Today we’d like to introduce you to Madelyn Muraoka.
Hi Madelyn, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started taking photos in 5th grade so I could join my teacher’s photography club. I really enjoyed it and kept taking photos of different environments and animals. Eventually, my parents would help me with getting my first camera, and with the new lens, I was able to move on to bird photography. I really enjoyed photographing birds and wanted to learn more about their lives and behavior patterns. Eventually, I started recognizing species and started an Instagram account to share my bird photos. Although I specialize in bird photography, I also have had opportunities to photograph people, events, and scenery around GA and SC. I still have a long way to go with polishing my skill, but I am proud of how far I have gotten in my passion for photography. Today, I am still photographing birds and I hope to spend my future bettering the composition of my photos.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Photographing small, constantly moving subjects can lead to some challenges. Birds are very tricky in that they are sensitive to movement and sound. I had to work around many challenges when I first started photographing birds because they would always fly away as soon as my camera got the subject in the frame. I was able to overcome these challenges in several ways. I stood still in camouflaged clothing for extended periods of time and figured out ways to imitate bird calls. I also traveled long distances to reach rural areas where I had opportunities to photograph a wider variety of birds. I initially struggled to get good shots of birds at a distance. I watched online tutorials and read some photography books and improved the framing and figured out how each individual feature on my camera functioned. All of this knowledge helped me in becoming a better photographer.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in bird photography, though I also experiment in people and landscapes. I am mainly known for my Instagram and for winning some local photography awards in Georgia. I am an amateur photographer and it is my hobby, but I would love to start selling my photos if I ever have the time. I am most proud of when I find and successfully photograph a specific bird species that I have been longing to capture. I think my dedication to bettering my photography and my willingness to learn new tips and tricks can set me apart from other people. I am always open to constructive criticism on my photography from others and love to learn about birds and camera techniques!
How do you think about luck?
Luck plays a small part when it comes to timing the photo just right to get the shot I want. It takes a lot of patience to find the bird I want to photograph, but it is up to luck that I am able to shoot it in the exact position I am hoping for. Sometimes I get lucky and get a great shot of a bird in flight or in a unique pose, but mainly I have to rely on my knowledge of bird behavior and photo composition to make my images stand out from other photographers.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @madelyn_anne_photography
Image Credits
Madelyn Muraoka
