Isabelle Ann

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Isabelle Ann

Just look at this horse! He was arguably my favorite of all the Festival competitors--wild and athletic and barely controllable (I came to realize that sometimes the rider was unable to control him--I would like to have seen him with a different rider for comparison even though I loved the wildness). When I got home and uploaded the pictures of him, I could see that in every one of them he was watching me! I saw him two years in a row and looked for him this year, but did not see him.


I loved this polo pony--the announcer called him "the leaping horse" and he was exactly that. Very exciting to watch. Had fun with the beautiful cheetahs used with the permission of my flickr friend, Connie Lemperle, who's photostream I visit daily just to see what creatures she has captured for us to enjoy and dream about:


1 Tell us a little about yourself
I live in rural Vermont with my husband, Alan, and our dog, Shadow.

2: How long have you been involved in photography?
My love affair with digital photography and the computer began in 1996 when after a diagnosis I had to come to terms with my own mortality and to think about the things I would like to try in this lifetime. I had never used/owned a computer or digital camera, and my husband bought both for me after my first surgery. From the moment I learned how to turn on the computer and connect to the Internet, there was no turning back. The same with the digital camera. Both were so new to me and therefore so wonderfully complex, that I was completely absorbed in learning and exploring them. Then I learned about something called Photoshop and from the day I was able to purchase and install it (I still have the original box the first version came in--it was that important to me), I came to realize that I had magic at my fingertips if only I could master it. I am still tryig to master all three and it has been a truly wonderful exploration.

Before that, I had studied scupting, figure drawing, and dabbled in oils--but digital opened up a whole new world for me.

3: Equipment you use?
I have Canon equipment: 5d, 40d, 7d, and --drumroll, please--Alan just got a Canon 1d Mark IV for me for my birthday. It is the most wonderful camera and I am still trying to customize it for optimal performance for sports photography. I never dreamed I'd have that camera in this lifetime! I use the Canon 70-200 f/2.8 lens with it and love it. I also have the Canon 10-22, 17-40, 24-105 lenses.

4 Who or what inspires you?
All of the beautiful horses who are here in Vermont as well as those who come here for competitions.

The work and spirit of my flickr friend, Stephen Rasche-Hilpert:

www.equidographie.de/Equidographie/Home.html

www.youtube.com/watch?v=WARAzcrdsPk

... and the art of George Stubbs, Frederick Remington, and J.M.W. Turner, among others.
...and just waking up to another day in beautiful Vermont.

5: Preferred subject matter?
Horses

6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.e:
Horses in the wild-- running free, interacting--just being horses and establishing their own social order.

7 If you weren’t a photographer would you have another artistic pursuit? If so what?
If I weren't pursuing photography, I would like to further explore sculpting.

8: Do you have any advice for someone just starting their photography journey?
Shoot what you love -- and persistence is everything!

9: Plans for the future?
To continue to try to improve my photography, refine my art and pursue both with a passion. And to be thankful for every day I am able to try to capture and/or create something beautiful.

10: In one word, describe your photography.
Passionate

Benjeev

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER:
Benjeev


This was one of those days when I just wasn't feeling it. No inspiration. But, as the light started to fade out completely, I happened upon this and it was just magic. A few minutes later and that orange band completely disappeared and the moment was gone. So now, whenever I'm not feeling, I tell myself to just keep shooting because you never know.



This is one of the first images I made that almost exactly matched what I pre-visualized. I love it when that happens. It's so satisfying to imagine something and then see it materialize on screen. Having said that, it's pretty awesome to surrender to serendipity and just let things happen too so I'm usually happy to mix it up.

1 Tell us a little about yourself
In a nutshell, I was born in Malaysia, to an Indian father and a Chinese mother, went to school in Singapore, moved to New Zealand for university and work, and now live in the UK. So, the best description of myself is I'm a citizen of the world! Needless to say, I love to travel and I've been lucky enough to have done my fair share of it.
I studied engineering and my day job is very technical and analytical, so photography is really my only creative outlet. It keeps me sane, although it drives me nuts sometimes as well!

2: How long have you been involved in photography?
I've been shooting on and off for about 7 years but never took it seriously early on. Like so many others, I used to only take the camera out to document my travels. It's only been in the last 18 months or so that I've started to use it as a medium of expression and that's opened up a whole new world to me.

3: Equipment you use?
My first camera was a Fujifilm S7000, a bridge camera between a compact and a dslr. My first dslr was the Canon 10D, which I bought preloved from a friend. I shot for years with this. About 4 months ago, I upgraded to the Canon 5DMKII, which is an absolute gem. I have a range of lenses but I use my Canon 17-40 f/4L most of the time. On top of all that, my wellies are absolutely essential ;)

4 Who or what inspires you?
There's no one thing I think, so I'd say all my life experiences. A memory, a song, a smell even, anything can do it. It only seems to happen when I'm alone and quiet though. I love being in places where I'm the only person around. Most of my favourite images were made this way.
I'm also hugely inspired by those at the top of their game. My flickr contacts, famous photographers like Michael Kenna and Cole Thompson, top athletes and actors etc. They all have a relentless drive to improve and I really admire that.

5: Preferred subject matter?
I gravitate towards long exposure work, so my favourite would have to be water. Whether it's in liquid form in the seas and rivers, or in vapor form in clouds, I tend to look out for it everywhere I go and it usually features in a lot of my images.

6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.
I envy photographers who can make a compelling image from a chaotic street scene. I work very slowly which isn't always conducive to capturing that "decisive moment", but that's the sort of thing I would love to be able to do.

7 If you weren’t a photographer would you have another artistic pursuit? If so what?
I have a thing for buildings and large structures, so I might have gone into architecture. Whether I'd have been any good at it is another thing, so thank goodness for photography!

8: Do you have any advice for someone just starting their photography journey?
Tough question. I'm still there myself. My advice would be to aim to develop your own take on things and don't always put too much stock in others' opinions. Be selective in who you ask for creative advice or critique. In the end though, shoot for yourself, not for others.
And always check the tide tables ;) The number of times this would have saved me a journey!

9: Plans for the future?
I would like to do a long term collective series of images, although finding a suitable, accessible subject that speaks to me has proven difficult! I also want to continue to develop a fine art feel to my work. If, someday, someone calls one of my images a piece of art, I'd die a happy man!

10: In one word, describe your photography.
Others are probably a better judge of this than I am, but I'll go with "emotive".

Katrin Ray

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER:
Katrin Ray


It’s really hard to choose just 2 photos of my favourites… I love to experiment, I love long exposure, I love the sun magic… so I think this image from my new “Astro Projection” series will show this part of me… This is somewhat of out-of-body and lens experiences during the atmospheric phenomena accompanying the daily disappearance of the sun in Toronto dreamscapes... In other words, it is the result of manual zooming and long exposure – a pure sooc creation.


This work is from a series I call “My Magic Brush” and it presents another direction, where I allow my imagination to immerse in post-processing, enjoy textures and photo-manipulations.
I love finding beauty in what I see around and envisioning as if I’m painting it to life.

1 Tell us a little about yourself

I’m an artist and author, based at present in Toronto, Canada, being largely involved into an origami art with my husband. We have created the whole fantastic origami world we call Oriland that has been exhibited in different countries across the globe. We have written many books about our origami and have done Internet projects on the origami art, including our award winning Oriland.com... I’m also holding a Ph.D degree in Psychology; had a wide road in science before me but have chosen the art path. I’m a self-taught photographer and should thank my origami for being involved into this fascinating world of photography. I am happy to add that I’m a winner of Toronto Photo Contest 2010 – that was a fantastic experience. What else… love healthy style of life, yoga and I’m mostly vegetarian.


2: How long have you been involved in photography?

Somehow photography, drawing, painting were always a part my life to a certain degree and then having the need to photograph our paper artworks prompted me to take photography more seriously. So I started to explore the photo-art in different aspects and became delighted with the world of photography, finding it quite flexible for artistic expression, like a digital paintbrush! All in all, I’m into photography seriously for about 5 years.


