Josh Sommers

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Josh Sommers


I don't usually take pictures of monuments, but this photo of the Golden Gate Bridge is one of my personal favorites. This photo truly represents a snapshot of the world through my eyes. :)


Many of my images involve a great deal of post production; compositing, masking, tweaking, warping, etc. But this image didn't require any of that. I like it for its simplicity. I also love when nothing goes right in a shoot, but you wind up with something better than what you were trying to achieve on accident, and this shot is a prime example of that. The flash misfired resulting in just my silhouette being captured, but in the end, this shot was better than any of the shots where the flash had fired.

1: How long have you been involved in photography?

I got my first digital camera in 2003. It was a simple point and shoot and I only used it casually. I had a more advanced P&S after that, but again, I really only used it casually and not really in an artistic manner. But I really got involved in photography in November when I purchased my first (and so far only) DSLR, the Canon Rebel XTi. Photography has been my primary focus since then, well outside of work that is.

2: Equipment you use?

I shoot exclusively with my Digital Rebel XTi (although I'm patiently waiting for the 5D Mark II to come in on special order at my local camera shop!)

Lenses:
Canon 10-22mm lens
Canon 24-70mm f2.8 L
Canon 70-200 f4 L IS
Canon 50mm f2.8 Macro

Other Gear:
Manfrotto Carbon Fiber Tripod with Pistol Grip Ballhead
Nodal Ninja 3 Panoramic Tripod Head
Cokin Z Filter System
Cactus Wireless Radio Trigger
Canon Speedlight 430ex
2x Sunpak 383 flash
2x 150ws Studio Strobes
2x White Umbrellas
2x Silver Umbrellas
2x Gold Umbrellas
2x Softboxes

3: Mac or PC?
I began as a Mac user when I was 13, but at age 19 I had to make the conversion to PC because I was completing my bachelor's degree in CIS and it wasn't exactly a Mac friendly environment. So I made the switch to PC and I never looked back. Photoshop was the same on both so it didn't really matter to me. Now I prefer PC, but I'll always have a special place in my heart for Mac. :)

4: What inspires you?
Geeze, I don't know. What doesn't inspire me? Actually to tell the truth, one of my main sources for inspiration is the flickr community. I am inspired by the wonderful work I see from my fellow photographers and artists here on flickr, and the kind words, meaningful comments and positive energy that come from flickr are what keep me up late at night trying to finish my latest piece in time to post it before bed. I am also inspired by nature, and extreme weather. Also puppies. And sunsets.

5: Preferred subject matter?
A sunset at the beach after a storm.

6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that
you REALLY want to capture.
A puppy playing at the beach, at sunset, after a storm. Also, bigfoot.

7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in?
My parents. Both of my parents are artists, and I'm very close to them, so when I'm feeling doubtful about my art, I confide in them, and they always help me snap out of it.

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop
No official training in Photoshop or Photography. Most of what I know about Photography I learned on flickr. I learned Photoshop the easy way: I got my hands on it when I was 13 and never let go. :)

9: Plans for the future?
Keep shooting, keep Photoshopping, keep expressing and most importantly, keep learning.

10: In one word, describe your photography.
Unusual.

MikonT

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: MikonT






1: How long have you been involved in photography?
Behind the camera for 2 years. Along side of the camera as an art director, longer than I care to admit.

2: Equipment you use?
I use Nikon. Here's the list:
Nikon D300
Nikon D200
10-20mm 4.5 - 5.6 Sigma zoom
17-55mm, f2.8 Nikon zoom
80-200mm, f2.8 Nikon zoom
50mm, f1.8 Nikon prime
Lensbaby 2.0
#4 ND filter
Circular Polarizer
Manfroto Tripod (pan head)

3: Mac or PC?
MAC G5 Tower, Duel 1.8 GHz processors, PowerPC
(yeah, it's an older one but it moves along ok for now).
Photoshop CS3
Photomatix Pro

What inspires you?
Looking at, what I consider to be exceptional art, in whatever form it takes (photography, painting, etc). There is quite enough talent here on Flickr, so I need not go too far to find inspiration.

5: Preferred subject matter?
Well if you look at my stream it's kind of all over the place, but I'd have to say the majority is Valley Forge, its living history and landscape.

6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.
Gee there are so many (I don't get away much). How about wildlife in some remote portion of the planet, on an early misty morning, with columns of light streaming through the trees. Yeah, like that will happen.

7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in?
My wife and children. They give me honest answers. Sometimes it's their silence that helps the most.

Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop
I have no training in any software at all. I have always learned by looking, listening, asking questions and experimenting. I've been doing it for a good while. I started on a 512K MAC Plus. State of the art!!

9: Plans for the future?
No real plans -- just put one foot in front of the other, walk down life's path, enjoy the view and be happy in the process. I know, borrrr-ing! Snore.

10: In one word, describe your photography.
Personal

Totomai

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Totomai

Fantasy

This is my favorite candid shot. Taken during a street parade in Kawasaki, Japan. I thought I captured the mood, the colors and the composition the way I imagined it.

Vocation

Aside from the fact that I am fascinated with monks, my favorite photography subject is “From Behind” shots. I find it more intriguing and dramatic to visualize what’s on the other side. This was taken in Bangkok, Thailand.

1) How long have you been involved in photography?

I think I got interested in photography around 2006, if my memory is correct.

2) Equipment you use?

I started with Casey, my Casio EX-Z40 point and shoot camera.
A year after I had Nikki, my Nikon D80. My lenses are 18-200mm VR, 50mm 1.8f and 105mm 2.8f

3) Mac or PC?

Its PC for me.

4) What inspires you?

Anything. Anyone. Anywhere. I always believe that there are uniqueness in each particular subject waiting to be discovered and captured.

5) Preferred subject matter?

From Behind Shots. I’m a coward, lol. But seriously, I really like taking shots from behind. For me, it tells a lot and could spark off the imagination of the viewer.

Candid and Portrait Shots. I am trying different approaches on these two subjects. Its only recently I got interested on these. I hope I can improve with regards to these.

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

This is a tricky one. But since I am in Japan now, I think, the Diamond Fuji phenomenon. It’s a rare phenomenon that’s happening twice a year only.

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

My friends give an advice or two if I ask for some. And I appreciate every suggested idea. But at the end of the day, I am still the one who will assess and finalize my work of art.

8) Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop

Zero training when it comes to photography. Though I am trying to learn via trial and error processes.

9) Plans for the future?

I will never stop clicking my camera as long as I can see subjects worth capturing. I won’t be trading this hobby of mine to anything as this is my only solace when stress and other work-related anxieties come my way, lol.

10) In one word, describe your photography.

Poetic

i.anton

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER:i.anton

Do you believe in fairies?....


recapturing time


1: How long have you been involved in photography?
since July 2006

2: Equipment you use?
Canon 350

3: Mac or PC?
PC

4: What inspires you?
The work of other photographers. Also what i don't see around me.

5: Preferred subject matter?
central-European cities, bokeh, anything under window light, snow, airplanes
.
6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.
real falling snow

7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in?
no one

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop
self -taught

9: Plans for the future?
none that i can think of.

10: In one word, describe your photography.
unruly, undisciplined.