My first fan mail...
Oakley
Registered Users Posts: 446 Major grins
Here is a response to a student who emailed me for an interview for one of her photography assignments. Her email is at the end...
If you have time, I'd love for you to read it and tell me how I did...(c:
Hi Georgia,
So I'm going to do my best to answer your questions, but then at the end I have a few questions of my own for you to answer - if that's ok.
1. How did you choose what pictures to take?
I don't think there is a good explanation for this question. Most of the pictures you see on display on my website are all spur-of-the-moment shots - meaning there was no deliberate plan or set-up. I just happened to be in the right spot (with my camera in hand) at the right time. Some rules I live by to make sure you are in the right spot at the right time are:
- take your camera everywhere you go. Weddings, the mall, walking your dog, vacation, hiking, out with friends, ect. Cause you never know when you might come across the perfect picture setting.
- know your camera inside and out so that you don't have to "think" too much or fumble around with your camera settings when that spur-of-the-moment shot is upon you.
- take a million pictures, and then take a million more. That is the beautiful thing about digital photography - it costs you nothing to shoot as many pictures as you want.
- take your cameras settings to the extreme. Take shots of your subject from various angles - up high, down low, and all around.
- understand the basic rules of composition - like the rule of thirds, get up close to your subject, find unique angles and points of view, and my favourite COMPOSE YOUR SUBJECT IN THE SIMPLEST OF WAYS. ie. keep out the clutter that doesn't add to the focus of your subject and the meaning of the photo. And know when to break all those rules!
- but of course, the last and most important - have all the fun you can with the process, and don't get down when it doesn't work out the way you want (there will always be another day) and always share your work with your friends and family - they will help you push yourself to new limits...
2. What made you choose them?
I don't know if I understand this question. No one or thing "made" me choose them...But maybe you're asking - What made you choose the ones I put on my website among the thousands of pictures which I have taken? Easy - they are the best ones! (c:
But maybe you're asking what made me choose my particular subjects - and that is sort of answered above - I was just out with my camera, saw a cool subject - and did my best to compose that subject in the most pleasing way!
3. There are a few edited ones with the fire juggler man, could you tell me what tools you used? Or, what tools are your favourite to use?
Well, my photo editing software is Photoshop Elements 4.0. It has basic editing features (as compared to CS2) but it works for me right now because of it's simplicity.
Specifically, to make the firespinning photos the way they are I essentially cranked up the saturation to 100%. To be honest, I was just fooling around with the software and then BANG I found the look I wanted! This is most often the case with amazing photos - you get lucky...but you can increase your odds of being lucky by being prepared and being "good" - see answer to question 1!
Photo editing is a powerful tool, but should be used with caution. Sometimes a little editing can turn an ordinary photograph into incredible art, but the photographer should know when enough is enough. One of the magical things about photos is their ability to mimic reality. Push this envelope by all means but try to keep in mind the preferences of your audience.
4. I read that your a student, are there any other hobbies that might contribute to these wonderful images? Or is this the hobby that you do?
What I meant by student was a "student of life" not really an official student. Sorry for the confusion. But I think that being a "student of life" is critical to becoming a good photographer. A good photographer must have these skills and must be willing to constantly improve on them in order to be successful:
- technical knowledge of cameras and light
- understanding of the human psyche (ie. in order to create photos that people want to look at you must constantly ask why someone might prefer this picture over another one).
- for digital photography an understanding of computers (hardware and software) is critical.
- as well, for digital photography, you need to be able to create a clear and effective work-flow which includes everything from clicking to post-processing to sharing on several different medias (print, website, email, ect) - and everything in between.
- if you are a pro photography then you need to make $$$ and learn the business side of things. And this subject is a lenghty one which I am currently pursuing. Although I am certainly not ready to quit my day job - a transportation engineer.
Other hobbies which are good for photophy? Probably anything that gets you taking pictures! So probably everything but watching TV!
And now if I may ask you a few questions (to help my research (c:):
1) What are your photography goals? Hobby, professional?
2) What subjects do you like to take pictures of the most? People, landscapes, animals, flowers?
3) How did you find my website? If it was through google, do you recall what your search words were?
4) What was your favourite photo in my collection?
5) What did you think of the set-up for my website? Did it look professional, was it easy to navigate, did it invite you to have a look around?
6) Do you have a favorite photo from your own collection? If you have it on your computer I would love to see it.
Well, I hope that satisfies your curiosity and your course. Again I really appreciate you choosing me and my work as the subject of your assignment. Good luck and if you need any more information feel free to let me know.
