by Yvette Depaepe
Published the 18^th of September 2023

Marie-anne Stas loves wild flowers. Her very first macro lens and Helios lens were opening a whole new world to her.  Everybody knows her always carrying her camera, no matter if the weather is good or bad. Nature itself is her biggest inspiration.
Let's wander through her delicate florals and other photographs and discover more about the person behind her work.  Enjoy !!!

'Sad'

My name is Marie-Anne, I’m 66 years old and I'm living in Belgium. I grow up on the countryside and have a particular love and passion for nature. When I was younger, my hobbies were climbing and caving. But now I’m older and wiser. I gave that up and started photography.

'In Flanders Fields' 

I also lived in the South of France, on the foothills of the Pyrenees.  That's where  I started taking pictures on my walks through the mountains with my dog.

'The Herd on Tourmalet'

Photography started as a hobby, though my husband described it rather as “an obsession” since the beginning. I spent several hours looking for special species of orchids, which grew wild in my neighbourhood. While doing that, I forgot all about time and daily life. Most of the time, I had to hurry back home to prepare dinner.

'Purple Cone'

I started posting my pictures on a photo forum and asked for evaluation, but most of the other participants didn’t give me much credit. Nevertheless, some kind and experienced people gave me recommendations to improve my skills. I am still so grateful to them! Some of them are well known here on 1x.

'Poppy in the clouds'

Wild flowers always were my biggest inspiration. The more I came home with great images, the more I wanted to create new ones. At the very beginning, I loved landscape photography, but unfortunately I didn’t have the appropriate gear for this kind of photography. The purchase of my first macro lens and Helios lens opened a whole new world to me.  And Photoshop of course. Trial and error… and fully autodidact.

'Autumn Harvest'

Technical perfection is not my goal, the mood is my motive!

'In the field'

The people in my village know I always carry my camera with me. No matter if the weather is good or bad, I have to go out with my dogs and while they sniffle, I look around. It is incredible how much beautiful things you see when you take a closer look at your surroundings.

I don’t have a particular idea in my head while taking pictures. Afterwards, when taking a closer look on my computer, I start thinking about the final version. Sometimes I leave the photo as it is, other times I add my own textures. I always try to create a smooth and soft atmosphere.

'Fly away'

Nature itself inspires me the most of all, even though some famous photographers here on 1x made me look at the world in a different way. I am not trying to copy them at all, but they are very inspiring.

'2...'

I started with a compact Sony camera. Then I bought a Canon 7D with several lenses. That was fun! A whole new world opened to me. Being able to shoot in RAW is the best thing ever. But the weight of the Canon had an impact on my neck. I suffer from arthritis, an old people’s disease… So I switched to the Fuji X camera, which weighs less and is smaller. It’s incredible easy to use for me.
The camera I currently use is a Fuji X-T5, a macro lens, a Helios lens and a wide angle.

'Trio'

And this photo is my own absolute favourite. The local pond in my neighbourhood has a lot of water lilies. I tried my daughter’s Sony camera with a macro lens to capture them. I must have tried a hundred times, not one image could charm me. So I borrowed a wading suit from a friend and got into the pond. That’s when I took this picture with my own Fuji and macro lens. I was so proud of myself, especially because I absolutely hate getting in water. That was a double victory!

'In the pond'

I also have some favourite photographers here on 1x.  Gilbert Claes: I simply adore all of his works!
When it comes to flower photography, my admiration for Monique Delaet is endless because of her skills. And of course, not to forget my first mentors and commentators on the photo forum.

'Desolate 2'

According to my plans for the future, I stopped making them, I simply seize the day.

To me, 1x is THE place to show my pictures. In the beginning, I was kind of shy to upload my photographs. What would the other photographers think of me?
Was I good enough? But after a while and thanks to the support of many 1x members, I started to be more confident. 
Finally, I like to thank 1x for giving me this interview opportunity.

'Belcaire Pyrenees France'

'Family matters'

'Yucca-flowers'

'Anemones'

'Horses'

'Common Hop'