Interview with my Flickr friend Julian (Freelance Virtuoso)

1. How did you first get interested in photography? And are you self taught?

I had my first love affair with photography in the late seventies but it only lasted for a couple of years. I owned a Canon AT1 and then an AE1 – I shot Tri-x (bw 400) film and even went as far as buying an enlarger, yes, Cralab timer, Ilford paper, the works….I shot mostly winter scenes, around Toronto (I was living there at the time). Ducks taking off from ponds, the magic of dark against white – I had a great time. One day I sold everything and moved on with my life, you know, marriage, buying a house, working, working, and more working. The so called responsibilities... To answer the second part of this question: yes I am self-taught.

2. Do you have a favourite walk around lens? If so, what is it?

In this later photographic life that started some eight months ago (second fling) I have mainly walked around with the Nikon 28-80 that came with my D50 (sorry Canon lovers, I made the switch!). After a few months I was able to exchange it for an 18-55 and this move toward a wider angle gave me the freedom I needed to dig deeper into architecture and geometric patterns. One day I accidentally broke this lens. I cannot tell you the feeling of losing a lens, your only lens, I wanted to cry. Today I walk around with a Sigma 10-20 and I am still getting used to it.

3. What equipment and software do you use?

A Nikon D50. I love it, but I need more pixels….Software? – I barely tweak my photographs and for this I use Photoshop Elements 4.0. I adjust lighting and levels, and straighten.

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

Equipment?....My camera I guess; I seem to take it everywhere I go. My legs are my tripod, I shoot everything hand held.


5. How do you decide on locations and subjects?

I just get in the car, bus or subway (many times all three) and usually head downtown to visit the works of Gehry and other architects; also museums. I strongly believe that in the earlier stages you have to walk the beat and tease the brain, look around, discover, understand why…loose the fear of space, explore. Make love to your city first, feel the wind, perspire, deal with unexpected situations, work with available light. Be thrown out by security guards then go back, take the shot and run…Keep going back until you find what you are looking for. Often when I go downtown I forget to eat, even go to the bathroom, and I come back exhausted, only to start editing. I work alone; I do not think anyone in their right mind would want to accompany me.

6. What are your favorite subjects to photograph?

Architectural angles, architectural abstracts. Don’t get me going, I could talk about this for hours …I treat architectural forms the way others treat people or landscapes. Architecture is art you can walk through…imagine being inside art.

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

Everything! – everything inspires me!


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

wow….what a great question….the female nude. I shall then photograph true architecture. But I am not ready yet.

9. What other artists have influenced your work?

Since starting up again I have been feasting my eyes with the works of Lucien Hervé (who became Le Corbusier’s preferred photographer), Andre Kertez, Tina Modotti, the obsessive Edward Weston, to name but a few… Oh, you mean on Flickr? well, just go to my contact list!. Ok, if pushed to name some I will say……nah…I am not going there, even if your name is Angela Lobefaro.

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

I once made a living playing the guitar. I once studied in the National Conservatory of Drama and worked in the theater, even TV. I once suffered the inclement power of a military regime and sought broader horizons and a new language. Today, many years later, photography is my new art. I would love to take up Painting….


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

I met fellow flickrer Jack Hindmarsh, from San Luis Obispo, CA. I was up there breaking up a trip I took to Santa Cruz. Jack is a cool guy who is very engaging and can handle bokeh like few others can. I still owe him a dinner, right Jack? “You won’t be so quick picking up the tab the next time”. It was great meeting someone you had so much in common with right from the start: photography and Flickr. Behind every contact lies a great person; I was glad to confirm this about Jack.

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

Advice? Me?....go ask the people in question 9, what do I know? The basics: It is not the size of the camera that matters……

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

I love “Party of fifty, please…” I chased those birds till they were tired, and they gave me their splendor and grace. It is my favorite because it has one extra ingredient that no other photograph I took has: luck. How can you plan a photograph with over fifty birds as the main ingredient? Funny, my favorite shot is not architecture.

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

That dam&$#@ busy white background! I wish we had on demand view black and view white to REALLY appreciate the photographs. Instead we have to go and play flickrtoys rulette. Also, the vulnerability; people with no declared icon and profile or photographs fave my shots all the time. I have to constantly be monitoring this occurrence and I spend a lot of time blocking these re-sellers? Copycats? Creeps? I know, I know it is open internet and if the kitchen is too hot maybe you shouldn’t cook but…Lastly: Explore – I play the game, but we all know it is a joke.

These are the photos that Julian want to show us in this interview:

1)Squared/4

Squared/4, originally uploaded by freelancevirtuoso.

2) Waving...

Waving..., originally uploaded by freelancevirtuoso.

3) In light of...

In light of..., originally uploaded by freelancevirtuoso.

Thanks to Julian for his meaningful interview and for teaching us to point our nose upward while making a photowalk ;-)

Julian (Freelance Virtuoso) Flickr profile

angie_real aka Angela Lobefaro

Interview with my Flickr friend Alex (Algo)

1. How did you first get interested in photography? And are you self taught?

I was a Brownie Box Camera boy, and took at least two films on it. Many years later my interest got sparked by being given a pre-war Robot motorized camera 24x24. This may still be responsible for my liking of square pictures. Wish I had had some teaching, but never have.


