Filip Lučin

Name

Filip Lučin

Company Name

None

Website(s)

http://www.filiplucin.com/ (cronicaly not updated :( )

www.facebook.com/FilipLucin


Location

Čakovec, Croatia.

Camera

Nikon D80, Nikon D7000 and different film cameras.

Lens

Sigma 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6, Nikkor 28-70mm f/3.5-4.5, Nikkor 50mm, f/1.8 and Tamron 70-30mm f/4.0-5.6

Filters

Set of Cokin GND and ND filters (P series), some no name 77mm polarizer , Cokin IR filter, B+W 1024 (10 stop) 77mm ND filter

Tripod

Manfrotto 190XB + Manfrotto ball head

Lights / Flash

None

What photo editing software do you use

Capture NX2 and Paint Shop Pro.

Do you consider yourself a pro or amateur

I'm in between. I don't live from photography, but I do earn some money from photos, articles and workshops. Not too often, though.

When did your interest in photography start

At around age of 13. But then I let it go for a long time, and started again around 2002.

What was your first camera

When I was a kid it was famous (at least over here in central/eastern Europe) Lomo Smena 8M. :) In 2002. I got some film point and shoot and first digital camera that I bought and loved was Nikon Coolpix 2300 in y. 2004.

What is your favorite subject to shoot

Landscapes! I play with macro photography, but not too often.

What are your favorite 3 photos you have shot, what were the camera settings,  lens, filter that you used

I actually don't have favorite shots that are in that status from now to eternity. It's a changing game and my feelings about my photos change over time, as I learn and develop as author. The ones that I liked before I will probably like in the future, but new photos will come to take their place. It's like in sports, one can't be champion for ever. :) So, I've chosen three photos that show how I do what I do.

First one, I've named "River Serenity". It was shot with Sigma 10-20@12mm, f14, 6 seconds exposure at ISO 100. I probably used polarizing filter and one of the GND filters. It's a simple photo that captured calmness on the river before approaching rain. It's a kind a threatening with all the darkness, but yet as I look at it, I see calmness. In a way, whatever life throws at me, I'll be here anyway…

Second one is named "Magic of winter sunset".

Sigma 10-20@14mm, f11, 75,4 seconds exposure at ISO 100, B+W and polarizer filter used for his long exposure photo. From time to time I do plan a photo. This was one of planned ones. I knew that the weather will be partly cloudy meaning that at the end of the day light might be crazy, and as you can see it was! I found this tree using online maps and decided to come and see what happens. And it happened that I had some fast moving clouds, low sunlight coming trough the clouds that painted this oak tree. And that's that. :)

Third photo is and Infra Red one, again something to do with river. "Day at the river" ISO 200, f8,30sec, Cokin IR filter and Sigma 10-20@10mm.

Infrared photography is different game than normal one. Since I still don't own dedicated IR camera I use normal one that means I have to use long exposures, from 20 to 60 seconds, depends on conditions. Although that denies me of chance of having all out sharp IR photos, I don't mind it too much since it allows me to create quite surreal photos. Like this one, where I especially love the motion of the leaves on the water. They wouldn't exist if the photo was taken with short exposure time. Even more important, since people can't see in IR spectrum I'm free to use colors as I like and want, and it's usually like this, blue and white.

What would be your dream shoot

Hm.... I actually can't say I have one. I enjoy photographs of US national parks and the way US landscape photographers cover them. I would like to do similar photos here in Croatia, in our national parks.

What is your dream camera

As I know more about photography as art, the less I care about tools, the cameras. Having one of smaller FF Nikons would be nice, but I can't see me owning one in near future. :)

Who has influenced you the most in photography

No one specific, I've learned and I'm still learning from many people. I follow literally hundreds of landscape photographers blogs. And that are people that can teach me through their photography and writing.

Would you consider yourself a technical photographer or more of a go by the feel photographer

I would say later. I do care about technical aspects of photography, but only as much is necessary to create photos that I feel I want to make and how I want to make them.

What are your biggest strengths in photography

I suppose it would be ability to create interesting photos from ordinary, everyday landscapes. Lot of photographers think that only photos of iconic places (like Yosemite in US, in example) are great landscape photographs. On the other side I photograph fields and meadows, trees and hills and everything else that surrounds me here, in radius around 50 km away from my home. With occasional trips to more interesting places, but all in around couple of hours of ride by car.

