Exposed2 jordanpiraux

EXPOSED Jordan Piraux

There is beauty, often overlooked, in nearly everything.

Dedication This book is about photography my enjoyment of wandering somewhere unknown to capture a new image.

I have dedicated this book to my family. I love being with them and photographing them in everything that they are doing. I catch them at the most awkward moments and for that it makes me love them so much more.

Sometimes, though, loved ones are not nearby, and I ind that looking at a family photograph reminds me of them and draws us close again. This is what this book means to me: inding one way to connect with family no matter where they are.

Letter from the Author When I was told to create a book on any topic that I wanted, there was only one option: Photography. There is so much that can be told by one photograph. There is the saying “A picture is worth a thousand words,” and I really believe that this is true. There is so much emotion and passion that can be shown through a photograph.

There is beauty, often overlooked, in nearly everything. Whether is it wildlife, nature, landscape, or culture, this helps us see - with an open-eyed amazement - the miracles of life around us that unfolds every moment of every day. This is what I want to accomplish.

For me, photography is a life-long hobby that I started when I was young, and have always enjoyed doing, and learning about. It’s more than a hobby; it’s a love for photography and taking photographs.

It’s a very creative process, and an individual expression of how you see the subject – whether it’s a landscape, lower, food or animal. So that makes it exciting – trying diferent techniques to produce diferent results. When I create something completely on my own that turns our well, the payof for all the hard work is seeing the results after I download the results onto my computer.

I ind uniqueness in everything I photograph – ranging from boots on a road to performing show bands or pictures of the city. I want to show that it doesn’t matter what level of photographer you are. Everyone can capture simply beautiful images.

I enjoy sharing the world with others the way I see it – and sometimes how I would like to see it. … That is the key reason I enjoy photography: I don’t feel I have to explain anything: it is up to the viewers’ interpretation. I ind it amazing when they interpret a photo that I have taken in a diferent way than I imagined. In some ways my goal is for the viewer to create an emotional connection with the photograph.

A good photograph is one that communicates a fact, touches the heart, and leaves the viewer a changed person for having seen it.

As one of my fellow photographers states “I see the world in 4x6 boxes” and I would like to show exactly how I see the world.

“There is only you and your camera. The limitations in your photography are in yourself.” - Ernst Haas

Jordan Piraux

1

Elements of Photography

2 3 4 People

Landscapes

Animals

5 6 7 8 Architecture

Events

Artistic Expression

Other Application

Elements of Photography// Which to Choose? What Else to Consider?

Camera Settings Finding Focus Rule of Thirds Balancing Elements Leading Lines Symmetry & Patterns Viewpoint Background Depth Framing Cropping Experimental Which to Choose?

What Else to Consider?

Which Camera do I Choose?

Today’s digital cameras are universally capable of producing excellent results and ofer a wide range of controls designed to make photography easy and fun. Cameras for the beginner fall broadly in to the simple point-and-shoot cameras with 3-4 megapixels and basic controls.

CONTROL SWITCH for changing mode or zoom setting (varies with camera model)

Next up are those ofering greater resolution 5-7 megapixels - with more advanced controls and faster operating speed.

Most costly cameras will ofer even greater resolution as well as more lexible camera and mage controls or better lenses.

LCD SCREEN is the main interface with the camera, controlling framing, displaying the menu

SHUTTER BUTTON initiates the exposure sequence, good cameras respond quickly to pressure

NAVIGATION is used to move through the menu and make setting

ZOOM LENS with versatile zoom range

MID-RANGE COMPACT

ADVANTAGES

Modern compact cameras ofer zoom lenses with at least 3x range with sensors carrying 6 or more megapixels. All ofers auto-focus, have a built in lash, removable memory card, LCD viewinder, and a choice of diferent auto-exposures.

// compact and lightweight // easy to use // capable of high-quality images // inexpensive to use

DISADVANTAGES // battery life may be limited // display may be diicult to read // range of accessories limited // zoom action may not be smooth

FUNCTION BUTTONS are used to select display modes and delete images

POWER SWITCH for turning the camera on and of ZOOM/SHUTTER sliding will zoom and pressing will take a photograph

Q A

What kind of viewinder is best for me?

Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) viewinders that lip out are useful for awkward angles. The larger the screen, the easier it is to use. Cameras with optical (seethrough) viewinders provide a small view but one that is easy to use in bright light and does not rely on batteries.

Q A

What exactly are megapixels?

Pixels are the picture’s elements - the more you have available, the greater the capacity to record detail. The image sensor is made up of individual picture elements, so an 8-megapixel sensor is covered with 8 million individual elements.

Q A

How many pixels do I need to have?

3-5 megapixels are ample for web use and for average-sized prints, while 8 or more megapixels are suicient for many professional users. However, the number of pixels does not guarentee good image quality - much depends on the lens quality and image processing.

MODE DIAL sets scene modes and other functions

ELECTRONIC VIEWFINDER is a small LCD screen under a magniier

ZOOM LENS is much larger and ofers greater zoom range and quality

ZOOM LENS with limited zoom range

BEGINNER’S COMPACT

ADVANTAGES

PROSUMER

Modern entry-level compacts suitable for the beginner represent exceptional valuefor-money. They combine very good image quality with real ease of use in extremely compact and stylishly designed bodies.

// inexpensive to purchase // inexpensive to use // very easy to use // very lightweight and compact

Cameras that bridge the consumer and professional ranges- the prosumer- are capable of professional quality images, and ofer a good range of photographic controls. These cameras accept lash and lens accessories as well as highperfomance lenses.

DISADVANTAGES // zoom range may be limited // may not accept accessories // may be slow in operation // may limit you as you progress

ADVANTAGES // high-quality images // wider zoom range // accepts accessory lash unit // may be rapid in operation

DISADVANTAGES // bulkier and heavier than point-and-shoot compacts // more costly to purchase // more complicated to use

What else to consider?

As your experience grows, you may want to extend the range of your photography. As your conidence in your skills grows, you may start to stretch the capabilities of your camera. This is when you will begin to think about adding accessories to your camera. Some, such as a tripod or data storage, can be applied to any camera.

INCREASING ZOOM RANGE

USING A TRIPOD

If your camera has a modest zoom range - between 3x and 5x - just as with digital SLRs, in many cameras, zoom range may be extended by attaching on lens adapters.

There is no doubt that a tripod is the best way to ensure sharp, high-quality images. Tripods also reduce the strain when you are waiting for a photographic moment, whether it is a setting sun or an animal moving across a landscape.

Canon EF 24-70mm f2.8L

Canon EF 100-400mm f4.5L

Canon EF 70-200mm f4L

PRINTING Modern printers produce excellent quality images and are inexpensive, but printing materials are often costly. Some printers connect directly with cameras, others read the memory cards. Both methods eliminate the need for a computer.

Dye-Sublimation Printers produce small prints of superb very quickly.

Ink-Jet Printers can produce very large prints but require you to prepare the image.

Color control may be tricky.

MEMORY CARD Digital Cameras store images on removable memory cards. The cards supplied with cameras are usually adequate for only a handful of images, you will need to buy to buy your own. Get the largest capacity you can aford, but you don’t have to buy the fastest, they are designed for professional cameras. It’s a good idea to keep a spare card.

STORING DATA The more you photograph, the more you will want to store. Modern data storage is amazingly afordable. You can back up images onto CDs or DVDs using inexpensive writers.

FLASH Digital Cameras come with a built in lash, but if you want a stronger lash to use then look at getting an external lash.

These are helpful when taking dramatic photos of people when you want to show their faces and bodies bright and the background darker and blurred.

can I backup my images while QHow traveling?

A

Use a portable hard-disk drive with buildin card reader. Insert your memory card, press a button, and the drive copies the contents of the card. When the operation is over, you can also erase the card’s data and start again.

QHow do I download Photos?

A

One method is to install the camera’s software on your computer, then you will be able to connect it via a cable to transfer data. Connecting a card reader to the computer, remove the card from your camera, insert it into the reader and copy the iles to the computer.

is the best way to organize my QWhat pictures?

