Friday, December 18, 2009

Rich66

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Rich66

Marsh by rich66 ~ (busy but still checking in)
This is one of those peaceful places I could sit all day, lost in a world of Eco! It provides great inspiration. The marsh along the greenway is home to so many aquatic animals. A thriving eco-system.

Could I Possibly Be Any Cuter? by rich66 ~ (busy but still checking in)
I love wildlife. And this black squirrel (yeah, I know it's brown) and his buddies were so curious when I went to a local park that they would come right up and feed out of your hand. Some would literally pose for the camera. How could you resist the cute face on this little guy?

1: How long have you been involved in photography?

Actually not very long at all. About 5 years. Introduced to world of digital photography and Flickr by my friend Jeanie's Pics, a great photographer in her own right. We started geocaching and then decided to bring our camera's along in the hunt for the caches. We were exposed to so many new areas of New England that we had to document what we saw: landscapes, animals, structures, etc.

2: Equipment you use?

Kodak Easy Share Z712 IS. Hoping Santa got my letter for an upgrade.

3: Mac or PC?

PC, though I've heard MAC really has it's advantages. An upgrade is possible in a few years. Hey, it took me until this year to buy an iPod and they've been around forever.

4: What inspires you?

Natural elements and the seasons. Luckily for me New England experiences all 4 seasons and provides an abundant source of different landscapes and wildlife. I receive alot of inspiration just viewing all of my Flickr friend's photos as well.

5: Preferred subject matter?

Wildlife, landscapes, waterfalls and rustic settings & structures. Every now and then I'll find something that doesn't fall into those categories which takes me out of my element. Those are kind of fun to capture too. What I try to do is bring a little bit of my world in New England to all of you.

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

Living in New England I have yet to see a moose in person. The only moose I see are those on the Moose Crossing signs. I would really love to get a shot of one of these elusive and majestic animals. Another animal I want to photograph is a river otter.

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

Myself. I'll take photos and look at them for a while before deciding it's good enough. Something within the frame has to jump out at me before I give myself the greenlight to upload it. As I mentioned above, just viewing other photos here on Flickr is a true inspiration. That allows me to self-critique the images I capture as well.

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop

None really. I use Picasa to touch up or crop images but basically that's it. Alot of trial and error.

9: Plans for the future?

To continue being inspired by the world around me and share what I see with you. I've recently had a photo published in our local paper and had 2 of them placed in a Town Calendar. Maybe someday I'll showcase some photos in an exhibition or something like that. I think it would be cool.

10: In one word, describe your photography.

How about a hyphenated word....Eco-Friendly.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Dani℮l

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Dani℮l

The day before spring by Dani℮l
This is HDR. I really like the perspective here as well as the strong and dynamic sky. The very low viewpoint is a thing I use a lot in my photography…


Dune by Dani℮l
This is not one of my newest but I’m still amazed by the way the elements of nature can shape a landscape like in this view. This shot was taken on one of the Dutch islands which are one of my top favourite places to shoot.

1: How long have you been involved in photography?
I’ve been interested in photography for a long time since I was young. But, until recent years, taking photos myself had been mostly limited to holidays and longer travels. Stumbling upon Flickr at the end of 2006, gave photography a new dimension for me. The possibility to share, view and discuss photos with people all around the world, made it much more interesting.

2: Equipment you use?
I use a Nikon D300 with a 10-24mm and a 18-200mm lens, both Nikon. I also own a 55mm micro ais and a 105mm ais, both old manual Nikon lenses from the 80’s, but visually they’re still crystal clear..
But my favourite lens is the 10-24mm and that has everything to do with my largest passion in photography (at least until now!), landscapes..


3: Mac or PC?
PC

4: What inspires you?
The physical world and the sky. Anyone who has a look into my stream will notice that the photo’s I post are mostly about landscapes. I love watching the world, travelling and moving through it and think about it while watching it. It inspires me and in my photo’s I am trying to reflect how I see it. And also it’s just another great reason to get out and explore the world!

5: Preferred subject matter?
Landscapes. To me there aren’t many things better to watch than a great landscape combined with a dramatic sky. The great thing about landscapes is that there is a endless variety of them around us! Even the same place or area can appear so incredibly different just by a change of light or weather. The photographer is another factor which determines how a landscape appears. That’s a reason for me to try to visit places around where I live more often, just to try to capture a different mood or view of that same spot.

6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.
Spectacular lightning. That’s not an easy one, because here in the Netherlands we don’t get many chances during a normal year. I still haven’t been at the right spot at the right time with the right equipment.

