meet the photographer series

[Andy]

starting this fall, i'm beginning what i hope will be a nice addition to our site: i'll be interviewing various professional photographers, and showcasing their work. i'm starting with christopher morris (http://www.viiphoto.com/photographer.php) and douglas kirkland (www.douglaskirkland.com). so, here's the opportunity for the dgrin community to help:

i have my own list of questions for them, but i'd also like to know, what questions would *you* like me to ask? :ear

i'll pick the best from all the replies. thanks in advance for your help :D

ps: the idea, is for me to interview them, write up the interview, and then they've agreed to pop in and discuss with us :deal

[Steve Cavigliano]

You lucky dog. Like you need to squeeze any info outta these guys to get better. I should be interviewing you.....lol

OK how about this one? When they go out for a shoot, do they have a plan of what sort of of angles and perspectives they will use? Or, do they wait until they are onsite and use their experience and "vision" to determine the best perspectives?

You know me, I shoot what's there and usually come away wishing I had done something different. You know, better subject isolation, a more unique perspective, or even finding the most or a more interesting subject to shoot. I know this is less of an issue for model/people shooters, but they seem to do it so well there must be some method to their lack of madness :dunno

Or, do they just trash 95% of their shots like I do? :lol3 Hey, the film is free right? :rolleyes

Steve

[luckydog]

Damn Andy!

I am a fan of Christopher Morris' work. I guess being in the military and having personally experienced both war and peacekeeping operations, I get a personal connection to the images he takes.
My question if it makes the cut would be to ask if his photos of the "innocent victims of war" are purely candids ie. right place, right time or does he actually adjust the composition (selection of background etc) of the shot for maximum effect.

This is a great idea Andy, and I can't wait to read the interview.

[Khaos]

Awesome! What a great addition to the forums. Thanks Andy.

[ian408]

Great idea.

For Christopher Morris, I would like to know what he thinks the impact
large numbers of news crews/media covering events like Hurricane Katrina
have on the story. Does he think major media coverage affects relief/rescue
efforts?

Ian

[gus]

:thumb

Ring me when your ready mate.

[Nir]

fantastic idea andy! thanks in advance for what i am sure will be VERY interesting reading!


listen, if you take gus with you to the interviews, make sure he's not lit with a red led ... or green ... :D

[ian408]

:thumb

Ring me when your ready mate.

Morning Gus!

[gus]

Morning Gus!
:rofl mate mate mate....its 4.35 pm. Expecting 1st storm of the season tonight & kava is mixed. How good does it get.

Gus

[ian408]

:rofl mate mate mate....its 4.35 pm. Expecting 1st storm of the season tonight & kava is mixed. How good does it get.

Gus

Ta. that was from me to you. but i am 15 minutes too early...

[luckydog]

You posed an interesting question Ian. I personally believe that the media do influence things such as relief and rescue efforts. The majority do a good job by showing the human side or the enormity of the event, but there are those few who sometimes manipulate and bias opinion by showing only one side of a story. I know it's only my opinion but I have encountered some of this while being deployed myself. I think the media is vital in these areas not only to record the event but to educate and inform those who usually were fortunate enough not to be there. Unfortunately some people are there to make news not record it.


Anyway I'll get off of my soap box and wait with the normal folk to see these interviews.

[spockling]

Where do they feel the "line" is with regards to personal space? How far is far enough and what is too far? Yes there is the story to tell, but where do they feel privacy begins and ends.

[OneWayMule]

Mr. Christopher Morris Sir... How can one find internship with you or VII?
I'm willing to risk my life...









Seriously :uhoh

[ian408]

I'd like to suggest a photographer. Helen Stummer.

This months LensWork features an article written by her about photographing
one of New Jersey's poorest neighborhoods over a period of 15 years starting
in the 80's.

I'd be curious to know more about how she accomplished this. Aside from
being female, she ventures into an area many of us would never dream of
visiting yet she transits frequently. Chronicling lives and the eventual
destruction of a housing project.

Ian

[Andy]

:ear any more questions???

[TOF guy]

:ear any more questions???
Well, I am probably too much into techniques :rolleyes , but maybe Douglas Kirkland would share with us a few tips about lighting ?

Thierry

[Andy]

Well, I am probably too much into techniques :rolleyes , but maybe Douglas Kirkland would share with us a few tips about lighting ?

