Kenny Maths

Since portraits, stage photography and the Edinburgh Fringe are passions of mine, these two shots feature these three elements.

This was taken during the 2005 Edinburgh Fringe and features a South Korean performer from a production of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'. She was being wonderfully playful and this is one of about five shots I snapped in a 30 second period. I just love her make-up and facial expression. It's a shot I can't look at without smiling.

I think this is one of the most hauntingly beautiful images I've ever taken. It's from the 2006 Edinburgh Fringe and features an Italian group called Kataklo (all of whom are former Olympic gymnasts). I became friendly with the show's producer (who is South Korean) and she invited me along to photograph it. I should also note that I really couldn't have taken this shot prior to getting my Canon EOS-5D. The exposure was 1/20 sec at 3200 ISO, relying on autofocus and image stabilisation. It's a superb camera.

1: How long have you been involved in photography?
I have been seriously involved with photography for 24 years. It really started from seeing some shots from a 'real' camera (i.e. an SLR) taken by a friend, and realising the world of difference between his results and those from my (then) little 'point and shoot' instamatic.

2: Equipment you use?
Currently, my main camera is a Canon EOS-5D (for which I have the 24-105 L series IS zoom and the 70-300 IS zoom) and my 'carry around' camera is now the Canon Powershot G7.

3: Mac or PC?
PC

4: What inspires you?
Hmmm, almost too numerous to mention and fairly hard to define. It can be almost anything, ranging from obvious things like great sunsets to unusual abstracts. Certainly I have a hunger to take great shots and there's nothing quite like getting one which really works.

5: Preferred subject matter?
Portraits, Travel, Different Cultures, Architecture, The Edinburgh Fringe, Rock Concerts, Theatre

6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.
Michelle Pfeiffer....or the Loch Ness Monster. If you forced me to choose, it would have to be Michelle. :-)

7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in?
At the risk of sounding dreadful, I'm not sure if I have doubts in that sense. Photography is (obviously) highly subjective and if a shot works for me, that's enough. Obviously, it's very gratifying if other people like it too. I take a lot of shots, some work, others don't. It is my intention to always learn from the latter, and to constantly improve as a photographer. It's really interesting to see how a photograph fares on Flickr. Some of my personal favourites have attracted relatively little attention, while some I think are "OK, but nothing spectacular", have done very well. Different strokes for different folks.

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop
Basically, I've just picked it up as I've gone along. However, I have invested a small fortune in about a dozen different Photoshop books.

9: Plans for the future?
Simply to continue to enjoy taking photographs (and hopefully take even better ones than to date). In recent years, I've found that my passion for the subject has only grown (and Flickr has been a delight since I started using it last year). I've sold one ot two pics to newspapers and magazines and have won a few competitions. It would be nice to actually start doing both of those on a more regular basis. If anyone is looking for a full-time concert photographer (that would be a dream job!), drop me an e-mail!

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

XenonB

Both show the natural beauty which I love so much and both are wonderful examples for my leitmotif: "You see something a hundred times, a thousand times, before you see it real for the first time." (Christian Morgenstern)

and then it was on to the questions.

1: How long have you been involved in photography?
Taking pictures is a relatively young hobby. I photograph only a few years, it must be now 3 years ago that I was engaged in that hobby very intensive. Before that I took only “souvenir photos”.

2: Equipment you use?
my little baby: Casio EX-Z50
my baby girl: Panasonic DMC-FZ30
and I hope in the near future my fat baby: a new Nikon D50 with wide angle, tele and macro lens (my birthday is near)!

3: Mac or PC?
PC

4: What inspires you?
A difficult question... my daily walk with my dog, beauty, feelings and a great cup of coffee, this are things which are very inspiring.

5: Preferred subject matter?
All kind of nature: flowers, trees, landscapes and macros of the hidden beauty of nature!

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

7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in?
Friends and sometimes my husband.

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop
I’m playing a bit with Photoshop, but I’ve never had a training or a qualification – I’m a self-taught women!

9: Plans for the future?
We’ve a newborn baby in our family – I thing this will be a great photo project and I’m sure: my new fat baby!

10: In one word, describe your photography.
Three words: “learning to see”

Gardawind

I live in the Lake Garda region in Italy and the lake inspires me every days with its emotions...



My passion is to travel.... this amazing meeting is from my last trip in Namibia and south africa parks....of course my camera is always with me !!!!


And of course...to the questions!!!

1: How long have you been involved in photography?
3 years ago I recieved my first digital camera ( an Olympus c-40 .
1 year ago I've met the flickr community and start to change my approach to photography...

2: Equipment you use?
Olympus E-500 with basic lenses...


3: Mac or PC?
PC

4: What inspires you?
Nature in all the ways...
I love to capture the beauty of nature in the simple things....

5: Preferred subject matter?
I really love the place where I live and the lake is really my favourite subject.... every day it gives me some new gifts: sunsets, sunrises, coloured waves, its people, its animals....

6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.
Portraits - B&W

7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in?
Friends..... for sure....

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop
I sometimes use phtoshop for saturation and contrast levels .

9: Plans for the future?
Portraits.... people....

10: In one word, describe your photography.
Simplicity.
I discover the beauty in the simple things in the nature and I shoot them.....

Leviathor

Getting to Antelope Canyon at the right time of day will reward the visitor with spectacular light pillars. This particular spot is the most photogenic, which is evident from the line of photographers recording the event in another of my images.

