Photogs: Those who take 'em and those who love 'em

[T4Texas]

Photography is one of the few passions I have left in life. I have sold work in a gallery before, but am really more interested in photography for the pleasure it gives me rather than the monetary value to be gained from it. I began photographing years ago to acquire subjects for paintings I wanted to do. Over time, I found photography to be a more creative medium for me and I gave up painting and took up photography.
My favorite subjects are architectural, abandoned buildings, roadside americana (cafes, gas stations, motels, tourist traps). My most recent project for the last few years has been documenting the small towns of Texas which I call Rural Texas in the 21st Century and currently contains about 2000 images. My camera choices are an old Nikon FG film camera which takes wonderful pictures despite being old and has the advantage of being used either fully manually or fully auto which greatly expands your creativity. I also have a Nikon coolpix digital which I love equally for its ease of use and ability to preview your shots. I have also worked with medium format and larger cameras.
My favorite photographers tend to be the older documentary style people like the WPA photographers of the 30's/40's. People like Dorothea Lange, Walker Evans, Margaret Bourke White and such. Probably my all time favorite is a frenchman named Brassai. He was from the same time period and did a lot of night photography. His book, The Secret Paris of the 30's, is a wonderful read in which he photographed the seamier side of life from prostitutes, to dance halls and his pictures of a lesbian bar with women dressed in tuxedos enjoying their evenings are fabulous and certainly worth a look.

[girl_dee]

Originally Posted by T4Texas

Photography is one of the few passions I have left in life. I have sold work in a gallery before, but am really more interested in photography for the pleasure it gives me rather than the monetary value to be gained from it. I began photographing years ago to acquire subjects for paintings I wanted to do. Over time, I found photography to be a more creative medium for me and I gave up painting and took up photography.
My favorite subjects are architectural, abandoned buildings, roadside americana (cafes, gas stations, motels, tourist traps). My most recent project for the last few years has been documenting the small towns of Texas which I call Rural Texas in the 21st Century and currently contains about 2000 images. My camera choices are an old Nikon FG film camera which takes wonderful pictures despite being old and has the advantage of being used either fully manually or fully auto which greatly expands your creativity. I also have a Nikon coolpix digital which I love equally for its ease of use and ability to preview your shots. I have also worked with medium format and larger cameras.
My favorite photographers tend to be the older documentary style people like the WPA photographers of the 30's/40's. People like Dorothea Lange, Walker Evans, Margaret Bourke White and such. Probably my all time favorite is a frenchman named Brassai. He was from the same time period and did a lot of night photography. His book, The Secret Paris of the 30's, is a wonderful read in which he photographed the seamier side of life from prostitutes, to dance halls and his pictures of a lesbian bar with women dressed in tuxedos enjoying their evenings are fabulous and certainly worth a look.

Do you have your work on a site where we can have a peek?

[T4Texas]

Unfortunately no website, its all either on my computer or in boxes and boxes of negatives.

[Fancy]

Sharing one of my favorites that I was lucky enough to capture this week. Enjoy! PM me if you'd like to see more from the set.

[dixie]

I don't know much about photography. I don't know the jargon, the ins and outs, or much of anything on the technical aspect. All I know is that when I have a camera in my hand, life is good.

I usually prefer nature and wildlife shots, but some architectural and still object shots are fun too. Most of mine are just taken around my yard and in the field behind my house. I generally use simple contrast enhancements because that's just what I like to see when I hang them on my wall. I use Lightroom3 or Picasa when I do adjustments. I honestly have no idea how to make them turn out as beautiful as the ones I've seen from the folks on this thread, but I'm learning as I go along.


Here is a link to some of mine. You may need to start on the last page and go forward, because the ones on the first page are kinda sucky. Well, for all I know they may all be kinda sucky, but that's ok too. LOL


http://www.flickr.com/photos/crystalds79/

[femmedyke]

Great shots, Dixie! I especially love the one with rusty car.

I just love that cemetery shot Fancy; work's perfect in sepia.

Here is a person shot I took outside of Harrisburg, PA a few weeks ago.

In honour of Mother's day here are two of my most favourite maternity shots to date. Gah, I would just love to photograph mama-to-be's for a living.

Tick Tock and Vroom Vroom

[little man]

just thought i'd throw this out here.

sunset photo contest

reasonable entry fee...and who doesn't have one (or a hundred) of these?


also...

did some actor headshots last night for a guy. i think they came out nice...have a look, if you're so inclined.


a week from today, i'm lined up to do some production/still photos for a local dyke director. excitement! i'll post pics when the shoot is done.

have a great monday!

