Interview With Rosanne Pennella
May 5, 2009
© Godfrey Aquilino |
Rosanne Pennella, apart from being an internationally applauded as well as renowned travel photographer, is also a gifted writer, an instructor, a consultant, and a speaker on the topics mainly related to digital imaging technologies and travel photography. Currently, she is a member of the faculty at the International Centre of Photography and the New School in New York City. Also, she leads photo workshops with The American Photo/Popular Photography Mentor Series, Strabo Photo Tours and Photo Quest Adventures. She has extended photography workshops to Morocco, Egypt, Turkey, Costa Rica, Brazil, Peru, Thailand, Tanzania and France as well as throughout United States of America. She has often presented her work at many photography tradeshows of United States' Photo Marketing Association, Photo Plus Expo and Imaging USA. |
Furthermore, Rosanne has conducted Nikon's Master Class on Travel Photography, apart from having written several articles on the methods to take better travel photographs for Nikon's Digital Learning Centre. She has also served as their Flickr site moderator.
Rosanne Pennella started off her career as a practising attorney, wherein she worked with top notch litigation firms and federal judges. She left her successful attorney career to become a travel photographer. Her passion and dedication finally paid off in 2001, when she was awarded the Annual Award by the Photo District News, and in 2005 when she was named as Nikon's “Legend Behind the Lens.” Her work has featured in many leading publications, as well as in several museums and gallery exhibitions. They have also won several awards including the PDN Annual and Puffin Foundation Grant. She created the promotional photos for the television show “Peru: The Royal Tour” that featured the then-President of Peru. This was aired both on Travel and Discover Channel. In Nikon's Photo Contest (2006-2007) held in Tokyo, she served as a selected judge exclusively representing America. It had around 47,000 entries. Rosanne has also appeared on television several times including an interview presentation with CNN and Headline News regarding her photographic career.
When approached for an interview, Rosanne gave us her precious time despite her busy travelling schedules. Here is a transcript of Rosanne Pennella's interview.
Q: Knowing that you run a school of photography, would you be reconsidering the legal profession at any juncture in future? The point is, have you finalised up on digital photography as a profession?
RP: I teach various photography workshops, both weekend classes at a university and a photography school, as well as on location workshops around the world with various companies. I teach weekend workshops at the International Center of Photography and New School in New York City. I also lead workshops with the American Photo/Popular Photography Mentor Series, Photo Quest Adventures as well Strabo Photo Tours.
I will not be returning to the legal profession. I have been working as a professional photographer for over 10 years. When I left law it was a decision I had considered for a number of years and was quite certain I had made the right choice at the time. In retrospect, I definitely made the right decision. I frequently say that a bad day as a photographer is better than my best day as a lawyer.
| Q: I have gone through your official website, as well as many other sites supporting your presentations. Strangely, I have not found any significant image based on American subjects, reckoning that is your primary domain. In fact, I expected images of rattlers and mountain lions and Canyons instead of African tuscars and wildebeasts. Does your penchant to travel got to do something here?
RP: I am a passionate traveler and have found my photographic inspiration in exploring the various countries around the world that I have been privileged to visit. At this point, I have been to nearly 100 countries. My favorite places to photograph are ones that are very different from my usual environment. For the last dozen years I have frequently photographed in Africa, Asia and South America. |
©2009 Rosanne Pennella |
Q: Where had the recent exhibition of your photographs taken place? When and how did it fare?
RP: I have not exhibited my work recently and prefer to do more commercial sales and teaching at this juncture. At some point in the future that may change but right now my focus is not on exhibitions. I have had numerous exhibits with critical acclaim so I won’t rule out that possibility to return to exhibiting my work in the future.
Q: Are you in a financial position to engage a marketing company? (I read in an interview of yours stating that financially you were not in a position to engage one then. However, it was around four or five years back that statement was made.)
RP: I do not engage a marketing company, less so for financial considerations and more so because I can best market myself at this point. I interact with clients personally and develop relationships that often continue for many years.
©2009 Rosanne Pennella |
Q: Could we have your perception on black and white photography?
RP: I love black and white photography and have collected a number of other photographers’ images in black and white. However, I see the world in color and do all my own shooting in color. Color saturation is one of the recognizable aspects of my images. |
Q: Why a Nikon D100 and Nikon D2X DSLRs then? Why not Nikon D100 and Nikon D2X DSLRs now? Also, what are your current gears?
RP: My old gear is really of no consequence now. Camera technology consistently changes and improves and as new gear comes out I get it. When a new advancement exists that is worth the upgrade I get new gear. I am not a slave to the upgrade but advancements are so frequent that I have upgraded several times in the last few years. Right now I shoot with the Nikon D700 – a fantastic camera with amazing ability in low light because of its amazing high ISO features. It really fits my needs as a travel photographer – it is relatively light, has amazing low light ability and fantastic color and controls.
Q: While venturing out in the Savannah, do you play safe with tripods, keeping a healthy distance, or do you live precariously; the Zuckerman way?
RP: I don’t really use a tripod all that often. I usually carry one with me but for more than 95% of my images there is no tripod. The high ISO ability of the D700 has made this even easier. I recently shot hand-held sunset and sunrise images of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, all hand held at 3200 and 6400 ISO. As for how close I get, my answer is always, I get as close as is culturally appropriate and as the subject will allow. Of course, I follow my guide’s advice with animals, but when it comes to human subjects I often shoot wide angle and determine how to close to get by how comfortable my subject seems. Using a wide-angle lens, I often can be closer than 3 feet away but still can incorporate some background in the image.
