Pdxsafariguy

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: pdxsafariguy


I don't think I can leave out this shot of baobab trees in our safari camp in Tarangire National Park. It was quite an adventure to shoot: a group effort that required running around in the brush with a flash, backlighting those massive old trees. Little did we know that lions would wander into the camp soon after.


I had a difficult time selecting an overall second favorite so I have selected one of several favorites from a recent trip to Japan, a blue hour shot of Japan's Himeji Castle. We visited Himeji Castle to discover that the grounds, normally closed at 4pm, would be open after dark for a special display of lit-up cherry blossoms. To wander about and photograph a real Japanese garden and castle during the cherry blossom season (a BIG deal in Japan), all while listening to a live concert of traditional Japanese music - that was hard to beat!

1: How long have you been involved in photography?

I started playing with photography back in high school, but then college, work, and life got in the way. I started picking it up again about 4 years ago when I decided to get a D70. Within the past year I have gotten some work published and made a conscious effort to devote more time to my photography.

2: Equipment you use?

Nikon D300 and an assortment of lenses from 12mm to 400mm, my favorite being the 24-70mm f2.8. It is heavy but the sharpness is hard to beat! I've become a faithful user of my carbon fiber tripod in the past year and it goes pretty much everywhere I intend to do any serious shooting. And I have a collection of filters – a must for landscapes – that I am slowly learning to use properly.

3: Mac or PC?

An old old PC. I really need to get something better.

4: What inspires you?

Travel. The outdoors. Different places, different cultures, the diversity of the natural and man-made world we live in. Anywhere away from the daily pressures and "daily grind" where I can capture something I do not normally see. Seeing the amazing stuff folks post on flickr gives me lots of ideas.

5: Preferred subject matter?

Landscapes, travel, wildlife, anything taken during blue hour or after dark, sunrises and sunsets. I've been slowly appreciating how difficult some of this subject matter is to capture well - often most of the elements of the scene are completely out of your control - so there is an element of patience and luck. But, when you do get lucky and happen to be in the right place at the right time, it can't be beat!

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

There are so many! How can I name just one? A few that interest me: penguins in Antarctica, the Aurora Borealis or Aurora Australis, lightning during a thunderstorm...

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

Being a bit of a perfectionist, I am always seeking to improve and always in doubt about my art. Rarely, if ever, do I take a shot I am completely satisfied with. Maybe I am just my own harshest critic but I believe that photography is a continual learning process. Flickr has so many talented folks with amazing photostreams to draw inspiration from, and I love it when someone provides me with honest constructive feedback. Sometimes I feel like folks are afraid to do that because it might not be taken so well. Of course when something sells, that's a good feeling and erases a bit of doubt.

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop

Mostly self taught from experimentation, making lots of mistakes, and observing others. I've taken a few informal workshops and seminars, and have a few more on tap for this summer. In school, long ago, I took a few darkroom classes with a fully manual film SLR. I've been meaning to take a class on photoshop or photo processing but never seem to find the time.

9: Plans for the future?

Travel, travel, travel! I've still got two continents left to visit and am hoping to cross them off soon. Along the way, I hope to dedicate some serious time to capturing some amazing places with my camera. If I could make a living at it and quit my day job I would, but for now the 9-5 desk job will have to stay.

10: In one word, describe your photography.
Evolving. Hopefully for the better!

Biancavanderwerf

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Biancavanderwerf




1: How long have you been involved in photography?
I hold my first (borrowed) camera in 2005. Before that time I made just like everybody snapshots on vacation. I always draw and painted but now I started a new medium for my ideas..

2: Equipment you use?
A Canon 5D with a Sigma 17-35mm, Canon 24-105mm, Sigma 12-24mm, Canon 50mm, Canon 15mm, Sigma 105mm, a lensbaby and a Holga camera and a Canon G9

3: Mac or PC?
Still PC, but I am saving for a Mac..... almost there :-)

4: What inspires you?
It can be anything: dreams, music, films, news and everyday life

5: Preferred subject matter?
My work can be devided in two streams. The more experimental, these ones I draw out before I make them, I think them through and I know what I want to shoot and create in Photoshop.
The second stream is what I come across on my travels, on trips or abandoned places and use them to make my own, this is more traditional photography :-)

6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.
There are many landscapes or cultures that I want to capture in different countries, like New-Zealand, Japan, Iceland, Bhutan and many more..... And maybe Bono of U2 if that's a possibility haha.