What would you like people to know about your photography

I try not to photograph landscapes as they are, just landscapes, I try to pass emotions trough my photos. Feelings of loneliness, of courage, of age, of warmth or cold, any emotion I might felt while photographing landscape. I do it foremost for my own fun, for my escape from everyday life. I often photograph alone and then I have all the time and peace I need to connect with landscape, to see all those details small and big and to create image in my mind, before I press the shutter release button. Although I enjoy loneliness while photographing, I love to talk about photography, especially landscape photography. I'm a member of a local photo club (Fotoklub Čakovec) that is one of the most prominent in Croatia, where I and colleagues hold photo workshops, both on general photography and landscape photography specifically. And that is one more way that I can express myself, through sharing knowledge.

At the end John, thank you for this opportunity! And to all reading this, thank you for reading,  feel free to follow me on Facebook where I'm most active.

Lindsey Ingram - lindseying photography

Name 
Lindsey Ingram

Company Name 

lindseying photography

Location 
Long Beach, CA

Website(s)

www.lindseyingphotography.com

www.facebook.com/lindseyingphoto

IG& twitter:  @lindseyingphoto

Camera
I started on a Nikon d5100 and have moved to Nikon d800

Lens 
primarily 50 mm

Filters  
post-production

Tripod 
Very rarely.  I’m regularly surprised to find that many people consider tripod use to be the hallmark of professionalism.  Often when clients or onlookers who aren’t in the field talk about their experience with photographers in the past, they get a strange gleam in their eye…  “And he had a tripod…” they’ll say with special flare.  Perhaps because I prefer candid and event photography, I’ve found tripods to be cumbersome.  

Lights / Flash  
Nikon SB-910 AF (but DEFINITELY still learning to use it)

What software do you edit with 
Windows Live Gallery, PS cs6, Picmonkey

Do you consider yourself a pro or amateur  
A pro becoming pro-er?  I’ve had my cameras for a short amount of time compared to some, but I’ve had some great opportunities to embrace a steep learning curve and develop my business rather quickly, considering.

When did your interest in photography start  
I used to carry the disposable Kodak cameras around regularly in years past.  Then I graduated to phone photography for years.  I loved it… LOVED it… and wished I had graduated to a “real” camera much sooner.

What was your first camera
Nikon d5100.  An impulse reward purchase to help me feel OK about spending my summer teaching summer school.  I only did probably an hour of research on which sort of camera to buy, drove to Sam’s Club and bought the last starter kit they had on sale.  I went home, unpacked the box, stared at it blankly and promptly took a nap.  It was a little overwhelming for someone who had not even held a fancy camera before.  

What is your favorite subject to shoot 
Candid shots of people and events.  I also love to capture the idea of people in unpopulated spaces.  

What are your favorite 3 photos you have shot, what were the camera settings,  lens, filter that you used

“Stilled Potential”

Nikon D5100 f 4  1/60 ISO 2500 35mm lens

I shot this on the go at a music store called World of Strings that has since closed.  I loved the idea of a room full of so much potential… like a room of puppies waiting to be adopted.  I converted it to the black and white to lend itself to a sort of tension between the silence of the room but the potential implied by so many waiting instruments.

“Read”

I took this for a 365Project theme challenge of Books (and won!).  I was hunting for research books at the college library, and took a few quick minutes to set up this scene with my timer.  I did a lot of post editing on picmonkey to add the red tone and to saturate the whole scene.    I love the conceptual play of Red/Read and the idea of reflection.

Nikon D5100 F3.5 1/30 ISO 1600 18-55mm kit lens set at 27mm

“Point it Home”

Nikon D800 F4 1/30 ISO 100 50mm

This was taken at a wedding from a higher view off the Queen Mary in Long Beach.  The TONES and the play off the water/land/sky make this a favorite.  Edited with pic monkey.

What would be your dream shoot  
I would love to be commissioned to work with a group to document their lives or a specific event for an extended amount of time.  For example, documenting the behind the scenes of a political campaign, a band tour, or a sports team’s season would really appeal  to me.   I’m not even really sure I care what sort of group it is… it’s the passion, the collective nature, and the process that I’m interested in.  I would love to capture the life and spirit of a particular group during a particular time.  It sounds a little vague, but I think the main draw for me would be to have a chance to really immerse myself in a particular little world in order to, down the road, reveal that world back to itself- to be an observer and participant at once.  That’s what I love about event photography, and would love the chance to experience it on a larger scale.  And if I’m REALLY dreaming here, I’d love to have a chance to do that in a way that also pays the bills.