Q: Which one do you consider better, digital photography or film photography?
RP: I am only shooting digital now. Technology advances in the last few years have been phenomenal so there hasn’t been any reason to shoot film for a while now. When I shot slide film, I loved it but in reviewing older images I can see that what was considered tack-sharp 10 years ago, would no longer be considered tack-sharp. Looking at everything at 100% magnification has changed my perspective on what images make the final cut. I am far more discerning now.
| Q: How do you take such serene photographs during night times? Again tripods beside ISO speeds come into light. As a matter of fact, I am a real admirer of this quality of yours.
RP: At night I used to use tripods, although recently I have been able to hand hold images using 6400 ISO and often just leave the tripod back in the room. My new motto with the D700 is “if I can see it, I can shoot it”. It has such amazing ability to shoot in low light. At 6400 ISO and with a 2.8 lens if my pupils let in enough light, the camera will too. It is just phenomenal! |
©2009 Rosanne Pennella |
©2009 Rosanne Pennella |
Q: It is well known that you have a remarkable sense of the available light. Are you also well versed with setting artificial lights?
RP: I use natural light whenever I can – I love ambient light photography -- but I also use the Nikon SB-800 lights to do some fill-flash and to enhance the light. If you look closely at my images you often see minimal fill-flash that is only visible to a trained eye. I also use the SB-800s for some interior shots as well. I seldom do elaborate set up lighting as I often work in remote locations or in markets where setting up stands for lights is extremely difficult. |
Q: Do you plan a picturisation of the global recession in the near future? If so, would you be using USA as the back drop?
RP: It is really hard to say what will happen in the future but at this point I have no plans to curtail my international travel. As long as my health allows it and my energy and desire hold up I plan to travel internationally for a very long time. There are still at least 20 places I am aching to photograph.
Q: Which is your favourite location for panoramic photography, specifically for you being a relentless traveller?
RP: My favourite location to photograph is the NEXT one. I thrive on the change and excitement of visiting the myriad places around the world. No matter where I am going, I learn as much as I can about it, read about the culture and history and find a way to meet the people and interact with the place. That can include trying local food, listening to local music and experiencing as much as I can. Having an understanding of the place allows me to take more intimate photographs while I am there and hopefully better illustrate a sense of place.
| Q: Can you point out an event or happening or instance that touched you deeply? Definitely, in terms of photography.
RP: I am deeply touched many times a year – whether shooting a particular tribal experience or an amazing sunrise over an ancient monument, I am often moved to tears by the phenomenal world we live in. I still have a hard time believing how fortunate I am to get to travel the world as a photographer. More times a year that I can count, I have stood with my cameras quietly in awe of what was unfolding around me. Experience has given me the ability to use my cameras to translate that awe I felt to a visual image. Hopefully some of the people viewing those images will feel a little of that awe as well. Part of why I photograph is to inspire others to get out and see the world. |
©2009 Rosanne Pennella |
Q: Can you point out an instance or happening that you rue having missed out?
RP: Until the end of my life I don't think I can answer that. There are still so many more things I hope to experience. At this point I really don’t have many photographic regrets. I suppose though that sometimes I have travelled some place and wished I had been there 10 or 20 years earlier.
Q: Could we know your idea on photography, the paparazzi style?
RP: Paparazzi photography is not at all my thing but I suppose there must be a market for it. After all there are lots of magazines that use it and people who buy them. It is not an interest of mine in the slightest. For instance, I read about 100 or so travel magazines a year, another 40 photography magazines and maybe glance at one or two of the paparazzi style mags – usually when there is nothing else to read.
Q: Do we have the kind permission to know about your family?
RP: I am married to an amazing man who is very understanding about all my travels. He accompanies me when he can.
©2009 Rosanne Pennella |
Q: Did you ever contemplate travelling to some war stricken areas to bring out the relevant horrors to light? I ask this question, even through it do not coincide with your forte; 'creativity', because I always carried a deep ache in my heart for Daniel Pearl, who sacrificed his invaluable life in Pakistan?
RP: I have the utmost respect for journalists in war-stricken areas. Their bravery and ability to relate the human condition is indeed inspiring. However, that is not something I ever envision photographing myself. I see myself as someone who attempts to inspire others to travel, and who illustrates the world as an amazing and beautiful place. I try to show the dignity and soul in all my subjects. |
The most extraordinary section of Rosanne's story is the major change that took place in her career. She obviously must have taken a lot of time, as well as pain to analyse her strengths and weaknesses, at the same time checking out ways to fulfil her passion for travelling.
She has worked on dozens of assignments in numerous countries spread across the world. Lowepro featured her work in an international ad campaign in 2006. She has also worked with Journeys in Film, which is an organisation devoted towards using images and film to educate children about different cultures.
After achieving lots of accolades for her work she is still raring to go further. The upcoming trips that she would be leading, include Northern Vietnam and Southern India with Photo Quest Adventures, and Montreal with the Mentor Series. You can visit her website to see some of her extraordinary artistic creations. For readers interested in more information on the renowned travel photographer, Rosanne Pennella, can feel free to visit her website on www.rosannepennella.com.