2. Do you have a favourite walk around lens? If so, what is it?

My favourite camera and lens has been the Minolta A1, with its excellent 28 - 200 lens. Sadly, when it broke down, after more than 20000 exposures, it could not be repaired.


3. What equipment and software do you use?

I’m mainly using the Sony DSLR, and quite like it, but have a number of niggles. Roll on Christmas with the hope of an upgrade? PSElements for the minumal processing I do.


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

The three lenses I carry around all the time are the 50mm Minolta Macro, the 35/200 Minolta zoom, and the Sony kit lens, 18-35 fitted with a circular polarizer to catch blue sky. If I’m in the car, I usually have an ultra wide angle. That’s not really an answer but they are part of the camera, which is the “one item”.


5. How do you decide on locations and subjects?

I look at the light and see where I feel like going -- to the reservoirs, or the woods or the hills, or just driving around? Almost all photos I take are less than ten miles from home.


6. What are your favorite subjects to photograph?

Anything I see. (My sunbeams and misty photos have seemed to have been liked.)


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

The way the light falls and strikes subjects.

(And of course seeing great photos on Flickr is a constant source of inspiration.)

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

I aim to get better pictures of birds in flight (with wings back lit?) -- especially swans or herons.


9. What other artists have influenced your work?

So many photographers on Flickr produce outstanding photographs. Every day I am astonished, and hope I express it sufficiently. I’m tempted to name a few, but know I couldn’t then stop ....

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

I’ve tried my hand at a variety of things, with varying success, but would really have liked to have a been a much better dinghy sailor. For me it is a Zen activity, letting the wind, water and gravity (balance) take over -- and either fly across the water, or fall in.


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

I’ve not met any flickrites in person ( that I know of), although that seems almost a surprise to say, as I feel I know a number quite well. I live near several, and we have photographed the same places. Gary, the foremost English flickr photographer, lives near.

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

It depends what you want to use Flickr for. If you want comments and Faves, then give them ... lots. (Sorry .. That’s so obvious ... but I’m lousy on advice.)

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

I can’t decide -- not today. But try -- 100 year hand.
100 Years hand


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

Don’t get me started on the Explore/interestingness so called lottery. Part of my dislike is “sour grapes”, following the way I was chopped down in June 2006. Part is the biased methods used in choosing (and ignoring) photos for the publicity that Explore gives. We’re given warnings over and over, not to take it seriously, and then It is pushed forward as the prestigious accolade -- hypocrisy! Maybe some transparency would help instead of the hocus pocus at present, and the feeling that the choices represent some individual’s taste.

These are the photos that Algo want to show us in this interview:

1) The stage is set




2) Sunday morning mist




3) trees watch the sun set



Thanks to Alex for his kind reply and for teaching me to dig my surroundings in search of the hidden gems laying around me and to not underestimate the beauty of a misty morning.

Alex's profile on Flickr

Angela Lobefaro aka angie_real

Interview with my Flickr friend Eduardo Amorim

1. How did you first get interested in photography? And are you self taught?

My first interest was about drawing, I started to photograph in order to have some models... From my father comes my interest for drawing and also for the culture of Gauchos... Yes, I am self taught, I never had any class about photography

2. Do you have a favourite walk around lens? If so, what is it?

I have a little experience about lenses... now I’m using a 28-80 mm and sometimes I think I could do a better job if it had a bigger range

3. What equipment and software do you use?

I use a Nikon EE8800 and a Nikon D50, Photoshop and Picasa

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

I’m satisfied with my D50, it’s very effective in action shots, it’s speedy, maybe the most important item to me

5. How do you decide on locations and subjects?

Maybe because I’m not a professional, I don’t chose and don’t plane locations, I just take my camera where I go, I like this kind of photo taken by chance

6. What are your favorite subjects to photograph?

Well, I’m a photographer with just one subject: Gauchos, their life, work, entertainment, skills, tools, stuff, inhabitat, scenery etc. My hobby has been to document that and show it in Flickr

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

Surely is my passion about this subject, this cultural inheritage from my ancestors, my people, their traditional way of life, things I’ve learned to love from my childhood

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

I love to discover how our traditional culture is shared besides and in spite of the formal frontiers of countries... Gauchos are the men of Pampas, don’t matter if in South Brazil, Argentina or Uruguay... I would love to document this fact capturing photos in Argentina and Uruguay

9. What other artists have influenced your work?

Maybe they will not agree about it, but I can say all I know about photography I’ve learned from three Flickr friends, just following their job: Any Manetta, Felicitas Molina and Isaías Mattos, great artists, my first contacts and my references since then

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

Maybe I should explore a skill I had to draw sometimes... I don’t know if I have it yet... Well, I work in a financial institution and I am a lawyer also

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

Not yet, but I’m about to do it, with great expectations

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

Who am I to give some advice ? But I think it’s important to love and to know the subject

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

This one: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bombeador/413749035/

I think I got a good moment of action and got a good result processing it

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

Surely one thing I don’t like in Flickr is the systematic of Explore... I really don’t care if my photos are or aren’t there, I don’t even see it, but I think it’s sometimes very unfair to some people.