Cheers,
Ryan Oakley
--- Georgia Smith <penster83@hotmail.com> wrote:
Hi! My name is Georgia and I'm a student at Acton Boxborough Regional High School. I'm taking a Digital Photography class and the project we are doing now is to look for some digital photographers and choose one that we really enjoyed. After looking through most of your photos I decided to e-mail you about your work. I really love most of these shots because in every photo it seems as though there is another meaning. I also really enjoyed the black and white ones as well as the shots that had a focused area, like a flower for instance, and then a less focused background. This project also says that we have to e-mail our desired artist and ask a few questions about their work. One of the questions I have is how did you choose what pictures to take? And what made you choose them? There are a few edited ones with the fire juggler man, could you tell me what tools you used? Or, what tools are your favorite to use? I read that your a student, are there any other hobbies that might contribute to these wonderful images? Or is this the hobby that you do? Thank you so much for your time, I loved the photos!
--Georgia
If you have time, I'd love for you to read it and tell me how I did...(c:
Hi Georgia,
So I'm going to do my best to answer your questions, but then at the end I have a few questions of my own for you to answer - if that's ok.
1. How did you choose what pictures to take?
I don't think there is a good explanation for this question. Most of the pictures you see on display on my website are all spur-of-the-moment shots - meaning there was no deliberate plan or set-up. I just happened to be in the right spot (with my camera in hand) at the right time. Some rules I live by to make sure you are in the right spot at the right time are:
- take your camera everywhere you go. Weddings, the mall, walking your dog, vacation, hiking, out with friends, ect. Cause you never know when you might come across the perfect picture setting.
- know your camera inside and out so that you don't have to "think" too much or fumble around with your camera settings when that spur-of-the-moment shot is upon you.
- take a million pictures, and then take a million more. That is the beautiful thing about digital photography - it costs you nothing to shoot as many pictures as you want.
- take your cameras settings to the extreme. Take shots of your subject from various angles - up high, down low, and all around.
- understand the basic rules of composition - like the rule of thirds, get up close to your subject, find unique angles and points of view, and my favourite COMPOSE YOUR SUBJECT IN THE SIMPLEST OF WAYS. ie. keep out the clutter that doesn't add to the focus of your subject and the meaning of the photo. And know when to break all those rules!
- but of course, the last and most important - have all the fun you can with the process, and don't get down when it doesn't work out the way you want (there will always be another day) and always share your work with your friends and family - they will help you push yourself to new limits...
2. What made you choose them?
I don't know if I understand this question. No one or thing "made" me choose them...But maybe you're asking - What made you choose the ones I put on my website among the thousands of pictures which I have taken? Easy - they are the best ones! (c:
But maybe you're asking what made me choose my particular subjects - and that is sort of answered above - I was just out with my camera, saw a cool subject - and did my best to compose that subject in the most pleasing way!
3. There are a few edited ones with the fire juggler man, could you tell me what tools you used? Or, what tools are your favourite to use?
Well, my photo editing software is Photoshop Elements 4.0. It has basic editing features (as compared to CS2) but it works for me right now because of it's simplicity.
Specifically, to make the firespinning photos the way they are I essentially cranked up the saturation to 100%. To be honest, I was just fooling around with the software and then BANG I found the look I wanted! This is most often the case with amazing photos - you get lucky...but you can increase your odds of being lucky by being prepared and being "good" - see answer to question 1!
Photo editing is a powerful tool, but should be used with caution. Sometimes a little editing can turn an ordinary photograph into incredible art, but the photographer should know when enough is enough. One of the magical things about photos is their ability to mimic reality. Push this envelope by all means but try to keep in mind the preferences of your audience.
4. I read that your a student, are there any other hobbies that might contribute to these wonderful images? Or is this the hobby that you do?
What I meant by student was a "student of life" not really an official student. Sorry for the confusion. But I think that being a "student of life" is critical to becoming a good photographer. A good photographer must have these skills and must be willing to constantly improve on them in order to be successful:
- technical knowledge of cameras and light
- understanding of the human psyche (ie. in order to create photos that people want to look at you must constantly ask why someone might prefer this picture over another one).
- for digital photography an understanding of computers (hardware and software) is critical.
- as well, for digital photography, you need to be able to create a clear and effective work-flow which includes everything from clicking to post-processing to sharing on several different medias (print, website, email, ect) - and everything in between.
- if you are a pro photography then you need to make $$$ and learn the business side of things. And this subject is a lenghty one which I am currently pursuing. Although I am certainly not ready to quit my day job - a transportation engineer.
Other hobbies which are good for photophy? Probably anything that gets you taking pictures! So probably everything but watching TV!
And now if I may ask you a few questions (to help my research (c:):
1) What are your photography goals? Hobby, professional?
2) What subjects do you like to take pictures of the most? People, landscapes, animals, flowers?
3) How did you find my website? If it was through google, do you recall what your search words were?
4) What was your favourite photo in my collection?
