ToniVC

FEATURES PHOTOGRAPHER: ToniVC
"Ancient Spirit (revisited)”. This was my first big Flickr success, and a picture that was the start of the processing style that made me known here.

-- from ToniVC - (?)

“Just a Flower”. I chose this one because it was my first published picture and I’m proud of it.

-- from ToniVC - (?)

1: How long have you been involved in photography?
I started taking pictures regularly in June 2002, when I got my first digital camera from one of my relatives who let me use his own (a Canon PowerShot G2 compact camera). Before that I just had very sporadic contacts with analogic photography (always with very simple compact cameras), but having to wait (and pay!) for the results just made me stay away from photography. I just had no patience nor money…
The coming of digital cameras really was just what I needed! I could take any number of pictures for free! I could experiment without having to wait for the results and having to care about the number of shots I took… In 2003, coinciding with the birth of our first daughter, I bought a Canon PowerShot G3, and used it mainly for family shots. Progressively I started to do more “creative” shots, opened a Flickr account, bought a Canon PowerShot A640, started to play with PhotoShop… and here I am!
So, as you can see, I’m quite new to photography.

2: Equipment you use?
A bare Canon PowerShot A640 compact camera… and various software, mainly PhotoShop.

3: Mac or PC?
PC, but I’m not a Taliban on that subject, hehehe ;) I think that the tools are not so important: what really matters is the result.

4: What inspires you?
Anything I see and I like! I always carry my camera around and shoot whenever I can.

5: Preferred subject matter?
I actually don’t have a preferred subject because I tend to shoot anything I like, as I said before. But on Flickr I’m known for my old architecture shots. I also love doing macro photography.

6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.
Maybe any extreme weather phenomena, like a tornado, a big snowstorm or something like that.

7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in?
I usually ask my wife :) (and sometimes I ask some Flckr friends too…)

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop
None. I’m absolutely self taught on all photographic aspects, even edition. I’m continuously learning… and I assure you I have a lot to learn yet!

9: Plans for the future?
Buying a better camera, maybe a reflex one, and a great wide angle lens. But it should have a great LiveView mode and rotating LCD screen. I think I couldn’t be without it!

10: In one word, describe your photography.
I don’t think

Claypanpete

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER : Claypanpete

-- from claypanpete - (?)
I chose this because I think it is one of the most powerful images in my stream, and is an example of a new direction and appreciation for the stories of humanity. I used to avoid having people in photos.


-- from claypanpete - (?)
This I think shows my interest in natural abstracts, composition, and the planet generally, and is an example of why I picked up a camera in the first place.

1: How long have you been involved in photography?
A looong time. Since the late 80s.
I worked for years as a guide throughout some of the most amazing natural areas in Australia and my camera was always part of my kit. I have only made the transition to digital in Late '05.

2: Equipment you use?
Canon 30D
Canon17-85mm
Canon 100-400mm
sigma 10-20mm

3: Mac or PC?
PC

4: What inspires you?
Waking up is generally pretty inspiring. My Woman Kira. My Son Xaver. The area I live and the people who dwell there. My sister Sandy is a fine photographic inspiration. This is really trick question which I will sum up by saying err,,,,, life.

5:Preferred subject matter?
Landscape and the stuff I notice within it with an abstract slant, although humanity is becoming as important. I enjoy the adrenalin of street photography and the challange of capturing a glimpse of the soul of the street, though I dont feel I have yet.
Studio work and structured photography will probably remain a mystery.
To spend days out bush with camera, swag, simple food and a billy is as good as it gets.

6:Name one thing you havn't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture?
All those elusive moments I see with my eyes but miss with the viewfinder or shutter for one reason or another. I am not aware of anything specific.

7: When in doubt about your art who do you confide in?
I don't take it too seriously. Probably because I don't rely on it,,,,,,yet, but Kira is a great believer in what I do and is an honest critic so that is sure to help. The work I sell is mostly seen and purchased on the spot rather than the pressure of assignments.

8:Qualifications/Training in anything? ie Photoshop?
self taught with the help of different people over the years. Still learning.
Photoshop is a mountain to climb!

9:Plans for the future?
get my first exhibition off the ground. learn photoshop to an acceptable standard.

10:In one word describe your photography.
Me.

Bolandrotor

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Bolandrotor


-- from bolandrotor - (?)


-- from bolandrotor - (?)

1: How long have you been involved in photography?

- I started 6 years ago, then I had brake (my camera wa stolen,the only cannon I had:)
and in 2003 after buying first digital cam it started for good

2: Equipment you use?

-I used to use nikon coolpix 5200, which gave a huge pleasure to me,but I was missing few functions....and lenses so I bought nikon d70.
As for glassI have nikkor 20mm, nikkor 28-100(how I hate it) and I was using fantastic russian Zenitar fisheye 16 but I didin't own it haha!

3: Mac or PC?

- PC but I'm not proud of it :)

4: What inspires you?

-travelling,F.K.Dick ,A.Jodorowsky ,commercials, stimulants,elektro, animals, Roland Topor, deep sleep and legends

5: Preferred subject matter?

-well it would be a man in his unnatural enviroment:)
.
6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.

-O my, I would like to capture some natural force phenomena in the city....it's a kind of obsession

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

-I think I'm not involved in photography that much to have doubts hahaha,, if I will...I'll stop


8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop

-self-taught with a significant help of kind friends in knowing the photoshop. the only training I had


9: Plans for the future?

-First of all break away from the Krakow, meet the nature, see no people....breath


10: In one word, describe your photography.

- "bumpy", it's a good word

Microabi

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Microabi

-- from microabi - (?)


-- from microabi - (?)


1. How long have you been involved in photography?
I've always enjoyed taking photos but mainly when on holiday but then I was given a holga on my 30th and I just haven't been able to stop!

2: Equipment you use?
my current count is 13 different cameras...i have a many old medium format film cameras brought at markets, a few holgas, a couple of polaroids and my canon 400d. I’m obsessed and passionate – quite a dangerous combination in any individual, let alone a photographer!

3: Mac or PC?
. PC but I'd love a mac one day – anyone want to buy me one?

4: What inspires you?
a sunny day, living by the sea, my friends, bright colours, my love for travel and visiting new places- there are so many things I could mention!

5: Preferred subject matter?
I'd have to say give me a beach, blue sky and my holga and I'm always happy.

6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.
I am the point where I really want to take a good self portrait that reflects a lot about who and what I am. Something that reflects as much about the internal workings of my mind as well as my outer appearance.

7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in?
. My contacts on flickr. There are so many of my friends who have been so great and inspiring with their comments and advice. I'm not going to mention anyone specifically as I'm bound to leave someone out but you know who your are!

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop
None - self taught, so still make lots of mistakes. Though I guess a mistake isn’t a mistake if I learn something from it!

9: Plans for the future?
Just to continue with taking photos - if it becomes more than a hobby than great but if not then I its something I love doing

10: In one word, describe your photography.
Holgatastic

D. James

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: D. James


-- from D.James | Darren Ryan - (?)
I chose this first photo because I just love how each color plays off of the others and the softness of the pattern, for me it adds an element of electricity and intrigue to the image.


-- from D.James | Darren Ryan - (?)
I love architecture, so I thought I would share this second shot. In many ways, this building is very simple and utilitarian. Almost a literal box. But if you look deeply at the lines, the details, the light, the shadows and the colors, it becomes more than just a box; it takes on a rhythm, or better yet a life of some sort. This shot is a very simply study of what many folks see (or ignore) as an unattractive box.

