| November 4, 2013 |
SPOTLIGHT FOR INSPIRATION SCOTT DETWEILER
Our Weekly [fa] Photography Spotlight for Inspiration is all about talent, inspiration, success, camaraderie and collaboration. Artistic success and appreciation is built upon networks of likeminded people and our team of artists here will inspire you for days.
If you have not taken the time to peruse our membership list, I think you will be shocked to see who you are rubbing elbows with. Some of the most amazing up and coming artists in the industry and they are all a part of this team! Each week we sit down with one of them and find out about them, what they are doing, what keeps them motivated and pull from them inspiration for us all. We will be covering artists at every level and every style. There is no requirement for this spotlight except a passion for your craft. Read on‌ network, be inspired and shoot your dreams!
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Scott Detweiler
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Spring 2016
Fine Art Photographer
I sat down with the dynamic Scott Detweiler. We talked about where his journey began and how he forging his own path by sharing knowledge and inspiration‌ Caroline: Well, I will start out by perpetuating that age old rivalry... are you a Nikon Man or Canon Man? Scott: Nikon. Tried both but I find the Nikon much more usable and I much prefer the glass. I am shooting a Nikon D800 currently. If you look at the technical specs, the D800 received a DxO score of
95, where the high-end Canon got an 81. However, the camera you have with you is the best camera in the world. I am looking at medium format currently, so this might change in the near future. Caroline: How long have you been in
photography? I noticed you actually studied2
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Physics in college? How did that transition occur? Scott: I really picked up a
camera with serious intentions in 2008. Before that I had a Pentax PZ10. I occasionally used it, but nothing outside of snapshots. I went to school for Physics, but ending up moving into more of an artistic role while working on an overseas "project" for an unnamed governmental entity. I would do a lot of sketches and renderings (watercolor, marker, or pen & ink) and helped with architectural plans. I got more into art and then the computer side of architecture got interesting. I found myself doing a lot of 3D work in
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which photography was the basis for those works. When I really got into Photoshop is when I wanted to shoot more. I had been doing my Photography artwork with stock photography and I learned that no matter how much I altered an image, I never owned it. So, I had to start shooting my own stock for manipulation to really call the work my own. What started as a hobby in 2008 has grown to be what I want to do when I grow up. Scott: I didn’t actually go
overseas. I worked on the project remotely and had security clearance. Caroline: Got it. “I could
tell you but then I would have to kill you... 00Detwiler stuff.” HA! Scott: When you are doing
architectural renderings of projects and it shows how things are assembled or laid out, they become a problem if they get shown to the wrong people.
influenced your work? Scott: None at all actually.
I still follow physics and specifically astrophysics topics with ravenous interest, but they are unrelated to my artistic side. Caroline: You have a
wonderful talent of capturing the curves and motion of the female form. Where would you say you get your inspiration from? Scott: Hmm, not really
sure. I think I just know what I like and try and pose and light the form until I feel it is properly represented. I feel the role of the photographer is to recreate the beauty of the 3D object/person later on a 2D print or screen. Learning to light so that the shadows work for you is critical to making a person corporeal to the
Caroline How
would you say your physics and math background has
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viewer. Caroline: I am sure you get
asked this a lot so I have to ask... How do you find your models? Scott: I hand out cards to
people I meet, or when I go to fashion events or group shoots I collect names and number of people that might be interesting to work with.
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Caroline: What is your day job? Scott: I own an IT firm. After my stint with the government, I got hired as a IT guy. Over the years I decided to start my own.
Scott: Yes. I am actively working toward my goals. I don't find time, I MAKE time. That is the key. You can’t wait for it. You have to make it.
Caroline: Do you
work mostly in the fashion and commercial side of photography?
Scott: I do have some
Scott: Hard to say
actually. I do shoot a lot of fashion, and I have done a fair amount of advertising imagery, but I prefer the fine art focus. However, it does not pay the bills *yet*. Caroline: Ah yes... the
pesky "putting food on the table" problem rearing it's ugly head... Ha! So right now what would you say is supporting your road to full time fine art photography work? Scott: In my day job I don’t do photography.
photographers and artist put their dreams on hold because they don’t feel they can do their art and still have a full time job. To see someone so successful is a boost to a lot of us struggling artists who also have a full time job outside of photography.
