Vali Slavu - the passionate teacher and writer that found a new passion
She was born in Petrosani / Romania, city of workers in the Jiu River Valley. She works there as a teacher and she loves her job, but she have always had different hobbies: knitting, drawing, gardening, writing and lately the photography. She is a member of the Union of Epigramists of Romania, so she is a certificated humorist. Ten years ago she discovered the pleasure of writing and since then she have won hundreds of prizes at literary contests. She have gathered and published her texts- cheerful or serious- in seven volumes, but she also published in countless collective publications. From the collaboration with Sigma Publishing House were born teaching manuals and auxiliary materials.
Please answer the following questions:
1. When (at what age) did you start photography and what made you decide to do it?
I discovered my passion for writing after finding a contest on Agonia literary site. The passion for photography was also born after I discovered the GuruShots site. Live the Internet! I opened it from curiosity, because one funny friend of mine always used to say he has to vote and I wanted to see what he was voting for. I immediately caught the taste of the competitions, starting participating with not very sophisticated photos, taken occasionally.
2. Tell us about the most important steps you have taken in photography.
The desire for self-improvement was also present in the field of photography. Out of the first photos I posted on this site, there only one cat photo left. I gradually deleted them as I managed to take better pictures. I know that I will also delete many of them over the years. But for now, I am proud that I, as an amateur, have collected some photos that have been appreciated by real photographers. The compliment that touched my soul was made by my eldest daughter, graduated in arts, with a beautiful track record in the photographic field. He entered with fear on my GS account, expecting to find some nonsense, but looking the pictures, she said: "I thought I learned the rules of composition in the college, but it's clear that everything is hereditary."
3. What photographic equipment do you use?
In our house there have always been cameras, starting with those with film, and ending with DSLR cameras. In the last years I have been using a SONY hx400, which I adore and I am not happy to betray it, although I have had a few attempts.
4. More and more people are now using the phone to take pictures. Which is your opinion on this?
Forme, the phone is a backup option. If I don't have the camera on me, the phone is good as well. Recently, I was at the beginning of the class, and my students noticed looking through the window the sky at sunrise. They know my passion and even suggest me topics. Sometimes they are lookingfor insects, snails and are very happy to help me. That morning they exclaimed: "How interesting is the sky! Take a quick shot! ” I took a shot with the phone, but I'm convinced the result would be better using the camera.
5. What is more important for a "waw" photo? Equipment or the "eye of the photographer"?
Good equipment and a trained eye will result in a "wow" photo. But it is very important to have the opportunity to find a "wow" topic. If the subject is extraordinary, a remarkable photo will come out, even if the equipment is not performing or the photographer is amateur.
6. What is / are your favorite kind (s) of photo (s)?
Most of my top pictures represent flowers, insects, birds or strange stuffwithin the surrounding. I have no portraits to be proud of, nor too many successful landscapes. I think that for these topics you need more experience.
7. Does your life partner share your passion for photography with you?
As I mentioned above, my daughter is passionate of photography. Looks like I inherited her J. Being a graphic designer, photography is for her a profession. Her life partner likes to take pictures; he is the one who always had the initiative to purchase the photo equipment. But he is not "contaminated " like me.
8. Is photography for you a job or just a hobby?
For me, photography is a hobby I also usein my current work. Obviously, when we have an activity, a trip, I am the one who immortalizes these moments.
9. What is your opinion on post-processing images?
I do not pay much importance to photo processing. Of course, editing could imptove when it is moderately used.
10. Tell us about the funniest moment that happened to you when taking photos.
Funny events would be many, if it's fun when dogs you want to take photos of are barking at you;the bird on the fence starts flying exactly when you think that is the right moment to take the best picture; to find out that you took pictures all daylong without a card in the camera ...
11. What is your dream about your career as a photographer?
I have a great project, which I hope to achieve this year. The next book of poems for children will be illustrated with my photos. It could be something new as the author of the poems is the author of the photogs.
12. Tell us your motto in photography.
I do not have a motto in the photography field, but in my life I am guided by RaduGyr's verse: "The real defeats are the renunciations of the dream."