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Meet The Photographers Who Write For Digital Photography School ~ Darlene Hildebrandt

21 Feb

You’ve been reading their articles for months or years, have you ever wondered “Who are the photographers who write for dPS”? Today meet photographer Darlene Hildebrandt from Alberta, Canada.

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1. How long have you been shooting?

I graduated from a 2 year photography program in 1988! So over 25 years now, mostly as a professional. I’ve been in the industry in many forms including: doing commercial studio work; had my own portrait/wedding studio for 12 years; was a trade rep for an album company and coached my photographer clients on business; some editorial work; travel photography; and the odd image sale for stock. I’ve also done tons of art shows and sell my work in local galleries.

2. Do you have a full time job or are you a full time photographer?

I have a part-time job at a camera store, in the accounting department of all things. Mostly because I’ve done my own accounting for years and I needed something to get me out of the house after a 6 month extended RV trip around Canada and the US. Camera discounts are also a bonus, and it has connected me with teaching photography classes which I do here at the store as well as with two other local photography schools.

The photography that I do now is mostly for myself and my articles and classes. I make most of my living teaching classes, doing private tutoring (in person and virtually using skype), leading workshops and photo tours.

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3. If you had to limit yourself to one genre of photography, what would it be and why?

Tough question. I’d have to say travel photography, which to me encompasses fine art, urban, landscape, HDR, night photography, and people. I find joy in all those areas so I’d find it hard to pick among those. If I had to I’d say travel photography with people. Those are the images I find I want to see first when I download after a long trip. But I also love night photography and HDR, both of which I teach. Okay I can’t pick, so can I say I’d pick – “general”!

4. When did you start writing for dPS and why?

May 2012 was the date my first article was published with DPS. I wanted to teach to a wider audience than I currently had on my own site and share my knowledge with more people. DPS allows me to do that in a big way. I love hearing the comments from readers who have enjoyed my articles. Seeing their resulting images after applying my tips, and hearing how excited they are about photography is why I do this.

5. What do you shoot with and what is your favorite lens?

I’m a Canon shooter, I have a 5D MarkIII. However, not to get into a flame war here, I believe the camera is just a tool and whatever you use is just fine, be it Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Sony or something else. It’s about learning how to use it and this is the right place to do that! Not sure I have a favorite lens, but I’d say the extremes. I love either really wide angle images, or long lens tight shots. I tend to live in the 17-20mm and 150-200 range more so than I do in the middle. My wide is a Tamron 17-35mm. I also really love my 85 f1.8 for portraits.

6. What would be your number one tip to any new photographer?

Invest in education before you invest in gear. I’ve had several students want to jump from an entry level DSLR into a full frame one, thinking that it will magically make all their photos better. While there are some advantages of full frame (better at higher ISO, can get better shallow depth of field, etc) in my personal opinion mastering some of the other aspects of photography first will take you further. Things like getting the right exposure; what IS the right exposure; metering; controlling contrast; composition; lighting; choosing the right lens for the job; white balance; lighting; working with people; confidence; shooting in manual and RAW modes, and more. A full frame SLR is a big investment, but I suggest you invest in yourself first. An experienced, great photographer can do more with a crappy camera, than an inexperienced photographer can do with great camera – in my opinion.

7. What’s your next big project?

I have two projects in the works right now. First is a virtual photography class I’m collaborating on with another photographer, still hammering out the details as I write this but by the time this is published it will likely be available. It will be an 11 week (first one is free so you can try it out with no obligations, no money down), 15+ hour, live class which will incorporate lecture, Q&A, image reviews, and weekly assignments. The topic is two fold – Lightroom mastery and Image mastery, so a marriage of technical (image processing) and artistic (shooting and processing).

The second is an ebook that I’ve had in my mind for a while. It’s 75% written, now I just need to find time to finish it and process all the images. It will feature photo tips, things I learned along the way on my 6 month RV journey to reinventing myself as a photographer, as well as inspirational images.

