Each one of Rachel’s submissions is a visual delight. Bridging unique ideas, technical skill, and gorgeous aesthetics, Rachel somehow delivers incredible photography every week. This year she added her own extra challenge of incorporating a self portrait into every week’s submission! This week marks Rachel’s 163rd frame!

-Yosef

Name: Rachel Green

Current All-Time Streak: 163

Joined 52Frames: June 2020

Your “walk-around” gear right now:

Sony A7rv, Sigma Art 85mm f1.4 & 35mm f1.4

The place you call home:

London UK

Your life in 30 words or less

I am a mother of three, wife, daughter, family and nature lover.
Visual, creative, calm natured.
I try really hard, competitive, love a challenge.
I crave quiet time, space and being home.

Can you share 2 images, one from your past, and one more recent, that show your evolution as a photographer?

What has been your favorite style of shooting lately?

In January of this year I challenged myself to make each 52 Frames submission a self-portrait and also to improve my use of off-camera flash.
It has been really hard, sometimes I’ve been so frustrated!!!! but also totally rewarding, sometimes very surpising and I have learned a huge amount about light, composition, posing and about ME. I’d say it is literally my year of self reflection.

What was the first photo you ever submitted to 52Frames?

How did you find out about 52Frames?

I think I read about 52 Frames in a photography magazine. It was either there or Google.

What submission are you most proud of and why?

I love this photo for several reasons.
Firstly it was technically challenging as a self portrait with two people (directing, modeling and shooting simultaneously).
The camera and flash settings were tricky – I turned day into night by changing the in-camera white balance, stuck a coloured gel on my Speedlight inside the lantern which had to be the correct warmth to balance the ambient coolness and also needed to work outside with the remote trigger. It was hard to hold the lantern at the right distance from our faces so that the it lit us correctly too, especially without being able to see the results in real time. I think I literally ran back and forth to the camera 50 times to check!
The picture itself is an idealistic fairytale scene. My dream of what married life could be.
I’m an optimist.
I love finding beauty in the little things and I try to bring some magic into our lives. My images are rarely dark, I like that element of romantic fantasy.
Also we totally had fun creating this photo together, it was romantic posing like that, the kids enjoyed watching us and they all had a go with the lantern in their own photo shoots after.

One tip you’d like to share?

You can get good at ANYTHING if you practice enough!
I believe that photography (any art really) and creativity doesn’t just require talent.
If you study and practice enough you will improve and there aren’t really any shortcuts – just keep trying, a little every day and eventually you’ll get the hang of it.
I’ve learned this applies to many things in life, consistent short daily exercises really add up to a lot more than you could ever imagine.
Also Youtube is amazing for learning literally anything – I’m totally addicted to photography tutorials.

Why is 52Frames meaningful to you?

Gosh, so many reasons! I love 52 Frames!!!!! Here’s why:

It’s an amazing creative outlet and the themes each week give me a focus that I would otherwise not have.
Before 52 Frames I was shooting the same things over and over again and now I have new inspiration each week.
The limits of the challenge are liberating, giving my creativity a sense of direction and structure.

Each week I learn new skills and techniques and feel like I get to play with my photography in a way that’s just for fun and the love of shooting and editing.

Having taken on the self-portrait challenge too this year has taught me a lot about myself. I never really thought too deeply about why I created the pictures I take but I guess they are all a reflection of what’s inside me, or what I want to be or who I am??? I don’t know but clearly they’re all me and I’ve chosen to take them this way so I need to analyse that….

It pushes me out of my comfort zone.

I’m a slave to the streak!!!!! I love the streak – it works for me.
I’m a streaker with lots of things (clothes strictly ON).

There are weeks where I’ve created photos with my family – kids, with my parents, my husband, my sister, nieces, nephews, and all these would not have happened without the given challenges.
I’ve not only made pictures with them though, we have shared experiences together that have been so fun, meaningful, sweet, special and created memories that will last forever.

Several of my 52 Frames shoots have inspired my paintings.

The 52 Frames community is amazing – so encouraging, generous, kind and inspiring. I love the anonymity of being in part of it and the comfort that I can confidently submit work to a non judgemental audience of like-minded creatives.

All in all I’m a huge fan!

To view Rachel’s profile on 52Frames, click here: