Bee Elton in conversation with MTNS MADE

Bee Elton - Assemble Photography. Photographer and Videographer. Q+A with Kevina-Jo Smith:

You have such an array of styles and experiences showcased on your website, can you tell us your favourite type of photography and why? I’ve been freelancing for about five years now, and it’s allowed me to work in a lot of different styles and situations. I really enjoy documenting things – events, people, places – any kind of situation that allows me to observe and reflect what I’m seeing. I’m pretty deaf, so I rely a lot on sight to connect. I love watching people interact with the world around them, and it’s easier to give yourself permission to look when you have a camera in your hands.

How long have you been based in the Blue Mountains? And how does living here contribute to your life as a photographer? I moved up from the city proper at the beginning of 2023. It’s magic here. I really enjoy how people relate to nature in the mountains, it creates a sense of ease and familiarity that flows on into other areas of life. Being able to watch the seasons move through our yard has had a big impact on my practice this year – mostly around how photography is used to manipulate and mark out time. I’ve never lived anywhere long enough (with a decent garden) to see these changes up-close before.

In August MTNS MADE hired you to document our Inaugural Magazine Launch Party. I had seen so many incredible photographs you have taken whilst documenting various events held at SIRC_UIT, our launch party venue. Youso intimately know how to work with the unique combination of lighting; fairy lights, fire buckets and incredible site specific installations by Jan M Walter, among the dark corners! How do you prepare yourself for these photography jobs with ‘less conventional’ lighting set ups, to assure the strong results you achieve each time? Ah I loved this event, it had such a warm, humming vibe! Jan M Walter is a genius with ambient lighting, and documenting events at SIRC_UIT is always a delight. Most of my preparation involves understanding what the event is about and why I’m being asked to take photos of it – the more information I can gather on that front, the better the photos usually are. I try to avoid using my own lights when photographing events because they can be disruptive, so I do lots of camera setting adjustments between shots to get them right. Bit fiddly but usually worth it!

Bee Elton
@bee.elton
bee@assemble.photography
WEBSITE

B+W top image by Maja Baska