I'd never understood the attraction of Mono Lake--and visiting it the evening prior to the above exposure increased my doubt of this place. There are probably countless images of the various structures near the South Tufa Reserve, and I figured why should I add another drop to the endless sea of similar images? Well, I woke up early so the light would best serve me, and did it ever. This image not only bolstered my love of the Sierras, but the wild dynamic of light from pre-dawn to just after sunrise was amazing, helping me understand the draw of this area.

And then it was question time!!

1: How long have you been involved in photography?
1. I bought my first SLR in December of 2005. Prior to that I had very limited contact with photography, a Powershot P&S for a couple years was about it.

2: Equipment you use?
A Canon 20D with various red-ring glass. My favorite "walk arounds" are the 70-200 f/2.8L IS and 17-40 f/4L. A 100mm macro for stuff that's really small, a 400mm super-telephoto for things that are far away, and a 50mm prime for things that I can get to. 550EX w/ Omnibounce. Bogen-Manfrotto tripod and head. Lowepro and Pelican for storage. For printing I use an Epson Stylus Photo 2200.

3: Mac or PC?
PC.

4: What inspires you?
The quest for that "perfect exposure".

5: Preferred subject matter?
I really enjoy natural scenes: Landscape and wildlife. However, I'm trying to settle into portraiture and wedding photography.

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

7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in?
Someone honest, like a goon who will tell me if something is completely worthless or uninspiring. My mother, who has a degree in art, is very helpful when she's not sugar-coating her replies. My girlfriend has a pretty keen sense for what looks good and what doesn't.

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop
Qualifications in photography? An understanding of light due to a degree in physics and work with lasers. Photoshop? Playing around--aka: self-educated.

9: Plans for the future?
I would love to open a studio and gallery, making enough money during the studio on-season to vacation and travel over the off-season. Completing a higher degree in physics is also plan; I love research and contributing to the field.

10: In one word, describe your photography.
Understanding. I love to understand what I'm shooting, and try to convey that whenever possible.

Klsanderson

The resource image for this was one of the first photographs I took after getting a digital camera. The calla lilies were for a friend, who had just had a baby (part of the incentive for me getting the camera… must have baby pictures!) and I decided to shoot them against a black background. It was literally the first “good” photograph I’d ever taken… looking at the LCD, rather than through the viewfinder was a revelation “I can SEE!!”


I’m very fond of this image right now, because it came into being as I was unpacking boxes moving into my new apartment. I found a box of old old snapshots I’d taken while teaching and traveling in the late 1970’s (a terrible picture of this poor taxidermied bird… at the time, I was actually aiming at the whole bird!). Combined with an Italian fresco (the hat) and foxtail ferns (shot in Santa Barbara on vacation).

Memories and mementos combine, and lead to unexpected, unplanned results… and I love the process of not knowing where I’m going until I’m there.

Interview with Klsanderson

1: How long have you been involved in photography?
I’ve been pointing a digital camera at things for about 3 years.
I’ve been using photographs as inspiration for choreography, theater and teaching for 30 years.
I’ve been “on a roll” and having a wonderful time making digital images, since I started “flickr-ing” just over a year ago – (trying not to be an addict… one does need to sleep occasionally!)

2: Equipment you use?
Camera: Canon G3 – I shoot almost everything in RAW, so I can correct or drastically alter an image in RAW, while keeping the original intact
graphics tablet Wacom Intuos2
Epson Stylus PhotoRX500 scanner (all-in-one)
My images for the most part, use photography as one element in work created with layers of textures, found objects, collaged with scanned images, or manipulated in Photoshop (CS2), or any combination of these.

3: Mac or PC?
Oh yes indeed Mac (ever since my first MacSE and Photoshop 5.0!)

4: What inspires you?
Oh, now that’s a big question.
short answer… coffee (strong), and music (eclectic). Both set my imagination off and running.
longer (but incomplete) answer… I look/listen to what’s around me, and something ‘clicks’, that idea or object nudges something else into outline… and then it’s a scavenger hunt through memory, boxes, cellars, old photos, dictionaries, whatever comes to hand… like working out a puzzle, “does this fit… this, this, this?”
A stroll through my contacts’ images (and their “favorites”) will always give me a jump start… it is impossible not to be inspired and bouyed by so much energy, innovation, variety, and WOW-factor-creative-artistry-and-insights.

5: Preferred subject matter?
Objects. Light. Textures. Old things. Photographs.The things around the house, big and small. Theater of Friends… playing dress up. Anything that will hold still (I’m not so very adept at things that move). I usually use a tripod (not so very adept at steady hand).
And I get out and about to shoot on vacation a couple of times a year… then I’ll shoot anything!!

6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.
Two things, really… crows in flight, or strutting about, up close and personal.
And portraits… a great portrait takes so much more photographic “chops” than I have right now (but I’m learning, trying, aspiring).

7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in?
I wrangle my friends (and I have great friends) to come over for a look… not so much “what should I do?” but “what do you see?”.

I used to gain wonderful insight into my choreography and theater work through feedback from audiences (“feeling” the audience during performance, and from articulate feedback after). Flickr feels like a dream-audience, an audience of respected friends, peers, mentors, fans, gadflies, gurus, cohorts, critics, and delightful strangers… I learn sooooo much from comments and correspondence.

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop
Formal training in choreography, theater and costuming.
But none in photography or Photoshop. I’m ‘self-taught’. I’ve always been nerdy… I love Photoshop books, I read manuals, linger over tutorials. And I experiment… I mean after all, it’s not like I’m going to blow the house up experimenting with chemicals… it’s just pixels! (bear in mind, I have infinite respect for those who have the skills to make an image appear out of light, air, paper, and chemistry… it’s just beyond my ken).