1: How long have you been involved in photography?
Since I was about 6 years old. My dad was an avid photographer, so he always had his camera and I was always his little assistant. As I grew up, he taught me so much, from the technical aspects of photography to darkroom techniques and of course digital photography. He passed away in 2001 and I didn’t shoot anything for the next 5 years or so. In 2006, I picked up the camera again, found Flickr and have been working again ever since!

2: Equipment you use?
Canon and Sony, although I really prefer my Sony. Not much of a gear head here so I won’t list everything down to the color of my camera bags. I definitely feel that it’s not necessarily about the gear, it’s about the skills that one brings to the camera!

3: Mac or PC?
PC…um…no further comment.

4: What inspires you?
All kinds of things inspire me! There are some really awesome Flickr folks that are very inspirational. I love color, lines, structure and composing images, but where I find the most inspiration is just looking around me at the things I see every day and learning how to interpret them differently or to look through them and see something different.

5: Preferred subject matter?
I prefer to shoot inanimate objects and try to give them energy and life. I also love to hunt down great color!!

6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.
A great portrait of my pack (the beagles and me). I am awful with portraits anyway so maybe I will leave that up to some Flickrite who rocks portraits and can handle the challenge! Any takers!? =)

7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in?
My cameras. I know that sounds really silly, but it’s true. My photography is very personal for me so I tend not to share unless I am fully confident in the work.


8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop
I am a creative director by trade, so from a professional standard I am quite familiar with many editing and design programs, although Photoshop is by far my favorite tool.


9: Plans for the future?
This one is a tough one because who knows what the future holds! I know that If my eyes and hands still work, I will be shooting!


10: In one word, describe your photography.
This one is the toughest because I really don’t know what I would call it in one word. Since I couldn’t come up with something on my own, I asked a few of my Flickr friends to help me out and they struggled to come up with just one word too! So I thought I would share some of what they came up with:

Stunning, vibrant, imaginative, abstract, inspiring, stupendous, riveting, captivating, magnetic, charismatic, complex, frame-worthy, contrast, magical, DeJaArt, futuristic, colorful, superb, geometric, architectural, caring, decadent, textural, alluring and visionary.

I know, more than one word, but whew, do I have some of the absolute best Flickr friends in the world or what!

Eplefat

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Eplefat


-- from eplefat - (?)
I don't have any favorite photos, it's just some photos I like better than others. This one of Solveig is shot some weeks ago. What I like about it is that you can see some kind of expression behind her hair, but it's hard to figure exactly what. I just hope that someone will discover Solveig and her talent someday. She is awesome!


-- from eplefat - (?)
This is Kamilla, the fur coat belongs to her grandma. I had a desperate try to make it look more feminine and interesting by shaping it like her hips. What I like about this is her expression against the styling. She looks so good with long hair.

1: How long have you been involved in photography?

The day my father bought the Canon EOS 350D, my interest in photography started growing. It took about 9 months before I created my Flickr profile. At that time, my photography was simply all about capturing something special, or something that was pure and beautiful in my opinion. Photography wasn't my biggest interest back then, I was planning to keep up with graphics design or interior design. Things changed when I got my 50mm f/1.8 lens for christmas in 2006, and after two months I started with portraiture. With lots of inspiration from Lara Jade Coton and similar portraiture photographers at my age, my interest in portraiture just grew. Now I've had my 50mm for about a year, and now I'm kinda in need of a new one, mine is well used.

2: Equipment you use?

98% of my photos is taken with the EOS 350D (Digital Rebel XT). Recently I bought a EOS 40D, and now I only shoot in RAW, which I never did with the 350D. I mostly use my 50mm f/1.8 and my 85mm f/1.8 portraiture lenses for my photos, mostly because of the DoF they make.

3: Mac or PC?

I've used Macs for about seven years now. I love them, they inspire me. I think that's all there is to say.

4: What inspires you?

What inspires me is the hardcore experimental fashion. I love looking through old editorials from Italian Vogue for inspiration. I also admire the works of some really good photographers at my age, their style and their processing work inspire me a lot.

5: Preferred subject matter?

I would say fashion, but I'm also into capturing different moods of things and people. I love to use my camera as a way of communicating a mood or a very strong expression. I'm very fascinated by the fashion industry as you probably know by now.

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

I never plan my personal photoshoots, and that's something I want to do more. I want to make a specific theme/setting and plan every detail from make-up to background details. I think that this will help me to focus more on the pure photography part than the other involved stuff. So, that's something I haven't captured yet, and I would very much like to do it. But, to answer the question, there is a lot of "things" i would love to capture, and by "things" i mean models. Right now Alice Gibb is on the top of my wishlist, but I could keep on for hours just writing a list of models I would have loved to shoot.

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

I often take some time without personal projects, to focus on the commissions I get, like family/children portraiture and other. Mostly because it is "boring" work, where I don't actually need to be so creative. When I take a little time off, my mind gets inspiration from things I see in daily life and at school and such.

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop

Fact is, I'm totally self-taught. For about 5 years I've been messing around in photoshop, and you sure do learn something from that. I'm self-taught when it comes to photography too. It would have been nice to have friends with a similar interest in photography that I have.

9: Plans for the future?

I'll probably finish high-school first, and try to develop my art a lot while I have the time and live with my parents. Then I'm going to live in Oslo for some time, supposedly to become an intern with a great photographer. My dream is to study at Brooks Institute of Photography in California for some years, and I'll probably to that if I get the money. After that I want to have my own fashion studio in New York. Ok, so it seems like it's all kinda planned.

10: In one word, describe your photography.

I think it's a quite impossible task to describe my photography in one word. A lot of my photos looks like a frozen moment, with a frozen expression.

Lars Van de Goor

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Lars Van de Goor

1. when the leaves start talking, i will be silent

-- from Lars van de Goor - (?)
What i like about this image is that although i did some editing, i did'nt had to do too much about it.
I had shot some pictures in the forest and was focused on some sunrays. At home i discovered the shape of a face in the leaves.
I love editing, but nothing can beats "Mother Nature" !

Towards the Light

-- from Lars van de Goor - (?)

1: How long have you been involved in photography?

Music was my first love and photography seems to be the latest :-)
Am i a musician taking pictures or a photographer making music.
Anyway I like to create!
I am involved in photography since march 2007

2: Equipment you use?

I have a Panasonic DMC FZ 50, which has everything on board for an amateur who wants to learn to shoot manually and develop his skills.
For post-processing, I use Aperture and i have an old version of Photoshop elements "3.0."
In the future i would like to work with CS3, because i like the post work as much as the shooting itself.

3: Mac or PC?

iMac 24"

4: What inspires you?

I get inspired by almost anything. Like you can see in my stream, there is a great variety.
The moment you look true a camera, you look at your surrounding in an other way. For me it's like discovering the world again,...and again..
And of course all the photographers here on Flickr, we all inspire and get inspired by each other,...so wonderful!


5: Preferred subject matter?

I am a sucker for perspective and I like to shoot objects from a uncommon angle.
When it's bad weather, i search for small objects in my house and try to make them look interesting.
And i love to take pictures of animals.

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

I really want to capture people on the street, "a caught in the act situation" not from a distance, but close by. A frozen moment that shows a story that can be told in many ways!



