Monday, November 29, 2010

Overthemoon

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Overthemoon!

flower power by overthemoon
For this one I was just filling in time while waiting for the train; it was a grey day and the red poppy stood out. I included the dilapidated building in the background because it is all that remains of the once-famous Mechanical Workshops of Vevey; I have always been attracted by that building with its big arched windows and was worried it would be demolished along with the rest of the buildings (they have been replaced by huge white apartment blocks). Now it looks as though it will be restored and I’m looking forward to seeing its reincarnation. For me this is a picture of nostalgia and hope.

faces at the window by overthemoon
You could say this is a typical “overthemoon” picture, a window, a reflection, shutters, tilted… Place Scanavin is a picturesque, enclosed square tucked away behind the streets of the old town in Vevey. I was rushing along trying to catch up with my husband when I caught a glimpse of two women looking down from a window; at my second glance I realised it was the reflection of a mural on the opposite wall. I whipped out my camera and took a quick picture while my husband was making his usual impatient noises. It came out well and I’m glad I stopped!

1: How long have you been involved in photography?


Choosing photos for travel guides (from individual reportages by professional photographers or from stock photo sites) has been part of my job since around 1990. I didn’t start taking photos myself, at least with any confidence, till I bought a little Lumix in 2005.

2: Equipment you use?


Just my camera, a little Canon that I can slip into my pocket or bag. I would hate to have to cart tripods, lenses etc. around with me.

3: Mac or PC?


Mac at work and PC at home.

4: What inspires you?


Anything I see out of the corner of my eye as I walk past – a reflection in a window, the light in a single leaf, a shadow or a bright colour…

5: Preferred subject matter?


To answer that I looked at my flickr sets. There is: chocolate, bicycles, books, cats, eggs, food and drink, architecture, machinery, shadows, doors and windows, clouds, trees, leaves, flowers, seeds, stairs, reflections, ripples, and things in shop windows. Views of my area (Lavaux on the north shore of Lake Geneva). I need to get interested in portraits.

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


I’d like to take a decent picture of the moon.

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



No one, I just sleep on it.

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop



I fumbled around with Photoshop, which was already installed on my old computer when I acquired it, and got as far as Curves, but then the computer died and took PS with it. Now I manage with Picasa for cropping/retouching, and also for textures, though you don’t have the control over them that PS gives you. I’ve done several trips with professional photographers so have picked up some tips through observing them at work and talking to them. People say I have a “good eye”; I think that comes from my travel guide training: when you ask a photographer for a picture of North Cape and he comes to your office bearing two large leather cases containing 2000 trannies (colour slides) saying “I can’t choose”, you soon learn how to sort the wheat from the chaff in the blink of an eye.

9: Plans for the future?



Immediate future: sit down quietly and try to fathom out shutter speeds and apertures (my brain seizes up when confronted with figures). In the long term, maybe I’ll do a photography course when I retire; it might help me understand what I’m doing. And I’ll get some more sophisticated equipment.

10: In one word, describe your photography.
One of my contacts said my photos were “quirky” and I quite like that.

Monday, November 22, 2010

*Sakura*

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: *Sakura*!
Time To Go Home by *Sakura*
This is the world through through my eyes. Can you imagine the world through the little frog's eyes?

Wind Kissed by *Sakura*
This was taken in spring time this year in the center of Tokyo.

1: How long have you been involved in photography?
As far as I remember, I got my first compact digital camera in 2004 and started shooting.

2: Equipment you use?
I've been using several Nikons since 2007. The first Nikon was D80 with 60mm micro/macro lens.
I really love Nikon's 105mm VR micro/macro lens now.

3: Mac or PC?
Only Mac.

4: What inspires you?
Small creatures in the nature just around me.

5: Preferred subject matter?
I love to photograph flowers on the roadside.

6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.
Battle sites of World War II.

7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in?
Online chat friends.

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop
Nothing.

9: Plans for the future?
I don't plan a future at all. I love to live an easy life.
But I have to go to pick up my laundry by Thursday!

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

Monday, November 15, 2010

(JT)

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: (Jt)!

 by (Jt)
My student Lucy. A great kid, that certainly dreams of bigger things.

 by (Jt)
Dedicated to my father.