These are the photos that Eduardo want to show us in this interview:

1) Um retrato amarelado



2) Mundo do avesso




3) No potreiro




Thanks to Eduardo for his kindness and for showing us a full world of real emotions, hard work and a great, immense Nature!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bombeador/

Angela Lobefaro aka angie_real

Interview with my Flickr friend Bonnie Shulman

1. How did you first get interested in photography? And are you self taught?

When I was 13 years old I asked my father for my first camera. I still have it, a Canon AE-1 SLR, and I have been taking pictures ever since, I've owned dozens of cameras. I studied journalism at university, and I took many photos for the school newspaper, developing them in the darkroom as well. No, in those days I had no formal training. My pictures always made the front page of the school newspaper. I remember that the first rule I ever practiced was, "zoom with your feet". I have always liked to go for the close-up shot, what a former boss of mine calls the "money shot". One of my colleagues quit journalism school to become a photojournalist. I stayed in school and got my degree, but in every job I have had, I have had to either art direct or take photos. Two years ago I started studying digital imaging at a college and now I take courses all the time, I have a lighting course coming up in November in a photography studio and I belong to two photography clubs in Toronto that offer clinics and lectures. I also subscribe to photography magazines and follow tutorials on flickr.

2. Do you have a favourite walk around lens? If so, what is it?

Oh yes, my most precious lens is the Canon EF 28-105 mm, with macro capabilities. It can do everything, it's a little gem of a lens, and very affordable. I did my research and chose this lens very specifically and I just love it.

3. What equipment and software do you use?

I use Photoshop CS2 on a PC.

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

My car. I find to get great nature pictures and keep being innovative it helps to travel around, and with all this equipment it helps to have a car. I don't go very far, sometimes, I just travel to the next block, but after an hour of taking pictures in the outdoors, in bushes and climbing in tall grass, I'm very fatigued, it's good to get in the car and go have a coffee and just relax before I start working on the photos. Of course I also take pictures indoors, and for that purpose natural light coming in through my window is the most important equipment!

5. How do you decide on locations and subjects?

I think about what I'm going to shoot throughout the week, as I like to do most of my shooting on the weekends. The City of Toronto has a great website listing all the parks, where they are, what their features are, so I use the Internet to figure out where I'm going to shoot. Once, though, I decided to go to the Toronto Zoo but it started raining and I turned back to go home, and just by accident, or maybe fate, I found a park I never knew existed, and that is where I took one of my most favourite shots!

6. What are your favorite subjects to photograph?

I like to photograph the things that give people joy to look at. For me, I find people take great pleasure in nature shots and so that is what I do, but I try to add a little twist, a little signature touch of Bonnie to the shot. I also love to photograph my CAKES! Oh my goodness do I love to photograph food. Again, it's what gives people joy. I photograph my cat Leo because he has so many fans on flickr. Me, I have enough photos of Leo, but he is in demand from the many cat lovers on flickr, so he gets his picture taken, and he doesn't like it at all! Poor little guy, but what can he do, he's a star and I'm his paparazzi.

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

New challenges - I don't have a travel budget to go to exotic places, I don't have the fancy professional lenses, I don't have a studio - so I have what I have, and the question for me each day is: with what I have, what can I shoot that will give people joy? I don't always have an answer! And that worries me sometimes. And then - voila - suddenly the answer comes, like a miracle, and I feel blessed.

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

I love to shoot rock bands in action but I don't have a media pass to bring my DSLR into venues. I would love to shoot a great band on stage with a great camera and a great lens. I would like to photograph my rock and roll heroes in action. That would give me a lot of satisfaction and pleasure. I did once sneak a DSLR into a venue, but I didn't have quite the right lens. But I learned from that.

9. What other artists have influenced your work?

There are so many talented people on flickr who have influenced me, it's crazy! They know who they are, because I comment on them all the time - I see something I love and I just have to write something to the artist, even if it's just "wow"! I am influenced by my contacts with formal training and by those who have no formal training. Basically I think I have the best contacts on flickr!

If I had to pick one person, the person who has influenced me the most is my good and dear friend from Spain, Ignacio Abalos, www.flickr.com/photos/ihnasio/, whose every photograph fills me with joy. He taught me to see the beauty in everything, even in rustic old walls, which he photographs to perfection, and he is also a joy to have as a friend. I appreciate his work and his friendship so much.

But I would like to mention two other artists who never cease to entertain me with their brilliance, one is David Michaels ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidsangle/) and the other is Jeff ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/iamnotanumber8885/). I'll never be able to do what these two guys do, their styles are totally different than mine, but I appreciate their perspective and ingenuity, and how they take risks.

