Interview with Crash Taylor

 

This month’s featured photographer is UK-based Crash Taylor. He specializes in weddings and portrait photography and lives in Nottingham, UK.

See his photography blog
See his photographer interviews blog

Q. What did you want to be when you grew up?
A. Homicide detective, marine biologist studying the great white shark,
pro motocross racer, Formula one driver, and what I am today, professional
photographer.

Q. Where did you grow up?
A. The first 29 years of my life were spent in Los Angeles and the last 6
in the United Kingdom and Spain.

Q. Your favorite subject to photograph?
A. Humans and one day I hope to photograph great white sharks in South
Africa.

Q. What camera/s do you shoot with?
A. Canon 5D’s, though not for long as I’m on the waiting list for two new 5D Mark II’s

Q. Your most awkward photography moment?
A. Photographing a bride throwing the bouquet, as she threw it her top
came down and to my surprise she was not wearing a bra. All I could see
through the wide angle was two mountains. I thought the camera had a
malfunction.

Q. The hardest part of your job.
A. There isn’t one.

Q. The easiest part of your job?
A. Not having a BOSS!

Q. Your favorite movie of all time?
A. I have so many favourites, but Shawshank Redemption just entered my mind.

Q. Your favorite meal?
A. Spicy tuna and avocado rolls, soft shell crab rolls with lot’s of wasabi.

Q. Who do you most admire? Why?
A. My wife, because she keeps me on the right track.
Without her who knows what I would be doing today.
Probably living on the beach in Hawaii, begging for money
so I could buy lot’s of beer, Johnny Cash records and a
surfboard. And I have to say my Mom and Dad for
everything they have done for me throughout my entire life.

Q. What will you be doing 5 years from now?
A. To continue what I’m doing now; photographing weddings and teaching
workshops. Hopefully by then living in the beautiful countryside with lots
of dogs, parrots, pigs, goats and other animals I can wake up and feed
every morning. Also spending more time with my family and in-laws in Los
Angeles, Finland and Spain.

Interview with Alycia Alvarez

This month’s featured photographer is Florida-based Alycia Alvarez. She specializes in babies, kids, maternity and family photography.

See her blog.

 

Q. What did you want to be when you grew up?
A. For several years during my childhood, my house backed up to a golf course. My brother and I would collect *stray* golf balls and clean them with toothbrushes (not our own, of course!) …so for some time, I thought I might have a bright future in the business of reselling cleaned up golf balls and lemonade. Realizing, much to my dismay, this would not support me for long, I entertained the idea of being a performer, as I was always very involved in theater. I decided that I didn’t want to spend years in possible rejection and left that idea as well. Shortly after graduating college with a degree in Social Work (studying, as an elective, black and white photography/darkroom—FILM! Gasp!), I had my two children and became really obsessed with capturing their every move and growing moments and suddenly KNEW my passion!

Q. Where did you grow up?
A. Um… the South! With my dad being a pulmonologist in the Air Force, I was raised a “military brat”. Born in Richmond, Virginia, I then went on to live in Illinois, then Mississippi, then Texas, then Mississippi, then Texas then Arkansas, where I finished high school and college. I have lived in a few more states since then, but have now been in Tampa, Florida for five years and I LOVE it here!

Q. Your favorite subject to photograph?
A. I’d love to say my own children, but truth be known, they are tough cookies (though, they do take bribes VERY well!). Babies and children are my passion! Children are so *real* and *genuine* and I love to capture their true personalities. They don’t have any walls up yet, and are rarely self conscience. I especially love babies around seven months! They are so roly poly and laugh easily (and usually can’t get away from me too quickly!).

Q. What camera/s do you shoot with?
A. My first camera was a Canon AE-1, which I do shoot with from time to time. On a day to day basis, I use my Canon 5D’s, Canon 1DS and my iphone (though, my clients prefer my Canon’s…haha! Kidding!)

Q. Your most awkward photography moment?
A. I was shooting an event for a high end client and didn’t see this small step in the yard…I totally WIPED out! I mean… W-I-P-E O-U-T!… I was down on my face, holding my camera in the air (saved!). Regardless, I am the fastest person to JUMP up and play it “SMOOTH”… later, I saw that under my pants, my knees were bleeding and bruised. Horrible! Luckily, the party had just begun and only a few people saw the wipeout!

Q. The hardest part of your job.
A. Balance! I absolutely love my job and sometimes it is difficult to tear away from it. I spend way too many hours on the computer; it’s a blessing and a curse. How many jobs can you think of that you would do even when you are “on vacation”?

Q. The easiest part of your job?
A. Getting to know some amazing people and clients who absolutely love and adore their *babies*! The best part of my *job* is watching moms—and DADS!—come to tears while watching the slideshow of their portraits…it’s when I know I’ve succeeded!