9: Plans for the future?
I’m just moving to a larger apartment with a third floor room that I will be able to leave set up with costumes, props, drapes, lights etc… in the Spring I’ll be able to do more “set up” images, and to shoot my friends!

10: In one word, describe your photography.
Imagery

Bazpics

Beach Storm

Beach storm was taken at a beach near
the township of Robe in sth aust. I sat for about an hour
and watched this beautiful approaching storm and captured
this image

Master Of The Dawn

Master of the dawn was taken near Sale in
Gippsland - Victoria. I was traveling on a day trip looking
for photo opportunities and stumbled upon this lord of the
rings looking tree. Hope these shots are ok for you.

Interview With BAZPICS!

1: How long have you been involved in photography?
11 years

2: Equipment you use?
Canon eos 5d and 10d. For landscapes i use a canon 17
- 40mm an for weddings and portraiture i mainly use a canon
24 - 105mm lens.

3: Mac or PC?
PC

4: What inspires you?
Creation

5: Preferred subject matter?
landscapes / seascapes and people

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

7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in?
my three photographic work friends

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop
no initial qualifications as such. I have medium
skills in photoshop and was taught skills i know from my
three work friends.

9: Plans for the future?
To pursue a full time career with my wedding and
portrait photography and have my own studio

10: In one word, describe your photography.
Inspirational

Bratan

Confrontation:
Paris is my home city and I have a passion for it. I make photos here for very long time. 15 years ago, I liked to photograph old inside yards, and especially doors and windows. It is because I like very graphic pics and architecture. I also like very much night shots because Paris is the city of lights.




Stairways to Heaven:
I have a passion for manipulated images. I discovered photoshop few month ago. I shoot a lot of different images and subjects and mix them. I like fantasy very much and always try to find new ideas. I also have a lot of fun when doing funny photomontages.


INTERVIEW WITH BRATAN!

1: How long have you been involved in photography?

More than 25 years!


2: Equipment you use?

Nikon D80 + 18-200 mm VR


3: Mac or PC?

PC


4: What inspires you?

forms and colors


5: Preferred subject matter?

Architecture and photomontage


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

Macro


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

My friends


8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop

photoshop, Vue (3D)


9: Plans for the future?

Learn more software


10: In one word, describe your photography.

Fantasy

Darwin Bell

Dreamcicle...

This one has a very special place in my heart, as it was chosen as TWTME icon of the day and it was the first time that any photo of mine of Flickr had garnered any attention and it made me consider taking photography more seriously. It also challenges me to step up my game to prove to myself that it wasn't a fluke.





It is really hard to choose two favorites but i think this shot pretty well encapsulates my love of shooting an image of the small details to show something that otherwise might go unseen




Interview With Darwin Bell!

1: How long have you been involved in photography?
I have been taking Polaroid’s for an art project called "Sign Language" for about 21/2 years. Then I received a digital camera and a Flickr pro account for my birthday, Dec 2005 and have been pretty much addicted to both since then


2: Equipment you use?
I am currently using a Casio EX-Z850 point and shoot and while I get a lot of "you use a point and shoot?" comments, it has done me very well so far and the fact that it is so easy to transport, makes it impossible for me not to take pictures. I am sure I will upgrade someday but for now I am loving this one


3: Mac or PC?
I use both but do most of the post production work on my pc.


4: What inspires you?
Everything around me, everywhere I go. I love taking the small detail of the large picture and amplifying it to make people see it in a different way or making something that may not be traditionally pretty to look at and making it into a compelling image. I guess my main goal is to have a unique viewpoint that at some point will become recognizable.


5: Preferred subject matter?
Well, if it's colorful, I will shoot it. I also like to take askew pictures of familiar objects. Oh and anything on a whiteground. And don't forget macros of locks and rust/decay.


6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.
I would love to get a picture of a hummingbird in flight, possibly looking into the camera and very close range. Is that too much to ask?


7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in?
My friends Kate or Waleed outside of Flickr and on Flickr, Asta, Borealnz, Andreboxbox, on vinyl and StL Photographer's always are there with good advice. I find Flickr and TWTME group to be exceptionally inspiring. I can't imagine being so involved without them.


8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop
Well, I read my manual pretty thoroughly and once I realized I had Office Picture Manager, I was able to teach myself how to adjust colors, saturations, brightness etc, as well as the all important cropping. I used to be against manipulating my images in any way until I realized I could and my older photostream pictures will sadly attest to this.


9: Plans for the future?
I am working on getting a gallery show where I have my Polaroid Art by sometime before June of this year, so we will see how that goes. But other than that, I just want to keep shooting, learning and improving every day.


10: In one word, describe your photography.
Darwinian

Christine Lebrasseur

Désert de solitude





I am a bird now




INTERVIEW WITH CHRISTINE LEBRASSEUR

1: How long have you been involved in photography?
I was really interested in photography two years ago only, to add "power" to my words (poetry) and following a hospitalization

2: Equipment you use?
Canon 350D + EFS 18-55 + EF 55-200
I play sometimes with 2 old cams, a Canon F1 and a Zenith, and I always have, not very far away, my small numerical HPR 707 :)

3: Mac or PC?

PC only

4: What inspires you?

Life, others and... my feeling

5: Preferred subject matter?

All that I have not photographed yet
.
6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.

A true tear

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

My friend Alexandre (Talos.s here), the man I love Sébastien and... my Flickr contacts, logical :)

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop

I use only a small software who was delivered with my Canon (PhotoStudio) and I just begin to play with Photoshop.

9: Plans for the future?

More exhibitions, more shootings and, one day, a picture in a magazine... ?


10: In one word, describe your photography.