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

When i am in doubt i first create a distance, try to look at it as if it were not my pictures. But that's not so easy.
Put it aside and look at it a couple of days later. And i can always ask my children 16 & 11.
They almost always pick without hesitation the one they think is the best :-)


8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop

Never had any training, i would like to do a training in PS


9: Plans for the future?

I have a fulltime job, therefore less time for photography!
So, my plan would be to create more time and
really dive in Photography and Photoshop and who knows, make a living out of that :-)


10: In one word, describe your photography.

To answer this is as difficult as choosing two of my pictures showing up here.
At this moment i would just say : Dreamlike
I did not found out yet if i have a particular style, i better leave that to others :-)

Kim Denise

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Kim Denise

I've chosen two images that appear side-by-side in my photostream. The first shows my fascination with post-processing and montage-making, driven by a desire to create the most painterly images possible. The second shows my fondness for making painterly images in-camera, without any post-processing beyond levels adjustments. I love playing with shallow depth-of-field and bokeh effects. Perhaps it's my lack of quality lenses, or maybe it's the fact that I paint in a very realistic style and need some relief from it, but I enjoy making soft, mysterious, dreamlike images that suggest rather than tell. Both images show my love for the frozen moment, that brief glimpse from the corner of your eye that evokes a mood or a memory.

-- from Kim Denise - (?)


-- from Kim Denise - (?)

1: How long have you been involved in photography?
I've been involved in photography for about a year and a half. I bought my DSLR so I could take better photos of my paintings, and I got so hooked on photography and Flickr that I didn't paint at all for over a year. Now I'm back at the easel again, and I am a better painter because of the lessons photography has taught me.

2: Equipment you use?
I have a Nikon D50, a wonderful Nikkor 50mm/f 1.8 lens, and an inexpensive Tamron 18-200mm/f 3.5-6.2 macro zoom. It's interesting how the equipment has affected my work. The 50mm/f 1.8, with its sharpness, fine control over DoF, and lush bokeh, encourages me to take the sorts of dreamy images I enjoy. The Tamron, with its regrettable lack of sharpness, does the same. For post-processing, I use Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.0. Oh, and I have an old tripod of my dad's that gets a lot of use.

3: Mac or PC?
I use a PC. Not that I wouldn't love to have a Mac someday!

4: What inspires you?
I am inspired by other artists, here on Flickr and elsewhere. I am inspired by music, the radio news, chance comments and barely-seen scenes between people. I am constantly inspired by those brief flashes of time where all the sensory elements converge to create a sense of something larger than the moment. In fact, I live for those brief flashes. The connectedness and immanence and heightened awareness experienced in those fleeting seconds are really a spiritual experience for me.

5: Preferred subject matter?
The everyday. I can't walk by the dish drainer without wanting to take a photo of it, LOL. I am fascinated by the play of light on the various surfaces in my home and I often have to stop myself from getting the camera or I would be late for work! I'm a fool for reflected light and color...and of course, I can't resist photographing my cats. I am drawn to shape, color and mood more than to particular subjects (except the cats), and I especially love images that capture how a moment feels, rather than just how it looks.
.
6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.
That thing I talk about in #4. I'll be chasing it always...but the satisfaction is in the pursuit.

7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in?
Flickr friends, other artist friends...but mostly, I just keep working. The skills acquired making unsuccessful images are just as important as those acquired making our most exciting and successful ones. In fact, we learn more from our mistakes.

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop
I'm self-taught.

9: Plans for the future?
My focus right now is on painting. My work is selling well and I have another show to prepare for. Since I work full-time outside the home, this doesn't leave me much time for anything but the easel. I don't have a lot of aspirations for selling my photography at this point, although I certainly wouldn't mind it! At some point, I'd like to get the real Photoshop and take classes with an expert. And I definitely want some better lenses!

10: In one word, describe your photography.
Magical? I'd love it if that word could really describe my photography. It's more of a goal than an actuality at this point.

Quizz

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Quizz
1 The big love for the legless dog.

-- from Quizz... - (?)
This photo is my collection’s jewel.
I am really proud to capture this particular moment, as I said – street photography is hard task. To become “invisible” in the middle of some interesting situation, right with your camera and your photographic nosiness is a dream of any photographer.
I love that all three of them are looking somewhere but not me, still I was arm length away – precious.
Those two girls and the puppy always make me smile. So that’s one of my favorites.

My summer of love.

-- from Quizz... - (?)
So this are my Photoshop skills.
First of all – this is collaboration with AustinTX www.flickr.com/photos/austintx/.
It’s collage, I paste myself in there to join Austin’s model and create something virtually while she was staying in USA and I in my cozy bedroom in Poland. I challenged myself and I think I did it well.
I didn’t even had prints on shirt while making my part of collaboration
So I find it lovely and innovative – the idea itself – to make photos and then together with Flickr people play with them some more, exchange, replace even if miles set us apart. It’s great fun and you can learn so much! You should try it and show me results!


1: How long have you been involved in photography?

I have started making photos three years ago, when I have joined photo blog, which happened by big accident by the way.
I was bored during summer time and this way I found a new way of spending time online.
After joining photo blog I got pulled in by this form of art right away. I can’t name anything else that inspire me more than photography – both making it and looking at works of my Flickr friends.

2: Equipment you use?

For past three years I had two cameras – both were little point and shoot ones - Panasonic and Sony Cybershot.
I love them both because they were wonderful tools to start my adventure with photography. Also for the fact, that they were my company everywhere I went. They saw all my trips, all events I went on, all friends I have.
Now for few months I have Canon 20D, and I’m learning how to make photos BIG time. I say I got it just on time because my “little friends” are starting to fall apart, maybe due to the fact I had no mercy for them for past years and now they deserve retirement. At least they had long and interesting “lives”, at least for the cameras.

3: Mac or PC?

PC, but perhaps I will upgrade soon ;)

4: What inspires you?

Other people. Flickr people. With out doubt.
The huge, great bunch of people with ideas that blow minds. Greatest source of talent, innovation, sparkle, witness, sweetness, drive, passion.
Flickr people have it all, my friends who amaze me daily, for them and for that place I want to try harder.
So once again – *YOU* inspire me.

5: Preferred subject matter?

I have no idea how to answer to that question. I like self portraits – I always look different on my photos than from what I know from the reflection in the mirror, and that is a great fun for me to discover many faces of mine. Sometimes I would like to be like Quizz, because she is so very different from real me – so if I may say so – I like the subject of Quizz, character I created.
Also I like to photograph people - street photography – I don’t have many of those because I’m usually shy to take out my camera and “shoot people” – when I will learn more and break up timidness – I’m sure that will become my favorite subject.

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

There are two things that I want to capture still – first thing is a big, fat lightning, I never managed catch that, mainly because I sit under the cover during storms.
Second is really nice, long and sharp sunbeam, like the ones I see sometimes on Flickr. I made one photo of that nature event so far, but I wish to have more of those (I guess you have to get up early first, Quizzy! ;)

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

Ummmm… Flickr people again? lol
They are a little jokers sometimes, telling me I’m kind of *OK*, and even that I know those are white lies at times, it gives me a big boost and I can carry on with what I like, with much less doubts.


8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop

I’m Interior Designer, so I had something to do with graphic programs, yet mainly architectural ones and three dimension ones, like 3D MAX.
Photoshop I have learned on my own after joining Flickr, and then some of those “skills” I used at school, not the way around 

9: Plans for the future?

