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.

Izakigur!

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Izakigur


A picture of a summer sunset , in Ticino at the Swiss - Italian border.
I was inspired by the writer, pioneer and pilot Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, the author of "The little prince" and "Wind, sand and stars " .
He wrote: "...what gives a meaning to life gives a meaning to death."


A picture of Monte Rosa taken from the Gornergrat / Switzerland. Zermatt. In summer 2010.
I took a picture of a few of the elements which I most love: The alps, the clouds, and a glacier.
Man feels so little in front of such an infinite panorama. It's a transcendental experience.


1: How long have you been involved in photography?
Since the age of 10...!ü(almost 40 years but seriously in the last 28 years...ü!)

2: Equipment you use?
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17.0-55.0 mm f/2.8...and some more other lens.
I will soon buy a Nikon D700 . I am using small cameras as well... (Canon ixus..Nikon Coolpix... ).
I work with Photoshop CS5.

3: Mac or PC?
Mac

4: What inspires you?
Life, emotions, cities and landscapes. As well I do admire and I am inspired by other photographers and arts (cinema, music, poetry).
Lets say: Alvarez Bravo, Henry Cartier Bresson (the decisive moment), the poetry of Adget, the urban vitality of Brassay, the unconventional photography of Robert Frank, The landscapes of Anselm Adams, and the films of Orson Wells (Touch of Evil)...

5: Preferred subject matter?
Cities and Landscapes have the same importance for me..
I have shot many portraits ..Not always digital...ü!

6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.
The Himalaya mountains and the life in the indian cities.

7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in?
Flickr's comments help me to recognize good images...
My close family and clients I take pictures of also express their opinion.
But most of the time it is myself...

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop
Scholl of photography + 4 years in Academy of Arts...

9: Plans for the future?
To take pictures for a book on Zermatt and the Alps.

10: In one word, describe your photography.
I can use words from others..I think that most of the photographs speak better with ther images..
So I love to say that I am "denying time" , and I am "following the light".
Light is the big seducer..Light is life..life is light..
I follow light with my own means as photographer.

Steven Dempsey

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Steven Dempsey

Ever since I can remember I have been drawn to long roads, fog and old barns. This was shot in one of my favorite places in the world (Carnation in Washington State, USA). When I passed this barn for the first time, it spoke to me. This photograph embodies a sense of loneliness, decay and the endlessness of the road as it recedes into the fog. The mysteriousness of it all pulls me into the picture.


I like the idea of anonymity in the figure crossing the road. Having no face or identifying features, he blends into the landscape almost like the poles and the distant car. I was fascinated by the movie "Until the End of the World" by Wim Wenders where images from dreams were actually captured for others to see. I conceived of this scene before I shot it. It was just a matter of waiting for the right atmospheric conditions to capture the dream.

1: How long have you been involved in photography?
I've been shooting video for ten years and began shooting photographs seriously about two years ago.

2: Equipment you use?
Canon 5D Mark II is my one and only camera.
My main lens is a 24-105 L lens from Canon and I shoot about 95% of my pictures with it.
For portrait work I also use a Canon 85mm f1.8 lens.
When I want to get up close and personal, I use a Canon 100-400 L lens.
My tripod consists of a Photo Clam ball head and Feisol Carbon fiber legs.
I mostly use 8GB CF cards and occasionally a 16GB if I am shooting HD video.
I rarely use filters.

I edit exclusively in Photoshop and organize my photos using either Adobe Bridge or Lightroom.

3: Mac or PC?
PC

4: What inspires you?
Anything and everything. My mind is wide open and I can be inspired by the most innocuous of things. I am particularly influenced by my filmmaking background and tend to think as a filmmaker does when looking at a composition. I love the movies of Terrence Malick, especially Thin Red Line and Days of Heaven. Films like that inspire my landscape photography. Also the work of American Painter Andrew Wyeth has a huge influence on my recent work.

5: Preferred subject matter?
Either landscapes or portraits of people, depending on what's moving me at the time.

6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.
I want to shoot more portraits of older people, especially those who wear their whole life experience on their faces. The deep wrinkles form a map of their existence on this planet. I want to be able to convey a person's inner self, not just shoot pretty pictures.

7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in?
I have a good friend in New York who is also a photographer. We used to play in a rock band years and years ago and now she is a photographer. We look to each other for honest feedback about our work. Sometimes I will also post something on Flickr to see what the general reaction is. If I'm in doubt about something to begin with and I see it's getting luke warm to no reaction, I'll just pull it and move on. The volume of photographs I have shot is large so it's easy for me to move on to another idea rather than wallow in self pity as to why everyone is not seeing the genius of my vision for that particular picture, lol.

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop
Completely self taught. The Web is a great resource so when I want to learn about something, I fire up Google and have a wealth of information at my fingertips. I have this immense hunger for knowledge and it prevents me from stagnating. The more I know the more I realize that I really know very little and that thrills me...never to know everything. It's a lifetime pursuit.

9: Plans for the future?
Keeping my passion alive. While it would be nice to sell a lot of my work, it's not at all why I do it. I shoot photographs because I think there is magic in what I do. I cannot ever come to terms with the sheer miracle of a camera. What it can do is beyond my understanding. To be able to capture the beauty I see in pictures is the greatest gift of all. My future plan is to hold onto that notion.

10: In one word, describe your photography.
I can't.