An interview with photoshack,
1) How long have you been into photography and what got you started?
- Since I was a teenager; I had a crush on my tennis partner and photographed her with my dad's old rangefinder. She let me down easy, but the love of photography stayed with me. I'm 55 so this was 38 years ago.
2) Do you have any formal training and what kind of photography do you do most?
I taught myself quite a bit, then took a black and white photography course at nightschool when I was with a flight test program at PAX River Naval Airstation. I was probably the oldest student; other students had photos of barns, cars and woods; I had nudes. I aced the class.
Since then I was a PPA member and did a series of seminars, and have done self-study on my own.
3) In your opinion, what makes a good picture stand out from the rest?
Well, if it can catch your eye when it is viewed the size of a postage stamp, it has the makings of a great image. The composition makes the difference, seeing what you are supposed to see and not seeing what is irrelevant. Great use of depth of field is key for most work I think. And drama in an image is exciting to me; putting shadows in the right places is just as important as composition I feel.
4) What equipment did you use and was there any special setup? Can you walk us through it?
My photography for the past 10 years has been with Canon EOS system, and typically using Paul C. Buff strobes. I use softboxes with grids to keep the light from going where it shouldn't. I typically will shoot with just enough depth of field to cover face and shoulders, trying to make the subject pop from the background.
5) Do you post process your final images, and if so can you describe your workflow?
Nowadays you must post process digital images to get anything that resembles what your eyes saw My process is a. import all raw files into lightroom, b. do a pass through to reject obvious duds by hitting "x", c. take a pass through for "interesting" by hitting 1 (makes a 1 star rating), d. take a second pass after filtering to the 1 stars, and mark 2 for the ones I want to adjust and finish for print, then filter on 2 so I am only looking at those. This weaning process takes very little time depending on how large a shoot. From there, I add clarity, warm it up, or whatever works depending on the image. Often portraits require a warming white balance adjustment, and punch up Vibrance. Landscapes, much more vibrance, a bit more saturation, and add more Clarity. I do make presets for various "film simulations".
6) Who or what has influenced your photography and what inspired you to take your winning shot?
Honestly, without a formal art degree I'd say my work has been influenced mostly by what I see every day versus a study of a particular photographer and his works. I like looking at my own work, and I like looking at the work of others. There are so many wonderful photographers out there. I do very much like Henri Cartier-Bresson for his street work.
7) Would you change anything if you could do it again, and if so what?
I would go to Pasadena Art Center and make my career in art.
8) What is the one thing you wish you knew when you started taking photos?
I wish I knew that this was going to be the single most gratifying thing I could do, and that I could go to art school and make a career of it.
9) What is your favorite photography accessory, other than your camera?
My computer. Really, I cannot do without this Mac, Lightroom and Photoshop.
10) If you had to choose one lens which one would it be and why?
Oooh...I'd love the 500mm f4. I can't justify the cost, but that lens is the best for shooting those far away things that I'm trying now to get good at.
11) What lighting equipment, if any, do you take on a shoot?
Well, if I'm doing a shoot with an assistant I prefer to take an Einstein strobe with battery pack, light stand and beauty dish. If it's just me, I'd take the TTL speedlight and stand.
12) If you couldn't do photography what else would you do?
This is a scary question for me. The thought of going blind so I couldn't see photographs again is just too much to bear. I suppose I'd try music, but I have no skill there.
13) Do you have any funny or interesting stories about your experiences?
While in Kings Canyon, Sequoia National park I had a bear break into my car by smashing the window, rip out the back seat to get at an orange peel in the trunk. I wish I had been around to take the photos of that bear!
14) Is there somewhere we can see more of your work?
Yes, please!
http://www.weathermon.com and
http://www.viewbug.com/member/photoshack15) Do you have any advice for the rest of us?
I think that to be very good at photography you have to practice...every day if you can. No photographer is too good to practice. Failure can be inspiration in itself when you experiment, but have to try it again to nail it.
Thank you...
vin