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| Powerscourt Falls, Ireland. |
I am an avid photographer. I have been shooting fairly seriously and regularly since about the begining of 2005. Over the years my interests have shifted a little bit, however I still find myself fascinated with just about every area of photography. I initially started out photographing the outdoors as many of us do as well as family and friends. I also started carrying a camera as often as I could. The only formal training I've received was when I took a community college class I took in 2005 at which time I learned about composition and visual elements. Since then, what I've learned, I've discovered from reading various books and through experimentation.
Philosophy
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| Temporary Iraq war memorial, Santa Barbara beach. |
Without doubt, photography is an art form. I don't see myself as a journalist, my goal isn't to document the truth. My goal is to evoke emotion, stir discussion and to convey my interpretation of a scene. So with that in mind, I freely use all tools available to me to acheive this end. I may be a little bit biased but I feel that software such as Photoshop has done much to enhance the art of photography.
Coming from a mathematics and computer graphics background, getting a grasp on the technical aspects of photography were quite easy. However a technically good photograph isn't a great photograph. Its the subject, the light, the composition and the post-processing that must all come together to create a great photograph. The wonderful thing about photography is that though it is easy to master the technical stuff, it can take many years, even a lifetime to master the other stuff.
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| Mennonites of Ontario, Canada. |
Many of the photographs (particularily landscapes) were taken while on vacation and not while on a dedicated photo trip. Though in such situations one can still control the composition, controlling the light can be quite challenging. My hope is that in the coming year, I'll have the chance to take trips dedicated to photography so I can better focus on the subject and particularily the light.
For the past two years (since 2008), I have more seriously concentrated on bird photography. I have been particularily captivated by bird photography because of the subject; capturing the grace and elegance of a bird in an image is not only challenging but is also something I find very rewarding. I'll definitely be continuing to learn more about the birds and how to photograph them in the coming years.
The time spent making an image is as important to me as the final outcome itself. Its the time spent finding that ideal location and time for the perfect landscape or time spent with a group of birds waiting for some interesting behavior that I find the most rewarding. Making a fine art print can also be very rewarding. I try to make as many prints of my images as possible and have many times found a new appreciation for an image once it has been printed.
Gear
I suppose I should admit that I have far more gear than I do talent. Obviously, I recognize that better gear doesn't always make for better photographs (or a better photographer), however by having the right equipment for what I want to shoot, if I fail to get the shot I have only myself to blame. Photographic equipment discussion can be a touchy subject; like many artists, photographers can be very passionate when discussing their tools. I like the gear I use, they allow me to express my creativity but I don't have any particular allegiance to a camera company. I am also very fortunate to have been able to shoot with just about every DSLR released in the last 5 years through work. I have a seperate page to talk about some of the gear I use for the different types of photography I do:
My Gear (out of date)
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