Rose image

Skyward

Note: I first published this interview on my old blog, Photo Artist Textures

It is a great pleasure for me to present this interview with Jessica Jenney. In some ways, Jessica is responsible for the seed that grew into this site. In 2009, I joined the RedBubble community. While I have a background in photography, digital imaging and alternative processes, I had taken a long side road into graphic design and was just returning to creative photography. As a former professional hand-colorist, I wanted to find a way to digitally paint my photographs. The obvious choice seemed to be Corel Painter and while I do love that program, I wasn’t achieving what I wanted. When I saw Jessica’s work on RedBubble, I was stunned. I didn’t know what she was doing, but it resonated. Believe it or not, I wasn’t aware of textures! Jessica’s work has been and still is the bar that I look to as a level I want to accomplish. She has a strong personal vision, is highly prolific and every image is a delightful celebration of nature. Her work has been like a beacon guiding me  until I found my own path. I know I am not alone in finding inspiration in her work.

I have a soft spot for her gorgeous florals, but Jessica is known particularly for her intimate landscapes. She photographs country bridges, gardens, and the countryside around her home town of Bronxville, New York. She has been called the Queen of Autumn as her earthy, golden palette complements this season especially well. I’ll add the title of Empress of Skies and Water. Jessica uses a variety of post-processing tools to achieve her vision including textures and filters.

Interview

Photo Artist Textures

Hello Jessica, Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

Jessica Jenney

I live in Bronxville, NY, a charming village just north of Manhattan with my cat Chloe. Until recently, I was a caregiver to both my parents for years until their deaths, so I had put my photography on the back burner, but for the past several years I’ve had the time to return to my passion.

Photo Artist Textures
How long have you been photographing and what drew you to photography? Do you also have traditional art skills?  Did you go to school for photography or are you self taught?

Jessica
I developed an interest in photography about 18 years ago. It grew from my love of nature. Since I had no previous art training, I decided upon photography and acquired a manual SLR, shooting with the gorgeous Fuji Velvia slide film. I read everything I could about camera technique, light and composition. At that time I considered myself a purist and wouldn’t think about retouching my photos. I’ve come a long way since then!

Lilacs

Lilacs

Photo Artist Textures
What artists have inspired you?

Jessica

When I first picked up the camera I was inspired by photographers Eliot Porter and Ernst Haas. The first for his realistic images of nature, and the second for his artistic composition and treatments. After I discovered Photoshop I was more inspired by the Romantic Era painters, in particular the Hudson River School of painting.

Wisteria

Wisteria photograph

Photo Artist Textures
What else inspires you or moves you?

Jessica
Nature of course is a constant inspiration, and music, especially while I’m editing my work. Music sets the mood and inspires my treatment of the subject at hand.

Photo Artist Textures
What makes you want to grab your camera?

Jessica
It can be something as simple as hearing the rustling of leaves, a light rain or interesting light or cloud formations. I carry my camera with me at all times, so I’m always at the ready when something captures my attention.

Rose Garden Trellis

Rose Garden with Trellis

Photo Artist Textures
Do you tend to shoot with natural light or strobes or a combination? Is there a certain kind of light you like most? Do you shoot with post-processing in mind? In other words, do you shoot any differently if you know you will use textures, etc.?

Jessica
I prefer to shoot in natural light, under overcast skies. Any time of day is fine for me, as long as the sun isn’t casting harsh shadows. When I’m shooting a still life indoors I know I’ll be applying textures so I’ll shoot against a neutral background.

Victorian Spring

Victorian Spring photograph

Photo Artist Textures
What equipment do you have in your Camera Bag?

Jessica
I have the Canon Powershot G10camera. It’s a point and shoot, which means no extra lenses. I keep it simple, and it’s enough for my needs. It’s small and not cumbersome. I think that probably because I didn’t have an SLR, I felt the need to somehow compensate for my lack of better equipment by applying effects and eventually textures. Well, I found my “easel” so to speak.