Eclectic

Linda's Manymuses

October- created 2006.
Autumn is my absolute favorite season and October is certainly my peak month for shooting on location. The colors of the foliage are an obvious draw early in the month, but I enjoy trees even after the leaves have fallen. There is something so sculptural about the stark shapes silhouetted against an evening sky. I drive around the countryside at dusk, eyes scanning the horizon for those black shapes on simple backgrounds, as sharply delineated to my eyes as primitive woodcuts.



Three Sisters- created just this week

Again, I guess I have a passion for simple silhouettes because I keep coming back to these images of blackbirds and crows. I started a series called "Four and Twenty Blackbirds" last year, fully intending to limit myself to that number, but I have easily done more than forty now. I live in a rural area after living in the city for many years, so I am re-discovering my more primitive connections to the natural world. Entire flocks of crows, hawks, vultures and other birds inhabit my everyday life as neighbors. When I lived in the city I shot urban architecture and people on the street and the grittier side of life. Now barns and rural folk and nature are in my viewfinder. You shoot what you see.




1: How long have you been involved in photography?

My grandfather gave me his old Brownie camera complete with blue flashbulbs when I was 8 or 9 years old and I've never NOT had a camera since then. I formally studied photography in art school as part of my major in painting and illustration and I now combine all of those elements in my layered photomontage pieces.

2: Equipment you use?

In daily life, my trusty Canon 350D and Nikon 8700 for quick "driveby shootings" of landscapes. I have all manner of film cameras too which are, admittedly, gathering a bit of dust these days.

3: Mac or PC?

PC at the moment, but I have known and loved both.

4: What inspires you?

Nature, emotion, simple yet impactful compositions, narrative content, negative space, chiaroscuro lighting, texture, history, mythology, literature, themes in my daily life...



5: Preferred subject matter?

Nature and landscapes though ironically, as a painter, I paint primarily people. I love to photograph people at events too, such as my rodeo and parade sets but that aspect of my work is often overlooked due to the sheer volume of landscape images.
.
6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.

The essence of my three year old son's radiant little persona. He's an epic character.

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

No one really. At this point I have learned to trust my own judgement. I just generally keep working through the problem in images until I get through those valleys and on to the next idea.


8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop

I have an MFA in illustration and studied with the good folks at Adobe for a year while perfecting my craft. So, while I still shoot "straight" photography nearly every day, my real pleasure lies in creating photo illustrations with layers of meaning to discover or not. I enjoy creating evocative images that seem to have a story to tell or a subtext of emotion or narrative content.

9: Plans for the future?

My immediate plans are to give birth to the daughter I am expecting in April and to try to continue to work after she is born. No small feat there! Anyone know a reliable babysitter?

Big opportunities- My work was just featured in the Design Sponge Shop www.designspongeshop.com and I am in talks to start selling prints of my work in some exclusive stores in New York and San Francisco so there are lots of things percolating behind the scenes.
I am also working with a talented jewelry designer who is featuring my work in her fine art jewelry pieces at www.Alisamichelle.com.

Life, above all, is good.


10: In one word, describe your photography.

Narrative.

We hope you enjoy Linda's wonderful photos. It would be great if you could leave a little congraulatory message here for her and I urge you to visit Linda's photostream HERE , you won't be disappointed.
Thank you for being our featured Photographer this week Linda!,and Congratulations!!!

AdeleS

I love to photograph gerberas... they are such beautiful flowers. This was originally a white gerbera photographed by candlelight. I subsequently altered the hue in photoshop to give it the blue tint.


I have come to love simple pictures and minimalism and I loved the way this one turned out after converting to black and white.... it is nice to photograph flowers but I also like to make them look a little "different";)

1: How long have you been involved in photography?
Up until June last year I was your normal every day family snap photographer. I had never put much thought into photography until I received a DSLR for my birthday and I discovered Flickr!!

2: Equipment you use?
My equipment consists of Canon 350D, 60mm macro lens, some extension tubes, 18-55mm kit lens and for Christmas this year I was given the 10-22 wide angle lens and the Canon 24-105mm L lens... Santa was good to me ;)

3: Mac or PC?
PC

4: What inspires you?
All my inspiration so far has come from the wonderful people on Flickr... I have learnt sooo much from them during the past 6 months... thank you to everyone!

5: Prefered subject matter?
Most definitely flowers!

6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.
I would love to be able to capture a bird in flight... probably a very simple thing to do but I haven't managed to do it yet ;)

7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in?
I simply upload and let the Flickr community decide!

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop
I am totally self-taught in photography and photoshop.

9: Plans for the future?
No particular plans... I am still very much a beginner and there is still lots more for me to learn so I hope I can continue to better myself in the future.

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

We hope you enjoy AdeleS' wonderful photos. It would be great if you could leave a little congraulatory message here for her and I urge you to visit AdeleS' photostream HERE , you won't be disappointed.
Thank you for being our featured Photographer this week Adele!,and Congratulations!!!
*APPLAUSE*

Welshlady

It's a picture of a dragon fly which I rarely see and the fact that it stayed just long enough for me to capture it on camera and share it with others really made my day, I thought it was a brilliant macro as I was only just beginning with photography and only had a basic camera...



I was very surprised when I visited this area that there was so much excess water laying about because of the extreme rain we had had.....but it doubled the beauty of the area by giving me lovely reflections, due to the blue sky also

Birdyboo!!!

1: How long have you been involved in photography?

I’ve taken snapshots off and on since I was a child. Have always had cameras around but didn’t use them much – mostly for trips. We have a nice SLR but it is so heavy to carry around that it was only brought out for special occasions. I really started being more involved when I got a digital camera and then started putting photos at Wunderground.com. That site requires fresh

2: Equipment you use?

