This Is Guernsey

By Globe reporter Emily Burden

Lucy’s work is becoming well known for its gritty, grungy feel. (Picture by Lucy Hill, 0564260)

LUCY HILL is probably best known for being the chick who won the Doghouse’s pop idol contest and for performing with Lucy and the All Stars. However, her photography is starting to make some impact too, winning her honours at this year’s Eisteddfod, including the Prism Trophy award which made her top in her class.

Most recently, the Guernsey Salon has selected some of her work for their national photography exhibition which takes place on 24 April.

Not bad for someone who has been taking photos for just a year.

Here she tells us how it all came about and why it is important for people to get involved with the Globe’s photography contest.

‘My mum is really into her photography,’ explained Lucy.

‘She had started her own business, creativephotography.gg. Last year she won a competition where the prize was an Apple MacBook laptop and a Cannon 400 D camera – I got given the camera.

‘So I started playing around, experimenting with different ideas, and calling my mum up when I needed some guidance. I guess you can say that I have always been a creative person through music and I have always been obsessed with fashion, so photography came naturally.’

Lucy’s work has become known for the gritty, grungy feel it conveys, which she gains through using Photoshop.

‘At first, it took ages to get the hang of Photoshop,’ she said.

‘But for me, my photography was always about manipulating the images I took to get them to look how I wanted.

‘I like to add grain and make the colours much more intense, to the point where they ‘pop’ off the picture. I like my work to have a story that provokes questions in those who look at it.’

However, it wasn’t always as easy as she now makes it look.

‘At first if someone mentioned

f-stop or shutter speed, I would have had no idea what they were on about,’ she admitted.

‘But the best thing I did was Google questions and go on photography forums. I found this more useful than reading books, as you’ll always find someone who had the same question or problem you’d had and you know that they are talking from personal experience.’

‘I think the Globe’s competition is great. In Guernsey there are endless creative opportunities for photos as it is so scenic. It is a great hobby for people to have as it is such a visual way of expressing your creative side. Plus, photos are visual memories that you can keep forever. You don’t need a really expensive camera to get great shots – all my work is without lighting equipment. I always use

natural light, when I’m outside or inside, through a window.

‘My advice for anyone considering photography as a hobby or entering the competition is to just go out and do it – people will be amazed with the results they get. I know I was.’