1: How long have you been involved in photography?

I suppose not a very long time. My parents were always into it while I was growing up. My mom's Leica's were generally basking around the house. Heaven forbid I touch one though lol.

2: Equipment you use?

Wow, this is a tough one. I use a very wide range of equipment. For most of my street work, I use a Leica M6 or M8 with a variety of lenses. I've bounced back and forth lately between my 5D Mark II and a Nikon D7000 I picked up from Nikon Korea.I don't believe there is a perfect camera. A lot of my stream comes from my Iphone, which I dearly love! My favourite camera of all time is definitely the Leica Digilux 2, a 5 megapixel rangefinder style camera from 7 or 8 years ago.

3: Mac or PC?

All Mac. I use a Macbook Air for the road, and an Imac at home.

4: What inspires you?

People.

5: Preferred subject matter?

I don't discriminate, lol. However, I will say if you look at my stream you'll see a lot of the streets of Asia. A lovely and interesting place.

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

I would've loved to have taken a proper portrait of my Father. He's passed recently and I suppose I'll never have the chance. A big influence on my life, and easily the best person I've ever known.

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

I confide in myself. My Dad once told me that I have only have myself to blame when I make a mistake, and only myself to pat on the back when I succeed. I believe that. When I need someone to confide in I just look in the mirror.

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop

Nothing! But, my style of photography doesn't take a lot of work. I'm not sure I've ever spent more than a couple of minutes on a picture in Lightroom or PS.

9: Plans for the future?

Go back to Law School I suppose! It would've made my Dad proud. As of know, my friend and I are planning a cross world trip from Korea to Vancouver, the long way around, on motorcycles. Inspired by a Ewan McGregor trip a couple years back, it'll take 6 months or so and honestly, I can't wait! Starting a blog about it in the next couple weeks. Stay tuned!


10: In one word, describe your photography.

I'm horrible with word count restrictions, but I'll make it easy.

It's me.

Monday, November 08, 2010

Bluesrose

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Bluesrose!
Spring in Parallel world
Spring in Parallel world - street moment from my hometown

empty VIP
Empty VIP - one of the most important things in the world - EGG :)

1. How long have you been involved in photography?
about 5-6 years

2. Equipment you use ?
Pentax K100D, Pentax K20D, Pentax K-7 and some tiny pocket cameras

3. Mac or PC?
PC

4. What inspires you?


Everything that I see

5. Preferred subject matter?


Reflections (water/puddle reflections, mostly I rotate them upside down, I see them like a parallel world); abstracts about everything; images on black (black&white, black&colours); shadows

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


I don't know, I think I haven't seen it yet :)

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



Sometimes I ask my daughter's opinion, but mostly when I doubt, I'll leave it and do something else instead

8. Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop



I've learned and discovered everything on my own, I like to tinkle .. and it takes time, I am very slow to learn new things

9. Plans for the future?



I don't make plans, what comes, comes

10. In one word, describe your photography. simple / weird :)

Monday, November 01, 2010

{cindy}

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: {Cindy}!!

 by {cindy}

 by {cindy}

1. How long have you been involved in photography?
I never showed any interest in photography at all. Until the summer of 2009, when I got a present - my first camera (a Canon 450d). I bought a few books to teach myself how to use it, started shooting and
haven't stopped since...

2. Equipment you use ?
Canon 450d with my 50mm 1.4 lens 99% of the time... and every once in a while I get to use my dad's Mark II, which I love and have to have one day ;)

3. Mac or PC?
Mac

4. What inspires you?


The simple things in life that make me happy

5. Preferred subject matter?


My boys, but they aren't always willing subjects ;)

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


I would love to shoot photos that tell a story and ask questions, with a little mystery, instead of only the simple straightforward approach (even though I do like those too). Even though I know I love that kind of photography, I never seem to be able to capture it that way...

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



In myself... I usually just take a little break and focus on other things.

8. Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop



Self-taught through books, the internet and lots of experimenting :)

9. Plans for the future?



I have no idea. I just started and there's still so much to learn. I hope I will keep shooting and grow up to be the photographer I want to be ;)


10. In one word, describe your photography.
Sweet