Brassai
http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=brassai&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=04O&rls=org.mozilla:en-USfficial&prmd=ivns&source=lnms&tbm=isch&ei=O-jTTcH-C9Sw8QP0m4X3Cg&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&cd=2&ved= 0CBgQ_AUoAQ&biw=1421&bih=832

One of my faves...Helmut Newton
http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=helmut+newton&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=C6O&rls=org.mozilla:en-USfficial&prmd=ivnsob&source=lnms&tbm=isch&ei=he jTTYSQEZG08QP8ueD3Cg&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&cd= 2&ved=0CCUQ_AUoAQ&biw=1421&bih=832

[little man]

hey folks

i interviewed today for a position as in-house photographer for an antiques auction house here. i would very much appreciate it if y'all would send some big ass mojo vibes to the woman i interviewed with...so's she'll hire me. it's decent enough money to start and fully paid health insurance (something i haven't had in years) after 90 days. oh, and i get to see/shoot/touch fabulous antiquities.

thanks!

[little man]

ok, folks...the entry fee is just right on this one. yup, it's FREE and, you can submit up to 3 images. oh, did i mention there's still a couple of months before it closes? uh huh...that means you have time to go shoot some stuff.

now, how 'bout it fancy? sassy? dixielady? hmmm? i will if you will.

[girl_dee]

Wil I must be missing the link for that one... where is it?


Good luck on this one!!

[little man]

Originally Posted by sassy_girl

Wil I must be missing the link for that one... where is it?


Good luck on this one!!

oh hell. the some-timer's got me.

here's the linkage. sorry 'bout that.

[Tommi]

Originally Posted by little man

hey folks

i interviewed today for a position as in-house photographer for an antiques auction house here. i would very much appreciate it if y'all would send some big ass mojo vibes to the woman i interviewed with...so's she'll hire me. it's decent enough money to start and fully paid health insurance (something i haven't had in years) after 90 days. oh, and i get to see/shoot/touch fabulous antiquities.

thanks!

[little man]

just finished up day two of production photos for an indy zombie short being shot here in austin. i discovered that i'm on a learning curve with this sort of photography...i have to remember that i'm shooting production photos, not the movie. i have also discovered i need to add a couple of faster lenses to my armory.

tomorrow and tuesday, i'll be doing production photos for a dyke movie being shot here. it's a film adaptation of "Valencia" by michelle tea. each chapter of the book will be shot by a different director and cast. sounds like an interesting project.

for now, i'll leave you with my final heroes vs zombies shot for today.

[Fancy]

Do you have an idea yet of what faster lens you're looking for?

Originally Posted by little man

just finished up day two of production photos for an indy zombie short being shot here in austin. i discovered that i'm on a learning curve with this sort of photography...i have to remember that i'm shooting production photos, not the movie. i have also discovered i need to add a couple of faster lenses to my armory.

tomorrow and tuesday, i'll be doing production photos for a dyke movie being shot here. it's a film adaptation of "Valencia" by michelle tea. each chapter of the book will be shot by a different director and cast. sounds like an interesting project.

for now, i'll leave you with my final heroes vs zombies shot for today.

[little man]

Originally Posted by little man

hey folks

i interviewed today for a position as in-house photographer for an antiques auction house here. i would very much appreciate it if y'all would send some big ass mojo vibes to the woman i interviewed with...so's she'll hire me. it's decent enough money to start and fully paid health insurance (something i haven't had in years) after 90 days. oh, and i get to see/shoot/touch fabulous antiquities.

thanks!

no go on the job. apparently, someone with auction experience turned up and was offered the position.

obviously, my density (yes, gratuitous back to the future reference) lies elsewhere. thanks, everyone, for the well wishes. off to bake pies and edit photos from recent shoots.

[Fancy]

Originally Posted by little man

no go on the job. apparently, someone with auction experience turned up and was offered the position.

obviously, my density (yes, gratuitous back to the future reference) lies elsewhere. thanks, everyone, for the well wishes. off to bake pies and edit photos from recent shoots.

Yes, it means there is something better in store for you.

They couldn't handle your awesomeness.

[little man]

Originally Posted by Fancy

Yes, it means there is something better in store for you.

They couldn't handle your awesomeness.

thanks, fancy...that's sweet of you. i'm disappointed, but undaunted. just means i can see about getting more film shoot gigs. that's ok by me, although i wish they paid.

as a side note...i found it interesting that when i called this morning, the woman i interviewed with felt compelled to explain to me why i wasn't hired. then told me that you never know how things will work out and for me to keep an eye out for another ad from them. go figure.