Thierry


cool. i think i'll ask douglas about this shot :lol3

(taken by a friend of ehughes)
http://ehughes.smugmug.com/photos/41451948-S.jpg

[rahmonster]

How do you pose a model and still keep them "natural" Mr. Kirkland?

(totally in love with all his portraits:lust)

[LOVEphotos]

I'd like to suggest a photographer. Helen Stummer.

This months LensWork features an article written by her about photographing
one of New Jersey's poorest neighborhoods over a period of 15 years starting
in the 80's.

I'd be curious to know more about how she accomplished this. Aside from
being female, she ventures into an area many of us would never dream of
visiting yet she transits frequently. Chronicling lives and the eventual
destruction of a housing project.

Ian

Ian, I like your suggestion ... I would luv to meet a diversity of photographers :):

Andy, "Meet the photographer" is an AWESOME idea ... Thanks :thumb

[Khaos]

My question: Do you automatically see a model's strengths and what is ineteresting about her and adjust your shooting to that, or do you begin to see it during the shot and then adjust, or do you simply make the model work into what you already have planned?

Any example explanations of the above three would be interesting to me.

[Davidoff]

How do you pose a model and still keep them "natural" Mr. Kirkland?

(totally in love with all his portraits:lust)Absolutely brilliant idea Andy.

I could repeat what rahmonster said, that's exactly how I feel. Agree with the question as well. Great work Andy
I was lucky enough to attend a slideshow with Mr. Douglas himself and his wife at the portuguese Fnac a few weeks ago, unbelievable hours that will stay with me for many years for sure. Every single picture was stunning, the non portraits too. You have a fan here Mr. Kirkland. By the way, I'd also like to know how he bonds with people in order to get them to relax for the camera ?... he must find shy people even in showbiz.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v714/blitzchampion/DouglasKirkland.jpg

[Andy]

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for the wonderful suggestions. I'm interviewing Douglas Kirkland on Monday. Keep the questions coming :ear

[Andy]

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for the wonderful suggestions. I'm interviewing Douglas Kirkland on Monday. Keep the questions coming :ear


any more, any more :ear

[ian408]

Perhaps Mr. Kirkland would like to speak a bit on how he got his start and
what keeps him coming back each day.

Ian

[davev]

For both gentlemen

How do they stay relaxed while shooting someone that they admire.

And of course, What picture did they take, that they like the best, and for
what reason.

[Lee Massey]

Hi Andy!

I was just curious how the interview went? Inquiring minds want to know...:wink

Thanks,

Lee


Hi Everyone,

Thanks for the wonderful suggestions. I'm interviewing Douglas Kirkland on Monday. Keep the questions coming :ear

[Andy]

I did interview DK - for 45 minutes. It was great! I'm working on it now :deal

[Bandit959]

Hey Andy;
I know that I'm a day late and a dollar short on this one, but I personally *love* the idea of "Meet the Photographer". When I go to a conference known as SIGGRAPH, http://www.siggraph.org/s2006/ they have a similar series knows as "Meet the Artist" and it's always a packed house. So they record the interview, place it on a DVD and up on a webpage for poeple to download. They also do a transcript as well.

So I was wondering if you're conducting these interviews in person. And If so, are you recording the interview?

If you are, I'm sure that there are some folks out here who could cut the tape and compress it to QT or WMV fairly quickly. And if you can't find anyone, I'm more than happy to do it. Wouldn it be cool to have a boxed set called "Meet the Photographers" to go along with the interviews that you do?

So what do you think?

[Andy]

Hey Andy;
I know that I'm a day late and a dollar short on this one, but I personally *love* the idea of "Meet the Photographer". When I go to a conference known as SIGGRAPH, http://www.siggraph.org/s2006/ they have a similar series knows as "Meet the Artist" and it's always a packed house. So they record the interview, place it on a DVD and up on a webpage for poeple to download. They also do a transcript as well.

So I was wondering if you're conducting these interviews in person. And If so, are you recording the interview?

If you are, I'm sure that there are some folks out here who could cut the tape and compress it to QT or WMV fairly quickly. And if you can't find anyone, I'm more than happy to do it. Wouldn it be cool to have a boxed set called "Meet the Photographers" to go along with the interviews that you do?

So what do you think?

Hiya Bandit, thanks for posting!

