Karen Tillett

Karen tillet is one of our newest members and we were lucky enough to have a chat to learn a little bit more about her.

Question 1 Can you tell us about your background and how you got started in photography?

My family have always been into photography and so the whole family have always had an interest in it. My dad was heavily invested in camera equipment as was his dad. Following that my late brother was very into it and because my grandad had a Nikon F my brother went for Nikon as well. Hence trying to be like my big brother I have been with Nikon since I first started. My photography journey really took off after I lost my brother through suicide in 2010. All his photographic passions channeled to me. Hence I set about learning the camera and as many aspects about photography I could. I did this through about a 10 year period.

Question 2 How would you describe your photographic style?

I’m not really sure I have a photographic style. I do like details. I’d rather go out and get details that most people don’t look at, things that they pass by.

Question 3 What type of photography do you specialize in?

I do have a favourite genre though, which is Macro. I originally got into macro as I had my own jewellery making business (an online shop) and I wanted to photograph my creations. I went to The London Camera Exchange and bought my first proper DSLR. A Nikon D5000 and the Nikon Macro 105mm lens. This allowed me to show the details of my jewellery. So starting with small things and details I moved onto to flowers and then insects on the flowers and I really got the Bug ( excuse the pun). Insects are so amazing up close, they are so beautiful. I fell in love with the endless colours shapes and forms of them.

Question 4 What has been your most memorable or challenging photography project, and why?

I wouldn’t say it was a project but I offered to photograph a friend’s wedding so they could have a photographer on a budget. I hardly slept the week before and wrote down notes of everything the bride and groom wanted. I have never been so nervous in my life and the night before the wedding I didn’t sleep at all. I’d had a video call with a friend who’s a professional wedding photographer and he told me so much and he was so helpful. I brought in my best friend to help me and both of us arrived at 7am to photograph the girls getting ready and the full day we were there and stayed for the evening disco and celebration later with a fire dancer outside in the dark. I had to very quickly guess the correct settings etc and no flash was used In the fire dancer shots. I was actually very pleased with all the days results. My friend and I did amazing, helping each other out and covering every angle. However the stress I was under to get things right means I will never do another wedding.

Question 5 Can you walk me through your creative process, from concept to final image? or do you just shoot and think later?

I don’t really have a creative process. I go out to look for insects and take as many shots as I can when any bug appears. They obviously don’t hang around for long. Upload the images to the computer and do a basic edit.

Question 6 How do you stay updated with new trends, techniques, and equipment in photography?

I don’t try to keep up trends as I like to photograph what I like and how I do it. I have a few macro lenses and one is because I saw it on David Attenborough’s The Green Planet. If friends tell me of a style they want to try then I’ll give it a go. I always like to try every photography genre as you never stop learning.

Question 7 Can you describe a time when you had to deal with a difficult shot or situation? How did you handle it?

The only difficult situation I’ve had to photograph was the wedding. Although weirdly I’ve always had an insect phobia. Especially Ants and Spiders! I find I can photograph them ok so long as they stay outside and don’t venture into my house. However I was in a field photographing red ants and I could feel them all around my ankle and crawling up my legs! So I did run like a woman possessed out of the field in sheer terror! Lol I’ve also had a wasp come straight at me as I was pointing the 105mm at it. But I try to keep calm as wasps and bees can tell if you get anxious with them. Then their friends come along and it can get quite rapidly out of control.

Question 9 What is your approach to post-processing and editing?

I do only lightening or darkening of most of my images. I’ll take out the odd hot spot if I have one. I use only photoshop, I can’t stand Lightroom as I dislike its category system and find it awful to use. I have a couple of plug in editing suites and I use Topaz de noise and Topaz sharpen on a regular basis.

Question 10 What kind of equipment do you use, and how does it contribute to the final result?

My equipment consists of all Nikon cameras and nearly all Nikon lenses apart from a Sigma 150-600mm and a Laowa 100mm macro x2 CA dreamer lens and a Laowa 24mm wide angle macro probe lens F40, and a very old Zenitar 16mm Fisheye lens. Still got F mount lenses and DSLR FX and DX cameras as well as four Mirrorless cameras. I have Nikon Z macro 105mm Nikon F macro 105mm Nikon 60mm macro lens Laowa Z 100mm lens Laowa probe macro wide angle lens(These are lenses for macro only) F mount and Z mount extension tubes. Nikon Z8 Nikon Z7ii Nikon Z50 x2 Nikon D850 Nikon D800 Nikon D7100 Nikon D5000 ( infra red converted) Nikon D5200 (infra red converted) I have 29 lenses in a wide range of FX and DX in F mount and Z mount. Several Raynox adapters and Z and F mount extension tubes. Numerous macro accessories

Question 11 What do you believe sets you apart from other photographers in your field?

I believe I’m different to a lot of macro photographers as I will NOT keep insects and do not shoot insects in a studio, I always go out through the spring and summer to photograph bugs and insects. I NEVER stack as I sort of think of that as cheating. I prefer to get satisfaction knowing I’ve achieved something by getting the shot in their natural environment and dealing with either direct harsh sunlight or evening conditions where I need more light. I only take one shot ( no stacking) nearly always the same F number which is F22 on macro shots. I use a flash and a Headtorch on the flash to light my subject and use the Cygnustech diffuser to stop blown highlights on bettles elytra etc.

Question 12 Can you provide examples of your work that you believe best represent your style and skills

Question 13 How do you handle different lighting conditions or unpredictable environments during a shoot?

Lighting in macro is easy with a flash and diffuser. When I photographed a wedding I kept the flash on camera but bounced the flash off the ceiling with the onboard diffuser. I found it worked well for me. In my studio I have Bowen’s lights and high speed ones to capture animals and pets. They are fast enough to keep up with the shutter speed and recycling very quickly.

Question 14 Do you have any professional affiliations or certifications?

I have no photographic qualifications and am self taught. I have never won anything but have been shortlisted in The British Photography Awards for macro in 2022.