7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in?
Lol....it might be a bit early to talk about my photography as being art…
I must admit that I’m not in doubt about it that often. For me the main purpose of a photo is that my eyes will be pleased by the result. It should be fun to watch.
But I have to admit that when many people like a photo, it will give my confidence about that photo being a good one a boost.
To make it short, when I am in doubt about I will always first ask girlfriend Lotte. To me it is important what she is thinking about my ‘art’.
For the rest I really appreciate advice coming from fellow Flickr members!



8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop
No I haven’t done courses or anything like that. But just watching photo’s here on Flickr, reading about photography in magazines and on the Internet, is a good training by itself I think. and of course shooting photos as much as possible might be the best traning there is!


9: Plans for the future?
Keep on shooting and improve post processing skills!


10: In one word, describe your photography.
Wow this is really difficult.......
Well I might combine the words landscape and sensational into a new word: “Senscapetional”

Wednesday, December 02, 2009

Tracie Taylor Photography

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Tracie Taylor Photography
generations of faith by Tracie Taylor Photography
This image is probably the most meaningful image I've ever taken. My Dads hands are our pillar of strength. He holds us up. My mom is supported by those very hands and surrounded by our love. Each one of us held in Gods hands. Both my mom and dads hands are holding my three daughters hands. This was taken last year just days before my mom lost her battle with cancer. I still get emotional feeling this image.
Generations of faith.

Runaway bride? by Tracie Taylor Photography
I chose this one because it's one of my current faves. Its fun. Ask me again tomorrow and I'm sure it will be a different image. :)

1: How long have you been involved in photography?
Professionally, over 10 years. (I know what you all must be thinking, she must have started when she was like what, 10 years old???) LOL Okay, so maybe I’m the only one that thinks that! Yikes, I can’t be this old! Thank goodness for Botox!

2: Equipment you use?
Nikon D3 with nikon glass, Canon 5D's with canon glass and I just bought a new 1DS Marklll which I am excited about. Next I want to pick up a digital Leica. I've never shot a rangefinder so I'm looking forward to that. I have my 2nd shooters shooting my Canon bodies but I always have one canon and one Nikon on me for each wedding. (Minus Mike, he shoots whatever the heck he wants... He's a know it all. I kid him that I should be his 2nd shooter. :) I think my all time favorite lens is my Canons 85 1.2 it's pure magic.

3: Mac or PC?
LOL both (what can I say, I don't discriminate :)

4: What inspires you?
There are so many things that inspire me. I'm a true romantic at heart. Love inspires me. That's why I chose wedding photography as a career. Each wedding is such a blessing to be a part of. Surrounded by so much love and emotion. It's overwhelming, but in a very good way. I’m also big into the fashion industry so I try to bring that into my work. I love Flickr and that is a huge source of inspiration for me. I’m always checking out fellow photographers work and pushing the limits here and there. My 3 daughters are my daily inspiration, to say the least! You will find their faces plastered all throughout my websites and here on my Flickr stream.

5: Preferred subject matter?
Again, professionally weddings but I get so much joy from just documenting daily life. My family would probably be number one.

6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.
Two things come to mind, childbirth and In my heart and soul I would love to do missionary work which would allow me to document the people in Namibia, which is one of the most desolate regions in Africa. I think I personally take so much of life for granted. It's one thing to know and hear about the world around us but to actually be involved and make a difference is something I feel passionately about. My mom always told me that the gift of receiving is actually the gift of giving.

7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in?
My kids actually keep me humbled. They are as honest as they come. Brutally at times. :) If I need a bit more depth other than "Mom that is weird...." I do in fact come here to Flickr. I have made so many close friends and I truly respect Flickr as a whole. Don't get me wrong I know how the game here can be played but if you take it down a notch, get real and come to Flickr asking for help, asking for advice, I find that the ones that take the time to be honest are the ones that I respect the most.


8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop
Hmmm in anything.. that is a broad question. I suppose an overall answer would be yes. However in this new digital age I am considered self taught. Before then, back in the film years (yes I know I am dating myself again.....) I do have a degree from CSULB. I was a Kindergarten teacher for many years before switching careers. If you want to go way back I also owned a retail Spa and Gazebo store and waited tables throughout college. I also worked the MAC counter at Nordstroms and was a neighborhood babysitter. :) Imagine all of that before my current age of 21. :)


9: Plans for the future?
Yep. I want the fairytale Happily Ever After......


10: In one word, describe your photography.
Courageous