3: Equipment you use?

Canon EOS REBEL T1i with Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS mostly
Corel Photo-Paint and Paint Shop Pro
Adobe Photoshop
And, of course, my creative vision and attention to details at my service all the time :-)
I prefer to be laconic with my equipment and rather use inventive approach within given parameters. But I think a new lens is about to join my list.


4 Who or what inspires you?

Oh many things… Universe, celestial bodies, miracles of nature, art, music, my husband, who is also a composer… life itself!


5: Preferred subject matter?

Beauty! We can find it in the most unexpected places… I often find it in the sky and on land, far and close… and I keep an open mind to where to find it.
In technical terms, I enjoy long exposure, zooming technique, tilt-shifts, landscapes, macro... Composition and colours are important for me, so I will do post-processing where I feel it is needed, or just leave a photograph pristine, depending on my idea.


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

The moon path on water surface!


7 If you weren’t a photographer would you have another artistic pursuit? If so what?

Definitely yes! I would pursue my inner painter and poet in this case.


8: Do you have any advice for someone just starting their photography journey?

Try, experiment, get inspired, be critical to your work... Long-term projects like 365 days or 52 weeks are a good learning ground. Practice makes perfect!


9: Plans for the future?

Plans are to keep on art photography and to boldly go where no one has gone before :-)


10: In one word, describe your photography.

Creative

~Patti~

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER:
~*Patti*~

selected this photo because I love the utter simplicity of it, the balance of the elements. If a composition can be called "confident", I think this one is.


Echinacea is one of my garden muses. I feel this shot represents the essence of the plant: delicate, elegant and dignified.

1 Tell us a little about yourself
I live near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I’m a lifelong artist with a BFA in painting from Carnegie Mellon University. I consider myself an image junkie: forever in search of new forms, colors, and visual relationships to keep myself visually excited. Fickle, restless and open-minded would also be accurate descriptions of me.

2: How long have you been involved in photography?
I’ve gotten seriously involved in photography over the last three or four years. The instant access to my work via DSLR appeals to me greatly (I’ll never be remembered for having great patience). Painting, drawing and gardening have always been my go-to creative outlets.

3: Equipment you use?
I shoot with a Canon 5D MKII, Canon L 24-105 f/4, 50mm f/2.8, Speedlite 580EX II and I’ve just gotten a Lensbaby Muse; I also use my old Sony Alpha 100 from time to time—the color is incredible!

4 Who or what inspires you?
My passion for gardening provides much of the inspiration for my photos, but I am also inspired by so many other things. I have a few contacts here on Flickr who continually inspire with their expressions.

5: Preferred subject matter?
My subject matter is usually what is close at hand—garden plants and my children. My husband and I go to vintage car shows from time to time and I adore shooting 1940’s and 50’s American cars.


6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.
My photography bucket list is long! I would love to try some underwater art photography and also explore long exposure.

7 If you weren’t a photographer would you have another artistic pursuit? If so what?
I love the physical as well as the creative aspects of gardening and landscape design. I would love to be a landscape designer, florist or some sort of plants-person.


8: Do you have any advice for someone just starting their photography journey?
I am too new to photography to give advice! For artists in general, we should seek constructive criticism, make ourselves vulnerable to advice and critique from those we admire. This is not seeking validation (hearing what we want to hear), but it is encouraging exploration and personal growth. Then, we must not be afraid to ignore rules, advice and criticism.

9: Plans for the future?
With my youngest child leaving for college in a few weeks, I hope to expand my creative horizons with new media and subject matter, and I also plan to return to painting more seriously. An “Art Camp” or retreat is not out of the question.

10: In one word, describe your photography.
Alive

Joits

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Joits!


photographing people who i don't know out in public is something that i don't think i'm very good at. its something i try to work on but i'm always a bit nervous about people's reactions when they see you taking their shot. for this one, i was presented with this scenario and i am glad i managed to capture this moment. it's a photo that i sometimes am amazed that it was me who took the shot. the response i've gotten from the community on Flickr was amazing and overwhelming, especially when it was featured on Flickr's blog




i am a huge fan of cosplay. i am constantly amazed by the level of skill and dedication that these fans have in order to re-create their favorite anime, video game, or pop culture character(s) at anime expos or comic cons. it's also a challenge to try and get good shots at what can be a chaotic environment with hundreds of people in the background, other photographers jostling beside you, in front of you, etc to get their own shot. despite having to deal with all those issues, it's worth it when you are able to get shots like this. i loved the make up and the intensity of her eyes with the red contacts.

1 Tell us a little about yourself
I was born in the Philippines, but was raised in Zambia, Africa. I attended boarding school in the UK while still living in Zambia, and then eventually emigrated to the United States. I currently work for LA County and use that to fund my obsession with trying to experience life through my lens.

2: How long have you been involved in photography?
I think I got serious about photography when I bought my first DSLR from a friend in the spring of 06. I never took any classes, but I considered Flickr, the interwebs, and the many Flickrmeets I"ve attended as my class.

3: Equipment you use?
I currently use a Nikon D300. Lenses include: Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II, Nikon 17-55mm f/2.8G, Nikon 35mm f/1.8G, Nikon 60mm f/2.8D, Nikon 50mm f/1.8D, Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8. I also use a Nikon SB-900 flash.

4 Who or what inspires you?
The friends that I've made as a result of the many Flickrmeets I've been to. I'm amazed that people I've met on a website have become my closest friends today. I am constantly amazed by their talents whenever they upload photos to Flickr. Not only are they great photographers, they are some of the best people I've ever gotten to meet. I've had fun going on photo adventures with them and I look forward to more of them in the future!

5: Preferred subject matter?
While I love taking long exposures, or doing travel photography, I think I really love attending events like Anime Expo, Comic Con, etc. Cosplay photography is something I find tremendously fun and challenging at the same time and it never gets old because the cosplayers keep on making amazing costumes!


6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.
I've always wanted to capture lightning! Living in SoCal makes that a bit difficult because we don't really get a lot of lightning storms here. But I'm hoping that one day I will be in another part of the world and have the opportunity to capture this powerful, but beautiful natural phenomenon... safely of course.

7 If you weren’t a photographer would you have another artistic pursuit? If so what?
Other than photography, the only other endeavour I pursued that I considered artistic was learning the guitar. I don't know if I would have pursued it more had I not discovered photography but that's the only thing I can think of!


8: Do you have any advice for someone just starting their photography journey?
Just go out and shoot! In the beginning when I started, I would shoot everything I saw. I would go on Flickr, look at photos and make it my "homework" to try and take photos similar to what I saw. Eventually you will learn what your style is or what you like to take. I think learning through books and reading websites can be helpful, but I think you learn more when you are actually out there and experiencing different photographic situations... and it's more fun too!


9: Plans for the future?
Nothing specific, just to keep having fun with photography. I really believe that my life changed for the better when I took this as a hobby. I hope to be able to meet more fellow photographers and to experience new things, visit new places and capture it all on my camera.


10: In one word, describe your photography.
Adventurous. I had trouble with this one... so I asked a friend to help me out and that's what she came up with. Thanks SoupyB!

Sma_Kee

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER:Sma_kee!


I would say this photo is quite representative of my work (actually, I wouldn't even call it work at all, but well.. ). I have been playing with self portraits lately and with diptychs or other kinds of collages, I think they make it easier to show a certain feeling or emotion. It's a game, an exercise of esthetics, but in the same time the feeling of freedom of choice. This particular one tells the story of the rain in Brussels, where I've lived in the past year and which I got to love and now, since I left, to miss


What a cliche it is to say I love traveling and I find Paris incredibly romantic! But the truth is I couldn't be more of a dreamer and I couldn't fall more in love with moments and atmospheres that you encounter and you live in certain cities. And well, some cities couldn't be more beautiful.

1 Tell us a little about yourself


I am still discovering myself, I am 23 and studying architecture, looking for means of expression, speaking a lot, trying to keep my life simple but complicating it with every chance I get.

