Luka Skracic

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER:Luka Skracic

"Queenscliff Pier"

I had planned the night before to get up early and drive almost an hour away to Queenscliff, Australia, to see if i could catch a nice sunrise from that direction. When i got there it was cloudy and there was barely any colour in the sky, so i decided to go monochrome and i'm pretty happy with how it turned out.

-- from Luka Skracic - (?)

"The Coast is Always Changing"

A shot that i had been thinking of for a while but never had the right light and weather to do it justice.


-- from Luka Skracic - (?)

1. How long have you been involved in photography?

I've been shooting for about 4 years now, but only bought a DSLR about 2 years ago. Probably like most people i started with a simple "point and click" camera until i realised that this is actually really fun, so i kept shooting until i could afford my first "i mean business' camera.

2: Equipment you use?

That camera was the Canon 400D. I saved some cash and now have 2 lenses to go with it. The Tamron 17-50mm 2.8, and the Sigma 10-20mm 4-5.6. I love what the wide angle can do to a landscape. I also always carry a tripod and an ND filter. Will hopefully upgrade my camera at some point when i can afford to.

3: Mac or PC?

PC. I'm not cool enough for a mac.

4: What inspires you?

Weather, light, friends, family, other photographers...........Flickr!

5: Preferred subject matter?

It's gotta be landscapes and seascapes, i can't get sick of them. When the conditions are right you can capture some amazing scenes. I'll often revisit a location and see something new, whether it's just new angles or compositions, or details i previously missed. It's never easy getting out of bed at 6am on a weekend, but if it means i can get a clear sunrise behind a pier, then i'm in my car in a matter of minutes!

6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.

Hmm....anything supernatural! I would love some ufos to come whizzing by a landscape, or what about catching a ghost outside an abandoned cabin!?

7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in?

I'm lucky to have a supportive bunch of flickr contacts who i've known from the start and met along the way that have helped me develop my skills and technique.

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop

Ahh, none. I tend to just experiment with many shots. Trying different apertures, shutter speed, angles and photoshop treatments to find something i think suits what i was going for when i actually pulled the trigger. I am still learning a lot about what works and what doesn't.

9: Plans for the future?

Ah.. none at the moment, i usually don't think that far ahead, maybe one day i could have an exhibtion? We'll see what happens.

10: In one word, describe your photography.

Wet!

Lilion

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER:Lilion


-- from lilion - (?)
..So came the afternoon and I got into my car to seek out some special place for my photo project … given the mood I was in, I did not find a thing, and half an hour later decided to head for home … some three minutes from home I came upon a group of kids who impeded my progress … I stopped and almost screamed... a lot of painted faces surrounded my car, some pressed against the windows. I got out of the car - whilst they took up several ‘frightening’ poses. I just kept ‘shooting’ and the play proved exciting as, without any prior plan, wherever I clicked the subjects just materialized, and I was drowning in the richness of the colours…

While reviewing my pictures, I got so terrified (as countless little devils overwhelmed my system) that I was on the point of erasing some 100 shots. It felt as I was under some strong spell and was no longer in control. From these shots the series of “Street Art” was born, a title only given to balance the pictures’ quite aggressive mood, which immediately brought my ambivalent feelings into equilibrium.

For me, this picture provided a meaning for the lot of them…”AFTER ALL, ITS ONLY A CHARADE !!! AS WE ALL HAVE THESE FACES!!!” in all of us there is both good and bad … it only depends on what we are looking for.


-- from lilion - (?)
if eyes are called the mirror of our soul, what hands can tell?

1: How long have you been involved in photography?

I work with photography along all my professional career, but all the time I took pictures just for myself - traveling, visiting different places, meeting people, using good old 35 mm Pentax.
5 years ago I bought my first digital camera that helped me in my work. But I think it has been for a couple of years I am really involved in photography. I really don't know how it has happened. While working on others' photographs I just noticed that I was thinking, how I could have taken this picture, where I could have placed the accent or use the light. And just started shooting...

2: Equipment you use?

I used compact cameras for awhile, but in January I bought Pentax K10D with two lenses - 1:3.5-5.6 18-55 mm and
1:4-5.6 50-200 mm, and now I actually am learning this camera. But still use compact Sony DSC-N2.

3: Mac or PC?

Mac

4: What inspires you ?

Inspiration is wonderful when it happens, but it is impossible to sit and to wait for when it will come. It is important to have a reason, to start action and inspiration will come.
After years of my professional carrier I understood that I have much more to impart, to pass, to tell, than just my graphic works... some feelings I own, something that exists in everyone, but not everyone notices it in the fussy of our life. All of us message something, and these messages leave signs... I want to discover and to show that every person is unique, that even insignificant or unimportant thing can be really beautiful.... I'd like to show invisible, you can call it „mysteries, specific things, secrets”... yes, that is – I want to learn these secrets or at least try to do it.
I still don't know how, making my timid attempts but I know that photography is all about it. When I see the shot on the screen of my computer I learn things that were concealed. I call it kind of revelation.

5: Preferred subject matter

Feelings, secrets, joy, pain, mental anguish, behaving... things that are hidden and the most exciting is to bring them from the depth to the surface.

