Grace Kinney-Broderick
Name: Grace Kinney-Broderick
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
Favourite type of photography: Wildlife, especially birds
Location: Cambridge, UK
Website: gracekb.com
Instagram: @gkb_wildlife
How did you get into photography?
I was gifted a Canon EOS Rebel camera when I was about 12 years old and used it very casually. In 2014, I had the opportunity to travel to Antarctica and that was the first time I attempted to use that camera for more than a casual event. The wildlife was incredibly cooperative and thus they were fun and fascinating subjects. After that, I attempted to take photos of wildlife during family vacations but it wasn't until I began studying birds that I began engaging in bird photography in earnest.
Do you have any photographic qualifications or accolades?
I don't have any currently, maybe someday!
What's the first photograph you remember seeing or shooting?
As a child, I used to try to photograph every dog I saw on the street with my little point-and-shoot. After being gifted my first DSLR, my trip to Antarctica became the first time I tried pointing my camera at wildlife.
What do you love about photography?
I love the diversity of it. My style is always changing, but at the end of the day, I want to portray wildlife, from the rare to the mundane, in a beautiful light that allows for viewers to appreciate their details. That being said, I also love seeing wildlife photography that is more creative with lighting obscuring features or framing the animal small within the frame. It's the diversity of one subject that is so alluring and why I love consuming photography from other talented people!
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What do you wish you'd learned about photography earlier?
I wish I knew that comparison truly is the thief of joy. In the beginning, I was quite insecure and felt my photography was inadequate compared to others, but it was so important to understand that everyone is at a different stage with different opportunities and techniques, and instead of feeling down about myself, I needed to see other's photography as a source of inspiration and awe.
Where is your favourite place for photography?
My favourite place for photography is in the great outdoors, whatever is local to me. I've moved around a great deal, so finding a local wildlife spot, whether it’s in an urban city or small town, has been a beautiful way to connect with my new home. It also gives a great perspective on how well wildlife can adapt to human urbanisation.
Do you have a favourite photographic technique?
My favourite photographic technique is, for water birds, getting as low as possible to capture the birds on the water, essentially at eye level.
Can you briefly outline your approach to image processing?
I use Adobe Lightroom. I begin by isolating the subject, as that is what I want to ensure is in focus. Once I've slightly blurred the background, I can move on to adding some shading. I'll often add light and darken the bottom half. The last part I do is the eye - I mask just the eye and turn the whites all the way up and the blacks about halfway down to give it a nice pop.
What's your favourite lens?
My favourite lens is my Sigma 150-600mm.
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Do you have a favourite accessory?
I don't really have any regular accessories, but I did use a rain guard when I was photographing at Bempton Cliffs through 3 days of pouring rain. The guard was a lifesaver.
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Have you found the perfect camera bag yet?
I actually don't think I have yet. The one I have is great and compact, BUT it does not have a water bottle holder.
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Which photographers have influenced or inspired you, and how or why?
Melissa Groo was the first photographer to truly inspire me. Her wildlife photography often had an important conservation angle and it's something that inspires me in my work. I also had the pleasure of shooting alongside Nat Geo photographer Keith Ladzinski. His creativity and artistry is definitely an inspiration.
Please recommend 2 or 3 female photographers to follow on Instagram.
I'd recommend Melissa Groo @melissagroo especially for her conservation advocacy, and Susan Jordan @susan.jordan for her wonderful bright shots.
Is there a camera, lens or accessory that you don't have yet but you'd like to buy at some point?
I would love to buy a 600mm prime lens to see the difference between that and my zoom lens that extends to the same length.
Is there a genre of photography that you love but that you haven't tried yet?
I would love to try my hand at pet photography. I have a dog and she has many friends who would be great practice, but I've never taken the plunge!
What's your proudest photographic moment?
I'd say my proudest photographic moment was receiving incredible feedback from Stefan Christmann who was anonymously judging a colligate wildlife photography contest. I submitted one of my favourite photos of two Chinstrap Penguins walking along the steaming sands of Deception Island, Antarctica. His feedback was so incredibly encouraging.
If you could have one superpower that could help you with photography, what would it be?
It would be invisibility. I absolutely hate to disturb wildlife accidentally as I approach them, but of course, it is sometimes inevitable as I stroll through a quiet forest. I suppose a ghillie suit would help me achieve this to a degree.
Your favourite baked goods are?
I will never say no to a nice, chewy, soft, milk chocolate chip cookie.
Tell us a little about yourself.
I am currently a PhD student studying bird evolution at the University of Cambridge. I am from Chicago, USA, and I have always been interested in dinosaurs. Thus, I have had my heart set on palaeontology since age 6. In undergrad, I casually took an ornithology elective with some friends because we had time in our schedules. Little did I know that I would absolutely fall in love with birds and change the entire trajectory of my studies. I pivoted from the large, scaly beasts to the small, delicate creatures that lived among them in the Mesozoic Era.
