Tananarive Aubert
photographer
I've had a passion for photography from an early age. My mom had a Pentax Spotmatic SLR that I borrowed for my 4th grade class trip to Yosemite National Park where I took the photo workshop. We used black and white film which was a wonderful way to begin. I resumed an interest in photography while volunteering as a keeper’s aid at the Sacramento Zoo at the age of 16’. At that point I used my mom's Pentax Spotmatic with a 50mm lens again but added a telephoto lens. Mom never got her camera back!I spent the next few years teaching myself how to get the best shots of the animals at the zoo. When I was 18 years old I entered the Natures Best Magazine Photo Contest for Kids for 10-18 and was one of the 10 national finalists. We were each awarded an all expense paid trip to Bush Gardens, Tampa Bay, Florida with one adult. Our photos from the trip were published in the magazine. While there I meet nature photographer Connie Toops who invited me to come check out the North American Nature Photography Association Summit the following January. While there I met many of the top nature and wildlife photographers in the world, including Art Wolfe, Their work was very inspiring. I later had an internship with Art Wolfe working in his Seattle office. Eventually my grandfather loaned me his brand new Canon SLR camera, I spent several years photographing at zoos throughout California. I have made numerous trips to Yosemite National Park and took a wonderful trip to Madagascar. I also have photographed several Northern California tribute bands in concert over the last 10 plus years. It’s interesting and a challenge to photograph people, animals, flowers and landscapes. The subject matter is only limited by our imagination.!
First Pictures
Deer in the Meadow, Yosemite NP 1989
Taken on my fourth grade trip to Yosemite