Right now my main big camera is a Panasonic FZ-30, my pocket camera is an Olympus C-7000. I still put up shots taken with my first digicam, an Olympus C-2100, which is the best camera I’ve had but only 2 MP. I have found I am hard on cameras. I’m still putting up shots taken with my now disabled cameras – a Pentax WPi and a Canon A620 too.

3: Mac or PC?

PC

4: What inspires you?

God’s creation first of all. Then seeing other people’s photos. In addition to the fun of seeing many wonderful things, I find I have learned so much just studying how they saw the subject and how they framed and finished the shot. I’ve been very lucky here are at Wunderground to meet people who are very generous with their talents and knowledge.

5: Preferred subject matter?

Natural things mostly – our birds, flowers but really anything that catches my attention. I do a lot of macros, would like to do more landscapes.

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

Wow that’s hard. There are so many things. Views of and from mountains I guess.

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

My online friends and I include Google with since I have ‘met’ many helpful people by googling.

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop?

Mostly self taught. I have taken a few Photoshop classes. The web has been a remarkable resource. Every day it is easier to find articles and tutorials that help with any questions or explain techniques for shooting and the digital darkroom.

9: Plans for the future?

More travel and specifically travel with photography as a main goal.

10: In one word, describe your photography.

Improving.

Jacq77

-- from jacq77 - (?)
This photo would have to be my all time favourite. I love music and felt a certain air of romance with it.

With this photo I tried doing something different to the "normal" dandelion style shot and I really liked the use of the b/w for it.

1: How long have you been involved in photography?
I first picked up a camera when I was given one for my 13th birthday. I've been taking snaps ever since. I then stopped for a while and took it up again on and off for the last few years, more intensely in the last year or so.

2: Equipment you use?
My earlier shots on my stream are scans from an "analog" (lol) SLR but that was proving too costly for developing etc... I then moved to digital and I now use a Canon S3IS and Kyocera Finepix.

3: Mac or PC?
PC of course lol

4: What inspires you?
Everything around me inspires me. Everything that surrounds us has a degree of beauty, it's up to us to find it and make others see that through the lens. Other inspirations are my friends and all their wonderful photos here on flickr!!

5: Prefered subject matter?
Macro... of ANYTHING... it's a whole other world lol

6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.
Lightning... I have been waiting until the day..patiently.

7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in?
I have a few close photographer friends here on flickr that I often ask for their opinion, other than that I have a few friends that are always willing to put some input into what I do.

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop
No qualifications at all, nor training.

9: Plans for the future?
I have had a photo published in a coffee table book and am in the process of having some photos go on exhibition. I would however like to explore and learn more about photoshop as I really have limited skills on it and would like to develop these further, but it's all time constraints that prevent me fro doing this really :o(

10: In one word, describe your photography.
LOL....... different ;oP<---And thats what we LIKE :D(Admin)

Borealnz

A lot of you will already have seen this photo as I used it in a recent theme but it has become one of my favourites. This photo was taken just after the rain we had last weekend, the colour version didn’t look all that interesting but after converting it to sepia I was surprised at how good it looked.

This one was taken just recently on one of my evening beach walks -a cold and windy beach walk I must add, though you can't tell that from the photo. I think I struck it lucky with the conditions that evening, the cloud was in just the right place to hide the setting sun briefly and the tide was receding and making pools on the sand. I like how it turned out.


1: How long have you been involved in photography?
I have been taking photos since I got my first camera as a child but most of the earlier shots are examples of how not to take photos. Once I left school and bought my first SLR I got really keen on photography though most of my photos were of my family. When I got my first digital camera a couple of years ago my interest in photography as an art was rekindled.

2: Equipment you use?
Pentax 1st DL and a variety of lenses
I shoot in RAW mode and while the processing takes a while I love the flexibility it gives me.

4: What inspires you?
The beautiful landscape and beaches that surround us here in New Zealand. I am also constantly inspired by all the wonderful photos I see every day here on Flickr.

5: Preferred subject matter?
I love taking landscape photos and of the sea and seashore especially, but I also enjoy taking photos of trees, flowers and plants and lately I have been experimenting with still-life’s.

6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.
Well there are lots of things I would really like to capture but I think a long exposure shot of the sea would be high on my list.


7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in?
Well I know I should say my husband but he isn’t very artistically inclined unfortunately and I get much better feedback from my oldest son J

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop
No I don’t have any formal training in photography though in my first job as a Laboratory Technician I got to work in the darkroom mainly developing films.
I read photography books and magazines and am inspired by the work of others.
Photoshop has been a steep learning curve for me, but I am picking it up slowly.

9: Plans for the future?
I would love a macro lens so I can explore the world on a smaller scale.
To learn how to use Photoshop better so I can experiment with different effects and learn how to do collage and photomontage.
To continue to improve at what I am doing


10: In one word, describe your photography.
Gentle

I would like to take the opportunity to thank you all for your visits to my photostream, your comments and support; I have made so many great friends here and it is an honour to be asked to be featured photographer and an even bigger honour to be part of this group.

Mike Stacey

This was taken in the middle of winter about 30 minutes before sunrise. It was raining lightly which meant wiping the filter and camera every few minutes or so. The tripod was straddled across a pointed rock (you can see the front of the rock in the photo) and I could barely see anything in the ground glass with so little light. Aperture and speed settings were made with the use of a headlamp and required clambering precariously out in front of the camera to see the aperture ring at the front. I had to shine the headlamp on the foreground rock to focus the camera. A few light readings putting the sky in zone 7 and then trip the shutter and wait...4 minutes later close the shutter. When the tranny came back from processing a few days later I was very surprised to see that it had all worked out perfectly!