6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.

I've never thought about it... :)

7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in

I have a very good and reliable friend, a "partner in crime":) on flickr. We (Anna&me:)) use to discuss our works, helping each other a lot.

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop

Being a professional graphic designer I started with the first Photoshop version in 1989 and since that time have been using this program (CS3) and some times Lightroom as well.

9: Plans for the future

I am working on an interesting project, connected with visual arts, I have some ideas, hope I'll managed to realize them.

10: In one word, describe your photography.

It is mpossible....or I must steal the idea from Julian (Freelancevirtuoso), but I respect copyrights :)

Freelancevirtuoso

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER:Freelancevirtuoso


-- from freelancevirtuoso - (?)
A looking up view at the Getty Center in Brentwood, Los Angeles. The geometry that Richard Meier (architect) offers here is unbelievable. He bases much of this design on a 30” square pattern, replicated throughout the museum and [proportionally] exemplified here by the way this opening frames the sky. I have dedicated a lot of time to this particular site.


-- from freelancevirtuoso - (?)
To loom...

Here we see a detail of Frank Gehry’s Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles. It is a study in composition. This piece is dear to me because it shows how Gehry can basically drop a towel on the floor and make a building out of it . Lines come and go and not only support a structure but create sensations as well as living space. Much is around us if we open our eyes, and I admire his capacity to look at things, simple things that may already exist but see them differently. I have been visiting this building about every two weeks for over a year now…and I am only scratching the surface.

1: How long have you been involved in photography?

I did a short stint in the late 70’s using a great Canon camera, the AT1 – black and white (TriX film), even bought an enlarger and had my own “lab” fun….but after a year I sold everything and moved on. This latest, all digital (and serious) phase took flight on February of ’07 – it has changed my life.

2: Equipment you use?
A Nikon D50 with a variety of regular Nikkor lenses, 18-55 mm, 55-200 mm, and for the last two/three months a Sigma 10-20.
However: as of April 29 I joined the Elite Nikon D300 club which I equipped with a superb lens for shooting what I love, architecture, the 14-24 f/2.8 G ED
The D50 package served me beautifully and I would and will continue to use it. It is not the size of the camera, but I am now looking at more pixels, and state of the art technology – this will enable me to take on a professional job if the opportunity presents itself. You have to stay ahead of the pack these days.

3: Mac or PC?
Mac…..all the way; it rules!

4: What inspires you?
Life itself - keep your eyes open, there is a lot out there. Every hour of the day offers a different light quality, texture, color...if you want to come back empty handed, go fishing in the dead sea.

5: Preferred subject matter
Architecture / architectural abstracts.

6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.
The highest form of architecture: the female nude

7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in
Well, you see…me and my gut have this close relationship…

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop

PS Elements 4.0 and lately PSE 6.0...I am a total novice. But I am also a purist and the color correction, etc. of the Elements group have what I need.

9: Plans for the future
A showing of my photographs, getting a sponsor.

10: In one word, describe your photography.
Instinctivewithafocusoncomposition – gee, some words are long!

(Erik)

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: (Erik)

I took this image in an abandoned house near our campsite in France where we stayed for the summer last year. I had to climb through an open window and could not believe my eyes...I still remember my pounding heart while I was taking the image...

-- from (Erik) - (?)

Making a spiral stair shot like this was a big wish of me. I did this one just 2 weeks ago in Barcelona, in the Sagrada Familia.

-- from (Erik) - (?)

1: How long have you been involved in photography?
Throughout my life, I have been interested in photography but I was mainly taking pictures on holidays. About five years ago we bought a point and shoot camera and for some reason I hardly took images with it. Then, a year ago I bought a Pentax K100D and I was hooked right away.

2: Equipment you use?
I have a brand new Pentax K20D with:
- Sigma 18-50mm 1:2.8 EX MACRO,
- SMC Pentax-FA 1:4.5-5.6 80-320mm,
- Tamron SP AF Di 90mm 1:2.8 MACRO
- Rusian Peleng 8mm Fisheye.
- Benro tripod.

3: Mac or PC?
PC, but not for a particular reason.

4: What inspires you?
Light in buildings, light in nature...I guess it is just light...

5: Preferred subject matter?
Old beautiful buildings, preferably abandoned but if in use it is ok with me as long as they allow me to take photographs in there. I love old architecture with nice round shapes where light comes in from the most unexpected place...
.
6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.
I just captured the spiral stairs in the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. That was really a dream comes true. Currently, I have no particular wish...

7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in?
I have a few Dutch contacts who always tell me like it is when I upload a new image. For sure, they are not going to spare me. I like that kind of feed-back. It can be hard to hear that the picture you think is fabulous, is actually very bad but in the end they are always right...

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop
As many here, I am a self-taught photographer. When I started photography again last year I did read a lot on light measuring, aperture and things like that. After I thought I knew enough on the matter I started to take picture with the camera in manual mode. Made me very creative...

9: Plans for the future?
Making an image that is truly beautiful without any manipulation in Photoshop.

10: In one word, describe your photography.
Compositional?