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

Cakes. I do cakes. And for a living I am a speechwriter. So let's say I do words too. I own a piano and would like to learn how to play it. I would also like to learn how to play guitar, even though I tried once, I have a picture of my Fender Stratocaster on my stream. But I gave up too easily. I wanted to be perfect right away and I got frustrated.

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

One of my dearest friends I met through flickr, Gabi, http://www.flickr.com/photos/gabifoto/ and I've also met the wonderful Marg, http://www.flickr.com/people/makeupanid/ , who taught me more about birds than anyone! I also met another dear friend, Richard, http://www.flickr.com/photos/18595430@N00/ , who moved to Toronto this year, which was such a wonderful surprise. There are so many brilliant flickr photographers in Toronto, I'd eventually like to meet them all.

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

I would absolutely advise anyone to invest in a course. It will improve your photography to no end! I would say this is especially true if you just bought a DSLR. Take a course and really learn how to use it, understand all the functions, and then you can start to play with it and learn on your own, but you'll have the basic knowledge and this is essential.

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

My favourite photo isn't my best, it isn't even very good, but when Rolling Stone Online asked me to use it, suddenly it became my favourite!!! It's a picture of the man of the moment in England, a tremendously famous rock star named Alex Turner of the Arctic Monkeys, playing with a supporting band called "We Are Scientists" at the Monkeys' show in Toronto.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bonnieshulman/169364078/in/set-72157594168658227/


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

I hate Explore. Hate it. Hate what it does to people, hate how it makes them think of photography. I hate Explore. Explore is not a judgement on one's photography but so many people think of it that way. No, I do not like the idea of ranking pictures 1 through 500. As if there possibly could be a number one. When there are millions of flickr members with millions of opinions!

These are the photos that Bonnie want to show us in this interview:

1) A log and two cormorants



2) A cup of flower



3) Sunday at Bonnie's bakery



Thanks to Bonnie for her kind reply and for being a true "flag" of Canada in the Flickrdom,
a very supportive and warm Flickr pal.

check it out at: http://www.flickr.com/people/bonnieshulman/

Angela Lobefaro aka angie_real

Interview with my Flickr friend Gary (*Gary)

1. How did you first get interested in photography? And are you self taught?

I first got interested in photography at art college, processing my own shots in the darkroom for projects. Yes I am self taught, I just see things I like and capture them as I see. Being a graphic designer, I have experience in composition I guess.


2. Do you have a favourite walk around lens? If so, what is it?
My Canon 17-85mm IS USM is pretty versatile and I would never be without my 50mm prime lens.


3. What equipment and software do you use?
Canon 40D. Canon 17-85mm, 50mm prime and 100mm Macro. I now shoot only RAW and process in Photoshop CS3.


4. Which one item of equipment is the most important for you?
My hip flask! Oh and my brain.


5. How do you decide on locations and subjects?
Well subjects is generally anything to do with nature, locations tends to be wherever I am at the time, though I am lucky to have some great locations in bedfordshire where I live.


6. What are your favorite subjects to photograph?
Nature, trees, rivers, sunlight, flower macro's, seasons and wildlife.


7. What continues to inspire you as a photographic artist?
Mother nature mostly, it never ceases to amaze me with it's ever-changing beauty.

8. What is the one thing that you have not captured on camera you feel you need to express?
I would like to do more wildlife and will when I get my 300mm lens soon, also I would like to start doing more long exposure work.


9. What other artists have influenced your work?
I tend not to be influenced by others, but I do admire many artists here on flickr. Strange though it seems, I get great inspiration from music, particularly Beethoven, Pat Metheny, Miles Davis, I also love the paintings of William Turner, his use of light was second to none.

10. What other talents do you possess besides photography? And is there another area of talent you would like to explore?
I am pretty good at my job in design, I play a good game of chess, keep tropical fish and cook quite well, I also enjoy fishing. I always regretted not learning an instrument like the piano when I was younger, so I would like to explore that.


11. Have you met other flick rites in person, and how was the experience?
No I haven't met any in person, though I have made many good friends here. I tend to use photography to get away from it all, it's my quality time alone, though I do shoot with my brother sometimes.


12. Any words of advice for those who would like to dig deeper into photography?
Just to enjoy it, don't take it too seriously and shoot what your comfortable with and enjoy best.

13. Of all the photos you've taken, what is your favorite and why?
The sunset shot of the horse riders was sheer luck but I love it, I was so excited to get back to process that one, I also like the sheep in a shower, because it was a memorable moment.


14. If you could change anything on flickr, what would it be?
I would ditch explore, it effects too many people in a negative way, they become obsessed with it and I see alot of fighting talk about it in the forums, I think it stops some enjoying the real reason of flickr and thats the love of photography, sharing and friendships.

These are the photos that Gary want to show us:

1) Sheep In A Spring Shower



2) Proud



3) Dreams to remember



Thanks to Gary for his quick reply, his kindness and for being a good Flickr friend

Gary's profile on Flickr


Angela Lobefaro aka angie_real

a very athmospheric forest!

A walk in the forest



and finally Masters @ Work, you can see Angela in action!