8. Where can people go to find out more about you and your work?

My main hub is my website Her View Photography, where you can get my FREE ebook “10 Challenges to Help you Take Better Pictures Without Buying More Gear” and find out more about my upcoming photo tours, workshops and photography tutoring – both in person and virtual using Skype or Google Hangouts.

You can see some of my images on my portfolio site. My social media links are: Facebook, Google Plus, Twitter and Pinterest. Contact me here or by commenting on this article.

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Post originally from: Digital Photography Tips.

Check out our more Photography Tips at Photography Tips for Beginners, Portrait Photography Tips and Wedding Photography Tips.

Meet The Photographers Who Write For Digital Photography School ~ Darlene Hildebrandt

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Meet The Photographers Who Write For Digital Photography School ~ Elliot Hook

14 Feb

You’ve been reading their articles for months or years, have you ever wondered “Who are the photographers who write for dPS”? Today meet UK photographer Elliot Hook.

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1. How long have you been shooting?

I’ve always taken pictures but it wasn’t until 2009 that I bought my first DSLR and started to seriously learn about photography.

2. Do you have a full time job or are you a full time photographer?

I have a full time job in research science meaning that photography is an ‘all-other-time’ consuming hobby currently. It is unfortunate that work stops me from getting out with my camera as much as I would like, but I am fortunate in that I enjoy my job, and can use photography as a way to unwind at the end of a week.

3. If you had to limit yourself to one genre of photography, what would it be and why?

I would have to say ‘outdoor’ photography as it allows me to cover both landscape and wildlife photography in one genre. I seem to alternate between the two in terms of which one I put all of my effort into, though really they are quite similar in terms of my approach – being up and out early for sunrise, trying to make sure I am in the right place at the right time and having patience to wait for the perfect moment. Trying to shoot landscapes or wildlife can be very frustrating as you are at nature’s whim, however, that just makes it all the more rewarding when you do capture that great shot!

4. When did you start writing for dPS and why?

I started writing for dPS in October 2012. It is a blog that has helped to inspire and teach me ever since I bought my first DSLR, so when I saw a post from Darren saying that dPS was looking to recruit new writers, I just had to apply. I really enjoy sharing images, knowledge and tips with others so I’m very happy that I am able to share what I have learned and help people avoid making the same mistakes that I’ve made.

5. What do you shoot with and what is your favorite lens?

I shoot with an Olympus E-3 and two lenses: Olympus Zuiko 12-60 mm f/2.8-4.0 SWD and the Olympus Zuiko 50-200 mm f/2.8-3.5 SWD. I’m not sure that I could pick a favourite of the two as they are each perfect for their intended use. The 12-60 mm gives me a great 24-120 mm effective focal length, perfect for landscaping and as a walk around lens. The 50-200 mm, when coupled with a teleconverter, gives me up to 560 mm effective focal length, perfect for capturing wildlife. Both give amazingly quick autofocus performance and both are fully weather sealed; I couldn’t ask for much more.

6. What would be your number one tip to any new photographer?

Don’t obsess about having the latest and greatest kit; it isn’t the camera or lens that defines the photographer or photograph they can produce. I see far too many folk out and about using top of the range cameras that they have no idea how to operate. My advice would be to just get out there and learn how to use your camera. The more comfortable you are with your camera, with its strengths and flaws, the more likely you will be to capture that special moment.

Oh, and get out before sunrise. The world is a completely different place before everyone else wakes up!

7. What’s your next big project?

There are so many things I want to try and get stuck into in 2013 that I don’t quite know where to begin. I don’t have any projects defined currently, but I have just booked my first trip to the Isle of Skye in Scotland for early in the year. It looks to be a landscape photographer’s dream, so I really can’t wait to go.

8. Where can people go to find out more about you and your work?

More of my photography can be found on my website at , or on my 500px or Flickr pages. I’m also on twitter.

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Post originally from: Digital Photography Tips.

Check out our more Photography Tips at Photography Tips for Beginners, Portrait Photography Tips and Wedding Photography Tips.

