SheFeatures: Kathie Thomas
Name: Kathie Thomas
Camera: Nikon D7100, Nikon D7000, Nikon P950
Favourite type of photography: Bird photography, followed by nature
Website: dandenong-ranges-photography.com.au
Instagram: @kathiemayt
Location: In the hills community south-east of Melbourne, Australia
How did you get into photography?
As a young teen, I was fascinated with my uncle, who did wedding and portrait photography, and I wanted to learn how to use a camera. My parents gave me my first camera for my 14th birthday. I used to shoot lots of holiday and family snaps, but it wasn't until much later in life (well over 30 years later) that I really got into it more seriously, when my husband and I shifted into our current hills home surrounded by nature.
Do you have any photographic qualifications or accolades?
I did a Diploma of Photography (Professional Photography) with Australian College in 2014 - simply to see what was involved. I loved it. I've also won several local photography competitions and achieved a Commended award for Photographer of the Year in Australia in 2016.
What's the first photograph you remember seeing or shooting?
I have a photo of my sisters and brother, which I took when I was 14, and another of our pet dogs. That was back in the 1970s. More recently, in 2009, it was a blue-banded bee in our garden that inspired me to start doing nature photography.
What do you love about photography?
Being immersed in nature. Being out on my own, walking tracks in local parks, and watching, listening for anything of interest. It helps block out everything else in life and just be in the moment.
What do you wish you'd learned about photography earlier?
I wish that I'd taken the time to be amongst nature. I brought up 5 daughters and ran a very busy online Virtual Assistant business for 27 years, and I rarely had time for myself. My husband had a full-on job and worked long hours - this was the reason I chose to work from home, so I was always there for our girls. When they gradually left home, life was still very busy with my business and other related activities. It was when a doctor ordered me to go out almost 15 years ago and do regular walking so I'm not always in front of my computer, I was prompted to take my camera with me regularly.
Where is your favourite place for photography?
A local lake park but even our own property - we live on 2 acres in the hills. We have lots of nature here.
Do you have a favourite photographic technique?
I use my Nikon P950 most of the time these days and it has a great Bird mode - which gets me really close to the birds. But if I'm shooting birds in flight, I use my D7100 with a 200-500mm lens and have learnt to focus and pan as the bird is in flight, to get my shots.
Can you briefly outline your approach to image processing?
All my images are loaded into Lightroom, and I do simple things: lighten, brighten, straighten, sharpen if needed, and crop if needed. I don't do very much, really.
What's your favourite lens?
The Nikon P950 - it’s a bridge camera that zooms to 2000mm!
Read our Guide to Camera Lenses, all those terms explained
Do you have a favourite accessory?
The shoulder strap on my P950 - the camera is always at my hip.
Have you found the perfect camera bag yet?
No. I prefer to be wearing my camera, so I rarely pack it into a bag.
Which photographers have influenced or inspired you, and how or why?
Steve Parish has been my photography idol since the 1970s - in my teen years. He's a nature photographer. I had the wonderful opportunity of working with him through my business and was his Virtual Assistant (VA) for around 3 years, organising photography workshops and venues for him and managing his website. It was a dream come true! I also admire Ken Duncan, an Australian landscape photographer.
Please recommend 2 or 3 female photographers to follow on Instagram.
Theresa Hollingsworth (@theresa_holly_), Kate Crock (@packupandflyaway), Tracey Noonan (@allthingsgardenandnature)
Is there a camera, lens or accessory that you don't have yet but you'd like to buy at some point?
No, think I pretty much have it all, although another Lensbaby would be good!
Is there a genre of photography that you love but you haven't tried yet?
Maybe night sky photography.
What's your proudest photographic moment?
Printing my very first calendar some years ago and giving a copy to Steve Parish - when he saw the image on the front cover (of our local tourist steam train, the Puffing Billy crossing the trestle bridge with steam flowing) he commented he'd always wanted to get that shot.
If you could have one superpower that could help you with photography, what would it be?
My husband says my superpower is ‘getting stuff done’, but I’d like to write a successful book, but I haven’t done that yet!
Your favourite baked goods are?
Donuts! Especially custard filled ones.
Please tell us a little about yourself.
I live in the hills south-east of Melbourne, Australia, with my husband. Our daughters are grown and married and we have 9 grandchildren now. My days are spent joyously taking photos of birds and nature and learning about nature, which I share with others online. I also spend time teaching our grandchildren about nature and our eldest grandson, now 14, has gotten into photography too.