Interview with my Flickr friend Johny Day

1. How did you first get interested in photography? And are you self taught?

My father was an amateur photographer and I grew up looking at his color slide show ,,it's all his fault ;o) ,

I'm basically self thought , i did take two night classes on model ( women ) photography , but in Photoshop I took three night class on it , it's the only logical and fastest way to learn Photoshop

2. Do you have a favourite walk around lens? If so, what is it?

Ya , I wish they made a 10-200 mm , do they ?


3. What equipment and software do you use?

Cameras : Sony DSC-F828
Sony α 100 18-70mm 70-300mm

Computer : 4 yrs old PC pushed to da max with 2 GB Ram with two new Dell 19" monitors & a new Mac 17" ProBook ( lucky me )

Software : I use Picasa & CS2 every day and I'm in the process of learning Vue 6 Esprit , Ultra Fractal 3 and when I grow up Maya

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

In digital photography their is no such thing as one item , ( that is why its so freaking expensive ) but if you really want an answer it's my Spider2PRO monitor Calibrator , how can you work on your photos if your monitors are not calibrated ???


5. How do you decide on locations and subjects?

I don't , i do not have a car , so i shoot what I see in my every day life , but thanks to my Flickr contacts Secret Samba & Nino for taking on shoots with them ;o)


6. What are your favorite subjects to photograph?

I'm not sure , really depends on my mood , i love light & shadows , anything I find beautiful at that moment , but i really love capturing that Angelic je ne sais quoi look from animals and humans






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

In one word Passion , I use to have three jobs , I was a telephone Tech. during the day and a New York State Firefighter , Fire instructor and Paramedic ( AEMT-I ) at night , and since I got force into retirement because of an accident , i had to replace all that passion , with a passion , so photography , photoshop & Flickr Flickr & Flickr , did I say Flickr ? Seriously Flickr has changed my life....

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

The million dollar question ,,,,,, OK I'm proud of what I do , I'm excited of what I need to learn ,, but the one thing that i have not yet captured , is the unknown , the what i don't know that i don't know




9. What other artists have influenced your work?

Norman Rockwell , and many others , but N. Rockwell is my #1 influence since I am a kid , my Grand Father used to receive the Saturday evening post , National Geographic , Life mag etc....

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

Oh I love drums ( I'm a Rocker ) but a talent I think i have is teaching , eventually i would love to give classes on Photoshop but I'm not ready yet , i still need to learn so much more


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

Yes I did and it was really great , and since I have unlimited long distance telephones calls in North America , I talk to a dozen of them on the phone , so much better and faster than e-mails to exchange information , I cant wait to meet them in person ,


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

Oh yes , Share your knowledge , your tricks , your techniques , it will attract photographers just like you and practice , practice practice , for example learning photoshop is like learning guitar , three years ago with Photoshop 7.0 i was going bling bling bling , today i write my own songs with CS2

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

OMG the impossible question !! OK , lets say I'm going to the moon for a year and I can bring only one photo ? Well it would be a photo that would have to help me with my inner self ,,,




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

I would change Explore , I cant stand making Front page with a photo i worked twelve hours on and on top of me on that page is a hamburger and below is
the content of somebodies pocket or a cheap pair of boobs

Thanks to Johny for sharing his wonderful shots and a few bits of his inner world with us.

www.flickr.com/photos/johnydaystudio/

Angela Lobefaro aka angie_real

Interview with my Flickr friend David (Bratan)

1. How did you first get interested in photography? And are you self taught?

I was 13 years old when I get my first camera, a Miranda RE II. With a friend of mine, we had our own little laboratory to develop our black and white shots. We used to shoot a lot at this period. My second period in photography was when I was about 25 years old and began a collection of antics cameras. Here I discover the Leica camera and bought an M6. It was like a revelation with such fantastic camera and I shooted during about 3 years old yards in Paris (windows and doors especially).
Then, due to crazy busy life, I stopped photography. I came back to this old passion less than 2 years ago, when a friend of mine told me about flickr. I bought my first digital camera.

And yes, I am self taught.

2. Do you have a favourite walk around lens? If so, what is it?

I have 2 lens, a 18-200mm and a 10-20mm, but don't have preferences. In fact, it depends of what I want to shoot, or what effect I need...

3. What equipment and software do you use?

I have a Nikon D80, with 2 lenses, a 18-200mm Nikon and a 10-20mm Sigma. I also have a SB 800 Nikon flash.
I have also alays in my pocket a small Panasonic Lumix LX2.

Concerning softwares, I work especially with Photoshop.
For HDR, I work with Photomatix.
For creating backgrounds in my photo montages, I work with a 3D software, which name is VUE, version Esprit.

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

I think everything is important, but I like very much my small camera, even if I don't use it so often. But it is important for me to know that it is with me, in case of... :-)

5. How do you decide on locations and subjects?

I never know what I will shoot. It can can everything, because I need a lot of different subjects for my photomontages.

6. What are your favorite subjects to photograph?

I always had a preference for architecture.
I am also fan of night shots.