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Meet The Photographers Who Write For Digital Photography School ~ Barrie Smith

11 Feb

You’ve been reading their articles for months or years, have you ever wondered “Who are the photographers who write for dPS”? We thought it would be a good time to introduce them to you through a series of interviews.

Today meet Barrie Smith, Australia based writer-photographer.

1. How long have you been shooting?

Decades.

Barrie Smith

2. Do you have a full time job or are you a full time photographer?

I am a full time writer-photographer.

3. What does this require?

Ability to move quickly. Many of my subjects are people stories so I may make contact with the character one day, then talk to and shoot him or her the next.

My pictures are journalistic in style, so arty shots are not in the running.

4. What other jobs have you held in the industry?

Early days: film and video cameraman, then setting up and operating the TV workshop for a major international ad agency. Then directed TV commercials for a long, long time.

As a sideline started to write about photography for Australian and international magazines.

Wrote, photographed and self-published Australia’s only book on vintage cameras — THE CLASSICS: CAMERAS.

When digital cameras arrived (was it 1995?) I began shooting and writing on this topic as well as reviews on cameras and software.

Founding editor of Australian Videography and Australian Digital Camera magazines.

4. When did you start writing for DPS and why?

Nearly four years ago I joined the team, thanks to a tip from a fellow contributor. Enjoy my stuff on the Web. Beats the bum off conventional publishing. Immediate communication with your audience. Rapid appearance online as against months of lead time with magazines.

5. What do you shoot with?

Compact bridge cameras. Not a favourite of clumsy, heavy DSLRs!

6. What would be your number one tip to any new photographer?

It’s the driver not the car!

Post originally from: Digital Photography Tips.

Check out our more Photography Tips at Photography Tips for Beginners, Portrait Photography Tips and Wedding Photography Tips.

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Meet The Photographers Who Write For Digital Photography School ~ James Brandon

07 Feb

Today, we meet Texas based photographer James Brandon, author of the e-book Tack Sharp: A Step By Step Guide To Nailing Focus.

1. How long have you been shooting?

I really got serious about it around 4 years ago on a trip to Mexico with my wife. We went to the Mayan ruins at Uxmal and I was hooked. I don’t know what it was about that trip but I completely came alive with a camera in my hand.

James Bradon & son!

2. Do you have a full time job or are you a full time photographer?

I’ve been doing photography full time as my career for about 3 1/2 years now. I worked at a bank before; selling mortgages, business loans and checking accounts. I made good money and hated every bit of it. I took a good look at my life and couldn’t see myself ever finding happiness on the path I was on. I worked long hours, always came home in a bad mood and just didn’t feel alive. I decided to start seeking out clients for my photography and slowly started building them one by one. I eventually went part time at the bank and a few months after that I put in my two weeks and haven’t looked back since.

3. If you had to limit yourself to one genre of photography, what would it be and why?

Travel for sure. My true passion in photography is traveling the world and photographing all the beauty that this planet has to offer.

4. When did you start writing for dPS and why?

I guess it was about two years ago. I had been a reader of DPS for some time and saw a place on the website for people to submit articles. I was really into HDR at the time and hadn’t seen a whole lot of articles on the subject at DPS. I submitted a three part series on HDR that was really well received. After that I asked Darren if I could continue submitting articles and he was gracious enough to allow me to continue writing.

5. What do you shoot with and what is your favorite lens?

I shoot all Canon stuff. Not because I think it’s better than Nikon, but simply because my first DSLR was a Canon Rebel. I now use a Canon 1Ds Mark III as my primary body and have a 5D Mark II as a backup. My favorite lens at the moment is one of my newest lenses, the Canon 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS. It’s the sharpest lens I’ve ever used and the image quality is just insane. And at only around $ 900 it’s one of the more affordable L series lenses you’ll find. If I was offered a $ 2,000 85mm f/1.2mm prime but I had to give up my 100mm, I would turn it down in a heartbeat.

