Christy Strever is a Johannesburg photographer. Her expertise range from interiors, landscapes and cityscapes; to events, décor, food and weddings. We first discovered her work on Instagram and she was delighted to tell us a bit more about herself.
How long have you been a photographer?
In 2010 I started photographing for the company I managed, to promote tourism. I just got better and better at taking pictures and I decided to go full time with photography in 2014.
Did you study photography, where? Or are you self-taught?
I’m self-taught. My brother and step-father taught me a lot about photography and I just spent ages outdoors practising.
Do you do anything else aside from photography, career/business-wise?
I run a project on the side called IgerBook that helps raise funds for conservation.
What is your favourite photographic technique?
Long exposure. [Using a long duration shutter speed to sharply capture stationary objects while blurring, smearing and obscuring the moving objects in an image.]
https://www.instagram.com/p/BGUAyAjQgXi/?taken-by=boogsgaga
With your array of photographic specialities, which is your favourite?
Nature is where I am happiest.
What equipment do you use? Would you ever change brands?
I’m a Nikon fan through and through! To be honest I have never tried any other brand. My mom gave me my first Nikon when I was 10 and I haven’t looked back. It helps that my brother, step-father and mother all use Nikon.
What are some of the challenges you have faced as a photographer?
Quite a few! The biggest for me is the quiet months of the year. It can be very tough as there are so many fantastic photographers out there. You have to work that much harder all the time to prove yourself.
Other challenges I face are injuries I’ve gained trying to protect my camera, climbing very dangerous rocks to get the shot! Having up to 30 tick bites from lying on a forest floor to show the size of the trees. Obviously doing all these crazy things means your camera gets damaged. I’ve slipped on rocks, ladders, forest pathways, while crossing rivers, fallen off a chair and hit my head on concrete while photographing a wedding. The list goes on!
Do you have any advice for aspiring/amateur photographers?
Never give up! My photography only improved when I started really working for it. Waking up at 03:00 to either photograph the stars or do a long exposure in town followed by the sunrise. Every day I’m on holiday, I photograph the sunrise and sunset as well as the stars.
I’ve noticed a lot of aspiring photographers get depressed if they can’t photograph as well as someone else, even if that someone else has been photographing for a lot longer than them. Soak information up from fellow artists like a sponge! Let people teach you, ask questions, follow your favourite photographers on social media and learn from them.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BHbkEuQhaGC/?taken-by=boogsgaga
Interviewed by Cleopatra Shava
For more information about Christy Strever, click here.
