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Q: Why flowers, gardens, and modern architecture?
A: I've done flowers---and particularly, lilies---since 2003. After taking some photos of a few lilies one day, I decided, "I love these flowers!! I want to start taking more pictures of them!" Of course, since then, it hasn't been just lilies [although they are still my favorite].
As for architecture, I became interested in the Milwaukee Art Museum's Calatrava addition in 2004, and eventually discovered how much photographic potential the place has. There's still a lot of fun angles and shots I have yet to try. I eventually discovered that many other buildings, particularly Overture Center/MMoCA, had that same property. You seem to notice a new angle to try every time. It's a nice challenge.
Q: What cameras do you use for your photos?
A: My primary camera is a Canon Digital Rebel [the
original model] with EF-S 18-55mm zoom [yes, the kit lens----sigh]. It's old, but the rest of my family all paid a bit for it [it was my birthday present back in '05], and it still takes good pictures.
My 35mm gear consists of a
Pentax Spotmatic [with 50mm, 28mm, and 135mm lenses],
Pentax K1000 [with 50mm and 28mm lenses], and
Yashica FX-3 [the original one---I busted my first one long ago]. Although I've come to prefer working digital, I still like to do film once in a while [usually in fall]. I've also got a
Minolta XD-11, which is waiting for its
trip to Madison.
As for past cameras---my previous 35mm SLR's include the Yashica FX-3 Super 2000 [the one I broke], Yashica TL Electro-X [never knew if the thing really worked right], and
Praktica MTL50 [shutter jammed---can't say I wasn't warned]. My old digital camera was a Fuji A303 point-and-shoot---we still have it, but I don't use it.
Q: Wow. You love the classic cameras. Why?
A: 1. They're better made.
2. They're not completely automatic. Therefore, I have plenty of control over shutter speed, aperture, and focus. [Truth be told, I actually run the Digital Rebel on full manual most of the time]
3. Old lenses are, for the most part, optically better than new ones. The Spotmatic's 50MM Super Takumar f/1.4 is widely considered one of the best lenses ever made. The D-Reb's kit lens, on the other hand, is horse puckey.
Those old lenses also happen to not cost too much. How much does a new EF-S 18-55mm cost?? More than it should, at least in my opinion.
Q: What about film?
A: I've mainly used Kodak and Fuji films for my work. Both the Kodak 100/200/400 ISO print films and the Fuji Superia films have given me good results. These days, Fuji is my preference. For black and white, Kodak Tri-X and color process Black and White+ have been my preferred films. I've tried one roll of Ilford Delta 400, and was not too impressed. I've also pulled good prints from AgfaPhoto's films----Vista color print, Walgreens Studio 35 [which they made], and APX monochrome. Of course, as us photogs know, they don't make those films anymore... :(
Q: What kind of scanner do you use?
A: I use a Canon CanoScan LiDE 30. Almost everything I scan requires color correction in Photoshop Elements, and the driver works better in OS9 than OSX, but it still gets the job done.
Q: How much other Photoshop work do you perform on these photos?
A: Downsizing [for Web] and cropping, occasional brightness/color correction, and nothing else. I don't believe in gratuitous Photoshop use.
Q: Why the very minimal look to the site?
A: First, I produce this site the hard way: By fingering in all the HTML code manually. My HTML skills are very basic. No FrontPage, Dreamweaver, or CPanel-integrated WYSIWYG editor here! Just getting the front page to work correctly was a tedious affair! Secondly, this is an online photo gallery. You're here to see the photos, right? Not fancy HTML scripting or Flash overkill!! :P [though the front page makes things seem a little more serious]
Q: You're an art lover----who are your favorite artists?
A: Too many---most of them Wisconsin folks.
Here are links to many of them---this list will likely change over time. And I can guarantee you--it is incomplete!
Q: gileadmedia.net?? I just checked that address---it's a record label!! Why are they hosting the site???
A: My brother runs Gilead Media. He lets me use his webspace completely gratis. Don't bother asking him to host your site.
Q: Well, you like going to art fairs so much, so how about displaying your photos at one?
A: One of my favorite artists, Bruce Bodden, wrote a commentary explaining
his current direction as an artist---the 4th paragraph particularly mentions the art fair business. As much as I love art fairs, I do have to give Bruce a big "hear! hear!"----he explains the prep time, the fees, the possibility of things getting damaged, so on. Some of these reasons can very much apply to me--particularly fees. I am glad to say that I am finally what you'd call employed [running the closed-circuit TV station at
Evergreen Retirement Community], but I'd still have to pay a bit for printing, framing, entry fees, etc. Even then, it may all be a waste of money if you don't get into any fairs. On top of that, I've got other things to put that money towards [namely, keeping my 17-yr-old car in somewhat driveable shape, until I find a new one]. Regardless of how I do as a gallery artist [see next question], my presence at the state's art fairs will continue, for now, to be as a contented art lover [and
occasional volunteer].
Q: Well, how about a local gallery, or maybe even that
Gallery Walk you have in Oshkosh???
A: I have exhibited in the Gallery Walk [March '10]. While it was fun to display my work locally, the costs of printing and other materials [pre-fab frames, etc.] was a little more than I can pay on a regular basis [see previous question]. In addition, I'd have to get permission from the various gardens, organizations, etc. before I can display my better material. That leaves little that I
can display. That said, I hope that the
Trout Museum of Art [formerly Appleton Art Center] will hold another members' exhibit.
[ETA: They will!] Only 3 pieces max per artist means less stress on my end--not to mention, less money spent on printing and framing as with a larger exhibit.
Q: So you work at Evergreen Retirement Community? I hear they
host art exhibits---how about getting in there?
A: Maybe if they have a staff exhibit. Otherwise, I'd need a lot more material---I believe their exhibits usually feature around 30 works or so. [see last 2 questions]
Q: I love your photos. I might want one. Aww, heck, I do!
A: I've got 11 [soon to be 10] photos stored away in my closet. I might turn around and sell them at some point---not sure how or where or whatever, but I don't want them sitting in there. Of course, if I happen to be exhibiting anywhere, then you could go ahead and purchase one.
A: It is me. I've been there since February '06---don't get paid, but I still love it there.