WHO?
My name is Deb Bonney I was born and raised in Melbourne Australia and currently live in a town along the South West coast of Victoria called Warrnambool. I have been shooting for approximately twelve years.
WHAT?
Basically anything. I mostly use small point and shoot cameras, so there is usually one in my back pocket or in my bag, if I see something that interests me, I’ll stop, get the camera out and take some shots. I also love driving in my car out in the open countryside hoping to find something to shoot, but if I don’t that’s okay because I love the feeling of the freedom of just driving and looking, always hoping I will find something around the next corner.
I enjoy experimenting with different techniques whilst shooting and tend to be drawn towards the dark and mysterious. The winters are long and harsh where I live, which can feel depressing at times, perhaps this in some way helps explain my shooting style.
WHEN?
I fluctuate a bit with my shooting schedules. I’ll have weeks when I’m extremely motivated and I shoot a lot, make prints and then I’ll do some sequencing for projects or small books/zines that I enjoy making. Then I need a break from it all for maybe a week or two at the most, just to recharge and assess where I’m at with my ongoing projects, but pretty soon I’m back out there with an urgency to do it all over again.
I tend to shoot mainly in the colder months, which is May to October where I live. I find the Australian sun is just way too bright in the summer, I definitely prefer it dark and moody. So, whilst everyone else seems to be out and about shooting on the streets and the beaches during the summer months you’ll find me mostly hibernating and cursing the sun.
WHERE?
I generally shoot locally, most of my favourite images have been taken within approximately 20 kilometers of where I live. I’m not one for shooting when I’m away from home, I prefer to try and capture my everyday surroundings in interesting ways.
WHY?
I often ask myself this. With so many great photographers and images out there I question what is the point of it all and why do I persist with it? I’ve come to conclusion that because I’m a very shy person photography enables me to express myself and any feelings that I may have at the time.
When I was young, I always wanted to be a fiction writer. I would lock myself away in my room and write stories for hours, I never pursued that dream but now, later in life, photography has helped me rediscover my artistic voice.
Plus, I get very grumpy if I stay away from shooting for too long, basically it keeps me sane.
