Q&A – Ask LoC

Another month, another set of Q&A here at LoC.

You know, when I first started doing this I thought I’d get stuff like “What’s your favorite lens?” and “Why is Canon better than Nikon?” but instead you folks are deep and meaningful.  In a way, that’s better.  It gives me more to write.

What goal are you working towards within your photography and when will you know you have reached it?

Hmm…this is a tough question to answer because my goal keeps changing.  I don’t think that’s because I keep reaching it, but rather because I continue to want more.  When I first started taking pictures a long, long time ago I just thought it would be cool to learn how to work in a darkroom, wind my own film, that sort of stuff.  When I went digital, it was to take some nice pictures of my kids.  Then it was to take some nice pictures that other people would notice.  From there it became to take pictures that my peers would notice – the other people that I consider excellent photographers.

Now, what I want to do is to capture moments for other people that they will cherish and that will become the physical bookmark for a moment in their lives.  That’s the stuff that happens shootings weddings and children – taking pictures of people.   And I am doing that, but there is always a drive to do it better.  Will I ever get there?  I hope not because that would mean that I’ve quit pushing and then my work would get boring.

What genre of photography do you dislike the most and why?

This is a tough question to answer because if I saw eighty year old women, then there goes all my chances to take portraits of eighty year old women, ya know?

What I’ve avoided taking on has been the plug and chug of youth sports leagues.  Lining up 15 kids and just processing them through the line while saying “smile”, click, next just isn’t my thing.  It’s not that I don’t want to take those pictures, I just don’t have the opportunity to do it the way I want to take the pictures.  Maybe that chance will come along at some point.  I hope it does because I really enjoy shooting sports and there is something really wonderful about capturing kids playing the game when they are still just playing for the love of the game.

Where do you print your photos? Do you print everything up to 8×10 at home? Where do you do your enlargements?

I don’t print anything at home.  All my work gets sent out to professional photo labs.  It may cost a little more than the Costco’s and Target’s of the world but I think the quality is better.  My clients are paying professional fees and they deserve a professional product.  Sure, it costs me a little more, but I sleep better at night knowing they have something that is high quality.

So there you go.  That’s the February edition of “Ask LoC”.   You would think a photographer would have a picture to go with a post like this wouldn’t you.  I guess I need to start planning better.