much easier to understand and master what we learnt. My photos have already massively improved, and I can now say I feel confident shooting in manual mode! I would definitely recommend this course.
Samantha Peck
Samantha Peck
18:23 10 Feb 20
I took Photo 101, knowing very little about manual photography and left knowing the basics- and more! I'm feeling much more confident in my skills and interested in pursuing more classes. The small class size, knowledgeable instructor and hands-on learning all helped me get more familiar with my camera. I highly recommend taking classes at GTA Photography!
Fazeela Jahangir
Fazeela Jahangir
08:50 28 Jan 20
I was very keen to end up at the right place to brush up my photography because I wanted to learn from the best. GTA Photography exceeded my expectations at that. The location is conveniently located one stop from Kings Station with lots of places to eat and practice photography around. The best part I would say are undoubtedly the instructors who are some of the top in their various fields of photography. They were very patient with students asking questions as and when they wanted, which meant by the time we got to the end of the class and QnA session all queries had already been dealt with and everyone was happy with the instruction. We got lots of opportunities to practice as well. I am so happy I found this place to connect with other photographers- I have taken 3 courses already and am planning to take 3 more. I think that speaks for itself!
Melany Tiago
Melany Tiago
04:54 20 Jan 20
I spent my time at GTA photography Classes as a Co-op Student and really enjoyed my time here! Great kind hearted Staff & 5 star classes!
Anna Medvedev
Anna Medvedev
19:24 10 Jan 20
If you want to learn photography, this is the school you should go to. Knowledgeable instructors, interactive classes and very practical instruction.
Yve Benz
Yve Benz
17:42 10 Jan 20
Best photography school in the GTA and beyond. Amazing management, nice and professional staff, great camps and adult classes. Can highly recommend it!!!
Mark Buck
Mark Buck
15:09 14 Dec 19
As a photography and digital arts teacher with both the TDSB and YRDSB I highly recommend GTA Photography (Toronto). They teach us (students and adults) how to capture the special memorial moments of our lives.Dorothy Lange once remarked:"Photography takes an instant out of time, altering life by holding it still."-
Josh Kim
Josh Kim
19:07 12 Dec 19
I spent time as both a counsellor at GTA over the summer as well as a co-op student during the school year. Super friendly staff that love teaching and helping people. Sitting in on different workshops and camp sessions, their instructors are always available to help and seeing how they teach, I'm not surprised when I see the other glowing reviews here. Would highly recommend both their camps and adult classes for anyone with an interest in photography!
Pam Robertson
Pam Robertson
00:58 10 Dec 19
The kid camps are amazing! They had very informative instructors, interactive teaching, and a so many fun field trips in a great location! The staff were very friendly and you could tell that they loved what they do and were so great with the kids!
shepherd Huang
shepherd Huang
17:05 09 Dec 19
Very knowledgeable instructors, interactive teaching and fun field trips. Lauren is so patient and I have a great time.
Candice Pollack
Candice Pollack
15:56 15 Oct 19
Our organization rented this space for a two day meeting. The team at GTA Photography was incredibly helpful and the space was clean, well-kept, and made for a great workshop space.
stephanie grace
stephanie grace
16:15 16 Sep 19
Great location and clean and light filled rooms for smaller groups. We came here for a management meeting and it was perfect for our needs.
Senthuran Kopalakrishnan
Senthuran Kopalakrishnan
15:14 09 Sep 19
Learned so much in a short period of time. Knowledgeable friendly instructor. Highly recommended for anyone interested in photography.
Sandra Nagy
Sandra Nagy
02:21 25 Aug 19
My 9 year old son had an unbelievable week of camp at GTA photography. He went on amazing field trips, had amazingly passionate counsellors and raves about every day. He also learned a ton and gained tremendous skills and confidence. There were tons of older kids as well, up to 15-16 year olds and they all seemed to love it as much as him. A unique and fun experience. I highly recommend it.
Agnes Roter
Agnes Roter
19:10 06 Jul 19
My daughter absolutely loved this camp. It was her first intro to photography and she quoted techniques and instructions from day one. She also quite enjoyed exploring downtown Toronto with the crew. That was a great part of the program. Highly recommend GTA Photography camp.
