Welcome to my web site. My name is Katie Bollinger. I am a photographer who enjoys mostly landscape and macro flower photography with a sprinkle of whatever catches my eye. I find that landscape and flower photography intertwine with one another perfectly. When I'm outdoors admiring the full view of magnificent landscapes that Mother Nature shows us, I can then also narrow my vision to the exquisite colors and shapes of the flowers she also provides.
Thinking back to my childhood, I realize that my true interest began with the first camera that my parents gave me. It was a polaroid instant camera. The excitement of having the actual photo appear immediately was certainly inspiring. I have photo albums filled with childhood friends and summer camps, that show the full story of the fun I had as a child with a camera. Once I became a teenager, that desire to photograph those fun life experiences disappeared and I set the camera down for many years. That all changed once I married and had a child. I bought myself a new Canon Rebel camera. Oh, to now capture our family, photographing our life together, became a new passion for me. To record our family history was fun, enjoyable and loads of delight to show anyone who would sit long enough for me to share them. Then when my son started his own life away from home that began to dwindle. Life itself got in the way and once again I set the camera down.
About 10 years later the urge to be behind a camera and see the world from that view came to light once more. Still having my Canon Rebel, I began a new avenue of photography. I throughly enjoy being outdoors with Mother Nature as she presents calmness for me. So now as a proficient gardener, I began photographing flowers. I was attracted to taking close up photos of them. Seeing the different shapes and colors brought absolute joy to me. Visiting the botanical gardens I would get lost for hours because it was such an inspiration for me to capture the beauty in each and every flower. One day while eye-deep into the petals of a flower something caused me to look up and I suddenly saw the beauty in a wide-angle view of the rest of the gardens. With the trees and ponds, geese and ducks, clouds and sun, I realized that I needed to further my love for photography to landscapes as well.
I immediately enrolled at the New York Institute of Photography for a two-year Professional Photography course. Upon graduation, I was looking to upgrade my camera to one meant for a "photographer with a hobby". My husband had other plans. He surprised me with a professional camera - the Canon 5D Mark III. What a wonderful feeling to see the confidence he had in me with my photography. I am now retired and have nothing but time to further my passion and new career. To explore the outdoors and its beauty, is truly a calling for me. To be one with Mother Nature inspires me to slow down, take a breath and really appreciate the beauty she provides. I look forward to pushing my talent and education in order to become a better photographer. I also am thrilled to share this passion and love for landscape and flower photography with a sprinkle of whatever catches my eye with you.