May 2009

Kevin Sibbitt, 45, Winter Springs, was born and raised in Tampa. After serving 10 years in the Navy, he moved to Orlando in 1994. He and his wife, Kazumi, of 14 years have two children, Camille, 8, and Brandon, 5. After initially resisting digital photography, he bought a Nikon Digital SLR in December 2006 mainly to take pictures of their children. However, it also rekindled his interest in photography. Armed with some memory cards and his new camera, he visited the Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens, Mead Garden and Harry P. Leu Gardens and began capturing those gardens' natural beauty. This has helped him discover his passion for memorializing the enduring beauty and complexity of Mother Nature's "gift box." His photograph of the "Sower" sculpture was selected as the cover of The Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens. Asked about his education and training for photography, he says: "Practice, practice, practice." He is self-taught.

What photographers Do you admire and why? Harold Feinstein for flowers, along with Bryan Peterson, John Shaw and Joe McNally for their work and technique.

When are you most productive? The first few hours after sunrise and the first few hours before sundown, known by photographers as the "magic hours," are the best time to take photographs. There's soft natural lighting that is not available during the rest of the day. Of course, we take photos at all times of the day, but these times are especially good for capturing great color and contrast of your subject. 

What are your favorite subjects? I like gardens and flowers because of Mother Nature's intelligent sophistication and diversity that is constantly on display in one form or another all throughout the year. They say that the best things in life are free. And in the case of flowers and gardens, this couldn't be truer. With the mere planting of a seed, mix in some sunshine and rain, and perhaps some tender loving care, an unfolding takes place. This miracle process still confounds scientists and horticulturists. The fact that it is an unfolding process means that the beautiful flowers we see during the growing process, are in fact, buried within the seed itself. It goes to the fundamental question of life itself, as all living things are an unfolding process that we still do not fully understand. We understand why flora does what it does, but how it actually does it, remains a mystery. I'm also constantly amazed at the various colors, textures and forms that Mother Nature has to offer. It would be a boring world without all this diversity in the plant kingdom. As soon as I think I have seen the most amazing flower, along comes another that surpasses it. This provides me with an endless supply of photographic opportunities that I look forward to each and every day. It's what makes me want to get up before the sun comes up, and keeps me away from the dinner table at night. This is the lifestyle of a professional nature photographer.

How would you describe your style? I'm a freelance photographer, concentrating on outdoor nature photography instead of studio photography. I really enjoy the freedom of not being confined to a studio, and I would rather walk the beautiful gardens of Winter Park and capture whatever catches my eye. I find this to be one of the best ways to capture great images. If I think it is beautiful, chances are others will think it is beautiful as well.

What mediums do you use? Nikon 35mm Digital SLR with a future interest in medium format photography.

Web site: proflowerportraits.com -- Hosted by SmugMug's Photo Sharing Site.