I actually am recording these, they're done by telephone for the most part. The Kirkland interview should be available shortly, as dowload and podcast.

I appreciate your offer!

All the best,

[Andy]

Hey Andy;


And if you can't find anyone, I'm more than happy to do it.

Bandit, do you know anything about improving the quality of a cr@ppy recording? I come thru fine on the file I've got, but Douglas' voice is weak and fades in/out.

[LeDude]

Bandit, do you know anything about improving the quality of a cr@ppy recording? I come thru fine on the file I've got, but Douglas' voice is weak and fades in/out.
I've got the NERO suite and have done a little bit of work with it before. I can't make any major promises but if I can't figure it I've also got some experts to ask... email me if you want to work out a way to transfer the file to me. And, I am guessing it's all one track (as opposed to the multiple tracks used in professional music recording) so it may take some leg work to boost the interviewee's voice and not the interviewer's.

-Rich

[Shay Stephens]

It depends on the sound editor you use. I did a phone interview with Michael Reichmann of Luminous Landscape and he was patched in on a multi line setup. His audio was really weak. I had to bump the volume up and then run noise reduction to get something transcribable, fortunately this is for print ad not pod casting.

So look at your filtering option in the sound editor you use.

Bandit, do you know anything about improving the quality of a cr@ppy recording? I come thru fine on the file I've got, but Douglas' voice is weak and fades in/out.

[Bandit959]

Bandit, do you know anything about improving the quality of a cr@ppy recording? I come thru fine on the file I've got, but Douglas' voice is weak and fades in/out.
I know enough to be dangerous :D but I work with a couple of guys who are much better with sound than I am. They have a whole suite of tools, but their tools of choice seem to be Peak and Logic Pro.

I'll be tied up in am bunch of meetings tomorrow, but I'll try to ask their advice tomorrow. And if I can't connect, I'll have an answer next week. But I suspect we may be able to do *something*.

[Bandit959]

Bandit, do you know anything about improving the quality of a cr@ppy recording? I come thru fine on the file I've got, but Douglas' voice is weak and fades in/out.
I talked with the sound guys here and they believe that they can do something with it. But without actually having the file, they really can't tell me how long it will take or what can be done. But they're willing to sit down and work it with me.

Bottom line is they believe that we can do something to help.

So, do you have the file on a server anywhere that we can donload to check it out?

[Lee Massey]

Hello all...

I was just wondering how this was all coming along?:dunno

Thanks,

Lee

[Angelo]

While we all patiently await Andy's interview with Douglas Kirkland I'd thought I'd share an interesting experience from Thursday.

I was enjoying Thanksgiving dinner with friends and finally met my friend Sylvia's new husband.

He was charming and entertaining and I discovered he's a photographer. As dinner was winding down I asked about his work and experience and I told him of my status as a frustrated hobbyist trying to get comfortable in this digital world.

We spoke for more than an hour about photography in general, living with digital, camera work vs. digtial darkroom, and my D70 (he was quite complimentary of all Nikon products, especially their glass).

He alluded to his career, teaching, writing etc but was really so unassuming and modest.

He offered a great deal of advice; strongly suggested ALWAYS shooting in RAW; various camera tricks and chided me to LEARN THE SOFTWARE :D

Friday morning I decided to look up his site. Wow was I surprised. So I did a web search for his name and find I was speaking with a true master of the field.

I can't wait for the next opportunity to speak with him. Who was it? His name is Vincent Versace. Some of you pros among us might know him. Those who don't might enjoy these:

www.versacephotography.com (http://www.versacephotography.com)

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=vincent+versace

http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=vincent+versace&fr=ieas

[OneWayMule]

Angelo -

Only 2 days ago i somehow ran into Vincent's website and was very impressed by his work. In fact, he's one of the photographers i have bookmarked.

What a treat to meet and chat with a photographer like him!

[Angelo]

Angelo -

Only 2 days ago i somehow ran into Vincent's website and was very impressed by his work. In fact, he's one of the photographers i have bookmarked.

What a treat to meet and chat with a photographer like him!
Indeed, it was a treat. His bios and the articles I read paint a very accomplished and creative man. Also very technically advanced.

I'm signed up for Nikon School in January but I'm also thinking of Vincent's Epson training.

[Lee Massey]

I was just curious as to how this project was coming along? Any updates?

