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