photography

Goodbye Hedgerow

Goodbye Hedgerow

Goodbye Hedgerow – Pulaski, Michigan

A sad sight – lots of farms in south central Michigan are removing their hedgerows. The reason is probably straight economics, since the tree line limits a farm’s arable land.

But still: hedgerows are what makes my country road commute so lovely, each and every season. Now there are just flat fields from horizon to horizon.

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Suck For A While

To be a photographer, one must photograph. No amount of book learning, no checklist of seminars attended, can substitute for the simple act of making pictures. Experience is the best teacher of all. And for that, there is no guarantee that one will become an artist. Only the journey matters.

Harry Callahan
(via theglasschild)

Amen.

My advice to new photographers is always this: You’re going to suck for a while. And that’s okay. Keep shooting. One day, you won’t suck as much.

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Around The House 2

Last year I shared some photos from around the house, where the light comes through the windows in lovely ways.

This year, I took an earlier look at the winter light that comes in. As the season changes, so does the light, and it’s fun to chase it around the house when the sun comes out.

On weekend afternoons like this, the house is pretty quiet. When the sun is out, it almost teases you to start thinking about spring. All these windows. It’s a great tableau.

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Photographer Interview: Seth Duimstra

Seth Duimstra is a Jackson, Michigan-based photographer, and good creative friend of mine. Seth and I (along with his lovely wife Aynee) have shot together a few times, but what I appreciate about Seth is his good advice.

By the way: that’s me in the first portrait shot above. Part of our fun urbexing trip.

Who are you and what do you do?

I’m Seth Duimstra, a husband, dad-to-be, and I guess I’d consider myself as a “creative” so how’s “creative photographer” sound? Aside from photography, I paint, do graphic design, and recently I’ve been exploring video among other random creations.

How did you get started in photography?

I’ve always enjoyed taking a good pic but I started really messing around after I got out of tattooing. I still needed an artistic outlet and I had a DSLR that i never figured out how to use properly. so I jumped down the proverbial rabbit hole.

What do you like about your photography?

What is there NOT to like about photography? It’s like seeing through other people’s eyes, reliving a memory or a feeling, and so much more. Not to mention the human element in itself just is so interesting to me. People are weird and I love it.

Your work is varied: products, people, landscape, urbex. Where do you get inspiration for your style/ideas?

I feel like a dabble with a little bit of everything. I have my favorites but they all fit into one of two ways for me, documentary or artistic. I think keeping things mixed up keeps me from getting bored. I love product photography because I generally work with local artists; so not only do i get to get a first hand private viewing of some pretty amazing work, but i also get to have a small part in their own success.

Landscape and urbex are all about the adventure to me. I generally do this with other photographers, so not only are we hunting for those great images but I get to document the adventure as well. Street photography is also a blast when I get the opportunity to visit other cities. Portraits/candid photography has to be my favorite though. People in general fascinate me… no two alike (even twins), your personality shows through… not to mention just the random expressions we all make in the moments that are only there for a split second and they’re just oh so wonderful.

What themes do you like to explore with your work?

I just recently started messing around a little more with themed type shoots, Its fun but I’m just getting started so the jury is still out on that. 🙂

Any upcoming projects or shoots you’re working on?

Always pondering something, as of late I’d say testing my newsletter concept. I’m itching to get outside more now that color will be back here in Michigan soon. The best way to know what I’m up to would be follow my Instagram or blog. 🙂

For more of Seth’s work, visit his portfolio page, his Facebook page, or follow him on Instagram.

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Photographer Interview: Jamie MacDonald

Jamie MacDonald is an everything photographer – the guy just makes and makes. Jamie and I have shot together a few times, and I always respect his sense of experimentation and adventure.

Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Jamie MacDonald and I am a professional photographer for Olympus Imaging North America, podcast host, and workshop leader. My position with Olympus takes me all over the place doing workshops and promoting not only their equipment, but also my work, and my podcast focuses on the world of mirrorless cameras.

How did you get started in photography?

I got started in photography when I decided I needed a camera for a family vacation back in 2007. I had never owned a camera, and thought one of those fancy interchangeable lens cameras was just what I needed. Once I started shooting I realized it wasn’t just the camera that I needed, it was a reconnection to my past life as an artist that I abandoned after high school.

What do you like about your photography?

I like that my photography is not subject limited. I like that when I walk out the door the world is my muse and I feel as comfortable shooting an impending storm, as I do a senior portrait session or an eagle in flight.