6. What would be your number one tip to any new photographer?

Don’t waste your life doing something that doesn’t make you happy. That doesn’t mean that everyone reading this needs to quit their job and become a photographer, I’m just saying that if you aren’t happy with your life, change it. If you love your job and love doing photography on the side, then keep going. But if you hate your job and photography is your driving passion, then make a move in that direction. Start somewhere. Start anywhere. Just don’t look back at your life wondering what could have been. Life is too short. When most people think of the word “lazy” they think of someone sitting on a couch in their underwear eating cheetos and playing xbox. I think of my old self; driving day after day, every day to a job that was suffocating my joy and creativity…and not doing anything about it for so long. That’s lazy.

7. What’s your next big project?

eBooks! My goal in 2013 is to write 3-4 eBooks to start building a collection. My first eBook Tack Sharp has been a huge success and I hope to create more content that is equally as helpful to the photography community. I also became a father back in June of 2012 so my new and ongoing personal project is to document that little guy!

8. Where can people go to find out more about you and your work?

They can visit my website, follow me on Twitter or Google+.

Post originally from: Digital Photography Tips.

Check out our more Photography Tips at Photography Tips for Beginners, Portrait Photography Tips and Wedding Photography Tips.

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Meet The Photographers Who Write For Digital Photography School ~ James Maher

04 Feb

Today meet James Maher, New York City based photographer and author of The Essentials Of Street Photography.

1. How long have you been shooting?

James Maher

I became interested in photography in 2002 and enrolled in photography courses in 2003. I assisted for a commercial photographer in 2005 and 2006 and started my business soon after that.

2. Do you have a full time job or are you a full time photographer?

I’ve been on my own as a full time photographer since late 2006. The first couple of years were fairly lean times, but I’ve steadily grown a clientele since then and business has begun to take off over the last four years. Because of the rent here in Manhattan, I operate my ‘studio’ out of my apartment, which has a lot of benefits and a lot of downfalls – the biggest downfall being that our refrigerator is about 20 feet from where I work. It would be nice to have more space for portraiture, but I make do. And honestly, the beautiful streets outside of my apartment make for stunning backgrounds with so many unique colors and textures.

3. If you had to limit yourself to one genre of photography, what would it be and why?

I’m not sure I could do that to be honest. I have the most fun with street photography, where I get to walk around and explore. That’s how I got started with photography in the first place, because I had so much fun walking around and seeking out interesting places and people. I love to people watch. However, I love portraiture as well and connecting with people and learning about them. I guess if I have to pick one, it would be any type of photography that has to do with meeting or observing interesting people.

4. When did you start writing for dPS and why?

I wrote my first article for DPS in November of 2010, titled 14 Tips to be a Successful Freelance Photographer. I generally try to write for myself and then hope that other people connect with it. That article was a personal reminder of all the mistakes I’ve made and things I’ve learned to help me from falling back into the traps that I used to fall into. I find each article to be a learning experience. I’ve always loved to write and when I first found DPS I knew that I wanted to work with them. I can’t believe it’s been that long since the first article.

5. What do you shoot with and what is your favorite lens?

I shoot with a Canon 5D Mark II. My three primary lenses are the Canon 24-70mm, the Canon 70-200mm, and the Canon 28mm prime. I love them all, but I couldn’t live without the light 28mm. That’s my street photography lens and it’s so light and easy to use and 28mm is one of my favorite focal lengths. It’s not what I will use on most paid photo jobs, but it’s my everyday walk around lens.

6. What would be your number one tip to any new photographer?

Wow, only one tip – that’s tough. I guess it would be to spend a lot of time looking at photography and art. You need to develop your eye. Educate yourself. Go to galleries, hang out in bookstores or go to the library, and search through photographer portfolios on the web. Spend a lot of time doing this and maybe even make a digital scrapbook of your favorite photos to come back to over time. Also, this is a second tip, but don’t be afraid of failing or people not liking your work. Most good artists take criticism pretty hard but they’re not afraid of putting themselves in a position where they might fail. It can take years of failure to become a success.