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

Difficult question, as I never feel inspirated. But I like the idea that I still try to create something new or different.

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

Nude; I am really interested by this art and hope to begin soon.

9. What other artists have influenced your work?

If you mean famous artists, nobody.
If you mean on flickr, a lot of people, because there is a such interesting and inspiring variety of works there.

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

What a difficult question! :-)
Concerning photography, I don't consider that I am talented. Maybe I have some imagination, but most of all, I have a big patience to learn and improve my skills, and I am very meticulous.

Concerning other talents, I have no idea...

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

Yes, I met some flickr friends, and it always was a very good experience, because we share the same passion.

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

Never be afraid to do. I am for the idea of learning by doing.
With the big possibilities of new technologies and softwares, you can experiment so much and find new own ways.
My advice : work a lot.

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

My preferred is a photo montage, "stairways to heaven", because it was the most simple creation I did and I was never able to do such thing a second time. I can precise that it was one of my first photo montage, without big knowledge of photoshop at this period.


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

I think flickr is a very good tool and I like it as it is.

These are the photos that David (Bratan) want to show us:

1) The Pyramid of the Louvre in Paris



2) Small is beautiful...;-)



3) Deep purple



Thanks to David for his kind and timely reply ;-) and for showing us his World
made of hilarious, terrific , eclectics, never banal visions and finally to be a good friend and a supportive Flickr member.

taken in March '07

www.flickr.com/photos/bratan/

Free Burma

Interview with my Flickr friend AngeloCesare

1. How did you first get interested in photography? And are
you self taught?

From childhood. I love National Geographic photographers and I've bought a lot of books.

Watching and watching.


2. Do you have a favourite walk around lens? If so, what is
it?

Lens? 18-70 mm

3. What equipment and software do you use?

My preferred camera is a Nikon D200 (10,2 megapixel), with:
AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED (135 equivalent of 27-105mm zoom range);
AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 70-300 mm (135 equivalent of 105-450mm zoom range) f /4.5-5.6 G IF-ED.
I also use a Nikon Coolpix 8700 (8,0 megapixel), optical Zoom Nikkor ED 8.9-71.2 mm (8x), 1:2,8-4,2.
Sometimes I use a compact camera Sony DSC T3, 5.1 megapixels, optical zoom 3x.
And finally a cameraphone: Nokia N95.

Software? Photoshop.


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

Nikon D200 plus tripod and Photoshop: together.


5. How do you decide on locations and subjects?

Everywhere I can.


6. What are your favorite subjects to photograph?

Landscapes and colours.


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

'900 paintings.


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

Woman world.


9. What other artists have influenced your work?

Friends on Flickr.

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

Music: electric guitar. And golf.


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

No. I want not. Flickr is as a Second Life! And Second Life is a second life.


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

Shots, shots, shots and... shots. Camera is a friend.



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

Firenze by me #3


Why? Because I've shotted the dark side of a bridge (as it is in my mind).



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

Articles on great photographers.

These are the photos that AngeloCesare want to show us:

- Playing with the year



- Sunset cocktail



- A sea of flowers



Thanks to AngeloCesare for his kindness and fast reply!

Interview with my Flickr friend Horst hb19

1. How did you first get interested in photography? And are you self taught?

My youngest son introduced me to flickr over one year ago. My knowledge of photography came through reviewing my images, viewing others on flickr & asking questions.....so to answer your question, I am self taught.

2. Do you have a favourite walk around lens? If so, what is it?

The only camera I have now is a point & shoot digital Canon S3 without any other accessories. All my images were either from my first camera, an Olympus C4000 & now the S3 both being point & shoot digitals.

3. What equipment and software do you use?

An inexpensive tripod & my Canon S3.......Occationally I use Picasa for saturation & cropping. I do not have PhotoShop.


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

Having only one, the Canon S3, but supporting that, I always carry an extra set of batteries & lens cleaner....


5. How do you decide on locations and subjects?

Most of the time I never decide on location whether I go for a morning walk or do things around my property.....I ALWAYS have my camera nearby, that's why I have the variety of subjects in my stream....


6. What are your favorite subjects to photograph?

Everyday ordinary items, any opportunity involving the effects of direct sunlight through reflections, refraction & color & lastly my wooden mannequin "Woody"


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

Being able to express myself through actively seeing the ordinary & having the desire to create something out of nothing, i.e. creating an image that never existed before.....

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

That's difficult to answer but it really depends on the lack of not having the proper equipment.....I would love to be able to capture animals through an improved telephoto lens, obtaining a shallower dof for increasing my bokeh effect and lastly, thinking more in black & white themes.....

9. What other artists have influenced your work?

Most of the contacts here on flickr, whom I admire. I view, read & look at their exposure properties & try to digest what they have accomplished & try that myself on future photo opportunities.

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

Creating a photo opportunity that didn't exist. Action shots would be a challenge.

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

First, my son who introduce me to Flickr (his screen name is dextr), then i have met Dean Forbes in Seattle, one in San Fransisco and two local flickrites from my area. The reward was seeing how each went about their way of seeing the world and both of us capturing the same subjects & thencomparing the differences.