2: How long have you been involved in photography? Photography and I have a strange relationship. I take photos when I try to shut up, I think. It's true that I've been doing it a lot more since I joined flickr, which was 1 year and a half ago.

3: Equipment you use?
 Unfortunately, by now I didn't have funds for getting any professional equipment. I normally use a digital camera, a Pentax X70 (the first "expensive" thing I ever bought myself with my own money, 2 or 3 years ago). Lately, I've been trying my hand (and my eye) at analog photography and I must say I'm liking film more and more!

4 Who or what inspires you?


For "who", I would say my sister. And when it comes to the "what".. I think solitude. Although I'm rarely alone and half the times when I am, I'm hating it.

5: Preferred subject matter?

 As I love traveling, I love taking pictures of what I see in my journeys. This way, I'm making my own memories, choosing what to remember, giving shapes and colors to my future thoughts about those moments. So I photograph streets, windows, light reflections, trees, people, moments, moments, moments..

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


I am completely no good when it comes to night pictures. I have a lot to learn and to practice about it, but at one point, I would really like to be able to photograph the midnight skies in August in the village of my grandparents. They are a dream, a fairytale.

7 If you weren’t a photographer would you have another artistic pursuit? If so what?


I tried dancing and loved it, but lately didn't have anymore time for it.. However, I hope my future career will have as many artistic implications as possible, this is part of why I chose it :)

8: Do you have any advice for someone just starting their photography journey?



Uhmm... I feel like I am just starting it as well.. I would suggest trying to picture your dreams, thinking of things that make you happy and then photograph them again and again until you find the image that resonates with the one you have in your mind about them.

9: Plans for the future?



I am trying not to make plans. I am trying to let life happen to me by itself and to spend my time welcoming it. Most probably, I will be an architect starting next year, I would like to be a good one, but apart from that, who knows? The best things happen unplanned. And this is my super-rational-organized-controlfreak-mind that is speaking!

10: In one word, describe your photography.


I would say "personal". Not private, but personal. As in.. mine, about myself, through my eyes :)

Jeanette Lowe (Fishflix)

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Jeanette Lowe (fishflix)!


#1 Beach Boys
I love this photograph because I like to think I captured some of the essence of the boys’ personalities in the brief moment it took to press the shutter. It wasn’t a staged shot. I was photographing the stairwell when Tadhg and Aaron ran up and adopted a pose. It was a fun moment and they were gone. Having this photograph accepted as one of 60 selected from 6000 worldwide to hang in the National Portrait Gallery in London as part of the Taylor Wessing Portrait Photography Prize was very special.


I like this photograph on many levels. I like that people are drawn to it because they are not sure what it is initially and also not sure if it’s a painting or a photograph. I also like the voyeuristic nature of it and that it’s not easy to say where it was taken. It was actually taken in London on a rainy day looking out a steamy window by the Thames.

1 Tell us a little about yourself

<?
I was born in and live in Dublin Ireland. My background is in Marketing, Communications and IT. Last September I gave up the day job to concentrate more on photography. I guess I made the decision to give it a go when a friend asked me what I would do if I won the Lottery and I said - travel more and spend more time on photography. She said you don’t have to win the lottery to do that…

2: How long have you been involved in photography?
I guess without even knowing it photography has always been a passion whether its looking at other peoples great shots or being happy with the result that comes from my own camera. Saying this, even though I have always owned a camera, I only feel that I am “involved” in photography for the last couple of years. Before that I took photographs, but never showed them to anyone. I actually have to thank Flickr, and this group in particular, for giving me an outlet and an audience for my photography and for great encouragement.

3: Equipment you use?

Canon
I’ve moved up from the 350D to the 40D to the 5D Mk II.
Lenses - Canon L 2.8 28-70 and 70 – 200 L 4.
I love cameras as design objects in their own right. I don’t get caught up on the technology as long as it can do what I want it to. I would love at some stage to own an old Leica rangefinder because I find them beautiful. So if anyone has one lying around......

4 Who or what inspires you?


I have taken courses in the National College of Art and Design in Dublin for the past two years (Photography and Painting) and I get huge inspiration from my fellow students. Apart from that I have to say Henri Cartier Bresson as I was buying postcards of his for years before I knew who he was and still feel the same about them when I see them now.

5: Preferred subject matter?


Unstaged “moment in time” shots

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


Too many to mention…. this journey is only starting for me.

7 If you weren’t a photographer would you have another artistic pursuit? If so what?


I studied design, which got me back into photography. I hope to continue to study a wide variety of art and design forms as I know it can only impact positively on my photographs. Never say never...

8: Do you have any advice for someone just starting their photography journey?



Yes – don’t be afraid to fail. I spoke to a research scientist recently and he said his business was all about failure and it was something the students had difficulty with initially but once they did it gave them a great skill for life.

9: Plans for the future?



I intend to travel more and spend more time on photography ☺

10: In one word, describe your photography.


I like to think I capture a little bit of Life

Radonich Aleksandra

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Radonich Aleksandra!!


I love to photograph places like this because they make me live the fairy tale which I had been listening when I was a child. I travel a lot and luckily still there are many wild / abandoned places like this in the Balkans.


This is another representative photograph of my social portraits set. I love to photograph old women in Serbia while they are working. I try to hide myself and to catch them while they are spontaneously doing their things. These kind of photographs are some kind of a documentary because soon in Serbia there will not be anymore super women like them.

Then the questions...
1 Tell us a little about yourself
I was born in Pancevo, Serbia, in May of 1984. I'm a self-taught photographer, philologist (I love etymology), mythology devotee and admirer of Milos Crnjanski (great poet). I also learn how to make violins (yes, fiddle)!

2: How long have you been involved in photography?
Since I started to use digital camera, when I was in high school. I enjoyed my solitude (one of the greatest gifts that an artist can experience) and I wandered a lot.

3: Equipment you use?
Olympus e-pl2 (interesting camera), Canon 400D, Fujifilm s5600 (at the beginning and still for some studio shots!), Canon ef 70-200mm (not so much)

4 Who or what inspires you?
Everything. I love life. If I have to pick something, then I say old women in Serbia who despite their hard life show us how we must fight to survive...

5: Preferred subject matter?
Vanishing life and will for life in whatever shape.

6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.
Spirit of old life in Italy!


7 If you weren’t a photographer would you have another artistic pursuit? If so what?
I would play many musical instruments (now I play but not professionally) or I would be a painter (oh how I wish to paint!) or I would be a pro film maker of writer. Or scientist (I'm thinking to renew my mathematics knowledge).


8: Do you have any advice for someone just starting their photography journey?
Be alone for a while, enjoy the solitude, listen to the nature and your true self in photography will show.

9: Plans for the future?
To make a good violin. I'm sure I will because lately I had been seriously neglecting photographing because of violin making lessons!

10: In one word, describe your photography.
Livingfairytale

Thank you! The World Through My Eyes is the best group on Flickr!

Keith Aggett

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Keith Aggett

I love this shot, for me it holds mystery as the sign shows a winding road which dissapears into a spooky looking wooland. You can almost here the voices!


This woodland has an eerie feel, the mist really pulls me in and puts me on the edge of my chair. It was a quick shot and hardly any processing time put into it....but its my all time fav!

1: Tell us a little about yourself
. Aged 42 and born and living in Newton Abbot Devon UK, have a full time job and a big family to look after so don't have much time for photography, but make the most of the time I have.

2: How long have you been involved in photography?
Had my first camera at the aged of 14 which was a Pracktica MTL5, and moved onto digital early 2000's, probably over the past 5 years is when I've really got into the whole digital and processing game.

3: Equipment you use?
Nikon D300, Sigma 17-70 & 10-20 lens, I also use a manfrotto 190xprob tripod. Filters I use B&W ND110 & ND106 also cokin grads.This is the kit I use 95% of the time.

4 Who or what inspires you?
.Michael Kenna is my true inspiration but also I love some of Michael Levins work to.

5: Preferred subject matter?
.Long exposure seascapes, love all that misty water running over framework.