What is your dream camera 
I’m not so much dreaming of new camera bodies, but I definitely hope to add a few key lenses to my toolbox.  My next purchase will be the 24-70mm f2.8 and after that I’ve got my eye on a 70-200mm.  I’ve heard it said to invest in your glass rather than the camera bodies.   I think there’s wisdom in that.

Who has influenced you the most in photography
I’m consistently inspired by members of the photography community on 365project.org.  I’ve been posting a picture a day since I first started a few years ago and have been pushed and challenged and motivated through the feedback and collaboration with other photographers on the site.  

Also, in my early months with my camera and website, a woman purchased some pictures of her dog that I had snapped randomly for a whopping profit of $4.15.  It seems silly now, but that email telling me I had made a profit even as small as that really lit a fire for me and helped me to value myself as an artist with potential.      

Would you consider yourself a technical photographer or more of a go by the feel photographer 

FEEL FEEL FEEL.  I took on a steep learning curve and I’ve learned most of the technical knowledge I’ve gained on the fly or on an as-needed basis.  I didn’t want to paralyze myself with so much technical jargon that I would feel less confident in experimenting.  That’s just me, though.  I think there are benefits to both approaches.   Other than what experience has taught me with my two Nikons, I have zero knowledge of the technical side of cameras.  I’ve learned by doing.  

What are your biggest strengths in photography  
I think candid photography comes natural to me.  I have an eye for the story in a moment.  I also like capturing the presence of people in unpopulated spaces.  And I’m bold.  I have no qualms about taking pictures of strangers, or going to crazy lengths to pursue a shot.

What would you like people to know about your photography  
Themselves.  I would like them to know themselves a little bit better or in a bit of a different way through my photography.

Kelly E Schultz Photography

Name Kelly E Schultz

Company Name  Kelly E Schultz, photographer

Location Nashville TN

Website(s) http://www.k3schultz.com

Camera Nikon D3000, Nikon D90, Nikon S9100 Coolpix 

Lens AF-S Nikkor DX 55-200mm f/4-5.6G AF-S Nikkor DX 35mm f/1.8G

Filters  Mysteriously cracked and never replaced

Tripod Seldom used except for firework photography

Lights / Flash I never use flash except for candid photography of my cats, much to their annoyance

What Editing Software do you use? Photoshop

Do you consider yourself a pro or amateur? Professional with a day job

When did your interest in photography start? 
My father introduced me to photography as a child.  I have fond memories of him setting up the slide projector and showing us his beautiful work.  I was mesmorized by his images.

What was your first camera 
My first real camera was a Minolta 35mm film camera.  When I was 18, I was in Hong Kong with my parents when my dad decided to purchase a new camera body, as the price was right.  I had a little extra spending money and grabbed one for myself, along with a ‘kit’ lens.  During that trip, my dad was able to take me under his wing and teach me how to use it.

Because I learned on a film camera, I was very reluctant to switch to a digital camera.  I had several friends who had them and I was annoyed when they would take horrible photos but then use Photoshop to ‘fix’ everything.  To me, that wasn’t photography because one didn’t have to pay attention to lighting, the surroundings or anything else that a film photographer had to consider.  With all the post production in today’s photography, I still have a hard time separating ‘photography’ and ‘graphic design’.  To me, a photograph is more interesting if it isn’t ‘perfect’.  It’s like the difference between vinyl and an MP3 file; streamed music may sound best, but the pops and hisses of vinyl make music interesting.

Regardless, in 2007 I finally broke down and purchased a Polaroid point and shoot digital camera.  I was amazed that I could take more than 36 photos at a time!  In 2010, I purchased my D3000 and last summer I obtained a hand me down D90.

What is your favorite subject to shoot
 I’m known as a concert photographer but interestingly enough, trees are my favorite subject to shoot.  I love the uniqueness of them and love photographing them in different seasons and in different lighting conditions.

