Angela Lobefaro Photography: Interview with my Flickr friend Jacqueline (Jacq77)

1) How did you first get interested in photography? and are you self taught?

I received my first camera as a birthday gift when I was 13. I have been taking photos ever since (am 29 now LOL). I can't even remember what type of camera it was LOL but I remember changing the film on it drove me crazy LOL. Since then I have come to own 7 different cameras. I have taught myself to take photos. I have bought many photography books and there have been many hours invested in trial and error...which for me has been the best learning tool.

2) Do you have a favorite walk around lens? If so, what is it?

When I go out to photograph, I never leave without all my lenses.... I find myself anxious if I do LOL....but if we're talking about walkaround...it would have to be my 18 - 55mm lens. It's a dynamic lens, that I have taken a lot of photos with.

3) What equipment and software do you use?

I have a 75 - 300mm lens for my Canon 400D. I also have a Canon S3IS which I use for optical shots as the optical zoom is fabulous. Other than that I have an "analog" Nikon, but I inly shoot film these days on special occasions... I reserve film now for these occasions because it is more expensive, but the majority of my early work on Flickr are scans from my "analog" SLR as I didn't have a DSLR at the time. I have some filters, a tripod, a studio that I made up for my indoor shots, with various lamps etc.

Software.... I use Photoshop CS2 and Photomatix for HDR editing and tone mapping.

4) Which one item of equipment is the most important for you?

My cameras LOL... I can't live without them...I have one with me at all times :o))). Other than that, my most important piece of equipment is my lighting... I find light of the most importance and my lamps are the most important thing to me in the studio LOL...I have stashes of spare bulbs in case one dies LOL...maybe to the point of obsession LOL

5) How do you decide on locations and subjects?

As I said, I carry my camera with me always...but when I want to decide on a particular location I asses the photographic value of the venue...is it going to be a place that I will go back and photograph regularly or will it be a one off shoot...if a place holds many photographic opportunities then I list it as a favorite and visit it regularly...perhaps it has a good mix of gardens, buildings, etc which can provide me with a lot of different images. With regards to subjects...a lot of my studio-art work is done by inspiration from things I like...like science, art, etc.

6) What are your favorite subjects to photograph?

My favorite subjects? I have many LOL.... however...pens and pencils... feathers and masks would have to stand out as my favorites.

7) What continues to inspire you as a photographic artist?

Everything and anything...I may walk past something and think...that would make a great shot...or I may see something and visualize in my head a photo manipulation.

8) What is the one thing that you have not captured on camera you feel you need to express?

Snow.... here in AUS we don't get much snow and in the winter I have to travel very far to where it snows, and that's one thing I would really love to capture.

9) What other artists have influenced your work?

I think I have my unique style of photography and I tend to influence myself...however, viewing different kinds of works everyday sometimes gives me some ideas. There are the works of Michael Yamashito and Elliot Erwitt that I find very inspirational and have learnt a lot from.

10) What other talents do you possess besides photography? And is there another area of talent you would like to explore?

I play the violin, dance and have a variety of other interests, which I find influence and inspire a lot of my work.

11) Have you met other flick rites in person, and how was the experience?

I haven't as yet met anyone from Flickr in person, as the majority of my contacts are overseas, but I am happy with the friendships I've made on Flickr, I feel some of these friendships are for life even if they virtual and hundreds of kilometers across the sea.

12) Any words of advice for those who would like to dig deeper into photography?

Keep taking photos, with time comes experience, refinement and mastership. Takes photos of anything, take photos of things that catch your attention. Never give up!

13) Of all the photos you've taken, what is your favorite and why?

So hard to choose which is my favorite because I have many, as some have been taken with different meanings and emotions attached to them, which I try and express through the photo...if I had to choose it would be:

www.flickr.com/photos/jacqrojo/264825120/in/set-72157594491380061/

The reason why...the title.. "Masquerade" - hide your face so the world will never find you.... this was inspired by The Phantom of the Opera and at the time I took the photo I felt that in Flickr we all hid our faces behind computer screens and the only way to get insight into the personality of a person was visually through their photos...and I have found this experience more fulfilling than any other, hence why I said earlier than I have made some lifelong friends.

14) If you could change anything on flickr, what would it be?

I would change security and try and increase photo security, although on the internet nothing is 100% secure anyway.

These are the photos that Jaqueline (jacq77) want to show us in this interview

1) Inner Peace