I first met Jude Spancken many years ago, when she was studying at aberystwyth in mid/north Wales. She was a very good climber, and a month or so ago I put up a video from Hot Aches of her climbing ‘Lord of the Flies‘, after I saw the clip at the Paul Diffey slideshow at LLAMFF. As well as climbing to an extremely high level Jude often had in her hands a Camera, and despite her protests below that her climbing photograhy ‘needs work’. She has managed to capture many great images over the years.
She now lives in France, but before that she spent many a year living in Llanberis, but eventually the rain drove her mad, and she headed to sunnier climbs (sic). You can see some her images at her website.
What or Who inspired you to get into photography?
I remember that from quite a young age I would borrow my neighbors Nikon SLR camera and took it exploring around the village where I grew up in Northern Germany. If I look at the images I took back then (I must have been between the age of 12 and 15) it seems that I really used the camera to document the things I loved and enjoyed doing but with a real curious approach as if I wanted to explore them further. So I guess I always had this curiosity in me and the urge to capture my environment and things that stand out for me.
Have you done any formal studies in photography, if so how has it helped you?
In 2000 I did a one year Diploma course in Professional Photography at the Western Academy of Photography in Victoria, Canada. I knew nothing about the technicalities of photography when I started the course. It helped heaps in understanding the equipment, the techniques and in giving me a critical approach to my photography. It was a very creative and inspirational environment and it was the first time I really enjoyed going to school. All classes were thought by actively working professional photographers who would come in to give the classes and talks.
What’s best Digital or Film, and why ?
There are huge advantages to digital I think. I am shooting far more for myself now as the costs of actually producing images is so much lower (once you have all the equipment). For high pressure jobs such as weddings or more commercial stuff it is really good to be able to check up what you’ve got without shooting expensive polaroids.
I think there is a definite downside to it as well though and I am very glad that I did my training the film way.
Being able to just shoot tonnes of frames without the worry of extra developing costs I think there is the danger of people putting less thought into each frame. Often it seems to be about quantity rather than quality and I think it is important to not loose the mindset to really think and compose with care. An image may otherwise loose its depth.
What has been your favourite photoshoot, and why has it stood out for you?
I have just been to the Isles of Scilly to take the pictures for an article for Trail Running magazine, so the trip is really fresh in my mind. Following a couple of runners around the Islands was great fun and we had some really wild weather. But there has been others. One of my first commercial shoots was a trip to Morocco. It was immensely stressful as I was sent out there with 5 models and no direction, cash advance or any prior organisation.
Apart from coming up with the photos I had to do all the driving, hotel and inland flight booking and whatever else needed to be organized. I can’t remember how I actually found the time to take photos but somehow it worked out fine and it was a great experience.
You have an impressive collection of published images, which are you most proud of?
Proud is maybe the wrong word but I am always pleased when a shot worked out although the circumstances were really challenging. For example there is one shot for Jack Wolfskin they printed on the Front Cover of one of their leaflets. The brief was to go out in really stormy conditions to get some good windy looking photos for their wind proof tops. The days the shoot was scheduled for was one of the calmest days you can imagine. There wasn’t the slightest breeze whatsoever and we spend all day running around the mountaintops trying to find some windy spots.
What style best describes your photography?
I like simplicity. I find clutter in images distracting from what the image is actually about. I don’t think I consciously try to create images that are simple and clutter free but I think I am naturally drawn to scenes that radiate calm and simplicity whilst having some depth and beauty to it.
If there was anyone in the world dead or alive you could photograph who’d it be and why?
I really love taking portraits. Certain people trigger the want in me to photograph them. I can’t quite put my finger on what it is. It doesn’t necessarily have to be conventional beauty or fame or that the person is well known for something in particular. I just meet some people that have this strong light shining through them, they radiate something special and when I see that I want to photograph them.
What do you look for in your images?
Maybe my above answers in partial already explain. Though I often feel that I am not looking for pictures but I simply find them. I seem to stumble across them, often unexpected. I do try though to really think about what it is in particular that attracts me to a scene, what objects or emotions work together and are important, then focus on that and try to eliminate everything else out of the frame.
Any top tips for the next generation of snappers or the keen amateur who is looking to improve there climbing photography?
I don’t actually think climbing photography is necessarily my strength and I am still working on ‘getting it’ myself in my climbing shots.
But yes, look at a scene. Ask yourself what is it about this scene that drew you to it in the first place and try to bring that out. Often only slight changes in angle and composition make an enormous difference in how a picture ‘feels’.
And don’t stop being critical about your images. Look at them and keep asking yourself what you could have done better.
What’s your next project?
Personal or for work? I have a wedding to photograph in a couple of weeks Weddings usually take a lot of energy and focus to photograph.
Personally I actually would like to work on my climbing photography this summer. That is something I could do better but have not really invested too much time into in the past. I always seemed to be too busy climbing myself.