Editor’s note: proof that that you don’t need fancy equipment to create great art! I always assumed Jessica must have a better camera than mine, but no, I can’t use that excuse, darn!

English Garden

English Garden

Photo Artist Textures
What Photo Editing software do you use?

Jessica
I use Adobe Photoshop Elements 7 for most of my work. Also Nik Color Efex Pro 3

Summer Reflections

Summer Reflections

Photo Artist Textures
Do you regularly use any 3rd Party filters & plug-ins? If so, what are your favorites?

Jessica
Nik Color Efex Pro 3
Flaming Pear
Topaz  Adjust*

Autumn Tapestry

Autumn Tapestry

Photo Artist Textures
Do you create your own textures?

Jessica
I have created my own textures but more often download textures from the internet.

Bridge To Autumn

Bridge to Autumn

Gentle Reflection

Gentle Reflection

Photo Artist Textures
Jessica, you have such a mastery of post-processing techniques. Your ease  in working is evident in your prolificacy. How have you learned your post-processing techniques and what are your favorite resources for learning?

Jessica
I am far from having a mastery of post-processing techniques! I never learned the proper techniques, so I can’t recommend that people follow my example. Through trial and error I have found my own approach and it seems to work for me.

PhotoArtist Textures
You are definitely a Master of your own technique, which in the end is what matters.

The Restoration

The Restoration

Photo Artist Textures
Your work invites the viewer into the landscape. Bridges, paths, and roads are set at our feet and move through the image. Often a radiant soft light further down the path or just barely glimpsed around a bend draws us further in. Everything in the photograph including the use of depth of field and blurring moves us into the welcoming embrace of the landscape. Overhanging branches arch protectively, distant benches beckon, birds soar overhead, the earth glows sepia and gold.

Are these conscious choices to involve the viewer or a reflection of your own interaction with the landscape?

Jessica
I wouldn’t say that these are conscious choices. When I capture a particular scene I can see the potential and what I can bring to it. I don’t take time for camera settings, but will pay more attention to composition. I know I can imbue it with a sense of romance and mystery; creating light, darkness and drama in post processing. It’s a very intuitive process for me so I find it rather difficult to articulate.

Although there may be a dramatic transformation, I don’t stray too far from the original capture. I prefer autumn color and earth tones, so often times I will transform green foliage into autumn hues. I hope that people won’t be disappointed in my interpretation!

Photo Artist Textures
That’s definitely a fair interpretation. We used to sepia tone fiber prints to hand color them—it’s a photographic tradition.

Splendor Bridge

Splendor Bridge
Photo Artist Textures

What tips would you give someone beginning to use textures?

Jessica
I would tell people just experiment and have fun. Learn about layering and applying different blending modes and opacities. It’s really a matter of pleasing yourself. It takes patience and a lot of practice. If you find it tedious, then it’s probably not for you.

Watercolor Sunset

Watercolor Sunset

Photo Artist Textures
Any advice to new artists for finding their own vision?

Jessica
There are people who shoot all kinds of subjects; landscapes, macro, people etc. There is something to be said for trying something out of your comfort zone, but personally I am drawn to certain subjects and have no desire in shooting subjects that don’t really interest me.

Although the natural world is my subject of choice, I wouldn’t call myself a nature photographer, since I don’t document or record nature, but rather paint it with my inner eye.

My advice would be to stick to what you love and you will find your own style.

To quote Rumi: “Let the beauty we love, be what we do”

Along The Way

Along the Way

See more of Jessica’s work and connect on:

All Images copyright Jessica Jenney.

* Note: some links to products such as Topaz Labs Filters are affiliate links – I get a small commission from purchases made through those links. Help support the blog with no additional charge to you. Thanks!

Leslie Nicole
Leslie Nicole

American Photographer and Designer living in France with my French husband, 2 Weimaraners and Cat Rescues. Camera, Mac, studio, garden.