Thanks,

Lee

[Art Scott]

Bandit, do you know anything about improving the quality of a cr@ppy recording? I come thru fine on the file I've got, but Douglas' voice is weak and fades in/out.


Andy,

I always get this emails offering OEM software real cheap....tis how I got my CS...any way....Adobe Audition can be had for less than 100 but only for pc...if you need good recodings and on't have a pc to put audition on then look for a copy of Sound Forge/ w CD architect......gonna cost a ton tho..but hey it will be tax deduct also..so what the hey.

Good luck

[Bandit959]

Hey Folks...
Long story short ... The biggest problem that I couldn't really overcome was that Douglas was just slightly louder than the noise. I ended up using Soundsoap, Logic and Peak (all versions we have in our studio) in an attempt to get it as clean as possible, but I wasn't happy with the results.

I passed it back to Andy. But even as an mp3, it's like 60 meg. So I suspect that he's trying to figure out how to distribute it or even if it's good enough to distribute.

Hope that helps....

[Lee Massey]

Hi Bandit...

Thanks for the update and all the effort! :thumb

Lee

Hey Folks...
Long story short ... The biggest problem that I couldn't really overcome was that Douglas was just slightly louder than the noise. I ended up using Soundsoap, Logic and Peak (all versions we have in our studio) in an attempt to get it as clean as possible, but I wasn't happy with the results.

I passed it back to Andy. But even as an mp3, it's like 60 meg. So I suspect that he's trying to figure out how to distribute it or even if it's good enough to distribute.

Hope that helps....

[Bandit959]

For what it's worth, Apple has a great series about Pro Photographers. If you go to Apple's site and do a search of "Photo Pro", you'll come across a bunch of interesting articles. While some of the artciles are Mac product based (go figure), there is still some value in the articles. You can check out teh top level here.

http://www.apple.com/pro/photo/
http://www.apple.com/pro/archive/index.html#prophoto

And a link to some of the articles are:
http://www.apple.com/pro/photo/damico/
http://www.apple.com/pro/photo/kalalian/

[athos]

whatever happened to this great idea?

[saurora]

Indeed, it was a treat. His bios and the articles I read paint a very accomplished and creative man. Also very technically advanced.

I'm signed up for Nikon School in January but I'm also thinking of Vincent's Epson training.

I just ran into this post Angelo. I'm so jealous!!! Vincent is the man! I took the Epson training class twice. It was so interesting and I learned so much and Vincent was the instructor. He is awesome and such a cool guy. Did you take the class yet? These classes are huge, as you might guess. At the end of the class he gave us his personal email addess in case we had any questions. He said it might take "a while" but he would answer. Well...I missed writing down some important info on Black and white conversions so I emailed him. He emailed me back with step-by-step instructions in less than 24 hours! He is also an awesome photographer. I highly recommend the Epson training for anyone interested in printing their own work. If you see Vincent again, tell him he has a fan!!! :thumb

[Forehead]

"Neutrons misfiring"--would they be FAST or THERMAL neutrons?

whatever happened to this great idea?

[asamuel]

Did this idea get ditched. I am very interested in a 'meet the photographer' series. A podcast would be ideal. I have recently looked at the work of Christopher morris and the vii collective of photojournalists. I'm very interested in thier insights. If this thread has become forgotten, should it still be a sticky?

[Andy]

Did this idea get ditched. I am very interested in a 'meet the photographer' series. A podcast would be ideal. I have recently looked at the work of Christopher morris and the vii collective of photojournalists. I'm very interested in thier insights. If this thread has become forgotten, should it still be a sticky?
Chris has agreed to be interviewed, but can't seem to work it out in his schedule. I keep trying...

[Raz]

Hi Andy!

A few days ago I bumped into one of those meet the artist threads, and started to read it through. I stopped in the middle, and I cannot remember where it was... (my gold fish memory, cannot even remember his name... :dunno )

Can you please add a sticky with links to all the ongoing online interviews?

Thanks,
Raz

[Angelo]

Hi Andy!

A few days ago I bumped into one of those meet the artist threads, and started to read it through. I stopped in the middle, and I cannot remember where it was... (my gold fish memory, cannot even remember his name... :dunno )

Can you please add a sticky with links to all the ongoing online interviews?

Thanks,
Raz

this IS the meet the photographer thread.