You take a variety of photos – everything from dramatic landscapes to intimate portraits. Where do you get inspiration for your style/ideas?

That is such a difficult question to answer, but I’ll try my best to put it into words. When it comes to inspiration I guess I should say that I am always in this weird state of wonderment about the world around me. The best way to explain it would be to ask you to remember a fond childhood memory, and when you have one picked out, think about how it makes you feel. I have that same sense of excitement and yearning to drink up life as I did when I was a kid. I even tell people that my soul has not grown up yet. So I guess I try to explore things visually in a way that shows I am still in a state of wonder about the world I live in.

What kinds of themes do you explore with your work?

Life. That is the theme I explore. Life is everything, and comes in every conceivable color and shape and form. I get the same level of excitement discovering a patch of weedy flowers growing through the cement, as I do standing atop a mountain shooting the sun filling the valley below me. I imagine that sounds crazy, but it is a part of who I am and how I see my world.

Any upcoming projects or shoots you’re working on?

I sincerely wish I had a glamorous answer for that question, but I do not. I have never once had a project come to mind, and yet I think I need to do some sort of series of photos as a way to grow myself. But I just haven’t had anything come to mind.

I DO however have a lot going on in the way of photography workshops and events this year. I will be presenting at the Out of Chicago Conference in June. There I will be doing a class titled “The Art of the Dramatic Landscape” where I discuss my approach to landscape photography, with an emphasis on my particular post processing methodology. I am also co-leading an astrophotography workshop in the mountains of Arizona in May, a weekend workshop in Philadelphia, and a few events here in Michigan. It is going to be a busy year!

Find more of Jamie’s work on his portfolio site, at @sl33stak on Tumblr, and on Flickr. 

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Photographs No Longer Needed

alesserphotographer:

  • Sunsets
  • Fireworks
  • Waterfalls
  • Trails
  • Breakfast, lunch, dinner
  • Lattes
  • Leaves on branches (even in autumn)
  • Dew-covered flowers
  • Anyplace with a gift shop
  • Anything with its own postcard rack
  • Portraits of wrinkly faces (just because they’re wrinkly)
  • Concerts with more than 25 attendees
  • Rain on windows
  • Celebrities
  • Area 51
  • Anything that’s popular on Tumblr
  • Anything that’s popular on Instagram
  • Anything popular
  • Anything the pros are doing

Use all the extra time to create something awesome.

Add to that list: Iceland.

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Photographer Interviews – A Wrap-Up

Canon AE-1

After a month, my photographer profile project is complete. Almost 20 photographers shooting everything from landscapes to portraits to products to documentary reportage.

I tried to think of one thing I learned doing this project – a consistent theme that ran through all the interviews. Maybe what I learned is that there are all kinds of photographers, with all kinds of backgrounds, and we all get into the hobby or profession in a million potential ways.

It’s these folks, after all, that gives those rebloggers and “”curators”” something to latch on to. It’s these photographers who are making original material. They shoot what interests them. They put stuff out into the world. They’re makers.

Other than a theme, the one thing I learned was that most artists you admire are approachable and friendly, and more than willing to participate in a crazy idea you have. For many of these photographers, I’ve followed them for years on Tumblr, or Flickr, or Instagram, and have always wondered how they got into photography. To learn more, all it took was an email and a proposition.

I should’ve done this years ago.

Check out all the photographer profiles, and stay tuned – I may have a few more coming in the next few weeks.

And thanks to everyone who participated!

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Sunday With Saul Leiter

Sundays With Saul Leiter

I’ve become somewhat of a collector of photo books in recent years. My favorite has become Saul Leiter. He only released a few books while he was alive, and it’s my goal to get them all.

This Sunday I watched In No Great Hurry as well. It’s the perfect weekend documentary: quiet, relaxing, and yet entertaining.

I hope that, as the years go by, Saul’s estate releases more of his work in photo book form. Especially the newer stuff – he never stopped shooting. It’d be nice to see some of his modern, digital work, because (and they hint at it in the movie) his style never really changed. Saul Leiter was always Saul Leiter.

You can still get Early Color, though it isn’t the easiest to find. And Early Black and White is a double book that’s a look of fun to see.

Study the masters, gang. Find someone you like and study the hell out of them. Steal and copy. Make it your own. Maybe start with Saul.

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Junk Sites

Because where is there anything on these junk sites that has anything to do with creating images. It’s all about the gear, the whole gear and nothing but the gear.

