Growing up in Ohio Kate Rentz started documenting her surroundings at a very early age. Her wonderful work is all about adventures, spontaneous moments, roadtrips, friends, mountains and tremendous love for life and nature.
You grew up in Ohio. What was your childhood like?
I did! When I look back at my childhood in rural Ohio, it often feels like a movie. I never realized how unique it was — I spent the majority of my time outside, exploring the woodlands, rivers, and farms around my tiny village. Much of my time was spent barefoot, daydreaming, and riding bikes with my friends and cousins. I raised pigs and showed them in the county fair, spent the summer nights playing hide-n-seek with my country neighbors, and had my first peck during a hayride in the fall. Even though I often felt a little isolated, I still had a really fun and adventurous childhood.
Your work is somehow poetic, timeless and always very colourful. How would you describe your own work?
I try and capture moments that are authentic, reflective, and playful. Color and light help create an atmosphere that feels dreamy and timeless. When I capture an image, I always go into it with the mindset of ‘How do I want to remember this moment? How do I want to tell this story?’ Photography is a visual journal for me, a way to tell my story, a way to keep a memory.
“I spent the majority of my childhood outside, exploring the woodlands, rivers, and farms around my tiny village.”
It’s all been photographed. Has photography become boring?
I don’t necessarily think it’s become boring, but with social media, it’s become very repetitive based on what’s popular at the moment. I’m still very interested in seeing images from other artists that feel authentic and honest. I think there are other photographers that still have a powerful point of view, but unfortunately have a hard time getting seen because exposure is so controlled these days. Interesting photography is out there and I wish there was a better way of exposure for it.
In one of your instagram posts you wrote: “I feel the most happy when I’m outside.” I totally feel the same. Besides that, what are the simplest things one can do to make oneself happier?
I whole-heartedly believe in being authentic and doing things that tap into who we were created to be. For me, in addition to being outside, I love to dance, I love to sing, I love to have a picnic in a park, I love to swim in a river, I love to race my nieces and nephews in the grass. I believe that I was created to play and explore, so tapping into those things and letting myself feel youthful make me happy. My advice for others wanting to find their happiness is to write down how they want to remember their lives. Write down what made you laugh, what inspired you, what brought good tears to your eyes? When you have your list, seek those things out. Say yes to those activities, those people, those places that will impact your life and say no to the things that don’t. It sounds simple, I know, but people really have a hard time with this because of the outside pressures of life. But once you choose to do this, life gets a little easier! I’m still working on it.
“Interesting photography is out there and I wish there was a better way of exposure for it.”
When you go on photography trips, who do you travel with?
I think I create my best work when I’m alone or when I’m with a small group of people who I can play and explore with. Sometimes I can’t control that when I’m on bigger jobs with a client or agency present, but fortunately, I get to do both kinds of trips.
Which is one of the most beautiful places you ever visited, and you wish to visit once again?
The Italian Dolomites was one of the most incredible places I’ve ever been and I’m most definitely going to visit again next year. I’ve traveled a lot, and for some reason this place really, really connected with my spirit.
What picture is meaningful to you and why?
This question is really hard to choose, but the first image that comes to mind is this self-taken image of me floating in the Kaweah river in Sequoia National Park. One of my favorite things to do is to solo road trip and this was the first one I had done just after I got married. I spent time camping, swimming, and exploring caves. I saw my first wild tarantula, my car over-heated from the 105+ temperatures, and I drank wine with two middle aged women by a lake. I think this image incapsulates who I am and how free I want my life to feel 24/7.
You’re in a long-term relationship; what makes a relationship last long?
Yes, and I’m celebrating my nine year wedding anniversary this July. Growing up, I never really saw myself getting married. I think my free-spirited self never wanted to feel “tied down”, but I was able to find someone who respected that part of me and has always supported my need for adventure. Marriage or long-term relationships aren’t always easy, but I think constant communication and clear expectations/needs really help make them easier. Going to therapy and working out unhealthy thought patterns and behaviors was super helpful in my early years of being married. I am a huge advocate for therapy and I plan on continuing it throughout my life.
“I think if I decided with my mind I could maybe be richer, more powerful, more successful, perhaps. But making decisions outside of my heart and authentic self feels extremely uncomfortable for me.”
Do you decide with your mind or with your heart?
I think I decide most of the time with my heart. Sometimes it can feel weirdly annoying because it seems like life might be easier if I decided with my mind. But we all know deciding with our heart is actually wiser, right? I think if I decided with my mind I could maybe be richer, more powerful, more successful, perhaps. But making decisions outside of my heart and authentic self feels extremely uncomfortable for me.
The compliment that touched you most?
I am often told that I have a pure heart and gentle spirit and someone once described me as a white stallion. It can be hard to receive compliments, but these are ones I want to embrace and remember.
www.instagram.com/katerentz
www.katerentz.com