6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.
I would love to capture some lightning, that is definitely at the top of my list.

7 If you weren’t a photographer would you have another artistic pursuit? If so what?
No

8: Do you have any advice for someone just starting their photography journey?
Take your camera everywhere you go because the best photos are taken when you least expect it.

9: Plans for the future?
No real plans for the future, but just want to keep improving on my photography and processing skills.

10: In one word, describe your photography.
Surreal

Usman Ali

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Usman Ali


When Jill gave me the option's to choose two of my favorite photo's this one won hands down. This is very special to me as it symbolizes the bond I have with my two boys. The hands in the shot are mine and my eldest son Saif. This photo opened new doors for me as a photographer. About 2 months ago I was enrolled as a Getty Images artist.
This was the shot that got me recognized and also gave me the belief I was heading in the right directio


I have found digital art a way of expressing my inner self and creativity. I think this piece of work shows exactly that.

1: Tell us a little about yourself
I am a amateur photographer. Who is currently practicing the trade along side a full time public service job. I live in England with my lovely wife and two boys.
When I'm not taking photo's I spend most of my time on flickr. You can call me a flickr addict if that suits you.

2: How long have you been involved in photography?
In 2004 I purchased my first point and shoot 4 mega pixels Olympus digital camera. I use to love taking shot's on family occasions and trips. I started using basic editing softwares to to do the usual cropping, adjusting contrast and brightness etc. Soon after my work life took over and I remained a casual photographer. It was late 2009 when my wife went through my digital photo's on my laptop. She was pretty impressed and told me that I had an eye for photography. As I looked back at the photo's apart of me started to believe also what my wife was saying. From that day onwards I became interested in improving my photography skills. Very recently I bought my first Digital SLR. There is so much to learn and I am loving every moment!

3: Equipment you use?
Cannon 1000d /18-55 mm lens
Sony T9 Cybershot
Iphone 4


4 Who or what inspires you?
Pretty obvious for a flickr addict like me. Most of my inspiration has been from members of flickr. I had a lot of jaw opening experiences seeing some of the talent guys had to offer.

5: Preferred subject matter?
I like portraiture very much. Mostly photography with drama and mood. I will be spending most of this year learning about studio photography.

6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.
I have always found long exposure landscape sea photography to be amazing. That would be one for me to pursue!

7 If you weren’t a photographer would you have another artistic pursuit? If so what?
When I was in high school I finished school with a A* in Drama. I would have liked to act or direct. Or maybe to do a Mars bar ad or something.


8: Do you have any advice for someone just starting their photography journey?
From my personal experience I found online photography websites to be very helpful. Like many others I have a full time job so a photography course was not a option for me. I am a visual learner so online tutorial videos worked the best for me. But If you do have the time I would recommend you take a beginners course at your local colleges. It will help you meet and engage with others. Trust me you can go a long way knowing the right people.
If your into post-processing and not willing to pay a fortune for editing softwares such as Photoshop ; I would recommend Picnik which is a online editing software which is linked to flickr it's self. Most of my work so far has been processed through Picnik.

9: Plans for the future?
I am keen on producing more stock photography for Getty Images. Hopefully I could make some income to buy a Canon 5d III. This would really help me jump start my portrait photography. Portrait photography business is my long term goal. Art photography would be my ongoing hobby as it really helps me express myself.

10: In one word, describe your photography.
Diverse

Pam Martin

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Pam Martin


Fini
This was the first time I had that "wow" feeling when I saw it on my computer. The light was perfect and the details so interesting. Of course adding texture really made it special.


Fleece as white as snow
This is so tactile I want to touch it. I especially like the bits of straw making it look so organic.

1 Tell us a little about yourself

My "real life" didn't start until I picked up a camera and discovered the magic of photography. Up to that time I had various careers in the medical field and interior design, but never felt I was being true to my artistic nature.
In March of 2010 I read an article in the New York Times about D. Sharon Pruit (Pink Sherbet Photography) uploading some photos taken with a $99 Kodak digital camera to Flickr.and receiving a contract with Getty Images. I immediately joined Flickr, uploaded some images and was determined to become a "Getty Artist". To my delight on January 6, 2011 Getty invited me to enroll with them and selected 6 of my images.

2: How long have you been involved in photography?

I've always loved to look at beautiful images, but didn't own a camera until 2003. One day I was channel surfing and landed on a documentary film called "The Roots of California Photography: The Monterey Legacy", and when I saw the work of Brett Weston I literally fell in love. I was given a used Canon G1 and just started pushing the buttons and reading the manual. It became clear I needed some hands-on training so I took a class at the local community college and learned how to develop film and make prints which gave me a good foundation.

3: Equipment you use?

Canon 60D camera
My walk-around lens is a Canon compact macro 50mm 2.5
Canon 50mm 1.4
Canon zoom 55-250mm 4-5.6 IS
Canon zoom 17-85mm 4-5.6 IS USM
Lensbaby 2.0

4 Who or what inspires you?

My father, who was what was call in the 1950's a commercial artist, but who's true passion was abstract expressionism. Our home was filled with his paintings, and I know I learned about composition and color just from being exposed to it daily.

Paul Grand and Jill Ferry who constantly inspire me with their stunning images. Their Flypaper Textures have helped transform my rather ordinary images into something quite unique.

Brett and Edward Weston
Georgia O'Keefe
Film Noir

5: Preferred subject matter?

Up close and personal portraits of people, animals, flowers.

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

Sand dunes in the early morning light.

7 If you weren't a photographer would you have another artistic pursuit? If so what?

Photography is my true passion and I can't think of anything else I'd rather do.

8: Do you have any advice for someone just starting their photography journey?

Know how to use your equipment. Understand composition and exposure. Even when you're uninspired, shoot something; magic happens all the time. Above all have fun!


9: Plans for the future?

My son and his wife are expecting twins in October so I think it will be great fun to photograph the two of them together. I also want to use my Lensbaby more. I love shallow depth of field for close-up shots and Lensbaby can give some very interesting blur for wider angle shots.

10: In one word, describe your photography

Soulful

Vin60

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Vin60


This tree has been for a while a preferred subject of mine: how it changed with seasons, weather, light and how I could change it by my photography!


The fascination of urban atmospheres, light, darkness, motion. A blend I like to experiment with and surely not yet exhausted.


1: How long have you been involved in photography?

I remember myself with my own camera in hand as a kid.
My first Reflex was a Yashica FX-3 that I equipped with all sort of gears
and used to experiment any kind of technique: from macrophotography to astronomy.
Later was the time of Minolta and Nikon (whose lents are still part of my today's gear suite)
and a long period of "NatGeo" style shots inspired by the many travels I did.

Despite being a technology fan, I was not an early taker of digital photography.
Eventually the power of millions of pixels combined with digital editing convinced me
to drop slides, filters and complex lab processing in favor of DSLR and Photoshop that opened the doors
to more creative forms of photographic art.


2: Equipment you use?

A Nikon D70 camera equipped with

Nikkor 35mm f1.8
Sigma 10-20 f4
Nikkor 28-105 f3.5 "macro"
Nikkor 70-300 f4

filters of various nature (less and less used), Manfrotto tripods;
without forgetting my faithful every-day companion Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 28-300â


3: Mac or PC?

Mac


4: What inspires you?

Mostly Nature, in her diversified, sometimes extreme, manifestations.
Then light, how things transform has light changes, how they emerge from or melt into the darkness.
Finally technology: which is for me a real source of inspiration as the main, multiform tool to
represent reality and transform it into "art".


5: Preferred subject matter?


Nature, in her extreme manifestations
People, in their urban environment
Human artifacts, seen from a different perspective


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

Aurora borealis: always astonished when I see images of those great magic lights of the north.


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

When in doubt, publish! Then I wait for the comments of my friends on Flickr.
Their photostreams, the pools of various groups are often a source of comparison to gauge my own judgement which, at the end,
is the main driver of my art.


8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop

Never taken a course in photography.
I read a lot and now I often look at tutorials published on the web. Still, as ever, experimentation, try and fail, is my primarily guide to learning.