None of the epic involved with Velvet Sea here. Went to the spot the previous day and scoped this compositon with a small anglefinder and tried to imagine where the first light would be etc. Came back next day, set up and tripped the shutter for another long exposure of around 3.5 minutes. The clouds are blurred due to their swift movement that day and the colour of the water and reflections provide the feel that I'm usually looking for. This is a local spot and funnily enough I've never photographed it so my next series will be taken there.


1: How long have you been involved in photography?
I first began taking photographs seriously when I was about 19. It has always been landscape photography simply because I feel a deep connection with the natural world and think that it has much to offer us, in many ways.

2: Equipment you use?

- Horseman large format (4 x 5") camera
- 65mm, 75mm, 90mm, 150mm Nikkor lenses
- Mamiya 7 11 medium format camera
- 43mm and 80mm Mamiya lenses
- Sekonic L-608 light meter
- Fuji Velvia 50ASA and Astia 100F film, sheet and roll
- Manfrotto 055CLB Tripod and Ball Head
- Lowe Photo Trekker camera pack
- plus the usual stuff like headlamp, loupe etc.


3: Mac or PC?
PC.

4: What inspires you?
The work of other photographers such as Michael Kenna, Paul Schilliger, Gerard Laurenceau, and of course our very own Leigh Perry and Jeff Grant and... the amazing world we live in.

The magical moments we can experience that are ever so fleeting but stay in our minds forever are a major source of inspiration.


5: Prefered subject matter?
Pre sunrise and post sunset landscapes with water of some kind.

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

No matter how good a photo is, I always think there's things that need improving and things that weren't captured. They're usually vague and intangible things though - like feelings and emotions that may be lacking when I view an image. Some photos have a soul, come don't and it's not always obvious why. That's the art of photography, being able to know beforehand whether an image will have these qualities. Generally I have a vague but fairly reliable idea as to whether a particular shot will be worth it or not in terms of these qualities. Large format photography teaches you to see and while I don't want to preach about it my photographs have improved since I started shooting with one of these beasts. Plus, nothing beats a 4 x 5 inch transparency!


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

My partner Kim. She provides an objective view and is also a keen photographer. On the odd occassions I speak to my brother David, he provides good advice, having been an artist all his life.


8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop
No formal photography education. My education is in electrical engineering and now computer science in which I'm currently completing a PhD.


9: Plans for the future?
Capture the essence of the natural world in such a way that the viewer is taken beyond their usual frame of reference and glimpses something of the eternal. I shudder at saying things like that beacuse I know it can sound pretty out there but...Images that can be "looked into"... and have a sense of the infinite are what really inspire me. Pre-dawn and post-sunset have the best light (very little) for this where colours are muted and ethereal aspects are easier to see, and expose for.

10: In one word, describe your photography.
PatientandCalculating, that's one word isn't it?

IrenaS

1: How long have you been involved in photography?

I started getting seriously into photography almost a year ago. Prior to
that, I had a film camera and I would take photos only when I travelled. Once I got a digital SLR, I started taking photos much more regularly.

2: Equipment you use?
I now exclusively use digital cameras. My primary camera is the Canon 20D. I have the following lenses: Canon 17-85mm IS is
my main walk-around lens. I have the Canon 70-210mm lens from
my film camera days. I just recently purchased two lenses: the Canon 50mm f1.8 and the Canon 10-22mm, which I'm very excited about. For Infrared photography, I use an Olympus C2020Z and a Hoya R72 filter. Other filters I use include the following (all are Hoya brand): circular polarizer, ND8 and ND4, and the ND400 filter for long exposure photography. Yikes! That's quite a bit actually.

3: Mac or PC?
PC

> 4: What inspires you?
Looking at other peoples' photos is a major source of inspiration. Without that wouldn't even know what's possible. Songs, movies, things I read as well. Just a line that I read or hear can conjure up a visual that I want to recreate. Also, simply going out with my camera, not knowing what I'll see that day and coming across something that makes me stop and look.

5: Prefered subject matter?
I think I'm still figuring this out as I continue to try different things.
However, a few of the subjects that seem to stand out are scapes of any kind (landscapes, waterscapes, cityscapes), trees
and forests (I went through quite the green phase this past spring and
summer), and conceptual photos.

> 6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera
> that you REALLY want to capture.
********
I would have to say that I haven't yet taken a really good "decisive moment" photograph. One in which all the elements come together in front of you, you happen to be there at the right time, and you react at just the right moment, and frame it in just the right way.

7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide
> in?
My boyfriend is also an artist (though not a visual artist), so he is someone I'll express doubts or worries to, and he understands thoroughly. I also read the words of other artists, do yoga, and occasionally just take a break to get some perspective.

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie:
> Photoshop
I have no professional training or qualifications in photography or
Photoshop. I am self-taught. I learn well through reading books, looking at other peoples' work, and experimenting. I'm a technical writer by day, so not only can I give instructions, but I can take them too! I guess I have a fairly technical mind, so Photoshop and more technical methods, like HDR, don't phase me.

9: Plans for the future?
To keep taking more photos obviously! I have no current plans to try to turn this into any kind of career. In terms of what I'd like to explore, I'm
really itching to get out there with my new wide-angle lens to discover its possibilities. This winter, as the days get colder, I also plan on snuggling up with some Photoshop books to learn more about photomanipulation, particularly compositing. Other areas I want to explore more include fine art photography and long exposure photography.

10: In one word, describe your photography.
Atmospheric

Pilou@ttitude!

