evandr Loc: Tooele, Utah

Hello

I am a ameture photographer working on going pro. I live in Tooele, Utah (near Salt Lake City) I am a widower who has discovered that photography gives me focus (no pun intended) and I love it. If you want to comment on some of my work search for evan_dr on flickr

Thanks

don1w Loc: Abilene, Texas

Why don't you post a link to your website?

evandr Loc: Tooele, Utah

Hello!

I have been doing graphics art for print advertising for a long time so photography just seems to be a natural extension to that. www.cityshogun.com is my website but it is not set up to display photography, I use it mainly as a place to send clients so they can keep an eye on the progress of the work I am doing for them, it is not intended for the general public but people are welcome to take a look, I do occasionally get comments.

Now, having said that, I am currently putting my skills as a web site developer (something I do occasionally) toward creating my own photography web site but I am still in the early stages of my professional endeavors so I am in no hurry to publish my work; soon, but not just yet, I still have a lot to learn.

I do have good professional equipment because I believe that the right equipment, although not absolutely necessary, does help accelerate the process. I live alone since my wife passed away from cancer and my children are grown so I have the room and I am currently remodeling my basement to become a photo studio, I'm just being methodical so for right now I post my work on Flickr.

sinatraman Loc: Vero Beach Florida, Earth,alpha quaudrant

I am so sorry about the loss of your wife.My deepest condolences sir. Why dont you post some of yoour work here? This is by far the easiest website to post photos on. :thumbup:

chapjohn Loc: Tigard, Oregon

evandr, I am glad that you are finding something that interests you and keeps you "focussed." It is always good to have activities. As I approach the 10 year aniversary of being a widower, I am enjoying the times I can get out and away to shoot pictures to distract my thoughts.
Take care.

evandr Loc: Tooele, Utah

Thank you for your kind sentiment. I will take your advise and post a couple of my shots, tell me what you think.

I use a Nikon D700 with one of several lenses I have but these are my favorites:
A 70-200mm f/2.8
A 17-35mm f/2.8 wide angle
A 200mm, f/4 macro
A 50mm f/1.4 prime

Evan

this is one from a Senior shoot I did. The Model is the daughter of a close friend of mine, I have known Megan (the model) since she was in 4th grade.


I did this 1969 Camaro Super Sport in HDR.


I find I enjoy setting up macro shots. I do a lot of bugs and flowers but this is one of a series I did with oil and water.

sinatraman Loc: Vero Beach Florida, Earth,alpha quaudrant

model shot is good but her feet are out of focus. I love the abstract but the camaro i adore. I feel that hdr was made for automobile photos. first rate job :thumbup:

evandr Loc: Tooele, Utah

Thank you, I am glad to meet someone else using photography to help fill the void; although nothing will ever fill it completely, having something you love to do certainly helps

I posted 3 pictures in my last post and would vry much like to post 3 more here for your consideration.

Bridal Veil Falls in Provo Canyon, Utah


Salt Lake City, Utah. I have learned a few things about knight photograqphy since this was taken and intend to go back and re-do it to see if my skills are improving. I still liked this one.


I took this at Red Butte Garden in Salt Lake City

evandr Loc: Tooele, Utah

Having her feet slightly out of focus was intentional to give the portrait depth; The bokeh in the background was good but due to the lack of real contrast I felt I needed another visual point of reference for depth so I focused on her eyes with a 85mm f/1.4 set at 1.4, otherwise it would have been flat.

Your comments are both appreciated and valued, I learn a lot by listening to other people. If you don't mind my picking your brain, can you tell me how you would have handled the shot?

Thanks - Evan

Gooniman

Hi everyone. I'm even less than an amateur. Got a Canon EOS G film camera from Craiglist about 2 weeks ago for $20 dollars with a Zoom lens. I love it..Last week I bought a Olympus E-420 with the lens kit. Instant photo. Love it even more. As I browse thru this site and see what everyone is posting, gives me hope to become a better photographer. Any help will surely be welcome..Thanks in advance..

evandr Loc: Tooele, Utah

Forgive me, in my last post I faied to appreciate your comments on the Camaro. Yes indeed, I jumped at the chance to photograph this car; I owned a Chivelle when I was young but the Camaro tops the list of my all time favorite "would love to own it" cars and this one is a restored beauty. HDR fascinates me and yes, although HDR is not for everything, I have had the best results shooting vehicles.

Thanks again

evandr Loc: Tooele, Utah

There are a lot of good mentors out there but the one I chose is Bryan Peterson, an internationally known and widely published photographer who is down to earth and speakes directly to the amateur with tips, tricks, solid information and ideas that can make them look a lot better than they are.

Evan

sinatraman Loc: Vero Beach Florida, Earth,alpha quaudrant

evandr you took the words right out of my mouth. Bryan peterson is my favorite photographer, and anyone who has read alot of my posts knows I am constantly recomending two of his books for massively influencing my work. "understanding exposure" and "learning to see creatively" I reread both every 6 months. his photos are awesome and he explains concepts in a down to earth style. both books available new and used on amazon.com. Now to the question about how I would handle the model shot. This is embaressing but I dont shoot people, except in candid street photography where they don't know I am shooting. I have no expierence with staged or posed photos so I haven't a clue. I did like the sand and driftwood and your model was pretty but other than that I havent a clue. What is really distressing is my late father was a professional photographer for Ferris State University and was good in many areas but was exceptional in portraits. BUt did I take advantage of it? Of course not stupid teenage rebellion. In fact I was a snapshoter for most of my life only after dad died did I get serious about photography. Boy waas I stupid.

evandr Loc: Tooele, Utah

I'm all too familiar with teenage rebellion as I was a genuine 60's Hippie, I only wish I had a camera back then, oh the shots I could have taken so don't get down on yourself, it's all part of growing up; you are here now and that is what is important, hindsight is always 20/20.

I too got started late but I do have the advantage of extensive experience in post production, I do very well with graphics art although I do not use photoshop even though I own the CS4 photosuite (my son gave it to me when he got his copy of CS5 from school) - I have used a professional program called Xara for about 10 years now and I love it, it is vector based and is just as powerful, faster and far more easy to use and learn than the expensively complicated photoshop and it can use all of photoshops plug-ins. On rare occasions I find a need for using a pixelating brush so I have a copy of photoshop elements that completely eleiminates any need to learn, IMHO, photoshop. It is sad that photoshop has such a huge marketshare and the ability to promote itself so vigerously that most people don't even bother to look anywhere else and then claim that if it is not photoshop it is not a real graphics program, I just smile as they trip all over themselves studying tutorials and paying for seminars to teach them to use photoshop.

I round out my skill with other programs like Fluid Mask, Xara 3D, Topaz Labs plug-ins, and my new favorite for HDR - Photomatix.

As for Bryan Peterson, I own and have read and re-read every book he has written and am constantly looking on Adorama and YouTube for his posts. The oil and water shot posted earlier is the result of one of his YouTube videos. I keep his field guide to photography with me all the time.

Evan

Plusten Loc: Fruita Colorado

The Camaro is fantastic,,great pic,,,you did a nice capture of bridal veil falls,,they are all great,,Kenny