7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in?
Nobody. I am not so uncertain when it comes to my work. I make what I want to make. Off course I have some favourites, but I never post something I am unsure about, then I have to work on it harder..


8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop
I went to Artschool in the 90's, I studied Architectural Design. Therefore I've learnt to watch and step out of the box perhaps. But with photography I am totally autodidact. I really really have to read some books now to enhance myself, but I don't like it :-)


9: Plans for the future?
To make better Art and to learn more about different ways of photography. And I want to combine different mediums together... But this is still a mystery, I have to figure it out!


10: In one word, describe your photography.
Surrealistic

Maloephoto

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Maloephoto


Taken at home and is of my oldest daughter. I have some smiley ones of the kids but love getting the more emotional shots that seem to have more to say, it’s always important to have a camera on hand for me.


This tree is like a fossil and must have some amazing stories to tell from growing to being washed up. The picture was taken on Auckland’s West Coast and is a real “soul” place for me. It’s a more raw and unpredictable coast than most and a place I easily connect with.

1: How long have you been involved in photography?
Most of my life, my father is an amateur and my brother an accomplished Pro - no escape for me and really as a creative outlet photography was a simple choice. To be honest though, apart from a short stint years ago, I have probably have only fully concentrated on it for the past 2 years since I joined flickr.


2: Equipment you use?
Canon 5DmkII, 4 Lenses that cover 17mm to 200mm, Lee filters, rusty tripod and some good smelly seascape shoes that are always wet. I really like to immerse myself into my scenes and probably a bit to literally at times - fast legs are definitely a plus!
Really gear is secondary, my own creativity and knowledge is normally the limiting factor or the factor that helps me improve my images.

3: Mac or PC?
PC. I am swaying toward buying a Mac though but my bank says stop swaying and stay where you are.

4: What inspires you?
Lots…..
I have some great flickr contacts, some I which I have even shot with and they all certainly motivate and inspire me.
Having a go at anything at anytime, I find you are rewarded by effort and dedication.
Simply having fun, nature and my kids energy would be also count a lot.


5: Preferred subject matter?
Even though I take a lot of landscapes due to my passion for the outdoors my preference is colour abstract, minimalism and mixed emotion shots of the kids (and eventually other people). I still have so much to explore in those realms and I find these challenging. I really enjoy trying out all facets of photography though and I do get frustrated with my lack of ability in certain areas but that’s life. I don’t want me or my photostream to be a view of one form of photography so I like to try and mix it up at least a bit.


6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.
A 22 kilogram blue cod, I love eating fish !
Seriously though, a moment that evokes pure positive emotion would be the one for me. Something that makes the viewer laugh out loud or feel very happy. I think often at a greater level we focus on the negative because that makes the news where the positive often struggles too and yet is equally if not more powerful,
Even a self portrait of me holding the National Lottery winning ticket, I am really looking forward to that…
Oops that’s 3 things!!!


7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in?
A glass of wine is good start but I find my family so valuable in this respect.
My kids - even at 5 and 6 they tell me what they think, I love their honesty.
My wife-she gives me a straight view of what she thinks is good or not, then I go ahead anyway :-) but generally she’s right, uuuurgh!, she’s always a source of good healthy debate.


8: Qualifications/training in anything? i.e.: Photoshop
I did a colour photography course in London back in the 90’s and graduated with a distinction. It was only a 3 month course after work but I spent about 30 hours a week doing it in middle of winter and most shots were long cold exposures at night or abstract. I didn’t really do much with it though after that apart from some basic stuff. Now I feel I have gone backwards, forwards and sideways!! All the rest is self taught, asking my family, or advice from flickr contacts- never be afraid to ask!


9: Plans for the future?
Keep taking pictures and continue to learn, make far more of the opportunities that come my way.


10: In one word, describe your photography.
Immersion