Oh my, where to start. I have just finished Academy of Fine Arts with Master’s Degree in Architectural Design, and the sky is the limit. I want to do something connected with photography, design…
I did many things already – paint, sculpt, made jewels, worked in Culture Centers…
I don’t have certain plan, but I just know that my future job will be my greatest hobby.
Naive? Oh well ;)


10: In one word, describe your photography.

MagicWorldWhereIcanRelaxAndInviteMyFriendsInto.

Me*Voila

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Me*voila

Cb

-- from me*voila - (?)

Time is up

-- from me*voila - (?)

1: How long have you been involved in photography?
for about 10 years, black and white darkroom work at first, digital since 2006.

2: Equipment you use?
Nikon D200, favourite lens: Nikkor macro 105mm. 2 old lenses, 180mm and 300mm for nature shots. a small Sony to carry along everywhere.

3: Mac or PC?
Mac

4: What inspires you?
life, reflections, the beauty of the simple thing.

5: Preferred subject matter?
Reflections, the effect of light, more and more abstracts.

6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.
the little smile on someone's face that makes you happy,having seen it!

7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in?
I view images of my favourite photographers and try to find why these are special to me!

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop
Some photography and painting classes, several PS courses to learn the basics.

9: Plans for the future?
Feeling life!

10: In one word, describe your photography.
this is the one I do not have an answer to!

Telzey

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Telzey


-- from Telzey - (?)

The ducks and geese at the Los Angeles Arboretum are most co-operative models — especially if you happen to be carrying a piece of bread or raisins. As they crowded around for their "fair share," this gander made a grand entrance -- oozing over with that air of self-importance which geese do so well. Drawing upon the way romantic painters portrayed birds in flight, I tried to convey not only his grace, but the flurry of feathers and movement of water.


-- from Telzey - (?)

This shot of my first live orchid was taken right after Valentine's Day. The flowers — such an unusual color — evoked a tropical paradise with rich color and heavy shadows and the whirr of an old ceiling fan.

1: How long have you been involved in photography?
Right before my 5th birthday, my mom found me sitting on the floor "making pictures" with one of her cameras — probably a Rolleiflex. A few days later I received my first camera: a Kodak Brownie 127. It was an expensive gift for a 5 year old, but I loved it to death. Gee, I wish I still had some of those old cameras today!

2: Equipment you use?
In the past I was a strictly analog kinda gal with a Nikon, an Asahi Pentax, lots of lenses, and my own darkroom ... but after I developed an decided pallor and realized that my clothing smelled permanently of fixative, I decided to move to the digital world. Now, I use a Nikon D40x with two lenses: 18- 55mm and 55-200 mm. (I want more! o_O) It's my first DSLR and my third digital camera.

3: Mac or PC?
Mac all the way. I've been buying them since early 1985. Love my Cinema Display!

4: What inspires you?
Life. Music. Books. The Pre-Raphaelites, Joseph Cornell, Leo and Diane Dillon. Everything goes in, a type of synesthesia takes place, and my art is the result.

5: Preferred subject matter?
Anything that doesn't run away from me first. o_O I'm afraid I'm one of those photographers who refuses to be tied down. My subjects and artistic styles are as varied as my interests.

6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.
A portrait as deep and revealing as a Rembrandt.

7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in?
I'm heavily into self-editing and rarely feel the need to ask for advice, but when I do I go to my husband Art or my friend Ray (kunstkammer). Then I decide which parts, if any, of their critique(s) to address.

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop
Well, I majored in photography — studying under Les Krims and Dick Link. Sounds great, but when I moved out to Los Angeles I was told by the studios that I'd have to work for 3-5 years before they broke me of all the bad habits I learned in college. So did I want a job pulling focus? I chose, instead, to become a bookseller which meant looking at other people's art for several decades.

I'm entirely self-taught in Photoshop, which I've been playing with since before it was Photoshop. To me, PS CS3 is the best toy, er tool, in the world. Most of my processing uses textures, layer adjustments and gaussian blurs. I avoid Actions and Filters which seem heavy-handed by comparison.

I've been working as a graphics designer for nearly 10 years. I do covers, book layouts and have opened my own small press. Creating art is, for me, a lifestyle. Doesn't always pay well, but it's immensely satisfying.

9: Plans for the future?
I don't ever want to stop exploring and learning. I'd like to sell enough of my work to justify the amount of time I spend on it. I'd like to have a book published that doesn't wind up in the remainder bins after 6 months.

10: In one word, describe your photography.
Ha! .. and you told me choosing two examples of my work would be the hard part! o_O
Eclectic.

Mijunique

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Mijunique


-- from mijunique - (?)
I was really fascinated by this spotted wall.Very photogenic as i think. So i waited ......and waited. I tried different angles......and i waited again. Till the moment this guy passed by. click. And just in this moment he turned his head around - I like the blurr.


-- from mijunique - (?)

1: How long have you been involved in photography?

My first camera was an analog reflex-camera that i bought in 2003 just before I started my trip through Australia. But behind that there was a totally different intention than it is now. I wanted to make shots of my journey to have a nice memory in the future. My first digital camera and the beginning of my addiction was a built-in-mobile-phone-camera (???). I was playing with the different settings and effects like b/w ,sepia, negative etc..... and was fascinated that i can have a look at the pictures right after taking them. Even some of my first pictures that i uploaded to flickr are shot with my mobilephone.

2: Equipment you use?

First: Canon EOS 3000N ( analog )

Then: Sony Ericsson K750i

Now: Pentax Optio A10

Future: My Canon again......I want to learn how to develope negatives myself

3: Mac or PC?

I would buy a Mac just because of the design but got a PC because I´m used to it.

4: What inspires you?

Flickr was and still is a great source of inspiration for me. There are so many talented photographers with all the different styles from nude-photography over architecture- and animal-shots to streetphotography and much more. I mean, i don´t like them all but theres something for everybody. I can spend a whole day clicking through the endless pictures on Flickr. I´m really happy that i´ve found this page, it shows me so many different ways to see the world.

But also the good old masters of photography like Herwitt or Bresson for example are always very inspiring.

5: Preferred subject matter?
I love shapes, so most of the time i´m just looking for interesting compositions. I´m walking around, trying different views of a location and then try to catch the moment when there is a person just at the right place,in the right moment. And sometimes it works out ;-)
I have some Pictures without people aswell but somehow i need them to be a part of my photography.
.
6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.

What i would really like to capture is the moment when someone just slips. The moment between standing and lying. Perfect. There must be so much energy in a shot like that.

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

I doubt very periodic but i think that's just what everybody goes through. Sometimes i like my pictures and sometimes i don´t. Some days are great and some are pretty shitty. Sometimes it rains and next day there's sun again. High tide and low tide. I had almost 25 years to get used to it.

And i don´t tell anybody - pssssssshhhhht


8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop

I use Photoshop but i´m not good at it (I know only some basic functions)

9: Plans for the future?

As i already mentioned, i want to learn how to develop pictures myself at home. I like working with my hands and I think its a totally different connection to a photograph. For me it sounds even kind of romantic to sit in a dark room lit up in red, watching the process as it happens. Am I crazy?

10: In one word, describe your photography.

Streetcomposition

Selvin

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Selvin


-- from s e l v i n - (?)
Captured my brother in an ecstatic mood on one of the beaches in Bombay,
the timing and composition was just perfect as I had expected
no editing done here, this one's the actual picture captured..
(F/6.4 ISO 50 Exp time - 1/729 secs)


-- from s e l v i n - (?)
Nature has been my biggest inspirations and blooming flowers brings a smile on my face
this one was captured in Kerala, India...my fav. macro shot with the perfect light and the dew drops enhanced the overall beauty

1: How long have you been involved in photography?
Got interested in photography from my diaper days! seriously involved from last one year.