Review sites, Forums and the state of the Photographic Internet — Soundimageplus

Much of what passes for photography “reviews” these days is exactly this. Rubbish. As David says, there’s no such thing as a bad camera making bad images these days.

It’s fun to be “into” the gear. Just don’t fall for the gear lust that most of these review blogs and sites inspire.

Photographer Interview: Freddy Clark

Freddy Clark is a food, product, and beverage photographer, as well as a hobbyist of other kinds of photography.

I got to know Freddy’s work thanks to the Google+ On Taking Pictures podcast community (listen to it – it’s a great show), and I was excited to learn more about his work and his ambitions.

Where are you and what do you do?

I live in central New Jersey, outside of New York City. For my day job, I’m a Product Manager in Technology for an investment company. I’ve been a part time photographer, doing portraits, weddings, and events for about five years now. Recently I started a food/product photography business called Santé Photography. The goal is to have a focus on food and beverage photography for commercial work.

How did you get started in photography?

I had been doing family photos and videos since my daughter was born in 1998. Little by little I realized that the pictures meant a lot because of the subject, but I wanted to learn how to make them look more professional, so I started to read magazines and what ever I could find on line, over my crappy dial-up connection.

I taught myself how to edit digital video after I got my first video camera and then got a job at a local Photo/Video Studio. Officially I was doing the wedding video editing, but I took the opportunity to learn as much as I could about shooting video and stills. Over time I realized that I really enjoyed shooting stills more than video. I started second shooting weddings and things great from there.

What do you like about your photography?

Depends which day you ask me. Some days, there’s nothing I like about it.

You do a few different types of photography: products, portraits, still life. Where do you get inspiration for your style/ideas?

I try to keep my eyes open as I move through my day. I don’t really believe in inspiration. I think it can be a crutch for people. You want inspiration? Keep making pictures. Is everyone going to be brilliant? Nope. Ansel Adams said something like he felt it was a good year if you got a few good pictures from it. Look at the website of a photographer you really admire. You’re seeing their best, not their entire Lightroom catalog or hard drive like you do your own. You don’t see their crap, but you do see your own crap, so people think the good ones were inspired, but they are not. Just keep working.

Through the work, you will get better and maybe come up with a few that others can attribute to inspiration. The muses come to you when you are working. Not the other way around. I make pictures of things and people that interest me. If I like it first, then I’m on the right track.

What about food/beverage photography gets you excited?

The lighting. I’ve gotten the feeling that people look at product shots as less than artistic. Try doing a really good job lighting a few different reflective surfaces without having blown highlights or weird reflections. It’s hard to do. Not taking anything away from other photographers, but nailing the lighting on product shots will make you really know how to use your lights and make you better at portraits or even seeing light on the street. I find it to be a challenge.

What kinds of themes do you explore with your work?

The above mentioned lighting. That and trying to connect with a person or place. Lately I’ve been bored with pretty pictures. I’m trying to find another level beyond the sunset, the guy in a red jacket walking down the street or the pretty landscape. I’m not there yet…I’ve thrown out a lot of pictures lately, but I feel like there’s something right around the corner. I can almost see it, but I just keep missing it. Finding another meaning, another level another element. If it has good light and interesting to look at, sometimes that is enough. I don’t know, sometimes it seems like pretentious art gallery bullshit. Nailing the lighting on a product shot makes me happy, lighting a good looking plate of food does too. The rest of my photography, I’m looking for something else and I haven’t quite yet found it.

Any upcoming projects or shoots you’re working on?

I’ve been experimenting with some liquid motion photographs. It’s still a work in progress, a messy work in progress. Nothing ready to be shared yet, but getting there.

You can follow Freddy and see his work on Twitter and his G+ profile.

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Canon 5D’s Unique Look

Regardless of all the downsides, I am still happy to shoot with the 5D Mark I. The images have a unique “feel” that remind me of film.

Original Canon 5D Still Going Strong | Contrastly

The more I use my 5D, the more I love its unique look. Tough, great photo files – it’s my everyday shooter.

Affordable away to get into full-frame photography, too, and proof you don’t need the latest and greatest to be creative.

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Photographer Interview: Jenna VanDusen

Wonder Woman, with Doug Jones

Toward the end of last summer, as I was wrapping up my Artists In Jackson project, I went to an art show here in town to discover other Jackson-area artists. I left with one piece of art: Jenna VanDusen’s “Jackson” light painting photographer (top), and it now hangs in my home.

