Pat Watson
Name: Pat Watson
Camera: Canon EOS R6
Favourite type of photography: Nature
Location: Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA.
Website: patwatsonphotography.pixels.com
Instagram: @pat_watson_photography
How did you get into photography?
My passion for photography began in the garden. I am a gardener and I began taking photos of my flowers.
Do you have any photographic qualifications or accolades?
I was honoured to have one of my images exhibited in the SheClicks Challenge Accepted at the Fujifilm House of Photography in 2024. My images have been juried into many exhibitions throughout New England and have received several awards. I just wrapped up a solo exhibit at a local library, which featured 25 of my images. One of my flower images received "Best Flower" in a PSA competition and it also was shortlisted in an International Garden Photographer of the Year (IGPOTY) competition.
What's the first photograph you remember seeing or shooting?
My mum won a Polaroid camera when I was a teenager and I recall taking photographs of my family with it. I took a photo of my mum, which I still have. It was fun to be able to watch the photos as they developed. I can still recall the smell of the developing solution.
What do you love about photography?
I love that photography makes me slow down and connect with nature in a deeper way. I also love that it allows me to express my creativity both through post-processing and in the field.
Read about Creative Photography, What it is and How to Get Started
What do you wish you'd learned about photography earlier?
I wish I knew that you need to get up early to be a good photographer.
Where is your favourite place for photography?
My favourite place for photography is in a garden. My second favourite place for photography is at the ocean.
Do you have a favourite photographic technique?
My favourite photographic technique at the moment is combining intentional camera movement with in-camera multiple exposure.
Can you briefly outline your approach to image processing?
I always begin processing my images in Lightroom Classic, making basic adjustments globally and selectively. Then I bring the image into Photoshop for more creative editing such as adding a texture, making a composite or applying a filter. If it is a seascape, I often open DXO Nik Collection for more creative processing or Lumenzia for luminosity masking.
What's your favourite lens?
My favourite lens depends on what I am shooting. If I am photographing wildlife, it is my Canon 100-500 mm lens. If I am photographing flowers, it is my Canon 100 mm f2.8 L lens.
Read the SheClicks Guide to Lensbaby Lenses
Do you have a favourite accessory?
My favourite accessory is probably my ND filter because it allows me to slow my shutter speed to create creative images.
Have you found the perfect camera bag yet?
My Tenba messenger bag is close to perfect, but not quite, because it does not hold all my lenses.
Which photographers have influenced or inspired you, and how or why?
Steve Koppel has influenced me to love the combination of sand, sky and water. His work inspires me. Stephanie Johnson's work also inspires me because I am awed by her creativity and willingness to experiment. She has given me new tools to use to create intentional camera movement (ICM) and multiple exposure images.
Please recommend 2 or 3 female photographers to follow on Instagram.
Stephanie Johnson @stephjohnphoto, Barbara C. Phillips @quietimagery and Beth L. Buelow @bethbuelowphoto
Is there a camera, lens or accessory that you don't have yet but you'd like to buy at some point?
I would like to buy a 24 -70 mm f/2.8 lens at some point.
Is there a genre of photography that you love but that you haven't tried yet?
I would love to photograph ballerinas, but I have only tried it once.
What's your proudest photographic moment?
My proudest moment was when my Shadowlands image was selected to be part of the SheClicks Challenge Accepted exhibition at the Fujifilm House of Photography last autumn.
If you could have one superpower that could help you with photography, what would it be?
To time-travel so I would not need to sit at airports or drive long distances.
Your favourite baked goods are?
My favourite cookies are chocolate drizzled macaroons (which I bake).
Tell us a little about yourself.
I enjoy playing in the space between photography and painting. My goal is to go beyond photographic documentation to create a unique artistic interpretation of the subject matter. I find solace in the beauty of nature and strive to create that feeling in viewers of my work. I am often told that my photographs look like paintings.
My deep love of nature, especially flowers, inspires my choice of subject matter. Since moving to Cape Cod, my subject matter has recently expanded to birds, seascapes and landscapes. Techniques such as slow shutter speed and intentional camera movement enable me to create soft ethereal images. It feels to me like painting with my camera. Through the use of the technique of in-camera multiple exposure, I am able to create layers and repetitive shapes from nature subjects, which provide a sense of rhythm and movement and encourage the viewer to examine the shapes of the subject more closely. I do not use artificial intelligence to create my images. I am always open to new ideas and experimenting to improve my work. I am fortunate to live in an area surrounded by such natural beauty.