9: Plans for the future?

I'm now in a sort of "reflexion" period. On one side there is a number of techniques and workflows I master that could be improved. I do not like to lock myself in a given "style" though. So I'm seeking for new sources of inspirations, in terms of subjects as well as processes. Surely looking forward to some new travels and to revisit the old ones, taking the time to scan and reprocess the tons of slides that sit since years in a closet.
On the gear side maybe a D7000, a high luminosity tele, surely new software which I expect to boost me in a new era of exploration and experimentation.


10: In one word, describe your photography.

Eclectic

Kala_m

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Kala_M


This shot is called Magnolia Magnificence
The tones and perspective of this image are very different to most magnolia shots I’ve seen. I like to be surprised by my photographs, and this one did that for me


This shot is called Punch Drunk Tulip Love. I’d been shooting only about six months when I captured this image. To this day, I still love the colors, selective focus, and shallow depth of field.

1 Tell us a little about yourself
I’m a fairly private person. I enjoy gardening, reading, hiking in the woods, and spending time with family.

2: How long have you been involved in photography?
About 2 1/2 years ago I started taking a serious interest in photography and bought my first dSLR shortly thereafter. I’d go out with my camera for several hours shooting, come home and upload shots, and then just shake my head! So I took a few classes at a local college to help acquaint myself with the fundamentals.

3: Equipment you use?
I currently shoot with a Canon 450d and use two lenses. One is a 100mm f/2.8 Macro and the other a 50mm 1/.4. I like my primes.

4 Who or what inspires you?
Who inspires me? There are many wonderful photographers here on Flickr as well as on photography sites throughout the Internet. When I have free time, I may spend hours viewing images where I get ideas for subject matter. What inspires me? Nature, first and foremost. Although I do enjoy using the macro lens around my home to explore the extraordinary detail of everyday things, it’s to parks, gardens, and nature preserves that I always return.

5: Preferred subject matter?
I started shooting landscapes last autumn, so right now I’m looking to capture the spring season in all its glory with blooming trees, flowers, and shrubs.

6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture
Some of the night shots I’ve seen with festive, colorful bokeh lights I find very appealing.

7 If you weren’t a photographer would you have another artistic pursuit? If so what?
I’m passionate about music, but unfortunately am almost tone deaf, so singing in the shower is really my only option!

8: Do you have any advice for someone just starting their photography journey?
Learn the basics first: exposure, composition, and depth of field. Take classes, read your camera manual. Don’t be afraid of developing your own style and remember not everyone is going to like it.

9: Plans for the future?
Well besides finding new and different ways of looking at the world through my lenses, I started a photography blog a year and a half ago as a fun little way of sharing my photography. To date, A Matter Of How You See It has received close to 90,000 views and over 11,000 comments. As a result, I’ve had a number of inquiries about purchasing my work, so I’m looking to set up a venue for that.

10: In one word, describe your photography.
Ethereal

Toon_ee

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: toon_ee
I want to say thank you to Jill again for choosing me. Choosing 2 favourite pictures is a very difficult task. I had probably more than 5 or 6 candidates. Some pictures I really like because they are very nice but only I know there is some element of 'luck' in it. I choose these two because it of the back-story. Looking at them make me smile thinking about that day.

The first one was taken in Cairo. I went there for one of my closest friend wedding. We had quite a rough few days as we first went to very touristic places. The people around those area are not so nice, trying to trick you and all. One guy tried to lift me on his camel for example. Then we went to the Khan el-Khalili bazaar and met the real egyptian people, my experience in egypt took a big turnaround. The people there are very nice and I really enjoy the day. I saw this lady with a big bag of bread on her head and we exchanged smile. I took my courage to ask her for a picture and her happy expression was just simply amazing. Technically, this picture is not so good as my hand was a little shaky and it seems a bit out of focus. I wish I could print the picture out and send to her but I had no idea about this at the time. This picture make me want to improve myself to avoid making mistake in such a wonderful moment again.


This one was taken in Nanjing, China. I went there for work + holiday. That day I explored the city of Nanjing with my friend Michael. We walked the whole day through big streets, small streets, rich area, poor area with very little rest. It was about 7 hours non-stop city hiking. We decided to buy some street food to get the feeling of being in china not something like McDonald (ahh I miss the taste of stinky tofu). We bought these spicy meat stick from the lady that made us knew each other a little bit. Then I walked away and thought I should take a picture of her. I raised my camera with the meat stick still in my hand. She noticed and gave a little smile. So many stories to tell from the trip and a lot of fun. Everytime we look at this picture (or the Nanjing set), we just can't help smilling and talked about memories.

1: How long have you been involved in photography?

Almost 2 years. I started around June 2009. Before that I only have a Canon compact camera and didn't use it so much. It was actually luck that brought me to photography. My family won a sony A300 in some kind of annual party. I tooked the camera and went really deep into photography. I did a football video editing as a hobby before. My friend just told me yesterday that he would never expect a person who did a very hyperactive football video like me to do still photography!

2: Equipment you use?

:-) prepare for a very long list! My main camera is Sony A850. I'm using it with several prime lenses and mostly from minolta. I use only prime lens now as I prefer their weight and quality (and when I use Zoom I tend to use wide-end and tele-end anyway). If I have to choose to live with only one lens it would be Minolta 135mm f2.8. I even left it at home sometime to give other lenses some chances to be on my camera :P.
Lately, I start to do medium format. I have Pentacon six & Rolleiflex TLR (2.8f & Tele). It was a fun new experience with a lot of new things to learn and I'm enjoying it. Last week, I got myself a GF1+20mmf1.7 and also enjoy snapping around with it. It's obvious that I have too many equipments but they are all nice. I try to give all of them time.
I know that equipment is not everything in photography and the person behind the camera is probably the most important. But I'm more like a 'middle way' person. I want to develop myself as a good photographer as well as knowing and experiencing many equipments.

3: Mac or PC?

PC. I've never seriously tried using MAC so the answer doesn't mean much for 'PC vs MAC'. I process pictures in photoshop and do the resizing in ACDSee. It's a strange workflow but it works and I already got used to it. I'm not a very well-organized person so PC probably suits me. I'm a kind of person who can have "New Folder (6)" in a "New Folder" in a "New Folder (2)" and have duplicate of files all over the place.

4: What inspires you?

Hmm. There are many things. People&things around me, I see them and I want to take pictures. People on flickr and nice pictures on flickr. I like to go through pictures on flickr for inspiration to get the feeling of the pictures, to get the feeling to go outside and shoot.
This may sound a bit strange but pictures taken by myself also give me inspiration. I look at the pictures I like and want to go out there and do it again. I look at bad pictures and I want to go out and improve myself.
There is one feeling I really like when I go out and take pictures. It's hard to describe but I think you could understand. It's like the day 'click'. walking around the same area/standing at the same spot for a few hours and enjoying the time taking pictures....something like that.

5: Preferred subject matter?

I did a lot of candid/street photography. I like to capture the moment, the emotion of people, the story. I try to give respect to my subject. I try not to do something that might interrupt the person or make him/her unhappy. If the person does not look nice in the picture (for example; putting food in the mouth, sleeping), I tend to delete the picture immediately and certainly not upload it to the internet. Lately, I also doing a lot of abstract/minimalism and also toys. I like to capture something that is different.


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

Hmmm....a perfect 'stranger portrait' perhaps. One that really shows character of the person. I'm still not good at this and I really enjoy looking at this type of pictures and hope I can do it one day. I tried to do '100 stranger' project when I went for a trip to china and failed miserably. I got only one picture and not fully satisfied.

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

Friends. I have several friends who are doing photography. I visit may colleague www.flickr.com/photos/30928442@N08/ office almost everyday chatting about photography and gears (hope our boss do not read this). He is a guy who somehow brought me to flickr. I chat with www.flickr.com/photos/potichao/ , www.flickr.com/photos/36592120@N05/ regularly. the list can go on and on.
Also people on flickr. Sometime I can't decide to upload my picture in color or BW as I like both. I just put both of then online and see the comments on flickr. It's very interesting to see the opinions and how people interpret my picture. Some of them look into my picture even deeper than me!

