Meet Rachel Jones | Landscape and wildlife photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rachel Jones and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rachel, what makes you happy? Why?
Photography! It gets me outside more and gets me to slow down and look at all my surroundings. There is so much more to see when we look deeply at our surroundings. I have always loved travel and hiking but having my camera with me makes everything more magical. My eyesight isn’t great, I can see so clearly through my camera though! I really enjoy showing people animals and places they have never seen before, or maybe don’t have the ability to get out and see.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I have been doing landscape photography for a decade now. I started with film in highschool because I was lucky enough to have access to a darkroom. Once I graduated it became too expensive to continue so I bought my first DSLR. I used to just point and shoot at pretty things, but my photography professor encouraged me to do more. For me that may be telling a story through my images, waiting patiently for the best lighting, or finding unique angles even in highly photographed areas. At first it was frustrated when he would ask questions such as “how does it make you feel,” or “what does this image tell you?” I used to just think, that it’s beautiful? While wildlife photography doesn’t always have some deeper meaning, I still try to get the best shot I can, and not simply point and shoot.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I am such a foodie! I am always seeking out new fun places to eat and drink, and I love sharing these places with my friends. My ideal night out in a city would include eating somewhere with a unique menu and atmosphere, finding a sneaky speakeasy, and either going out dancing or checking out an art show.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My college photography professor, William Sutton. He is a fantastic photographer and teacher. In the years I spent taking his classes my skills and mindset regarding photography were drastically improved. I will always be grateful for the dedication he had for teaching.

Instagram: Emmerich_photography