A

Create a “Pictures” folder if you don’t already have one. Then create another folder named according to the the location and date. Copy your pictures to the folder. When you open a picture to alter it in any way, immediately “save-as” under a diferent name so your always perseve the orginal image.

Camera Settings Modern cameras emerge from the box with basic setting that will suit most photographers. But as you become more experienced and demanding in your photography, you will want your camera to do more. This means learning about its diferent settings and their efects.

USE YOUR CAMERA’S P FOR PROGRAM MODE This gives you a high level of automation but allows you to make connections or alter settings. The fully automatic mode - usually a green square or symbol - shuts of many adjustments, so is best avoided.

USE THE AV (APERATURE VALUE) PRIORITY SETTING When the depth of ield is an important aspect of your photograph. A high AV setting will capture a scene with a large depth of ield; a low AV setting will produce an image with a narrow depth of ield.

USE THE TV (TIME VALUE) PRIORITY SETTING When short of long exposures are necessary to suit the subject. You should use short shutter times such as 1/500 second for action, and longer times such as 1 second or more for blurred light trails at night. TV settings are represented as fractions of a second and can range from 1/8000 second to several seconds.

USE THE M (MANUAL VALUE) PRIORITY SETTING When you know what settings you would like to put the camera at, you can use Manual Setting and this will allow you to input both ISO and Shutter Speed. This can help when you are taking night photographs and photographs during a sunny day. Manual control is useful when photographing close-up as it allows you to make precise adjustments.

Finding Focus Virtually all modern cameras have auto-focus systems that almost guarentee the sharpness of some part of your image. The key to focusing is not just to focus the lens but to control where the sharpness lies. Most cameras will focus, by default, on the very center of the image. While this is had in most situations, it may lead to improperly focused images if the main subject of your image is not in the center of the frame.

IF IN DOUBT SHOOT ANYWAY It is better to risk an unsharp image than having no image at all. If your image is a little bit on the soft side, you can always use your editing software to improve its sharpness.

IF YOUR CAMERA IS UNABLE TO FOCUS If your subject lacks detail or is too high in contrast, point the focusing spot at another object that is the same distance away as your subject, before re-framing your shot and taking the picture.

DECIDE WHAT NEEDS TO BE SHARP AND FORGET THE REST If you worry too much about technicalities like depth of ield (how much of the scene appears sharp), your photography will be slowed down unecessarily.

SET YOUR CAMERA’S AUTO-FOCUS TO SERVO OR CONTINUOUS MODE When there is lots going on around you, or when your subject is moving irregularily and constantly changing its distance from you.

Rule of Thirds

Balancing Elements

The basic principle behind the rule of thirds is to imagine breaking the image down into thirds (vertically/horizontally) so that you have nine parts. The theory us that if you place points of interest in the intersections or along the lines that your photo becomes more balanced and will enable a viewer of the image to interact with it more naturally.

Balance does not need to be only visual but can be efectual or emotional as well. In an image the presence of a physical entity is required to strike the balance but the hidden efects of subjects on viewers can also be used to attain the balance. This balancing can be symmetrical (formal) or asymmetrical (informal).

In learning how to use the rule of thirds the most important questions to be asked are: 1) what are the points of interest in this shot?

2) where am i intentionally placing them?

In formal balance, matching subjects can be a part of both side of images, making the weight of the image equal on either side.

Remember that breaking the rule can result in some striking shots - so once you’ve learnt it, experiment with purposely breaking it to see what you can discover. Post production editing tools are good for cropping and reframing images so that they it within the rules.

In informal balance, another dinky/insigniicant subject can be added on the other side so that it grabs the viewer’s attention, but doesn’t become the prime focus of the photograph.

Leading Lines Leading Lines are used to draw the viewer’s eye through a photograph.

They are intentional or unintentional, natural lines created in the space of the photograph are used to create a visual narrative in the composition. Leading Lines are also used to draw your eye to a focal point in the shot that you would like to highlight.

