EudaldCJ

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: EudaldCJ!!


I took this photo near my hometown, in the Catalan Pyrenees. While I was standing with my camera in front of these horses they approached me forming this curious composition


Barcelona beach in a winter afternoon. I like this scene, I think it reflects quite well the mood of this beautiful part of the city.

1: How long have you been involved in photography?
I started taking it seriously about 6 years ago when I got my first digital camera.

2: Equipment you use?
Cameras:
Olympus E30
Olympus E400
Canon Ixus 40
Lenses:
Zuiko 14-54mm
Zuiko 14-42mm
Zuiko 40-150mm
Zuiko 35mm Macro
Manfrotto 190 XPROB Tripod

3: Mac or PC?
PC

4: What inspires you?
I understand making a photo involves three phases: the first one would be having the idea or “seeing” the situation that will make a good photo. In this phase the inspiration can come from watching a film, listening to a song, watching other people’s photos, sometimes it is just a particular situation that makes you click your camera.
The second phase would be the process of taking the photo, this part is more about technique than inspiration.
The third phase would the processing of the photo. In this phase the inspiration depends on my mood, sometimes the final work has no relation with my first idea when I took the photo. Sometimes I work on the same photo for several days and the results are completely different.
And of course Flickr, a great source of inspiration!

5: Preferred subject matter?
I think more about a light, a mood, a situation rather than a particular subject matter. I like the idea of capturing a special moment involving people. In this sense I love wandering about in Barcelona, with my camera, trying to capture the mood of the city as I feel it.

6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.
I would really like to live with a community of people from a different culture for a period of time, trying to understand their way of living. Capturing this in photos is something that would very much fulfil me.

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

My Flickr friends, of course!

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop
I am self-taught, I have learnt from books, from watching other people’s works and from making a lot of mistakes.

9: Plans for the future?
I will try to arrange some local exhibitions.
I would love to publish a book of photos concerning a topic, but this is more a dream than a plan 

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

Maguaphotos

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Maguaphotos


This is typical for the way i love to work. A scene of human behaviour, of tenderness and connection that also works on a metaphorical level.


This is one example of a great project of mine, a collection of photos taken at the city beach of my home town, Las Canteras on Gran Canaria, Spain. I plan to publish a book with this material. This photo especially shows one landmark of this beach, the auditorio Alfredo Kraus, which is a concert hall.

1: How long have you been involved in photography?
I have been involved in photography for most of my adult life since my late husband was an enthusiastic photographer from a famous family of photographers in Madrid, Spain. When my children were grown i had more time to pick up the camera myself.


2: Equipment you use?
I use different cameras, digital and analog.

3: Mac or PC?
PC


4: What inspires you?
My inspiration comes from the urge to express other forms or parts of my personality.


5: Preferred subject matter?
Doing social studies around human beings with my camera.


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


7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in?
With the people i love that are also involved in photography.


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

9: Plans for the future?
no

10: In one word, describe your photography.
photopainting

Åsta

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Åsta!!


I picked this one because it’s a picture I had in my head for years before finally getting the chance to shoot it.


The other picture only because it’s some of my later work.

1: How long have you been involved in photography?
This is actually a hard question to answer as I’ve been on and off photography for about 20 years. However, for 15 of these years, I used the camera more as a sketchbook than a medium in itself. I think I can conclude that I really started photographing in 2006. That’s when I was introduced to Flickr – and by that also to the comments and interaction with you all. The pictures got a life on their own. I also discovered that photography was a relatively quick way to express myself and a fun way to discover other parts of my creativity. Suddenly I was hooked.

2: Equipment you use?
I’m not very focused on equipment, but I mainly shoot with a Nikon D40X. I’ve also got an Olympus Mju that I bring everywhere. Apart from that I’ve got very little stuff – I use whatever I have around, like DIY-lamps, torch lights etc. I recently got a ring flash that I look forward to trying out.

3: Mac or PC?
PC.

4: What inspires you?
Photography in itself inspires me. I’ll try to explain: I’ve got a fine arts education, but ran out of steam when it came to painting and printing. I completely stopped expressing myself visually. This stressed me and worried me quite a lot, as the visual language always has been such a big part of who I am. Then I started playing with photography and suddenly I got a new and different access to the creative part of me. It became fun to “speak pictures” again. As a result, I’m very determined on keeping photography as “just” a hobby with no demands - and to keep the bar low.
Also I love and get inspired by scavenger hunts. Getting a list to work with is like being dropped into an unfamiliar landscape. That means I see and discover ways to approach motives I’d never discover by on my own and challenge me to explore.

5: Preferred subject matter?
I don’t think I’ve got a preferred subject matter. To me it’s not about the whats , but it’s all about the hows. My “baby” is composition.

6: Name one thing you haven’t caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.
Most of the time we’re talking about moments I missed. The expression in someone’s face, the body language of the man on the bus, the light outside just now, the way the chocolate sauce was running down the ice cream I just had for dessert... Unfortunately I don’t know what I really want to capture until it’s gone. From this, maybe it’s obvious that I’d love to get better at street photography and shooting action pictures. I find it hard to recognize, compose and execute pictures where the motives are there for only a split second. I’d love to master this.

7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in?
I’m so fortunate that I’ve got a bunch of Flickr friends whom I can ask. It wouldn’t be fair naming them. By not mentioning anyone, no one will be forgotten. They know who they are. I also have real life family and friends giving me valuable reactions to my work. Sometimes I leave a comment under my picture, asking what people think about this or that. I’ve found that so many Flickr members are amazingly generous sharing their view and expertise. I learn a lot from this. Thank you!

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop
I’ve got an education in fine arts and in teaching design and fine arts. I think this gives me a somewhat different view on pictures and photography – especially when it comes to composition. I highly recommend photographers not only to look at photography books, but also to explore the fine arts section in the library to learn about the endless number of composition tools. There are so much more than the rule of two thirds or the golden section!
I’m autodidact when it comes to the basics of Photoshop. I pick up a bit here and there, and firmly believe in learning by doing. Youtube has become a fantastic learning arena which I use frequently. I also like Scott Kelby’s books on PS because he’s so direct on solving problems in photography.

9: Plans for the future?
I’ve had a very busy life the last couple of years. Hopefully I’ll get the chance to do more photography. I also plan to stay a dilettante.

10: In one word, describe your photography.
Exploring