2: Equipment you use?
I used to dabble around with my dad's Agfa Click II film camera,
now I use a basic P&S Nikon's L2 DSLR, planning to get a professional one soon..

3: Mac or PC?
Unfortunately I'm still using a PC, I'd worked on a Mac long back...still miss those good ol' days

4: What inspires you?
Almost everything, I get inspired almost every moment of my life..
in general life, nature and the world around me.

5: Preferred subject matter?
Landscapes, macro, portraits,motion,etc...it all depends if the intended subject is interesting

6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that
you REALLY want to capture.
I'm in search of a beautiful muse, hope I find one soon...

7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in?
Close friends and definitely my flickr buddies who are honest and sincere..

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop
I'm a student of life and learn through my experiences...
still an 'illiterate' when it comes to photography with no proper qualifications/training
I use Adobe Lightroom for basic crops and tones, prefer keeping my pictures real and natural

9: Plans for the future?
Upgrade my equipment, travel the whole world and capture God's creations through my lens

10: In one word, describe your photography.
eternal

Gary Isaacs

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Gary Isaacs


-- from gary isaacs' photos - (?)
this one just because it's new - "sofia by the plaza" i shot this a couple of days ago with a ricoh grd - i'm not a big equipment freak but i've always wanted a little pocket camera and after hitting up everybody on flickr for information decided on this one. it's small and fun to work with. i've spent years "street shooting" with speed graphics and don't really subscribe to the "you have to be discreet" thing completely - just depends on what you're up to and how you like to work. that said i'm really enjoying this little camera - it makes things seem so intimate to me


-- from gary isaacs' photos - (?)
"the last leg of a bar room bet" - it's a polaroid (667) - when we got to the edge of the desert she balked and offered to go double or nothing - she lost that one too and had to marry me .

1: How long have you been involved in photography?

about 20 years - different concerns and different stages but about 20 years

2: Equipment you use?

35mm and medium format for film - nothing special digital and more importantly to me modified large format rangefinders that i use almost exclusively with polaroid

3: Mac or PC?

mac

4 what inspires you?

well i'm just pretty curious - i'm curious about the experience of making photographs - i like stepping into the moment with my camera and seeing what will happen - i guess i'm inspired by my own curiosity - doesn't really take much to get me going

5 preferred subject matter?

people - i mostly like to photograph people - people and old things and old places - i like to photograph in situations where my imagination and memory are pricked at - in a way i'm less interested in what things are as i am in what they remind me of


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

something that i remain truly humble in the presence of - something that makes my mind stop yaking for longer than a moment - something that would make it ok to stop photographing



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

the I Ching



8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop

i'm not qualified i've just done this for awhile

9: Plans for the future?

not exactly - i've been stock piling polaroid and i want to use it up before it goes bad - there's this gothic hillbilly band that wants me to travel with them through eastern Europe but i'm not sure that's a plan

10: In one word, describe your photography.

memory

Soffia Gisladóttir

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Soffia Gisladóttir


-- from Soffia Gisladóttir - (?)
Nina. This is a photo from one of the most fun photoshoot I did last summer. The girls were such a brilliant models.


-- from Soffia Gisladóttir - (?)
Island. This is an Icelandic landscape. I got so many emails from people asking me about how I processed my photos, so I did my first tutorial on this photo.

1: How long have you been involved in photography?

I graduated from Iceland Academy of the Arts in 2001, specialized in printmaking, there I worked a lot with photographs when creating my art, and that has led to that for 3 or 4 years now, my media has been mostly photography.


2: Equipment you use?

I have a canon 400d and 18-55 mm kit lens, and a sigma 28-300 mm lens. I also have a powershot A540 that I use a lot.


3: Mac or PC?

I´ve always had a PC, maybe I´ll get a Mac one day.


4: What inspires you?

Halli my muse, cinema, music, people, travelling, life in general and redwine.



5: Preferred subject matter?

I really like taking pictures of people, lately my clients have mainly been musicians and kids, and I have enjoyed those photoshoots, lots of creativity.
I also like landscapes, good subjects here in Iceland, as well as in B.C, Canada were I used to live. I´ve travelled quite a bit, and there are so many beautiful places on this earth.



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

A good picture of me :) I don´t have many photos of myself, like arty and cool ones, and I really wanna capture few cool photos of myself that I could use as a press photos.


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

Redwine and my muse, Halli


8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop

I have a B.A in Fine Arts, but I´m self-taught in Photoshop.


9: Plans for the future?

work hard and live life to the fullest.


10: In one word, describe your photography.

cinematic

Idg

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: idg


-- from idg - (?)
" Puffins are 1 of my favourite subjects - and others seem to agree as I have sold a good few of my puffin images. I am lucky enough to live close to an Island that contains tens of thousands of these birds and I really like this shot because of the pose, the dof and the fact that there are three of them in position"


-- from idg - (?)
"I like this landscape scene and try to return to it often to capture the effect that the seasons and the elements have on the view. In this shot (for which I used HDR) I particularly like the mood at work - the darkness and the sense of space"

1: How long have you been involved in photography?.
Two and a half years

2: Equipment you use?.
Nikon D50, Nikon D200 – and recently I have been experimenting with a Canon 5d, I use a Manfrotto Tripod and am currently looking at investing in more “glass”.

3: Mac or PC?.
PC

4: What inspires you?.
I try to capture images every day -the simple beauty that can be all around us (whether in the city or the countryside)

5: Preferred subject matter?.
I have had great fun with landscapes, puffins, HDR, images of Dundee City and the beautiful Scottish countryside. However I feel that with so much still to experiment with – I can’t give a definitive preferred subject matter.

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

7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in?.
The trees in the forest! Only joking – I am a member of the local Photographic Society and have found a couple of informal mentors there whose constructive feedback is great. In addition to this I am encouraged by the many Flickr contacts who offer guidance, advice and support.


8: Qualifications/training in anything? i.e.: Photoshop.
No formal qualifications – I am an avid reader of articles / books and online forums. Last November I attended 2 weekend training courses run by the local Photographic Society – 1 featured Photoshop techniques and the other was a thorough outline of digital photography and how to use your camera more effectively. The courses were pitched at the right level for me and perhaps more importantly – introduced me to a group of likeminded people who I continue to learn and share with.

9: Plans for the future?.
Earlier this year a friend and I set up a photography / web design company – I aim to continue to develop and build that business – but believe that it is always important to enjoy my photography.


10: In one word, describe your photography.
Progressive

Moody Fingers

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Moody Fingers


These are both older pieces and I probably have more recent images that are technically better but.. these are 'my' personal favourites!

-- from Moody_fingers - (?)
>
"Come to me..." Was pretty much my first signature piece that said portrait photography with a creative twist!! So this one has a special place in my heart :)


-- from Moody_fingers - (?)1: How long have you been involved in photography?

I have been properly involved in photography since mid 2006 when I bought my Canon 20D.

2: Equipment you use?

I use a Canon 20D, Canon 18-55 kit lens, Canon 50mm 1.8, recently purchased Canon 70-200mm f4 L, Canon 580ex Flash with Gary Fong lightsphere and a manfroto tripod. Along with a couple of filters.

3: Mac or PC?

I have a PC but I'm not fussed..

4: What inspires you?