The use of lines can be used to direct the viewers attention to the subject of your photograph. These lines can be straight, diagonal, wavy, or any other creative variation. Just be aware that they may also lead away from the photography subject.

Roads, fences, bridges, rows of street lights, lamp posts etc. are examples of man-made elements that make great leading lines.

If one is not careful, wrongly aligned leading lines could easily work against the composition by leading the viewers’ eyes away from the main subject.

Symmetry & Patterns

Pattern is the repetition of a visual design or element. Displaying pattern in the image is similar to the recurrent versus in a song. Patterns are visually rhythmic and get repeated once in a while following a structure. Patterns have a very calming efect when they are expected and repetitive. Patterns can be regular following absolute structures of similar shapes and sizes and can also be irregular with diferent and uncertain shapes and sizes.

Symmetry is creating an image which can be divided into two (horizontally/ vertically) equal parts where both parts of the image look same or at least similar. Symmetry brings the sense of unanimity and harmony. Symmetry requires an eye-catching point of interest and a powerful composition.

Without these, it cannot hold the viewer’s attention for long.

Viewpoint

Framing

Viewpoint is the angle, direction or stance from which you choose to shoot each image. While shooting from a standing position is more commonly used, exploring other options or ways of seeing your subject can invigorate your work.

Framing is the technique of drawing attention to the subject of your image by blocking other parts of the image with something in the scene. Beneits of framing your photos include: - giving the photo context (framing a photo tells you about the place) - giving images a sense of depth and layers (putting something in the foreground adds dimension) - leading eye towards your main focal point (framing helps draw the eye in and keep it there for longer periods of time) - intriguing the viewer (it’s what you can’t see in an image that draws you into is as much as what you can see in the photo)

Before photographing your subject, take time to think about where you will shoot it from. Our viewpoint has a massive impact on the composition of our photo, and as a result it can greatly afect the message that the shot conveys. Rather than just shooting from eye level, consider photographing from high above, down at ground level, from the side, from the back, from a long way away, from very close up, and so on.

Cropping When you crop an image or photo, you remove part of the image.

This may involve cutting out some of the image from the left, right, top, bottom, or any combination thereof. It may also mean cutting out a small rectangle of the image.

Experimental Experiemental Photography can be deined as anything that one uses to alter or otherwise change a photograph in a way that difers from just taking a photograph.

Experimental is now applied to some digital editing techniques.

People // Candids Behavior Relationships Consent Engaging Cultures Casual Environmental Portraits Group Individual Couples Candids Behavior Relationships Consent Engaging Cultures Casual Environmental Portraits Group Individual Couples Candids

An Interview with Richard Erlendson

Photographer, Artist, Professor, Author and Speaker His photographic and life philosophy is captured by two words: mystery and abundance. “When I am photographing the world, I understand that I am revealing life’s unfolding mystery. I am interpreting the world by the images I create – whether it be aspects of nature or people. There is such incredible abundance when looking at the world through a camera: colours, textures, patterns, shapes, movement, action, emotions.

When people are in their homes or places of work, they are their own banquet. This is who they are. There is so much beauty to record.”

Richard Erlendson is not only a master photographer, he’s an artist, educator, author, and keynote speaker. In each, people are captivated by his expertise, his passion and enthusiasm, his story telling, and his ever-present multi-media show of thousands of photographs.

He studied photography in the mid-1970s, and has been shooting as a professional photographer ever since. He holds a diploma in photojournalism, and a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and doctorate in education.

Over the years he’s won countless monthly and annual awards in various categories with the professional associations listed above as well as other awards with other organizations.

Richard’s photography covers a wide gamut: ine art work, photo-art greeting cards, event coverage, weddings, and photojournalism (freelance photography for publication).

His passion as a photographer is creating photographs that powerfully capture the natural world or human culture.

“There is so much beauty to record.”

I had the chance to sit down with Mr. Erlendson and ask him some questions about his photographic career, how he got started, and how he stays inspired.

J: What was your irst shoot?