Q. Your favorite movie of all time?
A. The Notebook. Love it! I’m a sucker for a sappy love movie… Following closely, When Harry Met Sally, Bridges of Madison County, Pay It Forward, Say Anything, Dirty Dancing… and the 80’s classics, Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, Goonies… Are you feeling the general *cheesy* theme? That’s me!

Q. Your favorite meal?
A. Hmmm. That is a toughie. I like a wide variety of foods and am always open to trying new things! But if I had to decide on a *most favorite* meal, it would probably be a Caprese Salad, a cup of French Onion Soup, some broccoli and a Steak Oscar filet-Medium! (and a wheel barrel to wheel me out after!)

Q. Who do you most admire? Why?
A. On a serious note, this is a difficult question for me to answer. (*warning*…sappy answer to follow!) Although this is really cliché, I truly most admire my boyfriend and partner, Kevin Jairaj. Aside from being an amazing wedding photographer, he is my best friend. He is one of the smartest men I have ever met, in addition to being adorable, sweet and funny. He is patient and loving and he never yells. He has an innate ability to “go with the flow”. I am a bit more “high strung” at times (okay, most times!), and he teaches me how to be a better person every day. He’s my first call in the morning and my last call at night (long distance relationship…blaaah!)

Q. What will you be doing 5 years from now?
A. Five years ago, I would never have imagined my life today. I am truly blessed to have such amazing people in my life and a successful business doing what I absolutely LOVE! I really have no idea what the future holds, but I know that I will be a photographer until I am too weak to hold a camera! Life always has it’s peaks and valleys and I look forward to growing and learning every day!

Interview with Mary Lynn Burke

This month’s featured photographer is Boston-based Mary Lynn Burke. Her passion is capturing the coexistence of nature and human-made things.

See her website.

Q. What did you want to be when you grew up?
A.When I was about 6 years old, my parents caught me strutting back and forth on my windowsill, behind my Big Bird curtains singing to the world. I was supposed to be in bed sleeping, but as my schedule has not changed much, I still stay up way past my bedtime thinking about all of the things that I want to be. Back then, I wanted to a singer and an actress and now my interests are definitely behind the lens.

Q. Where did you grow up?
A. I grew up in a small town in Michigan, about one hour outside of Detroit. I had a yard surrounded by “woods” that I was constantly exploring and finding adventures in with my brothers. My parents still live in the same home where I was raised and I visit as often as I can.

Q. Your favorite subject to photograph?
A. My favorite subject to photograph is natural light and it’s effect on our surroundings. I am consistently enamored by how the color of the sky makes even the most overlooked of things come alive. The insistence of nature’s play on those things that are human-made is what captures my eye.

Q. What camera/s do you shoot with?
A. Although I do appreciate the classic, made to last cameras, such as a Hassleblad or a Leica, I do not subscribe to any one camera brand. As long as I have the ability to take a photograph, I am happy. I enjoy using all camera formats for different purposes. I primarily shoot with a 35 mm digital camera. I find that digital allows me to focus on my vision for the photograph without the worries that film can bring. Since I typically shoot on instinct, I never can predict how long I may spend with one particular idea. On the other hand, I find it uniquely rewarding to slow down and shoot with a 4×5 camera or a medium format Mamiya or Holga. Another passion of mine is Polaroid. I have worked with Polaroid lifts in the past and am currently working with Polaroid SX-70 and Land cameras.

Q. Your most awkward photography moment?
A. I always find posed portraits to be very awkward. As I mentioned previously, I shoot with instinct and as I am also a social worker, I love to study human behavior. After a short time, I begin to predict gesture and emotion and I find it very difficult to ask someone to smile or to “look at the camera”. That form of staged photography goes completely against the grain for me. I crave genuine emotion, sincere moments and that is the essence of photography…capturing a moment in time.

Q. The hardest part of your job.
A. The most difficult part of photography for me is stopping myself from obsessing over my photographs. There are times when I literally have to tear myself away from the computer to get outdoors and spend time doing all of the other things that I love. I tend to lose the balance for time when preparing a presentation of my photographs. I am realizing more and more that a break away from the visual gives me a fresh eye and clearer mind.

Q. The easiest part of your job?
A. Returning home with a camera full of new photographs is the most exciting and rewarding feeling.

Q. Your favorite movie of all time?
A. I can’t even imagine having to choose a favorite movie, I have so many that I love. What comes to mind is anything casted with or directed by Clint Eastwood, particularly Million Dollar Baby. Without dwelling on the moving drama of the film, I also loved Million Dollar Baby for its use of light and shadows that give the film a raw and unspoiled look, unlike many of the recent special effects films. On the opposite end of the spectrum, I am a huge fan of all of the Pixar films. I just saw Wall-E today and was so impressed with the animation as usual, and cheer Pixar’s choice to deliver such a strong and necessary message.

