Every other Friday we get the chance to chat with a SmugMug photographer and browse through some of their favorite photos in a series we call "SmugMug Corner". In our 66th installment we meet court reporter/nature photographer Renae Smith who hails from the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

Name: Renae Smith
Website: www.synappedphoto.com, Synapped on Flickr, and Synapped on PhotographyCorner

Tell us a little about yourself.

A 55-year-old wife & mother of two adult children, I'm savoring this phase of life where I have time, energy and good health to do some things just for me - which translates meaning PHOTOGRAPHY! The arrival of our first grandchild in March has sent me scurrying to learn about portrait photography. In my other life I'm a court reporter.

I live in rural Pacific Northwest near Vancouver, Washington, a nature photographer's dream. We're an hour or two from the beach and mountains, and there's water and critters all around. Who could ask for more?!

Sip 'N Run

What is your background/training in photography?

As a self-taught photog, I've studied online, read books and magazines, hounded people online, asking questions, lived-eaten-and-breathed photography. I enjoy the challenge in photography and am always studying and working to learn some new technique: birds in flight, macro, landscapes, refractions, Photoshop. A community college Photoshop class and PS books have helped me produce images closer to what I see in the real world.

Dandy's Secrets

Where'd You Get Those Peepers?

How long has photography been a passion for you? When, where and how did it start?

Beautiful pictures have always fed my soul, and I used to download photos by the dozens from Webshots for my computer desktop. In early 2006 I got a Canon S2 point & shoot and discovered I could take my own desktop pix - the beginning of my demise! When I discovered the macro button on the camera I was lost forever! I have never been so consumed by a hobby in my life. I seriously want to do NOTHING else. I started searching for info and ideas online, came across Flickr.com and became hopelessly addicted! Within a year I moved up to a Canon Rebel XTi, then in another year to the Canon D50. Next...?!

Score!

What equipment is in your camera bag? What piece of equipment will be added to the collection next?

My current baby is a Canon D50. My arsenal includes:

• 18-35mm kit lens
• 100mm f/2.8 macro (and occasionally a Raynox conversion lens)
• 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6
• 55-250mm f/4-5.6
• 50mm f/1.4 (purchased recently for those low-light grandbaby pix!)
• Speedlite 430EX II (another new purchase for those grandchild pix)
• Tripod: Manfrotto 190XPROB and a ball head I can't remember

Next I'm dreaming of an intervalometer to play with timelapse photography and the Lensbaby Composer for some fun foto effects. And of course, someday I have to have a Wimberley tripod head for birding.

Blowin' in the Sunset

Discreet

What are your favorite places/subjects to photograph? Why?

My first passion is anything nature. I was surprised to discover a fascination with birds through the lens and am thrilled to catch a shot of a sweet little fluff-ball or a bird in flight - particularly raptors. I frequent the wildlife refuge in Ridgefield, Washington because it has an auto route through an assortment of habitats so we get a wide variety of birds and critters. It's an exciting treasure hunt to see what I might capture next! I've always been a sedentary person, but photography has me constantly looking for new places and things to shoot, and even my husband loves that!

In the Silver Hush of Evening

Who are your biggest photographic influences? Why? What about their work influences your work?

Tom & Pat Leeson live in our area, and though I haven't YET met them, I am enthralled by their work. At a fundraiser auction we bought a double treasure: their print of an eagle catching a fish; and their book, America's Wildlife Refuges. Wow, if those aren't inspiring, I don't know what is! The detail and emotion in their images are pure heart-stopping soul food. I've been working hard to try to learn the skills to get that eagle shot and replace theirs with mine. I've come close and will soon have it nailed!

Art Wolfe has also been a great inspiration to me. I watch his OPB program any chance I get, and I got to attend his lecture/slideshow in Portland, Oregon last year. If only I could be just like them...!

The Reluctant Debutante

Ablaze

How long have you been Smug with your photographs? What features do you most enjoy with your SmugMug account?

I've been a Smugger for about two years. I felt that my Flickr site was cluttered with comments and critiques, and I wanted a nicer-looking site where I could showcase my best work. Until the last 6 months or so I didn't activate the commenting feature, but I've now gotten involved with people and communities. I learn so much from other peoples' images and honest feedback about mine. I haven't yet had the courage to turn on the selling button, but I'm getting close...!

It's Snowing Petals!

If you had do sum up in 50 words or less the impact SmugMug has made on your photography/photography business, those 50 words would be...

It's thrilling to have a professional-looking website that links to a domain name. It really WOWs people who see it. The black background makes colors really POP and feeds my artist soul. I'm dying to turn on the selling but haven't figured out those details yet. Soon...

Load 'er Up!

If you had to give one piece of advice to those wanting to pursue photography, what would you tell them?

Keep stretching yourself into new techniques, and don't give up! My pet theory is that half the battle is purely a numbers game. Most weeks I take a minimum of 1,000 shots. It seems to me that the chances of one of those being a decent shot increases with every week!

Narnia (Multnomah Falls in the Columbia River Gorge, Oregon)