R: My irst shoot was for the weekly newspaper named the Melville Advance in my home town of Melville, Saskatchewan. I was hired in 1974 when I was in Grade 10 as a part-time reporterphotographer. I can’t remember the speciics of my very irst assignment, but your question has inspired me ind out.

J: What is the one thing you wish you knew when you started taking photos?

R: I wish I had known the complexity of light in its fullness, moods, and character.

J: How did you get to where you are now in your career?

R: I formally studied photojournalism when I was young, and worked full time as a photojournalist for

newspapers for many years. I think this was central to where I am today as a photographer because it meant I was shooting all day, every day. And I was in contact with editors and publishers who encouraged me and paid me for my work. Beyond this, I honored my craft by continuing to learn, and by keeping up with advances in cameras and technology.

J: How did your education prepare you for the future?

R: Very simply, it prepared me for a professional assignment as a photographer. It gave me the conidence to know I could handle the work of an editorial photographer, and it gave me the qualiications people in industry were looking for.

J: What advice would you give someone who is young and wants to have a position such as yours one day?

R: Photography as a irst-love, as a God-given gift, in your life. Be passionate about it. Give yourself permission to be out in the world shooting. Be willing to move anywhere in the province or country or world to “do” photography.

J: How do you stay inspired?

R: I hang around photographers. I look at the work of photographers in books and online. I attend talks and seminars ofered by photographers. I maintain memberships in professional photographic associations, and attend their conferences and activities. And I study the work of all artists. There is much to be learned from artists in all genres.

J: What person has been your inspiration in life?

Who is your hero?

R: My late wife Marj. She encouraged me in all my interests in life – including photography – and she enabled me to keep it as a irst-love in my life.

She demonstrated creativity in all she did – and with boundless energy and a sense of fun. She enjoyed life and people. She loved travelling. She loved being in the wilderness. And she made time for it all.

J: What is the hardest part about your position?

R: I don’t see any down side in any capacity or dimension. It’s all good. But if I had to name one thing, it would be the hours I spend on the computer working with my images. It’s part of the package these days – as was previously hours in the darkroom. It’s not diicult. I just don’t enjoy it the way I enjoy shooting photographs.

J: What kind of gear do you pack when you are heading to a shoot?

R: Two Canon bodies - 5D Mark II’s. Three zoom lenses: 70-300 mm, 24-70 mm and 8-15 mm. Four prime (ixed) telephoto lenses: 100 mm, 200 mm, 300 mm and 500 mm. One macro lens: 100 mm. A 580 EXII Speedlite lash. Gitzo tripod. Manfrotto monopod. Two Lowepro camera bags (one small and one medium sized). On any shoot I only carry one bag with me. I keep skylight ilters on my lenses to protect the glass.

J: When you go on one of your travels, what all you take with you? Why? R: I take my two Canon bodies, my three zoon lenses, and my lash in one of my Lowepro camera bags. That’s it. If I know I’ll need a longer telephoto lens, I’ll take my 500 mm lens as well. I don’t use my prime lenses much any more.

J: Among the gadgets that you own, is there something that you wish you hadn’t bought? Why? R: No. I’m not enamored with the equipment side of photography, so I haven’t picked up much extraneous stuf. My photojournalist instinct is to travel light and have everything I need in a small daypack-type camera bag.

J: What kind of tools do you use for post processing? Explain your worklow.

R: I was an early adopter of Photoshop, and have had each version from the irst. It does everything I need done. My worklow is very straightforward. After a shoot, I return home and dump all the images onto my computer.

I go through my shots and choose the best images – whether that be 12 or 28 or just ive.

And I run them through Photoshop to crop, color correct ever so slightly, and dodge and burn a bit. Because of my photojournalist platform and background, I do not manipulate or alter photos.

J: How do you educate yourself to take better pictures?

R: I am a photography educator, so I have the advantage of teaching photography – both at the university level and through a business endeavor I call Photo Course in a Day. So I constantly read about photography. I visit websites of photographers. I attend seminars and courses myself. The best thing about being a teacher is that it’s the teacher who learns the most in writing curricula and lesson plans for students.

