It’s one thing to experiment in Photoshop, but to execute with such an intensively impressive professionalism is a whole nother thing. Cindy’s talents, however, aren’t steeped in editing, it’s her astonishingly creative mind. From broody portraits, to optical illusions, to quirky setups, each frame reads like a MOVIE. A powerful story. This level of talent really stands on its own. If you aren’t already following Cindy, do so NOW. This week marks Cindy’s 238th frame!
-Yosef
___
Name: Cindy Hess
Current All-Time Streak: 238
Joined 52Frames: Jan 2021
Your “walk-around” gear right now:
Samsung NX300M with 30mm Pancake lens
The place you call home:
Leipzig, Germany
___
Your life in 30 words or less
Hobby photographer, aspiring artist, embracing my weirdness, queerness and inner “demons” in photography.
Nature lover, backpacker, pub quizzer (niche knowledge joker), true Eurovisoon fan, book worm.
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?
Since I learned some Photoshop basics, I enjoyed doing more and more composites. I love the different approach of creating a scene from my mind and telling a story the old way by spinning a yarn.
I also grew more confident in asking friends to model for my photos, which is a nice break from self-portraits. Their trust in my process is phenomenal.
What was the first photo you ever submitted to 52Frames?
How did you find out about 52Frames?
A photographer I know started the challenge at the same time and posted about it on Social Media
What submission are you most proud of and why?
This felt like so many things I learned and improved over the years added up while creating this photo, low-key lighting, an old master’s look, some PS skills, and not shying away from doing my thing. It was a lot of work, but it was also so much fun. I remember how my mood lifted more and more when all the puzzle pieces were coming together, and I actually created the picture that I had in my head at the beginning of that week.
One tip you’d like to share?
There are constant ideas in my head, but often not fitting to the current theme. So I carry a little book around and write down or draw what comes to mind. And whenever I feel I need some inspiration, I go back to those to either choose an old idea or start a new train of thought from one. This can also be easily done by saving great picture ideas on Pinterest or Instagram.
Why is 52Frames meaningful to you?
Struggling with mental health problems, many of the values of 52Frames align with what I learned to be actually really good and healthy ways for myself (accepting imperfection, growth in small steps from week to week). But above all, the amazing and thoughtful community of framers often felt like family and close friends.
To view Cindy’s profile on 52Frames, click here:
Cindy, I love your work! The moodiness and creativity. I like your ideas of jotting down photo ideas into a small book and using Pinterest to save photos you’d like to take. Congratulations!
Thank you, Carol. It is quite helpful to get things out of my head and write them down. Also, the best ideas often come at strange times.
Cindy, Amazingly creative work. great to get some insight into who you are and what inspires you.
Thank you, Stefani. It was really great to be asked to do this
I love Cindy’s work. She is A1 Amazing. Such an accomplished artist. A real inspiration, even if I could never achieve her level of creativity. I love her distinctive style!
Thanks a million, Chris
Your creative ideas are just wonderful – it is always a privilege to see an original at work! You are a great inspiration … congrats!
Thank you so much for your lovely words, Deborah
Nice work! and a big yes to jotting image ideas into a notebook. (Moi – I have more than a few notebooks with sketched ideas – also helps with thinking through the concept/composition/details.) The kraken – are they hard to pose? Do they listen to your directions? I use my cats from time to time… it can be like, um, “herding cats”.
Clearly there is no shortage of talent in the global 52Frames group!
Yeah, another notebook person. I also often have lots of info scribbled around my terrible little drawings concerning details, direction of light and composition.
I think I got lucky with the kraken. I heard they can be quite temperamental but mine seems to be tame.
I’m so happy that you were featured! You are amazingly talented, and I love seeing the progression of your work, and I am always stunned with the extents of your creativity. Congrats!
Thank you, Martin. It was a very pleasant surprise to be asked to do this.
You do absolute amazing work and in my humble opinion you really deserve big stage to show your art. From ideas to colors to details, so much fun to explore your photos! And you confirm my own believe that photography is a good thing for mental health 🫶
Thank you, Stephanie. I wouldn’t know how to get to the big stage, so I might start small and maybe finally work on my plans for an exhibition.
Yaay Cindy! You know how much I love your art, it’s fabulous and stupendous and I’m so glad you were featured on here! Just keep on with your notebooks and your amazing imagination and creativity AND talent and thank you for your intricate images every week!
( even though I’m not posting on here at the moment I’m sort off trying to get back the confidence to…) 🫶🏼