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop

Not yet. I picked things up on my own from reading books,magazine,internet also from trial&error. It took me may be 2 months until I actually stop using 'ISO Auto' and I think I use 'P' mode for about half a year :P. It took me quite a while to learn about all the basic things&parameters but it come naturally now. Picking up a 50mm was the turning point for me, I always tell people who just start with photographing to pick it up fast.

9: Plans for the future?

The weather is getting better so I plan to go out on the street more for candid pictures or probably making a short trip and learn more about cityscape/landscape. I want to try doing different kind of photos to be more versatile. I will also learn more about self-developing BW film. I said 'not yet' in the last question because I might join a training for using flash&studio lighting but not in the near future.

10: In one word, describe your photography.
fun

Chickentender ™

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: chickentender ™

"I need to choose two of my favourite photos, and as Jill mentioned, this is indeed the hardest part. What criteria do I use, what time period, what feeling do I want to leave behind with this crazy post? I thought initially that I'd pick one fav from before my recent travels and one from within them, but that hasn't really helped so much and possibly made it more difficult. It has actually been an amazing and enlightening excersize. So many people who have enjoyed my photos are particularly fond of the slightly surreal floral captures I've made, and I am as well but only a certain quality that they have and in looking at them now I've realized that MY personal favourites are those that possess the same feeling of those floral shots, but with another subject. I like the shots that find the intimate, super-natural floral quality of a street, a bird or a person in a moment. Shots that blend many elements into one subtle image. That's what I've chosen here, I think. Yikes."





1: How long have you been involved in photography?
I remember the first little compact 35mm cam my dad bought me when I was about 11 and I took it to camping trips and all over the place - the prints from that cam still have a strange nostalgia to me when I look at them. When I reached highschool I took several photog classes and learned about the dark room and rolling and all the b&w magic involved, shooting for 5 or 6 years after using the wonderful old Nikon and mint selection of glass that my dad passed on to me. That camera bag and all of its contents were stolen from my car in 2000 and I never quite recovered for years - there was no way for me to replace it all on a student's income, so I remained pretty quiet for a good while.
I bought a great Fuji digicam around 2004 or 2005 and started in on digital. After a couple years of deliberation, a Pentax K100d replaced it along with my trusty old manual fiddy. I didn't really look back. Being away as long as I had was a good thing and as time went on I learned what my eye was about in terms of the world and owe quite a bit of credit to this site and several amazing friends I have made here who took notice of what I was doing and helped me take it to another dimension.

2: Equipment you use?
I have never enjoyed a lot of equipment, nor talking about it as many are apt to. I don't like carrying a camera bag with choices and tools weighing me down and have settled into a mindset of creating the most with the least. These days I shoot with a Pentax K-7, usually with my old-as-I-am 50mm and a couple other lenses I enjoy. I've also fallen in love with my (recently repaired!) Ricoh GRDIII which is nearly always with me for street shots and everyday life moments, as well as a tried-and-true old K1000 I picked up for a song new about a year and a half ago. Most with the least.

3: Mac or PC?
PC with Adobe Lightroom mostly... I'm really not interested in any platform war discussion. I use PC because that's what I have and know quite well being a network and server admin to keep myself fed. They both have merits, but in the end I really don't care as long as a photo gets processed.

4: What inspires you?
How does one answer this? So much inspires me: people, shadows, a missed detail, a song, an attitude or emotion. I guess I'm inspired by the missed details that obscured by the larger picture. When the sun is rising or setting, turn the cam away from the spectacle to find out what the spectacle lights up and reveals. Simple complexity. Honest.

5: Preferred subject matter?
I'm not sure that I have one, and it has certainly been evolving (not always comfortably) in the past year, but I do tend toward anything that shows a contrast. I like a certain hyper-reality and a subtle story, from a toothbrush lying near a storm drain, to the reflection of home in the eyes of a traveler met miles from any home. I tend to shoot anything from beloved birds to a friend on the street but with a certain whimsy and focus that is away somehow removed from just a good photo. I've recently been taking more portraits, but in a way that has happened naturally and without placing the camera in a position that creates a divide. That sounds odd, but it's something I'm still working out in my head.

6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.
I'll just imagine a shot I'd like nail: a hummingbird face to face with a child feeding them for the first time.

7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in?
Hmmm... anyone who talks to me long and deep enough to actually hear my doubts and empathizes before saying how crazy they are.

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop
Nothing outside of that 35mm course so many years ago. All else is self taught or knowledge absorbed from conversation with some brilliant people here on Flickr or in the greater world.

9: Plans for the future?
I am soon to be returning, at least for the better part of this year, to my home in Seattle after a year and a half away of living and traveling the world. Needless to say it has changed me and put ideas into place that I want to give motion to. I'd like to revamp my "business" website and take Eyewanders Photography to a new level for certain and I have a project currently in conception that involves travels itself and the idea of "home".

10: In one word, describe your photography.
Steadfast

AnnuskA - AnnA Theodora

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: AnnuskA - AnnA Theodora

This is one of my self-portraits I like the best. It was pretty fun to do it and it turned out like everything I had in mind and more! I love the drama and the atmosphere in it.


I have always been fascinated by these grass flowers/seeds lit by the sun. I can never get enough of portraits with them. Though this was just the second time I took a self-portrait surrounded by them.


1: How long have you been involved in photography?
In 2006 when I came back from a 3-month trip to London, I started to upload the photos on flickr. My friends said they were really good and started asking for more photos. What was just for fun started to get a more serious tone. Now I aim to be a professional photographer.

2: Equipment you use?
I am now using a Canon Rebel T1i and a 50mm 1.4 lens. I also have a Speedlight 430EXll. Not much yet.


3: Mac or PC?
I use PC, but I'd kill a lunatic dictator for an iMac. Hah! Just joking. (Kind of, call me if you have a proposal!) ;P

4: What inspires you?
Heh, people who always read my interviews are going to read this and go: "yeah yeah yeah, dreams... beauty... music... blablabla... next!". But this is pretty much the same answer I give to this question: I am inspired by dream-like imagery and music mostly :)

5: Preferred subject matter?
I have a passion for people portraits, the flexibility and creativity involved in the process is enticing. But I love love love nature photography as well.

6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.
Oh GOD!! There are still so many things! ;D But I crave for underwater photography!

7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in?
Oh, nobody really. I suffer in silence! And I have been suffering a lot lately! Hahahaha no, actually I confide in my boyfriend (but he doesn't understand my angst :P) or a fellow photographer friend. She gets the same feeling of not being good enough sometimes.

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop
Hmmm I am majored in Business Administration, does that count? ;-) I am still all-self-taught when it comes to photography.

9: Plans for the future?
I would like to take a course in studio lighting. I need to buy new lenses... I am in talks for a feature on TV about a specific type of photography...

10: In one word, describe your photography.
Needsimprovementandfast hahahah ;-)

@ires

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: @ires

a symbol:

Capturing the many nuances of natural hearts has brought me much joy. This is one of my favourite shots of these wee hearts.

little garden galaxy ii

These tiny drops sum up William Blake's beautiful poem for me... "To see a World in a Grain of Sand, And a Heaven in a Wild Flower, Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand, And Eternity in an hour.

1: How long have you been involved in photography?
My father gave me a Brownie with one role of film when I was 8 or 9, and I was hooked. All the same, I didn’t do any photography until my late teens, and then only intermittently. It was only when I used the macro option of a digital point and shoot some four years ago that I was really smitten by the bug. My life hasn’t been the same since!

2: Equipment you use?
I use a Canon EOS 40D and 50D (more the latter though), with a 100mm macro lens, mostly. I also have a 50mm and the 70 – 200 kit lens.

3: Mac or PC?
It is only recently that I have begun to use a Mac. Still a newbie of sorts though.

4: What inspires you?
Pretty much everything, I’d say – family and friends, beaches, landscapes, flowers and leaves … the beauty that surrounds us. I mostly go for flowers and leaves though.