7. What’s your next big project?

Last year’s big project was writing a book, so I’m a little burned out on big projects at the moment. I want to buckle down and allocate more time for shooting and writing. But I guess my next big project will be to focus myself to do more of my own portraits, where I control the outcome. When you become a photographer, your portraiture tends to only be done for clients who want to look as good and happy as possible. When you do portraiture for yourself, you can do whatever you want. So I guess my next big project is to spend more time and resources on this. I stopped doing this over the last five years as I focused on building a business.

8. Where can people go to find out more about you and your work?

Everything is on my website. You can view my street photography, my urban landscape and travel work, my portraiture and commercial work, join my mailing list, and learn more about my book. And if you have any questions, feel free to send me an email.

Post originally from: Digital Photography Tips.

Check out our more Photography Tips at Photography Tips for Beginners, Portrait Photography Tips and Wedding Photography Tips.

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Meet The Photographers Who Write For Digital Photography School ~ Matt Dutile

27 Jan

You’ve been reading their articles for months or years, have you ever wondered “Who are the photographers who write for DPS”? We thought it would be a good time to introduce them to you through a series of interviews. No worries, Darren will get his turn too.

Today meet travel, lifestyle and hospitality photographer Matt Dutile.

1. How long have you been shooting?

I’ve been shooting for just over four years now. I picked up a camera in 2008 on a whim while bored in a desk job, and it just started to click for me. I poured myself into it, advancing my technique, honing my perspective and building a business.

2. Do you have a full time job or are you a full time photographer?

I’ve been a full-time photographer for a little over two years now. I’m on the commercial side of the business shooting primarily travel, lifestyle and hospitality images for various editorials, ad agencies and in-house corporations.

3. If you had to limit yourself to one genre of photography, what would it be and why?

Travel. It’s my real passion and I’m fortunate that it takes me all over the globe to meet many amazing people, discover new landscapes and generally marvel at the world’s diversity.

4. When did you start writing for DPS and why?

I started writing for DPS in late 2009, about a year after I picked up a camera. It was all rather serendipitous. Back then I used to share some images on the forums and they would be highlighted by Darren in the newsletter as posts by members. After that happened a few times I wrote Darren a thank you note and expressed interest in adding some tips. It worked out well and as I continued to learn and refine my craft I was able to share those thoughts with DPS readers.

5. What do you shoot with and what’s your favorite lens?

I rotate between the Nikon D4 and D800. I enjoy the ergonomics, color set and image quality out of those cameras – particularly the large file sizes can be great for big prints with the D800. I don’t have a favorite lens per se, but I’m often using the Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 for my travel work. It allows me the flexibility I need to make shots on the go in any space/environment. I always have packed a 70-200 and few primes as well depending on the nature of the assignment.

6. What would be your number one tip to any new photographer?

Be an art director for yourself. Always be working to improve your craft and hone your eye. Know what makes a good image and what doesn’t – curate your work and it will help you to improve. Be ruthless in your personal honesty.

7. What’s your next big project?

Well I don’t want to announce it quite next, but I’ve been working on a few cool photo projects that tie together an idea from images across the globe. Aside from that I’ve got Belize, Portugal, Spain, Greece, Austria, Germany, the Netherlands and Ireland up on the travel schedule – and we’ll see where else my clients would like to send me. Always an adventure!

8. Where can people go to find out more about you and your work?

Best spot is probably my website at mattdutile.com. Other than that I keep up a frequent presence on my Facebook page and on Tumblr.

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Post originally from: Digital Photography Tips.

Check out our more Photography Tips at Photography Tips for Beginners, Portrait Photography Tips and Wedding Photography Tips.

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Meet The Photographers Who Write For Digital Photography School ~ Valerie Jardin

21 Jan

Today meet Valerie Jardin, born and raised in France and currently living in Minnesota, USA.