Been going for 12 years now or so. But My dream is to find someone that will support by art. Caroline: I think it is interesting that you are so successful and have a huge body of work in photography and yet it is not what you do full time. You do so much! A lot of
income from photography, from workshops and Photoshop tutoring that I do. I have been working in Photoshop for well over a decade, so I love sharing what I know with others. The same goes for the photography, as lighting seems to elude a lot of photographers. Caroline: How did you get
into the education and workshop side of the industry?
Scott: I had a lot of people ask
me how I light things, so I started offering workshops. Some of the beginner ones might have 30 or 40 people in 4
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them. I also get a lot of photography students from the school of art and design, as their photography program does not apparently delve into lighting at any meaningful level. As the topics of the workshops get more complex the crowd is smaller of course, but the material is a lot more intense. I have a 4000sq/ft studio for this reason, as workshops take a lot of space. Caroline: Do you ever
travel to other locations to host these workshops or are they all local? Scott: I do most of my
Photoshop training over Skype, as the students are rarely located near me. However the workshops, so far, have all been local. I have been getting a lot of interest in cities like Chicago and NY, but have yet to actually make the leap. I would love to do so, but I need something to get that going I guess. Caroline: How would our
readers find out more about how to attended your workshops or schedule internet training with you? Scott: Most of the
workshops are announced
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on my Facebook and G+ streams. Tutoring details are on my website. http://www.sedetweiler.co m/private-lessons Caroline: Did I hear you
have recently published a book? Scott: Yes, I took several of
my images and made lighting diagrams, Photoshop layering diagrams and step-by-step walk-though on things. I thought it would help with those interested in how I did a few things. Caroline: Where can this
book be purchased? Is it available now? Scott: It is available as an
eBook. I also have a video out on one of my more complex manipulations. Both are available here: http://goo.gl/FN2ohe I have plans on a few more videos. I think those are a bit easier to follow for Photoshop oriented articles. Caroline: What other fine
art photographers are you inspired by? Is there anybody else’s work you follow?
when I first started. I shot in my little office against a white wall and tried my best to work with what I had in that small space. To this day, I prefer a white wall for most of my portraits even though the end result will not resemble that small space. I find him to be a huge source of inspiration and creativity. https://www.facebook.com/pier re.beteille1 Caroline: You are just a wealth of
inspiration and information! We enjoy so much having you on the [fa] photography executive board. If you had any advice or inspiration you could tell to someone just starting out in fine art photography what would it be? Scott: I consider myself starting
out in fine art photography but if I was to advise on anything I would advise to learn how light works and your images will be much more interesting. I see a lot of photographers struggle with lighting more than anything else. Caroline: Thank you for taking
the time to sit down and share your knowledge with the team. You are an amazing talent. Scott: Thanks for this. I am
honored.
Scott: I am a big fan of
Pierre Beteille. His workspace and mindset are very close to what mine was
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[fa] Photography Spotlight for Inspiration: Scott Detweiler
November 4, 2013
A Gift of inspiration for you… With each F.A.P Spotlight look for a link to a tutorial, texture or stock image!
Click on the link to download Scott’s library of awesome textures! Thank you for the gift of inspiration Scott! http://www.sedetweiler.com/fa_free_texture
Scott’s 411… Facebook Link: https://www.facebook.com/scott.detweiler Google + Link: https://plus.google.com/+ScottDetweiler/posts Website: http://www.sedetweiler.com Purchase Book and Video Tutorials : http://www.flatbooks.com/authors/scottdetweiler?___store=flatbooks&acc=182be0c5cdcd5072bb1864cdee4d3d6e Awards and Magazine Publications: Milwaukee Magazine's Top Fashion Photographer (Style Games 2013) - Cover of Cloud Orchid Summer 2013