Susan Windmiller
Where have you worked and over what time period?
- 1981-1985 Sydney Morning Herald
- 1986 Badische Zeitung, Freiburg Germany
- 1987 The Herald, The Australian, Sunday Observer, Sunday Press, Leader Suburban Newspapers
- 1988-2013 Leader Suburban Newspapers
- 2013- News Corp
How did you get into press photography - what was your big break?
I was studying Media at Rusden State College of Victoria and after a year I realised photography was my passion and I started contacting media organisations throughout Australia to get a job with a newspaper. I was invited to come to Sydney "if I happened to be there" for an interview so I went up especially and after a second interview was hired as a cadet.
What is your favourite photograph of all those you have taken and why?
My most memorable photo was of a home birth. I met the mother-to-be about a month before the birth so she could see if I was suitable and to discuss details of how we were going to do it. I was then called to the house a number of hours before the birth. When I arrived she had already removed all her clothes, except her socks. The photo that was used was taken one hour before she gave birth and was a silhouette of her being held by her husband as she had contractions. While I was printing the photo, I had photographers coming up to me and saying that this photo was going to win an award. Not everyone was so impressed. Some of the older photographers found it quite offensive. The same happened in the community. After it was published, the switchboard of the Sydney Morning Herald was jammed with people wanting to make a comment about the photo and in the following days there were letters to the editor either supporting the use of the photo in the paper or condemning it as obscene.
What is the biggest change you've seen in press photography over your career?
Going from the darkroom to digital is probably the biggest change. When learning photography, almost half of our time was spent learning darkroom skills. Those skills became of little use as they didn't really assist when we learnt to use Photoshop.
What was the first camera you used and what camera do you use now?
I used a Nikon F to do copy photos when I was a cadet. It was already an old camera at the time. I was then given a Nikon FM2. I now use a Nikon D4. I have always been a Nikon girl as opposed to using Canon. I'm sure it's just what you get used to but I love Nikon.
Website
Susan Windmiller Photograpy