1. How long have you been shooting?

I picked up my first DSLR about 15 years ago. It wasn’t a life-long hobby like many other photographers. It has since become a true passion, almost an obsession!

2. Do you have a full time job or are you a full time photographer?

Valerie Jardin – Photographer, Instructor

I am a full time photographer. I shoot mostly interiors for commercial clients, some food as well as lifestyle portraits. Most of my time and energy is now devoted to leading international photo workshops. Sharing the passion for this beautiful craft and teaching people to see is the most gratifying experience.

3. If you had to limit yourself to one genre of photography, what would it be and why?

I would have to pick street photography but more in the travel sense of the term. Including people in my frame to add life and a sense of place to my images. The quest for the story in a single frame is as exciting as the resulting image itself. I can spend days walking the street of any large city without tiring as long as I have my camera with me.

4. When did you start writing for DPS and why?

I started writing for DPS in 2010. I think it’s the teacher in me that drove me to writing articles to help other photographers learn from my mistakes and successes. My articles are all inspired by my own experiences. I love helping others and we are so lucky to be part of such a great global community of photographers from all walks of life.

5. What do you shoot with and what’s your favorite lens?

I shoot with a Canon 5D Mark II and my favorite lens is the 24-70mm f/2.8. Yet, I find myself traveling light and shooting mostly with the 40mm pancake lens when working on self projects or shooting street photography. I love that lens, it’s sharp and inconspicuous!

6. What would be your number one tip to any new photographer?

Go out with your camera as often as possible, everyday if you can. Shoot with intent and make every frame count.

7. What’s your next big project?

I am adding new photography workshops every year. I am running two workshops in Paris and two on the beautiful Normandy coast in France in 2013, those are all inclusive week-long workshops. I also offer weekend workshops in the US, San Diego in March and Minneapolis in June. I am also excited to announce a workshop in Melbourne, Australia to take place in February 2014! Ultimately for me it’s all about teaching and sharing my passion for this beautiful craft and hanging out with other photographers.

8. Where can people go to find out more about you and your work?

They can visit my website to see my commercial photography as well as my personal work. It also has links to everything such as my blog, my workshops, and social media platforms. I’m the most active on my Facebook page.

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I would like to thank Valerie for her contributions to the photography community through her writing on DPS and also for starting this round of interviews. We hope you come away from these short interviews with a better idea of who is writing for DPS. Please let us know how we are doing.

Post originally from: Digital Photography Tips.

Check out our more Photography Tips at Photography Tips for Beginners, Portrait Photography Tips and Wedding Photography Tips.

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Meet The Photographers Who Write For Digital Photography School ~ Elizabeth Halford

18 Jan

Today meet Elizabeth Halford.

1. How long have you been shooting?

I’ve been taking pictures since I was about 10 years old. I spent all my pocket money on film for my Kodak 110 instamatic. I’ve been seriously teaching myself photography since 2008.

2. Do you have a full time job or are you a full time photographer?

I’m a full time photographer and blogger. I also have a hand in running a charity, Cure Rett.

3. If you had to limit yourself to one genre of photography, what would it be and why?

If I had to choose just one genre of photography, it would be children’s portraiture

4. When did you start writing for DPS and why?

I started writing for DPS in 2009 when I first started blogging about photography to keep my own site interesting. Darren hired me and so I was writing for DPS before I really even knew what blogging was all about! Thanks to that opportunity, I’ve built a really fantastic readership on my blog where I write about photography and business in “real.plain.english”. I learned from Darren that being nice to people online is a total win-win and that we highly underestimate the power of giving!

5. What do you shoot with and what’s your favorite lens?

I shoot with a Canon 5DmkIII. A 7D is my backup. My two favourite lenses are the 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS II and 50mm f/1.2. I wear a ShootSac to keep my lenses accessible while shooting.

6. What would be your number one tip to any new photographer?

Take pictures!

7. What’s your next big project?

Well one of my most exciting projects this year has been getting my branded car. It’s certainly made waves! I got the attention of Mini who went and branded one of their test drive models because they loved mine so much!

