T+L's Photo Contest Finalists: Chloe Boudreau

Chloe Boudreau, a Massachusetts-based photographer, found her love for photo-taking after spending time in the dark room. “I believe this ‘back to basics’ foundation in photography has made me not only a stronger photographer, but has forced me to be purposeful with each shot I take,” said Boudreau.

Her shot of a fisherman standing on a rock in a river grabbed our judges’ attention and landed her on our list of finalists. Take a look at some her favorite shots below, and vote for our finalists.

T+L: Tell us a little about yourself as a photographer.

Chloe Boudreau: My love of photography started in the darkroom. I believe this “back to basics” foundation in photography has made me not only a stronger photographer, but has forced me to be purposeful with each shot I take. I soon transitioned to digital cameras and I have not put my camera down since.

T+L: How would describe your style of photography?

CB: My style of photography has two strong influences. I love candid portraits and I love fashion. I am naturally drawn to bold vibrant colors and quirky moments that inspire emotion. I am also very particular in the way I frame a shot; I prefer to have my image’s content not leaving any part out.

T+L: What do you look for when looking for a great shot?

CB: The one thing I look for in a good shot is pure emotion. I love that feeling when my heart and my eyes are one and that feeling is perfectly captured in my photography. I also want my composition to have no distraction in the background. I will often take 20 pictures of the same moment with extremely subtle differences.

T+L: What do you think makes a great travel photographer?

CB: I believe a great travel photographer can make the viewer escape for a few moments to the place where the image was photographed. It is difficult in this fast moving world to make a viewer pause for a moment and imagine themselves in that place or if they have already been in the place look back on the destination with their own memories or to see it in a different way. A great travel photographer can encapsulate all of that in a single amazing shot.

T+L: Do you have a favorite photo or photographer that has influenced your work?

CB: One of my favorite photographers is Garry Winogrand. His witty and candid style of street photo endlessly inspires me in my own endeavors.