5: Preferred subject matter?
I would say everything, but flowers, leaves and tiny drops of water win out in the end.

6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.
I’d love to photograph the Milky Way or a comet crossing our night sky. I’ve seen some unforgettable shots of the Milky Way here on flickr. And well the comet, because I saw an absolutely amazing comet when I was about ten and wish I had been able to photograph it. I was fascinated and blown away by how large it was. I can still see it in my mind’s eye, but a photograph would be wonderful to have to share with others.

7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in?
If it’s in doubt about posting something, I usually trust my friends on flickr to point the way. For technical questions I have turned to one or two of my flickr friends as well, although I find the flickr community in general very generous and helpful.

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop
I use Photoshop to tweak and balance my photos, but I really don’t know how to use it properly. I’d love to take a class or two to be able to get more out of it. I’d also love to take some portrait and lighting courses as well.


9: Plans for the future?
As I said, I’d love to take some photography courses. I’d also love to travel around the country or to parts of the world I’ve never been to (which means quite a few places!!! ;)) and capture the beauty and wonder there.

10: In one word, describe your photography.
Joy (of capturing a bit of beauty, a bit of love, a bit of life…)

Ben

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Ben


Meeting the pregnant princess of the forest - The Netherlands

Meeting the young prince of the forest "Bambi" in the forgotten park of Caste Gunterstein. Well in this case it looks more like a pregnant princess! Such a quiet and forgotten park since we didn't met anybody during our 2 hour walk. That's very rare in Holland ;-)
It's my most faved photo over 3000 faves and 130.000 views.I love to wander around at Flickr. There are so many talented people here. I wish I could be one of them. I'm trying to created my own style and hope people can recognize my photos without seeing my name.


There's a story for every homeless - Laos

I tried to focus more on outdoor portraits photos. I’m learning that portrait photography can be tough in more than one way. Capturing a portrait of somebody is one of the hardest things to get right. The trick is to remember that it is as much about recording the subject's personality as it is about simply photographing their face. But on the street you don't have the time like in a studio. Just a few seconds the catch a glimpse of somebody. Not all portraits need to have a smile, capture the serious emotions too. Some of my favorite portraits have no hint of a smile in them, and they’re highly emotional. The shadow is an important part of the image. A dominantly dark or low-key image will naturally draw your eyes to the lighter parts. These tend to have a grittier and harder look to them than the high-key images. I hope you like my portrait photo's.

1: How long have you been involved in photography?
I started making photo's at the age of 8. I took my mother's old belly-camera from around 1950 to take some photo's at my first school trip to the Zoo. The shutter speed was determine by the speed of your finger! Later on, it was done in the dark room. Nowadays life is more easier with Photoshop!

2: Equipment you use?
I can shoot with any camera. A camera is just a tool like paint brushes for a painter.
Do you ever ask a painter which brushes he uses for his painting? I think only the results
counts ;-)

3: Mac or PC?
No MAC for me. iHate Mac. Apple often thinks they know better than consumers. I'm for sure for some consumers they do - but not for me ;-)

4: What inspires you?
The beauty of our planet Earth. I like to show it in my work. Surprise people and trying to surprise myself. A good photo starts with a good shot. Making photo's is one thing, editing is the other. Control both and perfect picture will become in range. Recently I notice that perfection is boring. I think photography is about the beauty of imperfection. Maybe one should strive to perfection of imperfection.

5: Preferred subject matter?
I try to shoot all kind of things; nature, flora, fauna. people, action, buildings, abstract, macro and even surreal. Every subject needs its own specialism. This is a challenge and fun at the same time :)
That's why I'm feeling more like a 'decathlon' photographer than being superb in one subject. But most credit will go to my nature images and portraits. I've traveled all around the world and seen beautiful scenery's but remember that a good photo can be taken anywhere even in your own neighborhood.

6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.
I'm just happy with the things I've captured so far. There is ofcourse PS where dreams can make true. . .

7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in?
Sometimes I ask my daughter Samantha should I post photo A or B. She's got an eye for it.

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop
A 100% amateur.

9: Plans for the future?
Planning my second Blurb book - My best photo of Laos. It's a lovely country where experienced travelers will appreciate breathtaking scenery and ofcourse the friendly people.

10: In one word, describe your photography.
Magic

LInda Scannell

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Linda Scannell


This one's of my daughter - she has the most fantastically long eyelashes so while she was playing I took this one to emphasise them.


Our cat often keeps me company during late night photo editing sessions. I've often noticed her reflection when she's sitting at our glass dining table keeping an eye on me, but she's normally run off by the time I get my camera. This time I had the camera in my hand and here's the result. I have to give my husband Richard credit for the title - he's much better with words than me.

1: How long have you been involved in photography?
My dad lent me his camera when I was 10 years old and I've been hooked on photography ever since. In those days film was the only option and my creativity was limited by lack of access to a dark room. But when I got my first digital camera in 2000 (a chunky 1 Megapixel point and shoot) I could see the potential so switched to a digital SLR as soon as I could afford it.

2: Equipment you use?
I'm a Canon girl. I had a Canon film SLR so stuck with them when I switched to digital. I'm lucky enough to have a 5D Mark II and a 1D Mark IV (great for natural light photography on dark winter days), and a good selection of lenses. My favourite is my 50mm f/1.4 (I love the dreamy quality it gives when shooting at f/2.0 and below - the eyelash picture above was shot with that lens wide open.)

I probably ought to mention my iPhone too. I used to carry a point and shoot camera with me virtually everywhere, but since I've had my iPhone I've not felt the need to. I love creating "low fi" images with it, particularly via Hipstamatic, but probably my favourite camera app is TiltShiftGen - all that lovely blur.

3: Mac or PC?
Both. I spent many years supporting PCs so I know my way round Windows, but I've fallen in love with my Macbook so eventually I think I'll switch over entirely to Macs.

4: What inspires you?
All sorts of things. My family, my cat, my friends, the local landscape, the wonderful range of images you find on Flickr - the list could go on for pages.

5: Preferred subject matter?
I love shooting people and animal portraits, though you probably wouldn't guess that from my photostream as I keep most of my family and client images private.


6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.
The Northern Lights. I've never seen them but taking a trip to the Arctic Circle to experience them is definitely on my To Do list.

7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in?
My husband, and one of my closest friends, who's also on Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/annrob/

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop
I studied photography with the Open College of Arts and got my licentiateship of the Royal Photographic Society as a result. I also have a licentiateship of the Society of Wedding & Portrait Photographers. I've been on various wedding and portrait courses, which have included bits of Photoshop and Lightroom training but I've learnt most of my editing techniques from the Internet and by experimenting.

9: Plans for the future?
Carrying on with my "photo a day" project, building up my photography business, and continuing to experiment. I had my first photography exhibition last year, and I'm planning another one this year. I've got several ideas for projects - I just need to make the time to do them.


10: In one word, describe your photography.
Expressive

Green Lover

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Green Lover

About this photo… It was cloudy, cold and rainy day and I even wouldn’t like to go outside, but I had to go to the shop. I went out and after some minutes I was walking by small bushes, where was a lot of spider’s web with many little drops of water. I always have a camera in my bag, so I just took it and started to take photos. For some time I forgot about my shopping and cold day, ‘cos these drops looked fantastic and even my mood was started to be better. I thought, that it’s good to have a camera, even in so gray day like that, ‘cos nature sometimes can to show us beautiful surprise.


I took this photo in the beginning of Autumn, just on the lawn at the front of the building, where I live. I was walking to home and I’ve seen this little red leaf between green. I thought, that Autumn is coming also to micro world, not only to trees and bushes and that it will be good to show it also to other people :)

1: How long have you been involved in photography?

It’s hard to say, ‘cos I think that it was all my life. My father loved to take photos too. He was an amateur, but he could take good shots and I always like to help him. Of course, he also gave me my first camera.

2: Equipment you use?