What are your favorite 3 photos you have shot, what were the camera settings,  lens, filter that you used 

This photo is simply called ‘Favorite Photo Ever’.  Technical information is lost and the quality is deminished as the print was scanned and then digitalized, but this is my favorite photo.  It was captured in China at Confucius’ Temple with my brand new Minolta 35mm camera when I was 18.  In rural China, people didn’t want their photograph taken because they were afraid their soul would be captured along with the image.  But this old man, who was sitting near the tomb, invited us closer so he could show off his pin display.  He welcomed the cameras and as they were raised, he stood taller. It was that moment when I pressed the shutter.  The photo isn’t technically perfect, but ever time I look at it I smile.

Jazz musicians are my favorite artists to photograph because they are so expressive and so focused on the music.  The image of the late George Duke was captured in 2011 in San Diego when he performed with Marcus Miller and David Sanborn.  A brilliant, soulful man who was called home too soon.

Nikon D3000, 1/50 sec, f/5.6, ISO 800, 200mm

After careful consideration and a couple of swear words aimed towards East Lansing, Michigan (why couldn’t I have four favorite photos?!), I selected this image of my cat, Meyer, as a favorite photo.  Meyer’s lived with us for 14 years and in February 2013, we suddenly lost our other cat, Maggie.  Meyer was introduced to Maggie one month after his sister, Molly, died and we soon realized it was too soon to introduce another cat into the family.  Though he and Maggie sometimes had disagreements, they eventually learned to get along and became friends.  When Maggie died, I was concerned for Meyer because he had never truly been an ‘only cat’.  I didn’t want him to be lonely but I also didn’t want to rush into getting another cat so soon after Maggie’s death.  A few days after Maggie died, Meyer was staring out the window in the bedroom and just looked so contemplative, yet strangely peaceful.  I didn’t have my camera near me and was afraid he would move if I went to get it so I quietly grabbed my cell phone and snapped a photo.  I then emailed it to myself and converted it to black and white.  Not only is this photo a beautiful portrait of Meyer, but it also proves that better equipment doesn’t always equate better photography

LG Smart phone, Converted to Black and white in Photoshop

What would be your dream shoot
To be the concert photographer for Marcus Miller or Herbie Hancock on a world tour.   

What is your dream camera
My dream set up would be a Nikon D4 with the 70-200mm f2.8 Nikon lens and the 24-70mm f2.8 lens but I don’t know if I’d be able to lift it.

Who has influenced you the most in photography
My father, George E Adams.  

Would you consider yourself a technical photographer or more of a go by the feel photographer
Definitely more of a go by the feel photographer.  I don’t get bogged down by f stop, aperture, ISO, metering and all the other stuff.  Concert photography is about adapting to situations that change so quickly.  I’m more concerned about having a fully charged battery and an empty SD card than any camera presets.

What are your biggest strengths in photography  
With concert photography, I have to be adaptable.  Often I don’t know where I’ll be shooting from until I get to the venue. Then for ten minutes or so it’s me  versus the lightening director, the poorly placed mic stand, the unphotogenic guitarist, the fans arriving late, the fans raising cell phones right when I press the shutter, the sometimes surly security guards, a subject who’s so excited that they can’t stay still for one second and other photographers with better equipment but major insecurities.  It’s also important to me that people don’t realize I’m there.  I don’t want to ruin someone’s concert experience by being a jackass photographer who’s in their way, lugging around monster lenses with a shutter release that would make a machine gun sound quiet.  People deserve to enjoy their experience even if they do at times get in my shots.

What would you like people to know about your photography 
This may sound counterintuitive but my photography isn’t about me, especially my concert photography.  I don’t plaster social media with my images, seek out band members to ‘tag’ them, and pound my chest to get attention from faceless admirers.  I capture moments, and those moments shouldn’t be pimped out for the sake of my ego.  I’d much rather have the respect of artists, tour managers, publicists and label execs.  You may not know my name, but you’ve seen my work.  And in the coming months, you’ll see a lot more of it.

John McGraw Photography

Name

John McGraw

Company Name

John McGraw Photography

Website(s)

www.johnmcgrawphotography.com

http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/john-mcgraw.html
https://www.facebook.com/JohnMcgrawPhotography

From
East Lansing MI 

Camera

Canon 6D

Lens

Canon 24-105 and Canon 70-200 2.8

Filters

77mm Polarizer, 77mm graduated

Tripod

Vanguard Alta Pro 263AGH with Pistol Head

Lights / Flash

Canon 430ex ii speedlite flash

Do you consider yourself a pro or amateur

Professional with a day job.