What doesn't inspire me?? :D Everything inspires me!! From doing the dishes to fellow flickrites! Anything that's a little quirky and fun..


5: Preferred subject matter?

I prefer people! I love capturing the very essence of people....
Giving them an image of themselves that is timeless, beautiful and unique to thier personality...

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

Something I really want to capture... that's a tough one..
I guess I want to capture a moment that really mesmerizes the audience on an intimate level.. one of those "I shouldn't be looking at this, but I can't look away.."

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

Sometimes my husband but usually Flickr... I have some wonderful contacts on here that usually tell me what's good or bad..!
I have been getting some extra landscape advice from Jonnyfez recently too!

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop

I'm meant to be studying for a certificate in photography as we speak.. However the practical has overtaken the study... :S As for photoshop.. all self taught! Trial and error.. best form of learning!

9: Plans for the future?

To become Famous!!! Jokes! ;-)
I have recently set up for a photography business and hope to make my passion my way of a living..

10: In one word, describe your photography.

Quirky

Ecstaticist

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Ecstaticist


-- from ecstaticist - (?)
This photo was taken on a bright morning close to dawn. The light was really bright, but coming from a side angle and still had some of that magic quality about it. This is shot handheld with my Casio. No significant post-processing on this. Just a bit of a crop


-- from ecstaticist - (?)
This is shot from a float plane. I chose it as an example of my post processing. The original was dark and noisy with little contrast. This looks more like what we saw from the plane. Again, shot with my Casio.

1: How long have you been involved in photography?

Since I was 10 years old, so 33 years. I bought old 120 cameras in my early teens and did things like star trails. The large format often produced really nice results. I still have some of those photos. In junior high school I learned the darkroom. I loved spending time with the equipment in the red light. Enlarging and printing was very fun, and that's where I learned SLR photography as well with a Pentax K-1000. I bought my first digital camera in 1995, an Apple QuickTake 150 with 640x480 resolution.

2: Equipment you use?

I use a 2 year-old 5MP Casio EX-P505 digital point and shoot for nearly all my photos. It is very small and I have it with me all the time. It has an exceptional macro function and a good lens. If you visit my profile you can see it with a link to more info about it. I would recommend it to anyone for macro photography. I also use a K-1000 SLR, a Canon Rebel XT and a Sony DSC-H9 (borrowed occasionaly).

3: Mac or PC?

I am a Mac user. I have been in the computing industry for 15 years. I was a PC user for a few years around 2000 out of work-related necessity, but came back to Mac with Titanium PowerBook. I now use a MacBook Pro. I do own two PCs and a Linux machine as well. Some of the comments I have posted on flickr photos have been posted using my BlackBerry, which I have with me all the time as well.

4: What inspires you?

Light and curvature. Great light is the thing that always catches me, and 95 percent of the photos in my stream are natural light. Curvature is fundamental to beauty, and it is nascent in even the most linear abstract image.

5: Preferred subject matter?

Again, anything that exhibits interesting lighting. I have 1200 droplet refractions in a set on my stream. A dew or rain drop catches light and concentrates it somehow, refracting it and changing it. They sparkle and I am drawn like a moth. I also love reflected light, especially on water, which you see in my aerial shots, sunsets, and my Flood creations. Also, light on curves...this is why I do so many flower macros.
.
6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.

I need a better, faster camera to do street photography. Anonymous people going about their lives...this fascinates me but I don't have what is required right now to do good photography of that nature i.e. a decent telephoto.


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

My wife. For example, the other evening I wasn't sure about two versions of Golden Lion I had produced. She picked the better one right away and it was on the Front Page of Explore a few hours later.


8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop

I have no formal training in PhotoShop, but I am an avid user. Because my camera tops out at ISO 400, the images are quite often noisy...too noisy. I use a PS plugin called Neat Image that my friend Mosippy turned me on to. I works really well to take out noise without altering the image.

I use a lot of PS functions in general to treat my photos. Not always, but quite often. I want my photos to be the way I remember the scene, not the way my camera captured it through its inadequate CCD and arbitrary JPEG compression. I find the debate about post-processing to be overwrought. Film photogs have been post-processing in the darkroom since forever. For me, photography is art, and the opening and closing of the shutter is just the beginning of the process of realizing your artistic intent...no limits.

I also use Flaming Pear plugins for fun, like Flood, Aetherize and Kyoto Color. I use DxO Optics Pro 4 for improving dynamic range when needed. I use Apple's Aperture as my organizing tool, but I plan to switch to LightRoom when I upgrade to CS3.

9: Plans for the future?

I definitely hope to upgrade my equipment. I am waiting for the right time. I really want a swivel, live-view LCD on the camera I buy. The Sony DSC-H9 is incredible in this regard, and it will likely be my next camera. Ultimately I want to be able to shoot RAW so I can really work with the images properly. That will require a significant investment in a DSLR set-up. It is something I have planned to do for some time, but my two-year old is my priority right now and extra money goes to her needs.

Eventually I would like to set up an internet-based framed print business, but most of the works have right now are not high res enough. Luckily the world never runs out of subjects. Lots of time for that.

Mainly I love photography as a way to really see the world rather than just pass it by, so I will continue to carry my camera with me at all times.

10: In one word, describe your photography.

Improving.

Jody9

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Jody9

The first image was taken in the spring at Gorman, California while the wildflowers were in their glory. It's the cover image of my website,
www.jodymillerphoto.com

-- from jody9 - (?)

This second image was taken in the Lake District of England in Ullswater, Cumbria. It was selected last month by the Tate Gallery in London for their 40-image exhibit entitled "How We Are Now".

-- from jody9 - (?)

1. How long have you been involved in photography?
Since I was very young, and seriously, about 35 years. I got really interested in my late teens, and studied in workshops with Jerry Uelsmann at the University of Florida in 1973, and then at the Ansel Adams Friends of Photography workshop in 1982, while Ansel was still able to actively teach. It was the greatest period of growth in my photography. I then studied privately for a couple of years with one of my instructors at the workshop, Arthur Ollman. He continues to nudge me to this day.

2. Equipment you use?
Currently, a Nikon D40x with an 18-200 zoom and a 10-20mm zoom. I've only owned those for about 4 months now. A lot of the work you see here on flickr was done with a Canon point and shoot. I have used just about every type of camera and for my early landscape work (the Britain series in particular) I used a Pentax 6x7. I also use Diana, Holga, and Fujipet toy cameras, and a ZeroImage pinhole camera.

3. Mac or PC?
I use a PC at home, and at work I use a Mac. I love them both for different reasons.

4. What inspires you?
Beauty. I look for the beauty in everything, even the ugly. My desire is to connect with beauty and communicate it.

5 Preferred subject matter?
Landscape in general, though I shoot many "types" of landscape. I do some macro work too, though I'm not as satisfied with much of it. I especially enjoy night photography for its surprising results.

6.Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you really want to capture.
A truly evocative cinematic moment, with a human subject. I'm not that good at shooting people.

7. When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in?
I have my teacher, Arthur Ollman, who has been my muse and my best source of constructive criticism for over 25 years. He always finds a way to push me out of my comfort zone. My husband is also a wonderful photographer and gives me great feedback.

8. Qualifications / training:
I'm an art director and animator for television and have been in that field for 35 years now. It melds beautifully with my photography. I taught myself photoshop about a year and a half ago. I still don't know enough about it.