I’m amateur and I have nothing special. Maybe in the future I’ll buy any better camera, but in this moment I have only Canon PowerShot SX100 IS

3: Mac or PC?

PC

4: What inspires you?

Nature and everything that surround me (also all these photos which I can see on Flickr). On my photos I try to show the world, how I see it with my eyes.

5: Preferred subject matter?

Mostly nature – landscapes, animals, trees, flowers and everything in this theme. But I also like to take shots of beautiful architecture or any thing or place which catch my eye.

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

Bird in flight. I think, that it’s very difficult to take a good photo of flying bird.

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

My father, sometimes husband and friends, especially Flickr friends. I’m amateur, so from time to time I like to ask someone about something in my photos (for ex. what capture is better or about any technical things).

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop

I’ve never had any formal training, everything what I know I’ve learned by myself. I also don’t use Photoshop. I have some simple photo editing programs, but I don’t like to do many changes in photos. I like when they look naturally.

9: Plans for the future?

Taking shots is only my hobby, so I don’t have any plans with it. My plans rather concern now to my daughter (in 25 February will be her 2-nd birthday). But photography give me a lot of fun, so I’ll be surely go on with it.

10: In one word, describe your photography.

Well, it’s not easy… I don’t work with photography, I simply like to take shots, so maybe word “joy” will be good. I also thought about word “naturalness”, ‘cos I on my photos try to show the world how I see it.

Fiznatty

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Fiznatty

A lot of my favorite photo encounters seem to feature wild cats. They are obviously photogenic subjects and, in the case of most species in the western hemisphere, are extremely elusive. So this was something of dream encounter. On one of my autumn trips I set aside two days to sit in a tree up in Utah's Wasatch Mountains, hoping for some sort of wildlife to show up at the natural spring below. On the first evening this mountain lion appeared just after sundown and spent a couple minutes slaking its thirst.


Those familiar with my stream know I spend a lot of time in Yellowstone National Park. This remains my favorite Yellowstone moment. While a crowd of 200 wolf watchers were focusing on a black wolf way out in the valley, I had a quiet moment with the pack's alpha male, standing on the hillside directly above me. He howled and then headed down toward the road. The mob soon turned and spotted him, but I got my private moment.

1: How long have you been involved in photography?
About 13 years now. I've been artistic since childhood, but it wasn't until I reached the tail end of college that I had a chance to play in the darkroom and grow to love photography.

2: Equipment you use?
Canon prosumer bodies (7D and older), with lenses ranging from 10mm to 500mm.

3: Mac or PC?
Mac. I used both for several years, but eventually needed to streamline my software. Mac won out. I don't miss the blue screens.

4: What inspires you?
"Good art," which can really include anything from the Oscars to the work I've seen on Flickr. Also, wilderness survival shows. There's almost a childlike sense of adventure that they bring out in me... makes me want to grab my gear and head off into the jungle for a couple weeks. The opportunity to give people a glimpse of the wild world out there means a lot to me as well, and probably explains why I enjoy sharing so many photos--not just the "portfolio quality" stuff--on Flickr and my site.

5: Preferred subject matter?
Wildlife. There's something alluring about coming face to face with a wild animal out in the middle of nowhere. It's usually a quiet, private moment; a moment that can be shared and conveyed to others... if I don't blow the shot. ;)

6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.
Probably any rare wild cat would do, but a jaguar is at the top of the list (who's up for a trip to Brazil?). Lightning is up there too.

7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in?
My questions and self-doubt relate more to the technical side of photography than the artistic side. I have a good sense of what I want to capture and present, but often times the how is the problem. In those instances I usually lean on my peers for their insights and experience with equipment and technique.

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop
Self-taught. I actually consider post-processing to be one of my greatest weaknesses, so I'm always trying new techniques that I pick up here and there. At least there's one aspect of my photography that is evolving!

9: Plans for the future?
My career is at a bit of a crossroads at the moment. I've been debating whether to expand the business side of my photography. This includes potentially leading tours and workshops, an idea I find rather intimidating. I'm also working on a series of children's picture books (featuring wildlife of course) for iPad and iPhone, the first of which was just released.

10: In one word, describe your photography.
Adventure

Judo Dad_1953

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Judo Dad 1953

This photo called "The Wild" was taken while I was on one of my early morning walks; which was in a neighbors garden. The original color was a pale yellow; so I decided for the black and white version. I inverted the tones to make the image more abstract. It was published in a book called "Digital Photography Masterclass" by Tom Ang.


I took this photo with my little HP 618. Its an image of a salt shaker with my sons girlfriend doing her homework. It made Explore #1.

1: How long have you been involved in photography?
I would say around 25 years. It all stared with tons of photos of our children. I only got more involved over the last 4 years.

2: Equipment you use?
I use a little point and shoot HP 618. My DSLR is a Pentax K110D with a 18-55mm and a 70-300mm lens.

3: Mac or PC?
PC.

4: What inspires you?
I have a wonderful family; so it has to be my wife and children.

5: Preferred subject matter?
I enjoy taking photos of everything. My preferred subject would be Nature, animals, and the Autumn season.

6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.
There is this silly red monkey at the Montreal Biodome; which is either moving too fast or hiding behind a tree. Then theres my beautiful wife that i'm trying to capture while shes in the shower. Its impossible now because she always locks the door!

7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in?
Flickr is a learning tool; so I learn alot from other Flickr members and contacts. Thanks for your great comments and support.

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop
I learned Photography on my own with some help from other Flickr members.

9: Plans for the future?
I wish to retire pretty soon.

10: In one word, describe your photography.
Fun!

Pink Sherbet Photography

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Pink Sherbet Photography

This photo was taken spur of the moment just as the sun was setting. I'd been wanting to do it for a while but I had to wait until my models (my teenage daughters) decided it was cool. We spent about ten minutes for the entire photoshoot. They were happy with the results. I was even more happy that we had a good time together.


The ice cream cone was made for my grandson, but he decided it was too messy and he didn't want it. Well, I couldn't let a perfectly sweet ice cream cone go to waste, so I got the camera and started shooting. I love the melty bits, they're my favorite part of the photo!

1: How long have you been involved in photography?
I took my first digital photos in May of 2006 when on vacation in Hawaii. Before 2006 I never really had any interest in taking photos. I lacked the patience for film, and usualy just collected dusty film canisters, rarely developing any rolls. Digital photography was instant photography gratification for me and I fell in love .

2: Equipment you use?
Currently shooting with a Canon 5D Mark ll. No external flash, so natural light is what I use most often. I love my camera, but it really doesn't matter what equipment a photographer uses. My first digital camera was a $99 point and shoot Kodak Easyshare. Some of my oldest and most-loved images on Flickr were taken with that little camera.

3: Mac or PC?
PC, though my husband wants to try Mac sometime in the future.

4: What inspires you?
I'm inspired by everyday life, simple things around me, my family and my wonderful friends here on Flickr.

5: Preferred subject matter?
My main subjects are mostly my family. I also love to create images with fun subjects such as candy, flowers, balloons and food. I frequently aim for happiness in my images. If it makes me smile, I usually shoot it.

6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.
I'd really love to shoot a live birth. I have six children and never had any photos taken during the labor and birth, It's something I find completely fascinating and beautiful. If the chance ever arises, I'd love to do that.

7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in?
My family. They often come up with photoshoot ideas. I have to work with them because they are my main models, if they don't like my idea for a photoshoot, I'm out of luck. Happy models make better images! If I can't decide which photo I like best I usually ask my husband and children which ones they like best, the ones with the most votes get uploaded.


8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop
No Photoshop. I do use the photo editing program that came with my Canon. I've learned everything from trial and error. I'm an independent freelance stock photographer, and I've had images licensed through The Flickr Collection on Getty Images for almost two years now.


9: Plans for the future?
I plan to keep shooting what makes me happy. I fall more in love with photography every day.


10: In one word, describe your photography.
The most common thing I hear from people is how much they enjoy the colors of my photos, so the one word that I think fits best would be "colorful". I'd also use the words "unscripted" and "happy" to describe my photography.