Anson Wong
Anson Wong
05:20 27 May 19
I received a nice camera for Christmas but did not know how to use it properly while on vacation. Decided to take an introductory course and it provides me with the tools to understand my camera. Alex is a great instructor. Not only is she very knowledgeable but her class was very well structured. She provided me with the confidence to use my camera and highly recommend this to anyone who finds cameras intimidating.
Culham Anderson-Brodie
Culham Anderson-Brodie
15:41 12 Mar 19
I took the photo 101 course through gta photography and i must say my experience was amazing. My instructor Donovan was extremely knowledgeable and I left with all the skills necessary to properly operate my camera in manual mode. Since taking this course my photography skills have continued to improve and I will MOST DEFINITELY be back for more classes!
Greg Leung
Greg Leung
19:56 11 Feb 19
Very professional, patient instructors. Perfect balance between fun & informative. I've taken Photo 101 & 201 and will definitely be enrolling in future courses! GTA Photography has ignited my passion for photography.
Tricia Anderson
Tricia Anderson
16:37 11 Feb 19
I took a couple of weekend sessions (Photography 101 and 201) to get me going with my new Digital SLR camera. They provided a great foundation to help me progress with my photography. The small class size and enthusiastic instructor made for a great learning environment. Tricia A.
A Woods
A Woods
22:07 17 Dec 18
Took the Portraiture 101 class. The Instructor was very informative and had some really great tips for making my photos better. She clearly is very experienced and has a great eye. It was part function and part art course and I loved that! The school was well designed and felt very warm and inviting. I loved that they took us outdoors to practice in real life conditions. I would definitely recommend this course and am looking forward to taking another!
troy bacchus
troy bacchus
16:00 26 Nov 18
UPDATE: Took the Photo301 lighting class this past weekend with Shayne and it was fantastic. Shayne was an excellent instructor and gave us a good grounding in lighting techniques and tips and tricks that really save a lot of time. I highly recommend this class to anyone looking to advance their skills working with natural, and artificial light.Just finished the photo201 class this past weekend and it was great. The instructor Neil made the class enjoyable while conveying all the necessary information. Material is good, they may want to consider having it printed for note taking. Overall a great class and I have already registered for photo301.
Danial Mirzakhani
Danial Mirzakhani
21:42 17 Jul 17
I haven't ever gon ther..but I think it's so good
Kristen Valente
Kristen Valente
19:00 14 Jun 17
Yesterday I took the Travel Photography workshop and it was awesome! It was such a small class that we really got to fire off questions whenever needed. Neil was a very extremely knowledgeable, engaging and patient teacher. He is clearly passionate about his craft and he did an excellent job of preparing us for future travel endeavours.
Jason Hopkins
Jason Hopkins
19:30 24 May 17
I took the Lightroom class which is a 4 week class every Thursday for 2 hours. The class was taught methodically and left me feeling confident using Lightroom. The teacher was very friendly and kept the learning environment fun and relaxing. I highly recommend gta photography, I've been around the owners and other people who work there. They all really care about their job and the students who come to learn.
Tess Vardy
Tess Vardy
13:10 20 May 17
I took classes last year in the fall and winter, and I learned so much!!!! I really feel like I have gained a lot of skill and confidence with a camera that I will carry with my for the rest of my life. I definitely missed having the classes once they were done because they were just SO much fun and the instructors really know what they're doing. I would recommend to anyone!!!
Jennifer Qu
Jennifer Qu
20:25 19 May 17
GTA Photography Classes is a really amazing camp for kids of all ages. I was 15 when I took teen camp 1 and teen camp 2 in the fall and winter. The instructors are amazing and I learned so much. The classes were really informative plus the instructors did a really good job making everything as clear as possible. I had Laura and Kylie as my instructors. They were amazing and really knew what they were talking about. Each class was accompanied by a field trip every other week. Because the camps location is in the centre of Downtown Toronto, the field trips were pretty cool if I do say so myself. We went to Kensington Market, ROM, Nathan Philip Square, etc. I highly suggest GTA Photography Classes if you're a beginner and even if you have experience and you want to get a little more creative with your work, it's definitely worth the money.
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