9. Plans for the future?
I've always wanted to own a gallery, though whether that's a brick and mortar storefront or an online gallery remains to be seen. I would love to showcase the work of those artists I admire and give them great representation. My current fantasy plan, though, is to sell everthing I own, buy a camper van and set off to tour the continent and shoot whatever and whenever I want!

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

Dew Wipe

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Dew_Wipe

-- from dew_wipe - (?)


-- from dew_wipe - (?)

1: How long have you been involved in photography?
I've been involved in photography for about two years.

2: Equipment you use?
I use a Canon Digital IXUS 70. And of course always enhance the quality of the shots, or manipulate them in photoshop. I love photoshop :)

3: Mac or PC?
Both :)

4: What inspires you?
Flickr of course :P Other photographers, my friends, movies, faces... And boredom. Boredom is a big inspiration, then I sometimes just HAVE to do something creative ;)

5: Preferred subject matter?
People, faces, portraits. I love faces :)

6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.
Hmmm... Maybe a flying bird.. I dont know really!

7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in?
Lars V! He's my best friend and a great photographer (Also on flickr :)

8: Qualifications/training in anything? e.g. Photoshop
Haven't had any education within photography. Just started for fun :)
Learned some photoshop in school though, and the rest I've learned on my own.

9: Plans for the future?
Right now, I have no plans... I just enjoy life and live in the now I guess. I work as a graphic designer at the moment and will keep doing that for a while. Thou it would be great to combine it with photography!

10: In one word, describe your photography.
Weird! :P

Fort Photo

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Fort Photo


-- from Fort Photo - (?)

Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico is a dream location for combining two of my favorite activities: birding and photography. This image has had very little post-processing, I was thrilled the way the silhouettes and golds turned out. I also like how it's both an avian capture and a landscape at the same time. Bosque has to be one of the best spots on earth for doing nature photography in general.


-- from Fort Photo - (?)

I decided to feature this image as I do quite a bit of night photography, and this one while being one of my all-time favorites has not gotten as much attention as some of my other work.

1: How long have you been involved in photography?

Over 25 years ago I got my first camera-- a pinhole camera kit. I've been shooting with SLRs for over 20 years.

2: Equipment you use?

Cameras: Nikon D70, Nikon N90s, Nikon Coolpix 4500, Polaroid Land Camera, Kodak Instamatic 124. Lenses: 17-35mm f/2.8D ED-IF AF-S Zoom-Nikkor, 300mm f/4 AF Nikkor, 50mm f/1.8 AF Nikkor, 105 f/2.8 Macro AF Nikkor (non-VR version), Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF Zoom Nikkor, Tokina 28-80 F2.8 AT-X, Kenko Pro telecoverters at 1.4x and 2x. Flash: Nikon SB-28 and SB-15, Sunpack AF 4500 or something heh. I have an external cable, slave and bracket for flash as well. Reflectors made from car sunshades, a mess of filters (most used: polarizer, ND, ND grad, warming, didymium) plus a bunch of stuff I'm sure I have forgot hah.

For my 4500 coolpix, I use it primarily for digiscoping distant birds these days and for that use either a Nikon TelesMicro ED6 x 18D monoscope (amazing optic, also doubles as a field lens/microscope) or my Nikon 60mm ED Fieldscope with various eye-pieces. My tripod is a non-exciting Bogen 3021 with a variety of heads, but I really need to upgrade here. I also use a monopod, bean bags and a window mount for my camera.

3: Mac or PC?

Work on a PC but like Macs too.

4: What inspires you?

I find inspiration everywhere I look. Whether it’s the incredible biodiversity on our planet that I love to study and photograph or if it’s an emotion I’m feeling-- there always seems to be something pushing me to go capture more images. Also being here on flickr has proved to really invigorate and inspire me all the more with the great photos one can find everyday and the encouraging comments my friends share.

5: Preferred subject matter?

Not really any, I like many genres ranging from street to studio. But in practice I tend to post landscapes, birds, and other nature images most often which makes sense as I am completely fascinated by the natural world.
.
6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.

A whole list of birds that are still eluding me such as Mountain Plover.

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

My wife has a BFA from Oregon College of Art and Craft and is a wonderful sounding board for ideas and critique.

8: Qualifications/training in anything? e.g. Photoshop

Photoshop, Gimp, Photomatix, LucisArt, Nikon Capture NX, DxO Optics Pro, and LucisArt among others. Back in film days I led a darkroom lab for a black and white photojournalism college level class but have not been in a darkroom in years since the advent of the digital darkroom.

9: Plans for the future?

I want to continue pushing myself to grow as a photographer. In a lot of ways I feel that digital cameras and the digital darkroom have opened a new frontier in photography and a number of us on flickr and elsewhere are on a journey of exploration in that frontier. It's getting to the point where it's literally quite exciting to log on flickr and see what the amazing artists here have come up with next. Also I am focusing on trying to get my work out there more via both for profit and not for profit channels. And I of course have a long list of equipment and workshops I would love to spoil myself with, but in the end I think just getting out and taking the best images I can manage is the most important goal.

10: In one word, describe your photography.

Passionate

*Elle*

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: *Elle*


-- from *Elle* - (?)
Myanmar 2007


-- from *Elle* - (?)
Deadvlei - Namib desert 1999

1: How long have you been involved in photography?
Since I’ve been 13.
I started travelling some years later, taking photographs has been a way to recall at home the emotions got around the world.

2: Equipment you use?
My equipment: I started with a Rolleiflex, than I passed to Nikon –cameras, the 1.st has been the FE2. My 1st digital-camera was the Sony DSC-F828, wich I bought 2004, I bought it very doubtfully. Since February I use the Nikon D200 whit
Nikon Lens Series E 28mm 1:2.8,
Nikon Lens Series E 50mm 1:1,
AF Nikkor 35-70 1:3.3-4.5,
AF Micro Nikkor 60mm 1:2.8,
AF Nikkor ED 80-200mm 1:2.8 D,
AF-S Nikkor 18-70mm 1:3.5-4.5 G ED
AF Nikkor 70-300mm 1:4-5.6 G

3: Mac or PC?

4: What inspires you?
I’m fascinated and inspired by the light in all its appearances, and all that’s creating emotions. It could be the glance of a child or the petals, the landscape of a desert or architecture, the light in the sky through the clouds. I love details.

5: Preferred subject matter?
All the situations when light sculptors, touches or strokes a surfaces, persons, things, the landscape, the clouds. Only recently I also use the wide-angle lens which I did not like earlier. I preferred the tele-photo lens.

6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.
I would like to “freeze” drops at the very moment they touch the water-surface. I did not manage till now, but to be sincere I did not try seriously.

7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in?
For technical issues I ask someone (also in Flickr) or I search in books or magazines. What concerns my photos I send to Flickr, those I like. Sometimes I’m surprised for pictures I consider success I expected; on the other hand pictures I judge average are appreciated more than meant. Someone gives very good advices, I appreciate them very much. I am convinced Flickr has also this mission: help to see with more eyes and from different angles of view.

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop
I did not attend courses and I read little about photographie. I ever followed my feeling, my istinct, my heart. I see for improvement (I feel the need of it) I must learn a lot and I’m moving. To say it with Henri Cartier Bresson, I will be able to use head & heart. Since I’ve joined Flickr (February 2006) I got to know Photoshop and I’m learning to use it with the support of books.

9: Plans for the future?
I will learn to use better Photoshop to improve my creativity. I feel I can express it also in the treatment of the pictures, but I will underline that the basis must be a good shot. Treatment I compare to a womans make-up wich must emphasizen her natural beauty and should not alter her or make her ugly.