J: Whose work has inluenced you most?

R: I have been inspired beyond measure by a National Geographic photographer named Jim Brandenburg. He helped me to work with light in all its richness. He helped me to see “simply beautiful” images in every setting I ind myself.

He helped me understand the value of working with a slow shutter speed to create and capture movement.

J: Among your works, which one is your favorite? Why? R: Of course this is an impossible question because after 40 years of shooting, I have so many favorites for so many diferent reasons. But I’m going to choose an image from my water art collection because it was at a time when I was learning to see images to be made in a new way. It’s a relection picture of the canals in Venice, Italy.

J: What’s the shoot you are most proud of?

R: I have photographed a small summer horse camp in northwestern Alberta each summer since it formed in 1980. It has become an extended photo essay, and I have many, many very compelling images that document and capture the essence of the camp.

J: What would be your dream shoot?

R: I’ve always said my dream shoot would be something brand new – something I have not photographed previously. These days, that’s what excites me the most.

Make sure you keep a look out for Dr. Erlendson’s book Photography Dictionary: Terms, Lingo, and Masters of the Craft. In it, he captures every concept that could possibly be attached to photography.

“He utilizes creative lighting to capture warm, magical hues.”

What is a pop-up? It is a temporary indoor and/or outdoor event, installation, retail or talent space to curate culture and build community.

Market Walks invited Calgary artists, artisans and entrepreneurs revolutionalize the city into a culture capital, and that creative beat continues in Victoria Park.

The Market Walk is collecting vacant spaces and collaborating local artists and entrepreneurs to create pop-up galleries, open-air markets, sidewalk sales and even community parties all free to attend.

The photos shown here are from the August Market Walk .

This photo shoot is of Mitch and Maddy when they came to Calgary in the summer of 2013. It was Maddy’s irst time. It was a lot of fun photographing the two of them together. To show how much fun we had, we decided to do cute couple shots.

This was an extremely exciting day.

Our amazing family friend Micheal Matechuk got married. I was honored to go and be able to take photos alongside the photographer that they had hired. It was so exciting and emotional to witness this event.

On this day Micheal didn’t just get a wonderful new wife, Laura, and two amazing daughters, Samantha and Jessie, he got a commitment to a three people who now will rely on him to be there for them in anyway possible.

I am so happy that Micheal and Laura and he found someone who truely loves him as much as my family loves him. We wish him all the best.

Landscape// Magic Hour Depth Composition Inspirational Subjects Polarising Neutral Density Exposures Get Out There Magic Hour Depth Composition Inspirational Subjects Polarising Neutral Density Exposures Get Out There Magic Hour Depth Composition Inspirational Subjects

Animals// Natural Sharp Eyes Value Go To Them Character Surprise Patience Experiement No Rules Natural Sharp Eyes Value Go To Them Character Surprise Patience Experiement No Rules Natural Sharp Eyes Value Go To Them Natural Sharp Eyes Value

Architecture// Sensitivity Contrast Shadows Textures Highlights Lines Distortion Symmetry Tension Sensitivity Contrast Shadows Textures Highlights Lines Distortion Symmetry Tension Sensitivity Contrast Shadows Textures Highlights Lines Distortion

An Interview with Neil Zeller

Let me Show You how I see the World in 4x6 Boxes For Neil Zeller it started with a passion for photography combined with a love of Calgary, and it turned into a career.

I got the chance to go on one of Neil Zeller’s Photography Night Walks and I learned so much and am thrilled to call Neil a photography friend.

He has focused his lens on the people and places of Calgary to show the best of everything we have. No matter what he is shooting his goal is to get the shot you need, in a way that will make you say WOW! Neil is always seeking a diferent way to shoot and present my photographs and he is not afraid to do what it takes to get the shot.

I had the chance to sit down with Neil Zeller and ask him some questions about his photographic career, how he got started, and how he stays inspired.

He uses the best equipment, combined with a willingness to try almost any new photography challenge to produce amazing, unique and worthwhile photos.

