AZPA: How did you get started in photography?
RW: I grew up in a family of photographers. My Grandfather, Dad and Uncle were all into photography. I got my first camera when I was 6, it was a Kodak Instamatic 110. I have since shot with 35mm, medium format, large format and now primarily use DSLR camera. Although I always liked photography, my love for it really grew while I was in high school and started shooting lightning during our summer monsoons. This developed my love for night time photography and for long exposures. My photography has grown a lot since then but I still love shooting lightning and am out there every summer trying to capture beautiful landscapes with lightning in them.
“That Wanaka Tree” © 2020 Reid Woodward
AZPA: What are your thoughts on the Theme Gallery for AZPA?
RW: The themed galleries are such an incredible way to allow members to not only feel a part of the group but also share their vision and their style of photography. Seeing the varied interpretations of the theme is not only fun but also illuminating as it can open up new avenues of expression for each of us. Learning from one another or seeing a different take on a subject that we never would have thought of can be invaluable to our own growth as photographers.
AZPA: What was your process in selecting your image(s) for “Trees”?
RW: When I saw that the theme was Trees, this was the first image that came to mind for me to submit. This is one of my favorite photos from a bucket list trip to New Zealand. This tree, that locals just refer to as “That Wanaka Tree,” is one of the most photographed trees in the world and is said to be a symbol of hope to New Zealanders. I shot this on a rainy day in March of 2020. Due to the weather and the beginning of the Covid outbreak, the normal throngs of tourists that usually surround the area were not there. For this shot, I used a 10 stop ND filter which allowed for a 30 second exposure. This smoothed out the lake and gave a lovely mood to the rain and clouds. In the foreground you can make out the shapes of the ducks that were swimming by. Sadly, a week after I took this shot vandals rowed out in the middle of the night and cut off the lower branches of the tree forever changing this scene.
AZPA: What are your thoughts on being selected for the First Place award?
RW: It is exciting for one of my favorite images to get this recognition. It really is an honor to have been selected from such a large talent pool of incredible photographers. It’s both humbling and exhilarating to have one’s work acknowledged and I am very grateful for that.