Unraveled Expert Artist Interview | Gemma Crockart, UEA
We are thrilled to welcome the super talented Gemma Crockart of the Loving Lens Photography AND @their_wild_little_lives on Instagram (swoon!) to the blog today. She is one of our newest Unraveled Expert Artists and we look forward to watching her grow from here. Gemma was born and raised near the water on the stunning West Coast Of Scotland, where she still lives in their house on the hill with her husband and 4 young sons. A creative documentary & lifestyle photographer she is especially drawn to capturing the chaos and details that occur daily in their home with four crazy wee boys.
Gemma’s best work is done when she embraces the moment in front of her and finds interesting ways to capture it. Her eye for light is impeccable. She can take a simple shot of the trampoline in her backyard and make it beautiful. I mean, that's talent (see below). She does this by flirting with light in the most mysterious way and embracing darker tones, colors and shadows within her art.
Unraveled Expert Artists are the first to be considered for teaching opportunities within the community. Learn More Here.
For more inspiration from Gemma :
Instagram | Website
Here is Gemma, Unraveled…
What inspires your art?
My little dudes! They're the reason I picked up my camera in the first place. Create something with longevity fills my soul. To know I'm giving them something they can look back on is amazing and hopefully, they can be inspired in some way when they're older.
What do you shoot with? Camera body and favorite lens?
I shoot mainly with my Canon 5d MKiv which I love to use especially in low light. My go-to lens is the Sigma Art 35mm 1.4 that I use in pretty much every situation. I have also moved over to mirrorless and picked up a Sony A7RIII which is simply beautiful.
What other ways do you express your creativity?
Eating, does that count? I love to explore and try out different cuisines, Lebanese has been one of my favourites since I was a little girl. Creating meals for my family gives me a super fuzzy internal hug.
How do you de-stress at the end of the day?
De-stress, Is that actually a thing? With my boys ranging from 9 years old to 4 years old, I don't think I've de-stressed in 10 years! Any tips would be awesome!
What kind of music do you listen to while editing?
I love to edit in silence or with trashy tv in the background with swear words in that I can't watch when the kids are around.
My brain is on the go 24/7 with the kids asking all sorts of shi...stuff, so silent editing is like my yoga! If I do have something on though it's most likely Handsome & Gretel, their music is so soothing to me and incredibly beautiful.
What is your favorite book?
I read a book when I was 19, this story has stuck with me ever since. A piece of cake: A memoir by Cupcake Brown is an autobiography about her life growing up. This woman was an inspiration, proof that you can get to where you want to be with some perseverance and downright determination.
Name one movie that inspires you.
I'm more of a series lass. I recently watched Atypical, a series about a teenage boy who has autism and his families journey with him as he grows. It was so inspiring to watch him push himself and work through things that might seem easy for some.
How do you handle self-doubt or creative slumps?
Not well really! I tend to retreat and shoot until I feel it lift. Lensbaby is my way out more often than not, creativity breeds creativity, well I think anyway.
What has been the most difficult part of your creative journey?
Finding my voice. I would see artists who seemed to have their style, editing, location choice - all the things nailed down, made me feel like I was just floating! I struggled to see what I shot as worthy at all, especially in a community of people who seemed to have it all figured out. I get it now, we are all on a continuous, evolving journey and I love it! Change is inevitable and good! Embrace it and you can't go wrong.
What is your favorite pizza topping?
Any pizza, so long as there's heaps of onion on will do me!
What is your most favorite kind of light and why?
I adore low light, there's something so mystical and beautiful about the way you use something that most non-photogs would see as unusable.
Who is one of your favorite photographers?
One of my favourites has to be Stormy Solis. I was inspired on a different level with how she works and how she can create such beauty.
What is your favorite course or lesson at Unraveled?
Creating Low-Light, Shallow Aperture Portraits with Joy Prouty, this course just blew me away! What she created by primarily using just a window & light was incredible. The beauty and details in this lesson started me on an amazing journey!