My biggest project in 2013 will be my first live workshop “How to sell in Plain English” in March in Southampton to teach photographers how to do in person sales so they can actually make money photographing people! It ain’t rocket science!

I’m also the key photographer on the Picture the Hope Photography Tour which is touring the UK to photograph girls with Rett Syndrome. Some of those shots can be viewed here on the blog I write about my daughter, Grace, who has Rett.

8. Where can people go to find out more about you and your work?

To view my photography, you can visit www.graciemayphotography.com and to visit my blog for photographers, www.elizabethhalford.com. You can connect with me and my growing community on Facebook. My full story can be found here.

Post originally from: Digital Photography Tips.

Check out our more Photography Tips at Photography Tips for Beginners, Portrait Photography Tips and Wedding Photography Tips.

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Meet The Photographers Who Write For Digital Photography School ~ Pye Jirsa

14 Jan

Today meet Pye Jirsa from Orange County, California.

1. How long have you been shooting?

I feel like I wasn’t serious about photography until around mid 2008. Before that, it was just dinking around on a point and shoot, which really doesn’t count in my book. We can all say “I have been shooting all my life” but in reality, I wasn’t serious about learning until I decided I wanted to do it professionally in early 2008.

2. Do you have a full time job or are you a full time photographer?

I am a full time photographer, it is my job. I am one of the owners of Lin and Jirsa Photography out of Orange County, California.

3. If you had to limit yourself to one genre of photography, what would it be and why?

Wedding photography. I know it probably isn’t what most photographers “aspire” to, but personally I love it. I have tried virtually every type of photography, from landscapes, to runway, editorial, fashion, band, headshots, product, etc. I find that I get bored very quickly with these other types of shoots. It lacks the variety that my ADD personality needs, haha! Weddings have always kept me interested and on my toes because within a single day, I get to wear many “photographic hats” if you will. I get to shoot product shots in the details, portraits, candids, landscapes, editorials with the bridal party, and so forth. I am writing this the day after my last wedding for 2012. It was an extremely technical wedding. Over the course of the day, we counted 19 different lighting setups were used! It’s that variety that keeps me always interested. But, I think best of all, weddings are very uplifting. Being able to document people on such a happy and joyous occasion is something that makes me happy in-turn. After a wedding, I am sort-of on an emotional high which I have never gotten from shooting products, fashion, headshots or any other type of photography.

4. When did you start writing for dPS and why?

I think my first article went onto DPS a year or two ago. When we first got into the industry, we had wonderful mentors. They inspired me to want to teach as well, which is why we created SLR Lounge and is why I enjoy writing for other great sites as well, such as DPS.

5. What do you shoot with and what’s your favorite lens?

I shoot with a lot of cameras/lenses. If you were to ask what my all-out favorite camera is at the moment, I would say a Nikon D800. But, out of habit, I am usually shooting on my canon 5D Mark 3. I typically only use my D800 for my personal editorial/landscape work because I find the 5D Mark 3 fits better in our production workflow. My go-to lenses for my 5D Mark 3 are my 50mm 1.2 and my 70-200 F2.8 Mark II. I probably shoot 80-90 percent of my images on those two lenses.

6. What would be your number one tip to any new photographer?

Try out everything before deciding. From types of photography to styles of lighting. Don’t just settle on something because it is “comfortable” or familiar to you. Always push yourself to try new things and develop your own style/look over time, rather than attempting to define it right when you jump in. The biggest mistake I see new photographers making is in trying to define what type of photographer they are, or even what type of lighting they specialize in before having tried anything else. It places an immediate limitation on their technical growth and their development of a unique style.

7. What’s your next big project?

We completed our Lightroom 4 Workshop Collection mid-way through 2012, and we are just finishing up our 3 Part HDR Photography Workshop on DVD which should be out before the end of the 2012. To be honest, I am not sure what project I want to move on to next. There are so many subjects I enjoy and would like to teach, at the moment, I am just enjoying this short break with family before we decide and kick into the next project in 2013.

