Danielle Giguère

Although I was introduced to photography in college when I was studying fine art in my early twenties, I'm mostly a self-taught photographer. My entire studies in college and university have been in visual arts except for some brief studies in anthropology at Concordia University. I obtained a grant for the excellence of my path during my bachelor's degree and moved on to do a master

I remember my first portrait session using black and white film in my small student apartment. It was with a beautiful man that I felt a strong affection for. He generously accepted to pose for me in his big wool socks and briefs. It was a very intimate moment with loads of trust and vulnerability. I was so inspired!!! I quickly realized that the human connection is everything.

I use exclusively a 35-mm digital camera now, but I have worked with film for about ten years prior to going back to university. I have half a dozen strobes, loads of different modifiers like soft boxes, beauty dishes, honeycombs, some vintage flood lamps and stage follow spots. I shoot with natural light very often and sometimes may add speed lights and reflectors as well to fill harsh shadows. I make a lot of my own canvas backdrops and props and sometimes use paper rolls.

Of course, like many perfectionist and passionate artists, I love feeling like my work is evolving and becoming stronger technically and artistically. I do aim to reach new levels and am inspired by other great photographers to constantly improve my work. My motivation mostly comes from comments that are not necessarily that technically specific, and in many cases, a little vague. The words sound often like: I can't tell you exactly what it is, but the expression in this portrait really gets my attention

I

Vulnerability, depth, connection

I feel a lot of pride to get this recognition by a jury and find myself amongst other incredibly talented photographers! I have only recently had the confidence to submit my work in contests. Receiving ANY feedback is all new and a bit overwhelming actually. It feels great to be endorsed with such a positive response !

The series Privat Recall that I won the platinum award for is a project exploring the extra feminine vibe featuring with two beautiful vintage gowns. They were actually wedding dresses that I modified and dyed with coffee and tea bags. I was inspired by the specific mood created in the old dutch masters paintings. It also evokes my childhood picture books, birthday and Valentine's Day cards. St

Having a strong portfolio is always what's most important to attract clients attention. When the work is supported by official international contests, I noticed that clients appreciate the value of the craft even more. It's also something that drives and motivates me to surpass my latest work and study other inspiring artists.

Peter Lindberg

Don

Follow your gut. Take photos of everything that feeds your imagination and inspiration. Don't worry about the meaning right away. Don

Competition is healthy as long as it doesn't provoke fear. Use the inspiration from photographers you love. Remember that all photographers look up to better photographers than themselves in order to grow. Celebrate the beautiful work you come across and don't let envy or anxiety play against you. Share the work you're most proud of even if it may not always please the largest crowd. Make it yours and commit to your path.

I try to share ideas and get feedback about my work. I network and develop relationships with other artists that I have respect for. I also follow some photographers on social media to get the extra motivation and be informed about contemporary approaches (both technically and artistically).

Danielle Gigu