5) What did you think of the set-up for my website? Did it look professional, was it easy to navigate, did it invite you to have a look around?
6) Do you have a favorite photo from your own collection? If you have it on your computer I would love to see it.
Well, I hope that satisfies your curiosity and your course. Again I really appreciate you choosing me and my work as the subject of your assignment. Good luck and if you need any more information feel free to let me know.
Cheers,
Ryan Oakley
--- Georgia Smith <penster83@hotmail.com> wrote:
Hi! My name is Georgia and I'm a student at Acton Boxborough Regional High School. I'm taking a Digital Photography class and the project we are doing now is to look for some digital photographers and choose one that we really enjoyed. After looking through most of your photos I decided to e-mail you about your work. I really love most of these shots because in every photo it seems as though there is another meaning. I also really enjoyed the black and white ones as well as the shots that had a focused area, like a flower for instance, and then a less focused background. This project also says that we have to e-mail our desired artist and ask a few questions about their work. One of the questions I have is how did you choose what pictures to take? And what made you choose them? There are a few edited ones with the fire juggler man, could you tell me what tools you used? Or, what tools are your favorite to use? I read that your a student, are there any other hobbies that might contribute to these wonderful images? Or is this the hobby that you do? Thank you so much for your time, I loved the photos!
--Georgia
Ryan Oakley - www.ryanoakleyphotography.ca [My smugmug site]
www.photographyontheside.com [My blog about creating a part-time photography business]
Create A Gorgeous Photography Website with Smugmug in 90 Minutes [My free course if you need help setting up and customizing your SmugMug site]
www.photographyontheside.com [My blog about creating a part-time photography business]
Create A Gorgeous Photography Website with Smugmug in 90 Minutes [My free course if you need help setting up and customizing your SmugMug site]
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Comments
It must be fun to get something like that out of the blue! And I betcha you made her feel pretty good with your responses
C.
***********************************
check out my (sports) pics: ColleenBonney.smugmug.com
*Thanks to Boolsacho for the avatar photo (from the dgrin portrait project)
Since I'm a "catch your eye" sort of photographer myself, it's sometimes hard to explain what catches my eye... she may have been asking that question. Please do share her response, if any, with us...
http://www.twitter.com/deegolden
This is her reply...
Hey!
Thanks for the response, it really helped to hear a professional like
yourself talk about these kinds of things, and the answers really
helped. Now I'll do my best to answer yours!
1.) When I first signed up for this class, it looked pretty fun to me
because me and a lot of my friends all have digital cameras. We usually
just take pictures of each other when we hang out and didn't really
concentrate on what we were taking it of. Now that I'm in it, I'm really enjoying what we are doing. We don't have Digital Photography II in our school so I was a little disappointed, but I'm thinking about continuing taking a different photo class or even doing it on my own
2.) I don't really have a favorite subject as of now, but i really like
taking pictures of repetition or macro shots.
3.) Yeah, I searched through google images of "digital photography". I
was looking through them and the yellow tinted picture of the boat and
chains caught my eye.
4.) Hmm, that's hard to choose my favorite but I liked the pictures
with the setting sun in the background. I know there were a few of those, but I liked the effect of the trees being shadowed. Haha, I'm not sure I liked the spider ones though because I'm not a big fan of insects.
5.) I thought the set up was very good. It looked really professional
because of the way the photos were set up, and it was really easy to
have a look around. I also really liked that it was kind of modern and had
good colors. It was also really cool how the tabs lit up as you moved over
it, nice touch!
6.) Yes, I have some of my own that I did for class if you would like
to see. We used the Adobe Photoshop a lot to edit the photos. The one I
attached is a macro pic of a sink knob. I really like it because of the
paint on it. Tell me what you think about it!
Thanks again for the quick response! Haha most of my classmates didn't
even get one from their chosen artist.
Bye!
Georgia
I don't have her permission to share her picture. But it's a good piece of work - a black and white photo of a rustic looking water tap that says HOT on it. Better then all my stuff....
www.photographyontheside.com [My blog about creating a part-time photography business]
Create A Gorgeous Photography Website with Smugmug in 90 Minutes [My free course if you need help setting up and customizing your SmugMug site]
You should encourage her to come to dgrin and share her work with us.
I can't think of a better place to learn more beyond her digital class. Besides, it would give Daniel someone to hang around with.:D
** Feel free to edit my photos if you see room for improvement.**
Use what talents you possess: the woods would be very silent if
no birds sang there except those that sang best.
~Henry Van Dyke
That's a great idea...why didn't I think of that...
www.photographyontheside.com [My blog about creating a part-time photography business]
Create A Gorgeous Photography Website with Smugmug in 90 Minutes [My free course if you need help setting up and customizing your SmugMug site]