AboutJohn and Chris Expertise We are both professional photographers, with over 15 years experience. We can answer questions about photography, as well as questions about cameras from the 60s to 90s. (extensive 35mm, quite a bit of other formats.) Please, no darkroom questions.
Expert: John and Chris Date: 12/19/2005 Subject: General Questions for photographers
Question Hello, my name is Linda and I am a student at Northeast High School in Philadelphia, PA. I was wondering if you could please help me by answering my interview questions for my senior project on photography. If you could please take a few minutes out of your time to give me some information and personal knowledge that you may have on this specific topic. I would really appreciate it if you could return it to me via email (lindal18@gmail.com) before Wednesday, December 21, 2005. Thank you for your time.
Questions
1. What is your knowledge in this area?
2. Where did you study photography?
3. What did you do to gain so much knowledge in this area?
3. When did you become interested in this field of study?
5. When did your career start?
6. Why is Photography important to you?
7. Who or what influenced you to become a photographer?
8. Do you believe in the expression “A picture is worth 1,000 words”?
9. If yes, why do you believe this is true?
10. What does this mean to you?
11. Do you have a favorite photograph?
12. Do you think that society would be different if photography was never invented?
13. Do you think that a person must possess talent to capture emotion and expression in a picture?
14. Does the price of a camera matter in ways that it affects the quality of the picture?
15. Do you have a special style in your photographs that can single you out like strokes in a painting?
16. Was photography just considered as a hobby to you in the past?
17. What makes a good photographer in your opinion?
18. What do you enjoy most photographing?
19. In your opinion, what makes photography an art?
20. Do you believe that film photography will in the end be totally replaced by digital photography?
21. Do you prefer using film cameras over digital?
22. What motivates you to do what you do?
Answer Questions
1. What is your knowledge in this area?
I shoot mostly weddings, environmental portriats and events/sports.
2. Where did you study photography?
I didn't study formally. I'm self taught.
3. What did you do to gain so much knowledge in this area?
Reading and practice. I started very early.
3. When did you become interested in this field of study?
When I was 10 years old.
5. When did your career start?
I started taking jobs and selling photos when I was about 22. I'm 36 now.
6. Why is Photography important to you?
I guess it's a way to express myself.
7. Who or what influenced you to become a photographer?
My grandfather died when I was very young. He was an avid photographer and left tons of Kodachrome slides. I used to go in the attic and look at them for hours.
8. Do you believe in the expression “A picture is worth 1,000 words”?
I hadn't really thought about it before... yes, I suppose so.
9. If yes, why do you believe this is true?
Well, for the obvious reasons... An image can express many ideas very easily.
10. What does this mean to you?
Really, I hadn't thought about it before.
11. Do you have a favorite photograph?
"Afghan Girl" by Steve McCurry.
12. Do you think that society would be different if photography was never invented?
Of course. It is a major form of communication, expression and documentation.
13. Do you think that a person must possess talent to capture emotion and expression in a picture?
It helps. But you can get lucky.
14. Does the price of a camera matter in ways that it affects the quality of the picture?
Yes.
15. Do you have a special style in your photographs that can single you out like strokes in a painting?
No, I don't think so. At least nothing consistant. My personal photos might have some kind of "personal style", but it's not something I do on purpose it they do.
16. Was photography just considered as a hobby to you in the past?
Yes. And it is still a hobby.
17. What makes a good photographer in your opinion?
There is not one thing. Also, there are many types of photographers and each type requires a different talent and skill.
18. What do you enjoy most photographing?
The Oregon Coast!
19. In your opinion, what makes photography an art?
It is a visual medium influenced by creativity.
20. Do you believe that film photography will in the end be totally replaced by digital photography?
In the end? I hope it never ends. Just kidding, I know what you mean. For the most part, yes. But just as there are people who still fool around with archaic photographic processes from 100 years ago, there will be people who still make images on film. But comercially film is almost gone now. I haven't shot a roll of film in years. Digital is a much cleaner and more efficient process.
21. Do you prefer using film cameras over digital?
No. I hope I never have to use film again. I love digital.