Jenna is a local fine art and portrait/wedding photographer, and her work is great. She uses light painting in great locations to make her work, and she works on family and wedding portraits through her Dream Real Photo & Video studio.

Who are you and what do you do?

I’m Jenna! A mother of a little three year old sweetie, a freelance videographer, and operator of Dream Real Photo & Video, LLC.

How did you get started in photography?

My father is a photographer of many many years, so of course that’s where it began. With my interest in video, I took classes for photography as well. I thought it was important to know my camera in this way while using my DSLR for video.

What do you like about your photography?

Simplicity, natural beauty, imagination, try to be original!

Your work with light painting is a lot of fun. Where do you get inspiration for your style/ideas?

It is a lot of fun! Inspiration began when learning about long exposure! I was blown away seeing work from photographer Gjon Mili as he captured light paintings with figure skaters and Picasso! Those images are so magical to me, done around 1947. Patience is key, to do it over and over, fixing your mistakes. Planning and visualizing what you want and how you’re going to pull it off is key. Being at a certain location is where the inspiration starts and then what to draw, or vis versa.

For any photographer I think to reach out to or connect to someone is a goal, but to add the light is to add a feeling too, and adding color can easily change the feeling.

What kinds of themes do you explore with your work?

Everything. My goal is to appreciate and do all types of photography. I feel like not only am I practicing about that way to shoot or technique but it’s an insight into … everything, which is what I enjoy most, the experience. Photography documents the beauty in life – which can be narrowed to two very broad categories: people and nature, together or apart, in many aspects!

Everyone is a dreamer. I’m all for realistically accomplishing your dreams. My hope is that my photography lets viewers to escape reality, but also brings inspiration for them in their lives.

Any upcoming projects or shoots you’re working on?

Projects are constant! Creatively I have a few ideas that i’ve been thinking about for as long as a year. Ideas just snowball and get bigger, which means more planning and taking steps for correct resources.

As much I appreciate and won’t stop doing light paintings free hand, I’m beginning a even more modern take on it, and incorporating light more into video and with clients, which is really exciting.

I’d like to work more with artists in Jackson with light painting [Wonder Woman with Doug Jones, above]. Everything I draw is very simple, which I love! But I think there is much to be done.

I’m also doing a personal 52 Week Photography project with Hayley Woodward, where we pick out a theme/subject/shooting technique and practice!

Find more of Jenna’s work on her Dream Real Photo & Video Facebook page and Instagram profile.

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Photographer Interview: Candy Hernandez

Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Candy Hernandez. Born and raised in mid-Michigan. I have worked for General Motors the last 21 years.  I am a weekend roadtripper, lake lover, nature addict, and photographer of all things beautiful.

How did you get started in photography?

I’ve always liked taking pictures since I was a little girl. My dad would take me camping and fishing on his weekends all over the state. He always had his camera with him. I would take pictures of the landscape as we drove from town to town looking for our next adventure. That passion stayed with me as I grew older. Now I’m the adventurer that my daddy was.

What do you like about your photography?

I love that it’s what I like to see. When I make a picture, it’s for me, from the subject to the way I edit it. The choices are mine and they evoke what I am feeling about it.

Where do you get inspiration for your style/ideas?

Lately I’ve found my inspiration from a few photographers on Instagram that I follow: Lennonjames and danpricephoto. They can take the simplest thing and make it look magical. They have such a talent.

I also admire TODD and Brad Reed from Ludington. They have a way of capturing nature in its raw form. It’s beautiful to see.

You work a lot with locations and travel photography. Why is it important to capture your surroundings?

What I love most about what I do is I get to share these beautiful places with people that they may never even know exists. There are older people that remember visiting these places growing up, or taking their children there for summer vacations but now it isn’t possible for them to travel there or hike those trails like they once did. I make it possible for them to see it now  by sharing my photos.

What kinds of themes do you explore with your work?

I don’t know if I have a theme. I know I’m drawn to Lake Michigan and Lake Superior. So I guess it would be nature. But I do enjoy urban landscape as well.

Any upcoming projects or shoots you’re working on?

Right now I’m waiting on some ice to form. We’ve had a couple cold winters and its left a craving for ice caves and icy lighthouses. I don’t think I will get to walk across Munising Bay to Grand Island this winter, but there will be icy lighthouses to shoot.

For more of Candy’s work, follow her on Instagram. 

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