8. Where can people go to find out more about you and your work?

Our educational tutorials and products can be seen and purchased from slrlounge.com. We also have a YouTube channel at youtube.com/slrlounge where we post free tutorials and behind the scenes videos on our photography and style. Our studio’s work under Lin and Jirsa Photography can be seen on our website and blog at linandjirsa.com.

Post originally from: Digital Photography Tips.

Check out our more Photography Tips at Photography Tips for Beginners, Portrait Photography Tips and Wedding Photography Tips.

Meet The Photographers Who Write For Digital Photography School ~ Pye Jirsa

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Meet The Photographers Who Write For Digital Photography School ~ Peter West Carey

24 Dec

Today meet Peter West Carey, Seattle and LA based photographer and long time contributor for Digital Photography School.

1. Hi Peter! How long have you been shooting?

I became addicted to photography about 22 years ago. I started shooting professionally five years ago.

2. Do you have a full time job or are you a full time photographer?

I live a freelance lifestyle, which means a little of this and a little of that. I earn my wages from writing about photography on DPS and other sites, teaching photography through local and international workshops, leading photography tours to Nepal, Bhutan and Hawaii (and sometimes Alaska) as well as shooting occasional weddings, portraits and products. It’s a mix of all things photography.

3. If you had to limit yourself to one genre of photography, what would it be and why?

I’m going to go broad on this one and call it “Outdoor”. That’s mostly landscape photography but in my mind that also includes travel photography, which some people consider a separate genre. The majority of my travel photography includes landscapes. Can I call it “Outdoor Travel” and cover it all?

4. When did you start writing for dPS ?

I started writing for DPS in the Spring of 2008 when the blog had about 30,000 subscribers.

5. What do you shoot with and what is your favorite lens?

I shoot with a Canon 7D and 28-300mm L lens most of the time. I also use a Canon EF 10-22mm wide angle lens. Throw on top of that a Tamron 90mm Macro as a kick around lens I picked up for doing some work for them. I use f-stop bags (the Satori and Guru being two excellent bags) and have recently fallen in love with a Think Tank Aviation Navigator roller bag. That bag will help keep my back from bending out of shape. I have three flashes (580 EX II, 580 EX and 420 EX) and some gel filters and Gary Fong adapters for them. I use Singh Ray graduated filters and Hoya haze filters. I also test a variety of gear throughout the year, thanks to shops like BorrowLenses.com and often use Nikon and Pentax gear. I’m not one to be a brand snob; I’ll use whatever is handed to me as long as it produces quality results and won’t take me five hours to read the manual.

6. What would be your number one tip for any new photographer?

My number one tip to a new photographer is to look at light all the time, not just when you have a camera. Start asking questions about how light is falling on the street where you walk to work, the trees above you or the buildings. How does it reflect off surfaces and what is the quality of the light at different times of day. Also, how does the same subject (building, for instance) look in different light? Photography is about capturing light and the sooner you start thinking critically about the light around you every day, the sooner you can improve on capturing that light.

7. What’s your next big project?

I am hell bent on finishing a series I started on my blog in October called 31+ Days Of Photography Experiments and then turning it into an ebook for those taking my photography classes. The best way to learn photography is to do it, all the time. And to keep learning by experimenting. I am halfway through the series with 20 days of free photography experiments already listed, but I need to hammer out the remaining 15 or so.

8. Where can people go to find out more about you and your work?

I am on the normal slew of sites: Facebook, Twitter, 500px, Google+, Flickr, Etsy, Pinterest. I have a blog and a professional site where people can learn more about the photo tours I lead. I love to help people learn more about photography and that is the main reason I write for DPS. If you have a specific photography question, drop me a line and I’ll do my best to answer it either here or on my blog. And lastly, a link to the 31+ Days Of Photography Experiments previously mentioned. http://thecareyadventures.com/blog/2012/31-days-of-photography-experiments/