Featured Photographer: Pilou@ttitude



1: How long have you been involved in photography?
Well it's a long history... My grandfather and my father had a store of photograph. I worked a long time with them and I did much black and white because it was free for me;)
And then I left to live my life... travel, childs, wife etc... I returned to the photograph in 1990. I was a salesman for the cameras "Sinar" during 10 years. I met many photographers who work in studio. It was enthralling to see them working with the light. I learned much.

2: Equipment you use?
- My 2 eyes ;-)
- Nikon D50 with zoom Nikkor 80 – 400mm VR f/4,5 – f/5,6 D
- Nikon D70s with zoom Nikkor 18 – 70mm f3,5 – f/22 DX
- Fish Eye Nikkor 10,5mm 2,8G ED
- Flash Nikon SB 800

3: Mac or PC
Mac of course!!!

4: What inspires you?
Beauties of nature. They are really infinite!

5: Preferred subject matter?
Nature, but one day people. They also are "incredible"

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

7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in?
My wife;-)

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop.
I made several formations with Photoshop, I looked further into the chromy well.
I like this soft. I work much with! For me a numerical photograph is a crude of scan which needs to be worked. Gently nevertheless with the curves;-)))

9: Plans for the future?
As I already said, I think that one day I would be ready to make portrait. But I have still many things to learn before... on human of course; -)

10: In one word, describe your photography.
Colors!
The life is in colors!

We hope you enjoy Pilou@ttitude wonderful photos. It would be great if you could leave a little congratulatory message here for him and I urge you to visit Pilou@ttitude's photostream HERE , you won't be disappointed.
Thank you for being our featured Photographer this week Pilou@ttitude and Congratulations!!!
*APPLAUSE*

Sparkle and Fade

Featured Photographer: Sparkle and Fade





1: How long have you been involved in photography?
I have always been fascinated with cameras and loved taking "snapshots". I don't think I really began to take "artistic" photography till about August of 2001. But at that time I only had a film camera (not even an SLR - yikes!). In August of 2003 I got my first digital camera and really began composing "artsy" photographs.

2: Equipment you use?
I am in dire needs of filters and a zoom len. For now, I have neither. I shoot with one of four cameras.
Most often: Canon S1 IS
Sometimes: Fujifilm FinePix 2400 Zoom
Rarely: Fujifilm D MX-2900Zoom
Rarely: (my sisters') Canon PowerShot A70.

3: Mac or PC?
PC

4: What inspires you?
Beauty, Nature, Animals, History

5: Prefered subject matter?
I prefer nature (landscapes, sunsets) and animals over portraiture or macros. I think that is really where I lack a lot of the skills you need to get competent candid or even posed shots. Lately I am trying to be more adventerous and shoot anything - a bit of a learning process :)

6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.
There's lots of things I'd love to capture, but if I had to name one it would be churches. I keep on thinking of going cathedral hunting around my neighbourhood and trying to take pictures of the architecture and stain glass windwos. I guess another thing would be sunrises (not a morning person!) or wedding shots

7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in?
My husband. I don't really tell many people that I know about my photography.

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop
No qualifications whatsoever. I am a teacher by trade (highschool: science/history) and photography is my way of expressing the artistic side of me that is mostly repressed in my rigid school schedule.

9: Plans for the future?
I'd love to get a dSLR
I would like to take classes in photoshop
I'm looking into getting a UV filter and a zoom lens
Practicing taking portraits (I just need a willing model)
Taking actual photography lessons with my Canon Rebel (film)

10: In one word, describe your photography.
Poetic
(especially since I love pairing literary quotes with my images. Sometimes I even think of a quote first, and then how to illustrate it with my photography).


And a message to all the admins and members of TWTME: Thank you so much for all your faves and kind comments. They are so greatly appreciated and encourage me to strive to improve my photography with each image I take. Thank you so much Sonia from all the admins!!

Alonsodr

Featured Photographer:Alonsodr





1: How long have you been involved in photography?
Since December 2005

2: Equipment you use?
Nikon E8800. I will buy a reflex very soon, probably the new Sony Alpha 100 and two Tokinas (18-70 and 70-200)

3: Mac or PC?
PC

4: What inspires you?
Beauty

5: Preferred subject matter?
Light, love playing with it
.
6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.
Very very long exposure shots (5 o 6 minutes)

7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in?
I am never in doubt, because I really enjoy photography. It´s a pleasure activity, I don´t feel obliged to do it...

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop
Nothing, only I have always try to shoot in Manual mode from beginning. I think it´s a great way to learn

9: Plans for the future?
I don´t know. I have a few works, but this is a hobby.

10: In one word, describe your photography.
The language of light

Kris Kros

Featured Photographer: Kris Kros





1: How long have you been involved in photography?
It has been about 8 months now as a serious flickr photographer. Almost 20 years ago, I bought a professional Canon film camera because back then, I already loved photography. I was fascinated with macros, depth of field, and sport shots. But my interest fizzled out due to my focus on my career.

2: Equipment you use?
I started with a Casio EX-Z57 when I first joined Flickr. Now, I got a Nikon Coolpix 8800, a prosumer digital camera. It's not SLR and I wish I can upgrade in the not so distant future to a full-pledge SLR.

The Nikon Coolpix 8800, though, is a big help in my HDR production. It has RAW format and the most beneficial of all is the auto-bracketing of up to 5 exposures. The 10x zoom, the VR (vibration reduction) and 8-megapixel are top features. Not bad at all.

My dream cam is the Nikon D200. I'll settle for the Nikon D80 if I got some money to spare. On a lookout for a cheap D50 or a D70 or a Canon Rebel.

