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