When did your interest in photography start

I started getting interested in photography when I was a kid. My Dad had a Canon film camera with a couple lenses. My parents are both into photography and have been for a long time.

When I was growing up I was an AV kid. I was the kid setting up projectors, VHS, Beta and all other formats in the classroom. My brother is 10 years older and has worked in one form or another of media for 30 years, so I grew up around it.

I worked for our high school TV station, a local government station, the Detroit Tigers (scoreboard), my family owed a media production company and then I worked in the independent film industry for many years as an editor, assistant director, script supervisor, grip gaffer and about every other thing on set.

All along I had cameras and keep shooting photography, but never really took it seriously until about 3.5 years ago. I did have classes in high school and college for photography (back in the film days). I’m glad I learned on film, so I could learn the processing of film, and really understood the need for framing and lighting. In those days every photo you took cost you money, so you wanted to get it right pretty quick.

What was your first camera

I didn’t buy my own “professional type” camera until 2010. I bought a Canon 60D with a couple cheap lenses. I learned a lot in that first year. I shot almost everyday, in about every condition you could think about. I traveled all over the U.S. taking landscape, cityscape and street photography.

What is your favorite subject to shoot

If I had to pick just one it would be cityscape and landscape at the magic blue hour. A lot of photographers shoot as the sun is setting, and I do of course also, but for me the better time is about an hour before official sunrise and about a half hour after sunset. I then shoot long exposure, and if you have the right conditions, you will get this blue color that is just magical (in my opinion)

What are your favorite 3 photos you have shot, what were the camera settings,  lens, filter that you used

Top of the list is the Moonbow at Yosemite at midnight. I was only at Yosemite for one day. While I was shooting during the day another photographer asked if I was staying for the Moonbow. I had no idea what that was. I guess it’s only possible a couple times a year, when there is a bright enough moon that is high enough in the sky to hit the falls, and there is enough water flowing to have the mist. That night all of these things happened.

Canon 60D

F4.5 , 25, ISO 400, EF-S18-55mm set at 23mm.

Next is frozen wave and breakwall in Marquette Michigan. Even though looking back I wish I could shoot this photo over, with my current lenses and camera. This photo really got me excited about photography again.

Canon 60D F 6.3 1/250, ISO 100, 50-500mm lens (don’t remember the name) set at 116mm.

Third is The Flatiron Building in NYC. This was during my then girlfriend and now wife's first trip to NYC together. You can barely see her in the bottom right corner. This is a 3 shot panoramic (going vertical). The sky was overcast this day and I almost didn’t even shoot this photo, but when I got back to the hotel I decided to do it in sepia and the sky ended up being perfect for the feel I was going for.

Canon 60D F3.5, 1/1250, ISO 160, 18-55mm set at 21mm.

What would be your dream shoot

I have always wanted to go to Ireland, so I would say that would be a dream come true, but this coming June, my wife, myself and two of our friends are going to Glacier National Park for 2 weeks and I can’t wait for that!

What is your dream camera

I don’t have a dream camera but I would like to shoot with a Hasselblad at some point.

Who has influenced you the most in photography

I would say that going to a couple of Peter Lik’s galleries inspired me. I first went to his gallery in Key West and then another in NYC. Of course you have to mention Ansel Adams, but to be honest I’m not a historian of photography. I see photos online and then will check out different people's online galleries.

Would you consider yourself a technical photographer or more of a go by the feel photographer

I’m a go with the feel type of photographer. I kind of would compare it to a musician that knows how to read music but never does. I know the technical part of photography, but I really go by the feel of the shot.

What are your biggest strengths in photography

I think one of my biggest strengths is long exposure. I really enjoy it, and have spent a lot of time doing it the past few years. I would also say capturing candid moments when shooting people.

What would you like people to know about your photography

I do it for myself first. It gives me a lot of pleasure and peace. I love to see my photos on people's walls. Knowing my art is out there for people to see makes me happy. I have had over 30 photos of the day on CNN.com and had an article writen about my photography Shutterphoto.com

My websites in 2013 combined for almost 300,000 photo views.

John McGraw Photography