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

With today's technology, capturing as many variations as possible of the same subject through variations of view point, exposure settings & then reviewing the results. You can always delete but you can't bring back that moment.

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

The all time favorite is from my SKYplay series. It's called "Hang loose & let off some steam". This is a prime example of seeing an opportunity & instantly taking advantage of it, creating an image that the average person would not think of.


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

The variety of images on flickr are endless. But I would certainly want to divide them into distinct categories, namely, Raw (no post processing), Photoshop or equal (definite post processing) and HDR.

These are the photos that Horst want to show us:

surfing USA.......




drivethru winery......




coloring my canon......



Thanks to Horst for his patience ;-) and for showing us a creative use of the fingers other that clicking.

Angie_real aka Angela Lobefaro

Interview with my Flickr friend Trey (Stuck in Customs)

To get started with answering your questions, my websites are www.stuckincustoms.com and www.treyratcliff.com

1. How did you first get interested in photography? And are you self taught?

I got serious only in the last two years. I am totally self-taught. I normally eschew lessons in almost everything, from sports to hobbies to cooking. Of course, I am not much of a cook.

2. Do you have a favourite walk around lens? If so, what is it?

It has to be my sigma 10-20mm. Valpopando recommended this lens to me and I thank him every day!

3. What equipment and software do you use?

I use a Nikon D2X. In terms of software, I put together a little tutorial at stuckincustoms.com/?p=548 that you might like to see.

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

My tripod. I carry it to keep steady and as weaponry, since I am often off by myself in third-world countries where things can get a little sketchy.

5. How do you decide on locations and subjects?

I travel primarily for my work, which is an online game company. When I get spare time at night or the weekends, I head off into the hinterlands for interesting sights!

6. What are your favorite subjects to photograph?

I like everything... My favorites are landscapes and architecture.

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

I am mostly inspired by the classic impressionist painters from the Renaissance.

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

I think there are a million things that I would like to shoot... I am always frustrated when I see interesting things and I don't have my camera. There is no one particular thing I would like to shoot, although I definitely would like to visit some of the few unique places left in the world that are rarely visited by photographers.

9. What other artists have influenced your work?

I get influenced by many many many people on Flickr. I can't even begin to list them. Of my Flickr friends I've had a chance to go shoot with, I've had great times and learned a lot from Valpopando, Rebekka, and Asmundur - all great people.

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

I don't know what my other talents are. I enjoy game design and visual design. If I could learn anything, I'd love to learn how to draw and paint. I think I could learn to do those things, as opposed to singing. I could never learn to sing. It's a lost cause there.

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

Yes - I've met quite a few. I am approached randomly in public quite a bit when I travel. These are always some of the nicest people in the world.

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

Experiment and don't be scared... Be like kids on a computer. Have no fear, make mistakes, and learn. Also, get an SLR instead of the little consumer cameras. It is an important step towards expanding the depth of potential talent.

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

Picking a favorite is impossible. I spend so much time with my 10 or so favorites that I have lost all objectivity.

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

I would like Flickr to do something special to recognize some of the best - some of the great photographers on there that fall between the cracks.

These are the photos that Trey want to show us:







Thanks to Trey for his kindness, for sharing his knowledge with us, HDR morons ;-) and for being a good and supportive Flickr member.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuckincustoms/

Angie_real aka Angela Lobefaro

Interview with my Flickr friend Gernot (The Father)

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

When i was 14 my father gave me his camera (no automatic) to take some pictures and i shot the whole film with 36 pictures. my father was not amused, for i shot every detail and not the persons he expected.

2. Do you have a favorite lens?

No.


3. What equipment and software do you use ?

I use a 3 year old lumix (no special lenses or filters) and photoshop, since 3 days version CS3.

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

I only have a camera, a flash and a tripod and in 99 % i only use the camera.

5. How do you decide on locations and subjects ?

I'm spontaneous, most by driving car in the region i live. in my before flickr times i only took pictures in vacancy. one of my sons saw this pictures and signed me up at flickr. he gave me my flickr name.

6. What are your favorite subjects to photograph ?

I like buildings, landscapes and details.

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

I'm no artist, but i think, it's a wonderful occasional hobby.

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

There is no certain thing, but i think i should capture more people.

9. What other artists have influenced your work ?

I am a bloody uninfluenced amateur and am green-red-blind.

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

In the last 22 years i made texts, directing and performances in a musical cabaret and i like to draw (to less time).
I'd like to write humorist poems, perhaps a book.

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

The experiences were good, for i like diversity.

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

No, an amateur cannot give any advices.

13. Of all the photos which is your favorite ?

it's my pic "big wheel", uploaded from my son. it was uploaded on new member blog and the beginning of a wonderful hobby: to make photos.

14. If you could change anything on Flickr, what would it be ?

No censorship for Germans.

These are the photos that The Father want to show us in this interview:







Thanks to Gernot for showing us a little of his world and for being a great and supportive Flickr member.