When I asked Neil Zeller for his photographic statement he stated “I see the world in 4×6 boxes.” Then I asked him to elaborate he pulled up his website and showed me the following: “When I can translate what I saw into an image, so that you can see it too. To be able to share a moment like that, exactly like I experienced it, is what photography is all about to me.

Proud Calgarian, Saskatchewan in the blood. I want to show you what I see, the way I see it. I’ll wonder what you think, so please tell me!

I am a family man irst. My talented wife of 16 years and incredible 6 year old son are my world and the source of my greatest pride in life.

Photography is where I cleanse my spirit, nourish my soul and am truly happy. I see the world around me in 4×6 boxes. My eyes capture wide angles, interesting corners, beams of light and faraway things. My goal is to capture in my camera, the story my eyes could never tell you.”

J: What is the one thing you wish you knew when you started taking photos?

N: I had no idea how much image ile storage was going to cost me.

J: How did you get to where you are now in your career?

N: Hardwork, business/sales background and a positive attitude. And patience.

J: What advice would you give someone who is young and wants to have a position such as yours one day?

N: The only thing I can possibly say is to learn everything you can about the business operation.

J: What person has been your inspiration in life?

Who is your hero?

N: My wife and son are very big inluences in my life and in all of my work.

J: What kind of gear do you pack when you are heading to a shoot?

N: I use the Camera body: Canon 5Dmk3. The lenses I use: Canon 24-105 4.0, Canon 17-40 4.0, Tamron 70-200 2.8, Bower 14mm 2.8, Canon 40mm 2.8. I use a Vangaurd tripod when I have to. I don’t really use many ilters when I am taking my photographs. The lases I use are 2- 600ex + 1 - 480exii, with Aperture triggers. I have a Lowepro backpack that houses all of my photography equipment.

J: What kind of tools do you use for post processing? Explain your worklow.

N: I currently have a Dual screen computer setup, and use multiple programs such as: Lightroom, Photomatic Pro, Dropbox.

J: How do you educate yourself to take better pictures?

N: I take seminars, experiment while shooting, and watch other photographers.

J: Whose work has inluenced you most?

N: I really enjoy the work of Paul Zizka and Dave Brosha who is based out of the NWT. J: Among your works, which one is your favorite? Why? N: Experimental shooting, it’s always a method that sticks with me. The results can be surprising and exciting.

J: Which is your favourite lens? Why? N: It’s the 17-40mm 4.0 L from Canon. It’s wide enough to do what I want for landscapes and zooms enough for portraits. It’s a great walk around lens.

J: If you had to create a checklist before you leave the house for taking photos, what would be on it?

N: Charged batteries, memory cards. Everything else is visual and you can see if you have it or not.

I need a reminder to make sure I have ilm(disk) in the camera!

J: How do you stay inspired?

N: Keep shooting for myself. Make sure to take time to be creative.

To get in touch with Neil Zeller please visit www.neilzellerphotography.zenfolio.com You may also follow him on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, anf Flickr.

Stay tuned for some of his Photography Seminars that Neil Zeller hold throughout the year, tickets on sale through evenbrite.com and available to any photography enthusiasts.

Events// Depth Props Portraits Fun Candids Action Perspective Props Location Lighting Corporate Depth Props Portraits Fun Candids Action Perspective Props Location Lighting Corporate Depth Props Portraits Fun Candids Action Perspective Props Location

Artistic Expression // High Speed Tilt Shift Black & White Motion Blur Infrared Night Smoke Beyond Visible Exposure Macro High Speed Tilt Shift Black & White Motion Blur Infrared Night Smoke Beyond Visible Exposure Macro High Speed Tilt Shift Black & White Motion Tilt Night

Other Applications// Color Contrast Black & White Cars People Sand Art Animals Flowers Fire Accident Bubbles Architecture Light Focus Color Contrast Black & White Cars People Sand Art Animals Flowers Fire Accident Bubbles Architecture Light Focus Color Contrast Black & White

There is beauty, often overlooked, in nearly everything.