statement
bio
I have always had an intense curiosity in nature and have been drawn to flowers for as long as I can remember; they are universal, evoke emotion and can be appreciated by all cultures. When viewing my floral portraits, my intention is to allow the viewer to get lost in the captured movement, sensuousness, form and texture of each subject. Through measured composition and dramatic lighting, I bring my subjects to life with a sense of powerful elegance.
The works of Georgia O'Keeffe, Ansel Adams and Mapplethorpe have all heavily influenced my appreciation and style of work. If a viewer can escape, even for just a few seconds, by discovering the detail and beauty they never knew existed, I will have achieved my goal.
Amy Ouderkirk’s photographs are the fusion of her deep appreciation of nature instilled by her parents, especially her father, her life-long love affair with photography and her over 20 years of experience freelancing as a graphic designer. Having taken several college classes in photography in the 80s, Amy was able to establish a foundation and understanding to build from. A floral design course in Paris, France also greatly influenced her appreciation of flowers and their individuality. Amy holds 2 bachelor's degrees and a master’s degree in International Affairs. She resides in Florida with her husband.
technique
My technique involves combining anywhere from 10 to 40 images in order to show all the desired detail in focus. I pay very special attention to light and the overall composition. All flowers are beautiful, but not all of them make the cut. I cultivate flowers, cut from my husband's garden, scour my neighborhood and order them from all over the world in order to find the perfect bloom. Once I have these beautiful ladies in my care, they are patiently observed until they are ready for their shoot. Less than 10% of the flowers I look after are photographed and even less make it to my collections.