Today we’d like to introduce you to Caitlin Vera Vitale.
Caitlin, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
Photography has always interested me, because it’s a great way to tell a story. Ever since I was little, I enjoyed taking pictures and was fascinated with cameras, but my real journey with photography began a few years ago, once I discovered how awesome cell phone camera technology had become. I found that I was taking pictures everywhere I went, and posting them online. People from all over the world began to contact me about purchasing my photographs. I was so overwhelmed with how well these pictures were received, that I soon got involved in both the Chicago art fair and gallery scenes. I began to invest in better cameras and enrolled in courses to learn more about the craft.
In addition to my photography I also work as a school counselor and am an advocate of using art therapy techniques – especially photography – in volunteer work with youth and the elderly.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I love the fact that in photography there is always a mystery behind an image. As an artist you can hint at certain stories or themes when you create a picture, but it’s up to the viewer to interpret their own story when they see it. My images reflect my impression of the subject, rather than a realistic portrayal of that subject.
A huge part of my photography style is the post-processing component. Often when I photograph something and look at it later, the picture does not convey what I felt when I took the picture. When I edit pictures afterwards, I can show the viewers exactly what I was feeling when I was at the scene.
I frequently adjust color, lighting, and perspective in my art to create the final effect, and use several different software tools (some common and some custom) to achieve this. In particular, most of my photography is characterized by intense colors. I sometimes also insert ‘outside’ images into the scene to add to the story.
What do you think it takes to be successful as an artist?
I would say that a huge part of my success was not feeling the need to be perfect “technically”. I often throw rules out the window when it comes to editing techniques and composition. It has been important for me to do work that inspires me and not what I think other people want to see.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
The best way to view the entire collection of my work (by category) is directly on my website caitlinvera.com. If you would like to purchase my work, you can do so online through my Etsy store CaitlinVeraPhoto.etsy.com. People can also see my prints at the Pop Up Gallery (Evanston) or Transistor Gallery (Andersonville). Finally, I love meeting art lovers in person. This year I will be exhibiting my photography at various art fairs around the Chicago area (visit caitlinvera.com for complete 2018 art fair line up) and would love to see you there.
Contact Info:
- Website: caitlinvera.com
- Email: caitlinvitale@gmail.com
- Instagram: @caitlinveraphotography
- Facebook: facebook.com/caitlinveraphotography
- Other: CaitlinVeraPhoto.etsy.com
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