Angie_real aka Angela Lobefaro

Interview with my Flickr friend Rosemea

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

I was born drawing and painting. Photography comes from that I suppose.
Yes, I am self-taught.



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

Sigma: 50mm macro, Sigma 70-300 mm.


3. What equipment and software do you use ?

Cameras I have and use:
EOS Digital Rebel XT 350

Lenses:
1) Sigma 50mm macro.
2) Sigma 70-300 mm.

Nikon Coolpix S10
Nikon Coolpix 2220 (that was my first camera and I seldom use it now).

Software: Microsoft Digital Image and Picasa.

I prefer pictures the way they come out of the camera. I use Microsoft

Digital Imaging (which does about the same things as Adobe photo shop) for my signature and frame. A little saturation. But not much!


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

Besides the basic camera, you mean? Chips and batteries. I can take one thousand pictures in one afternoon. I don’t think much. I look, I like and I click. I love the noise of my camera clicking.


5. How do you decide on locations and subjects ?

I go with the flow. I can be eating breakfast and see a shadow
on the wall, a reflection. A flower. I love to go hiking and take pictures.
To me less is more and I take pictures of things that most people don’t even
notice.

My husband and I go out every week end and take pictures around Washington D.C., and Virginia.


6. What are your favorite subjects to photograph ?

Reflections shots are second nature. That is how I perceive things. Since I draw and paint I see shadows and light all the time. Those are natural. I take pictures of flowers because I am surrounded by them. My husband is a biologist, he is a “the plant man” with a green thumb. I just take pictures of what surrounds me. I enjoy life and have a great sense of humor. I take pictures of anything that I think it is pretty. I stick with inspirational themes.

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

Live itself. It is something from within. It is just there inside of me. I guess I am just an artist. My piano, my music, my drawings, writing, all comes from within. It is in my wiring.

8. What is the one thing that you have not captured on camera you feel you need to express?
I used to want to take pictures of birds, been there done that. Then rain drops, been there done that. Cloning, been there done that.
I guess the only thing missing on my list is the rainbows.

9. What other artists have influenced your work ?

I don’t think that consciously I have been influenced by any photographer or artist. I try to do my own thing. Since I am self taught I don’t follow rules. I just invent my own things. Since I am an attorney that made me know a lot of rules. In my photography: no rule is my rule..

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

Yes. I have been playing the piano since I could reach the piano keys. My mother was a music teacher and her major was voice. I learn a lot from her. I sing. I compose. I love musicals: so I am always watching musicals. I think I have a line from a piece for
any occasion. My major in college was music. Then I went to law school because I heard that artists die in poverty: I had to protect myself! I took ballet, tap dance, acting. I love interior design. I could have become an architect if I were not math impaired… lol! I write poetry. Photography is something that I started doing more often in the last four years. Photography is just a small part of me. It is not all of me! There are other parts that are even more dominant. Art runs in my family. We all can sing. My sisters and I have sung a lot of quartets.

I am interested in film. I would like to produce and direct. But I don’t know if I will ever do it. I keep putting it off. Also there is a side of entertainment that I don’t want to get involved. The dark side. There is a lot of evil in this world. I would like to, but I have
done a lot in my life that I am content with who I am and what I have accomplished.

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

Yes, I have met a few. But I only like about two people! LOL!
I found that the meeting turned into an international meeting of perceptions and gossip, for the most part. We really don’t know each other. We only say a few sentences to each other and make a moral judgment on that. That is so wrong. People think that they know each other, but no one does, really. I would like to meet very few people at this point. I think that disappointments have caused that. I lost the desire. There are too many cliques in Flickr: love and hate by association. I have always marched to my own drummer. I am gregarious by nature, but I have very few close friends. I am extremely private and love my solitude. When I school I loved people, I would rather be on my own. If you look at my list of contacts you can see that. I really feel sorry for people that go from place to place and meeting to meeting. I love Flickr. But there is life outside Flickr. It is great thing for Fall and cold weather. I spend less and less time visiting people. Reading what I just wrote, makes me think
that meeting people was not all that is cut out to be.

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

Keep taking pictures. Learn by doing: same thing with software. I have come long ways…baby. Practice makes it perfect. Just keep at it. The key thing is not to compare oneself with other people. I think people should do their own thing instead of keep looking for ideas on Explore alone. I consider that copying not creating.

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

I don’t have a favorite. The one I remember the most are the ones that I discovered something, i.e.: My first reflection shot, my first self-portrait, my first drop and so on. I love them all equally. Like a parent should love their children.

14. If you could change anything on Flickr, what would it be ?

I would not change anything on Flickr. It is the ideal site. The most progressive and responsible. Flickr is a place where the administration takes responsibility. If I could
I would change the attitude of the users. People are always complaining about everything. Too many cliques, too much gossip, and too much self-promotion. I don’t like that. Work should speak for itself.

These are the photos that Rosemea want to show us in this interview:





Thanks to Rose for her friendship and the many wise advices!
She is a Flickr pillar!

Angie_real aka Angela Lobefaro