3: Mac or PC?
PC

4: What inspires you?
It's the mood of the day. I must be happy if I decide to go for a photoshoot. Never grabbed my camera if I was lonely. But as a rule of thumb, I always have my camera with me when I leave my house. My tripod is stored in my van as well as extra batteries.

5: Preferred subject matter?
No particular subject matter. Everything my eyes can see is beautiful subject for my photography.

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

7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in?
My family. They're both my fans and very experienced critics as well. They are actually critics first, then fans after convincing them with a stern look from me.

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop
No professional training in both photography and Photoshop. Just taught myself through books, google and flickr exposure. In this field, I can say I am a graduate of school of hard knocks. No, I am still a freshman till now.

9: Plans for the future?
To be a well-known professional artist and photographer. I mean, to be better than who I am right now and most definitely, should be earning. The last one is a must.

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

Jude

Featured Photographer: Jude





1: How long have you been involved in photography?
my love for photography stretches back to my childhood. there have been huge gaps in my picture taking however - i.e. i just picked up a camera again this last December, after many years, and started creating images on my daily walks.
2: Equipment you use?
sony dsc-n1
canon eos 30d
3: Mac or PC?
i've been a mac geek for as long as there have been macs.
4: What inspires you?
the endless diversity of nature.
5: Preferred subject matter?
flora & fauna ... and my nephew max - the boston terrier ... :)
6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.
a great blue heron ...
7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in?
my family - they are painfully honest!
8: Qualifications/training in anything? i.e.: Photoshop
self-taught, and, i don't use photoshop.
9: Plans for the future?
to always remain curious and to continue to feed my macro/nature fixation ...
10: In one word, describe your photography.
organic ...

Stuck In Customs!

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Stuck in Customs


-- from Stuck in Customs - (?)


-- from Stuck in Customs - (?)

1: How long have you been involved in photography?
I only got serious about my equipment and the art in the past year.

2: Equipment you use?
Nikon D2X

3: Mac or PC?
Mac. I used to hate Macs and Mac people, but now I see the light.

4: What inspires you?
All well-done art. I'm spend most of my time being inspired by great writers.

5: Prefered subject matter?
I don't really have a preferred. I like shooting everything.

6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.
I want to spend several weeks in India and discover things and people.

7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in?
I don't have anyone like that. I have a few different personalities inside I confide with, I suppose.

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop
I am completely unqualified to do most things in the world, but I do them anyway.

9: Plans for the future?
I look forward to visiting about a dozen new countries in the next few years and getting lost in them.

10: In one word, describe your photography.
Neo-Impressionist

Ginnia

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER:Ginnia64






1. How long have you been involved in photography?
Just over 8 months. I purchased my first digital camera in December of 2005 and it was love at first sight! Since them, I’ve become slightly obsessed, and have upgraded my equipment to accommodate my obsession. I shoot something every day.

2. Equipment you use?
I currently use a Fujifilm FinePix S5200. And I really must get a tripod. "<--greatest camera in the world, but im biased ;)...Ev"

3. Mac or PC?
PC

4. What inspires you?
Prairie landscape and my home in rural Saskatchewan.

5. Prefered subject matter?
Landscapes, skyscapes, the outdoors.

6. Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.
Lightning. I tried one evening during a storm. I took something like 300
pictures and got one lame little lightning shot that I could only really see after some post-processing. I think I need more skill or a better technique or better luck.

7. When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in?
My husband. He smiles and nods. I think he’s singing a song in his head. :o)

8. Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop
No formal qualifications in anything photographic. Learn to do by doing:
that’s my motto, so far anyway.

9. Plans for the future?
Photographically? I want to get better at it. My goal is to be able to use all
the manual settings on my Fuji. I’d better get at it, because I’ve told myself
I can’t get a dSLR until I can realize the potential of the Fuji. We’ll see how long that sticks. I also want to become more adept at interior shots, and I’m starting to be intrigued by portraits. Basically, I want to expand my horizons a little more.

Philosophically, my goal is to be a competent prairie photographer. I think the wide-open spaces shape those of us who live here in particular ways. I’m constantly trying to express that visually.

10. In one word, describe your photography.
Prairie.

Skyburst

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Skyburst

-- from Skyburst - (?)


-- from Skyburst - (?)

1: How long have you been involved in photography?
I developed an interest in photography as a camera repair technician when I left school 35 years ago, unfortunately I lost interest as developing was slow and expensive until Digital arrived and bought my first digital camera in 2002.

2: Equipment you use?
My current cameras are a
: Canon Eos 5D and a Canon Eos 300D
: Canon f1.8 50mm, Canon f4 17-40mm L,
: Sigma f2.8 17-35mm EX, Sigma f2.8 28-70mm EX,
: Sigma f2.8 70-210mm Apo,Sigma 2x EX converter
: Set of Kenco auto extension tubes for macro work.
: 2 Manfrotto tripods and heads.
: Canon time lapse interval timer remote.
: Various filters.
3: Mac or PC?
: Own built PC dual core Amd.

4: What inspires you?
I have the urge to always get the perfect shot which is almost impossible ;-)

5: Preferred subject matter?
: Nature it is so awesomely beautiful and Fireworks.

6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera
that you REALLY want to capture.
Underwater scenes I find this a beautiful and challenging world but I need a housing for the camera.

7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide
in?
My wife Sue and my best friend Chris they suffer a lot for my hobby ;-)

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie:
Photoshop
None in photography mostly self taught although I get a lot of help and information from people on Flickr.

9: Plans for the future?
I am in the process of creating a Web site and Business for firework photography which will be hopefully running soon.

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