10: In one word, describe your photography
For me taking photos is catch, keep and donate EMOTIONS. Without this “ingredient” every picture is flat, this adiction is basic. With photography I can give a shape to my emotions and one of my biggest pleasures is to share them.

Rod Monkey

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Rod Monkey



-- from Rod Monkey - (?)
Look Sharp
My most popular image with over 700 faves - he's a street performer taken at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. There are quite a few shots of this guy (Chris Green) on Flickr. He's very photogenic obviously, so it would have been difficult to take a bad shot of him, but I think I have the definitive image, for two reasons - the composition and the sepia conversion, which very surprisingly I don't think anybody else tried. As soon as I saw him on the street I knew exactly what the final image would look like. This was voted TWTME Photo Of the Year which was a huge compliment - thanks to all who voted for it and faved it.


-- from Rod Monkey - (?)
Luksfera Radiator
Very different to Look Sharp in that the subject matter on the face of it is so unlikely - if somebody had told me that a pic of an old radiator would end up with 300 faves I would have just laughed. I love the fact that such a 'boring' subject has done so well, and that it showcases the whole creative process - conceiving the image in my head, composing and taking the shot, and the post-processing which really adds something special.

1: How long have you been involved in photography?

For about 30 years now (so I started aged 4...ahem :) Like many, my interest has been totally re-invigorated by the digital revolution. I know the purists will sneer, but there's no way I could go back to a darkroom now - I love the immediacy and endless possibilities that today's technology allows.

2: Equipment you use?

Canon EOS 5D with Canon EF IS USM 24-105 and 70-300 zoom lenses - a fabulous camera and two very versatile lenses. I also recently bought an Elinchrom D-Lite2 home studio kit which I'm having loads of fun with, never really having done any portrait work before.

3: Mac or PC?

Currently a PC, but have been seduced by a sleek, shiny, sexy 24 inch iMac which I hope to be drooling over on my desk within a few weeks.

4: What inspires you?

The vast range of hugely talented photographers on Flickr - the amazing shots they take and the wonderful feedback & encouragement they give you. Aaw shucks...group hug!

5: Preferred subject matter?

My stream has a fair range of subjects - landscapes, studio portraits, street shots etc, but my favourite subject would have to be architecture. I love buildings with strong lines, bold colours, repeating patterns and dramatic perspectives.

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

No particular subject matter, although a studio session with Scarlett Johansson wouldn't be too shabby :) I still haven't taken a photo that I'm completely happy with, so I guess what I really want is to finally get something that ticks all the boxes, if that's possible.


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

I've made a number of great contacts through Flickr and I often ask for opinions on cropping, processing etc. Two long-standing Flickr buddies whose work and opinions I really respect are Ohsoabnormal (Caroline) and Bukutgirl (Liz). I also introduced one of my best friends to Flickr and he's now very active (Kenny Maths), although his stuff is rubbish and I wouldn't listen to anything he says :)

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop

Self-taught in Photoshop (I would highly recommend Scott Kelby's excellent PS books for very readable, practical advice). I also went on a photo holiday to the American South West with Nigel Turner, a pro landscape photographer, which was excellent. He really made me think about what I was trying to achieve with the image I was taking, and also totally changed my attitude to quality. I post very infrequently and would much rather have a small stream of (hopefully) quality images than one with loads of filler.


9: Plans for the future?

Travel more, photograph more, age less.


10: In one word, describe your photography

Improving.

Fotonstudio

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Fotonstudio

This is life......

-- from fotonstudio - (?)
My favorite subject matter is portraiture, and this image, for me, resumes what a good portrait must have... a real/natural expression, feelings, a life behind or/and ahead and a look from and to the subject's soul.

ManojoTextured, SpecialEdition.

-- from fotonstudio - (?)
This a special edition for The World Trough My Eyes, I just wanted to thank all the admins for chosing me as the featured photographer of the week. This image was originally taken for the cover of a book of the University of Huelva. It mainly represents what I want to express with my Photographs ..... Respect, Diversity, Originality and specially Freedom of Expression. It was my first success here in flickr and one of my favorite images ever, that's why I chose it to be here. Thank You Very Much.

P.S maybe you want to see the original image, here's the link...
www.flickr.com/photos/fotonstudio/307787745/

1: How long have you been involved in photography?

Since I was 6 years old. I got my first camera as a present and it was then when I discovered that what I wanted to do in my life was learning how to use that magic box. That means many, many, many years ago ;-)

2: Equipment you use?

My beautiful and powerful Mamiya 645, my old but still great Canon New F1, my wonderful Canon Eos1, my Konica/Minolta Dynax 5D and my little jewel, my Canon PowerShot A640, always with me.

3: Mac or PC?

I love Macs but I have to use both. Mac for graphics, images and creative activities, Pc's for internet and communications... but have a good antivirus!!

4: What inspires you?

The light, the moment, a face, a smile, a look, a backlight, a movement, a beach ...... all that and many more things.....

5: Preferred subject matter?

People, faces, backlights, beach shots... and actors.

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

An Earth view from the Moon.... but it may take a long time to do that, so I'd rather say that would love to photograph the yanomami indians in Amazonas or the Noubas in Sudan... if they're still alive :_____)

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

In some special friends, but usually I don't ask, it's my work and if I'm wrong it's just my fault, I assume that.


8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop

I studied Fashion Photography and Portraiture, Cinematography, Photoshop, DreamWeaver, Macromedia Flash, etc... I love computers!


9: Plans for the future?

Actually I'm bulding my new web site with my works, hope it will be online very soon... and to keep on learning, everyday, here in flickr and everywhere.


10: In one word, describe your photography.

It's a word that many of my friends, contacts, visitors and customers use, ..... Colourful.

Mykl Mabalay

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER: Mykl Mabalay


-- from mykl mabalay - (?)
This was taken during the 'Cenakulo' in Cainta, Philippines. During the Lenten Season, devotees reenact the Passion of Christ and remember his ultimate sacrifice. Religion plays an important role in the Filipino culture and it is not uncommon to see this practice in different provinces.


-- from mykl mabalay - (?)
I have to say that this is one of my most intense images. The kid's stare, the leaves, the drop of water, all work together to grab the viewers' attention. I shot this image together with some close friends in Pagsanjan, Laguna, Philippines.

1: How long have you been involved in photography?
The photography bug bit me last February 2006 only. I wanted to learn how to shoot portraits a few months before my son, Lorenzo, was born.

2: Equipment you use?
I use either a Canon Powershot S3 IS or a Canon 350D with a 24-70mm L lens for most of my photos.

3: Mac or PC?
I currently use a PC for post-processing my photos but I'm willing to try out a Mac one of these days.

4: What inspires you?
My family, friends, and the beautiful people of the Philippines.

5: Preferred subject matter?
People and emotions

6: Name one thing you haven't caught with the camera that you REALLY want to capture.
It's my dream to shoot the different tribal groups in the Philippines, from Luzon to Mindanao.


7: When in doubt about your art, who do you confide in?
My wife is my biggest supporter and she is also my worst critic.

8: Qualifications/training in anything? ie: Photoshop
I enrolled in a number of photography workshops when I was just starting out in photography. It was important for me to learn the fundamentals properly. However, the most important skills that led to my growth in this hobby were things that I learned from friends who share the same interest.

9: Plans for the future?
To continue to learn and enjoy photography as a hobby

10: In one word, describe your photography.
Emotive