Q. Your favorite meal?
A. My favorite meal is a big fresh salad. For me, there is nothing like creating a new dressing or sauce and combining it with all of my favorite fresh vegetables, fruits and cheeses. I love putting together my own flavor combinations, so a pinch of this and a dash of that is my style of cooking, as opposed to sticking to a recipe.

Q. Who do you most admire? Why?
A. If speaking of photographers, I most admire Josef Sudek. I admire him for his ability to create beautiful images and for his passion of life and friends, despite living through the Nazi invasion of World War II in Prague. Sudek would tell his friends that “no matter what, the music must keep playing”. I admire his philosophy in life which was, as he said should be “not all-too-clearly defined. I prefer the living, the vital, and life is very different from geometry; simplified security has no place in life”.

Q. What will you be doing 5 years from now?
A. In five years, I hope to be in the process of creating moving and thought-provoking photographs that allow for both an enlightened discovery and illumination of the world around us.

Interview with Michael Saab

This month’s featured photographer is Michael Saab. Michael is a wedding photographer located in Montego Bay Jamaica. He shoots Destination Weddings throughout the Caribbean.

Q. What did you want to be when you grew up?

A. At age 13 or 14 I clearly remembered wanting to become a soldier. I joined the Jamaica Defense Force in 1987.

Q. Where did you grow up?

A. I grew up in Port Antonio, Jamaica.

Q. Your favorite subject to photograph?

A. People

Q. What camera/s do you shoot with?

A. I currently use a Nikon D3 with Canons for backups.

Q. Your most awkward photography moment?

A. Not remembering a Bride’s name during our portrait session.

Q. The hardest part of your job.

A. Choosing photos after a wedding.

Q. The easiest part of your job?

A. Having my wife shoot with me.

Q. Your favorite movie of all time?

A. Any movie with Jackie Chan.

Q. Your favorite meal?

A. Chicken especially when jerked boston style.

Q. Who do you most admire? Why?

A. In terms of wedding photography I admire Brooks and Leigh Whittington for their creative photojournalist approach to weddings. I admire James Natchwey for his courage in capturing some of the most intriguing images I have ever seen. I admire my grandfather for his simple way of life. He never had much but he was always happy and content.

Q. What will you be doing 5 years from now?

A. Shootings weddings I hope.

Interview with Mary Steinbacher

This month’s featured photographer is Mary Steinbacher, Pennsylvania-based wedding photojournalist.

Mary’s website

Q. What did you want to be when you grew up?

A. Growing up I loved art, loved to draw and paint and I remember watching light and shadows. I also remember being a serious 12 year old with my dad’s instamatic or my brother’s 35mm camera. I would walk long distances for sunset, take one frame and return home. Mostly what I wanted to be was free and happy – here I am a happy freelance photographer.

Q. Where did you grow up?

A. I was born and raised in beautiful north central Pennsylvania and continued to grow up and evolve over the next 25 years in California and Wyoming. I find I’m still growing, still evolving.

Q. Your favorite subject to photograph?

A. My favorite subject is one of balance. Finding the balance between my desire to capture people participating in life, simply doing the things they do, and the need for the quiet balance of nature, landscapes and cityscapes where I seek light, shadows and forms. The two assist each other in the creative process – photographing nature, understanding light and shadow makes a shoot with people more dimensional. It’s about the people involved, about the moment but also about factors of light and their environment. I find with balance the whole is implemented together naturally.

Q. What camera/s do you shoot with?

A. All Canon bodies - Canon 5D, 40D and 30D. Lenses - 70-200mm 2.8 IS; 24-70 2.8; 50mm 1.4; 28-135mm 3.5-5.6 IS and a 17-85mm 4-5.6 IS and 580EX speedlights. Recently I’ve started replacing all the UV filters with Rodenstock HR Digital filters.

Q. Your most awkward photography moment?

A. I worked at a daily newspaper in Wyoming and was shooting a cattle drive through the mountains. Piled with cameras I was riding in an old pickup truck that towed a trailer of horses, one was for me to ride and shoot. We were ten or more miles from the ranch house and (and my vehicle) when the rancher, noting that was on the thin side asked, “Are you one of those damn vegetarians?” Without considering the long walk back over the ranch I answered “Yes!” Awkward is not a strong enough a word to express the feel of chill as we bumped down the road. In the end this weathered old rancher simply said he didn’t blame me for not eating “store bought” beef, “too many chemicals,” he then asked me to try his grass fed beef. I couldn’t say no and found it amazingly delicious.

Q. The hardest part of your job.

A. Certainly the hardest part of the job is now sitting at my desk, at computers, editing images on a sunny and perfect day when I would rather be out shooting, running, kayaking or biking. I still fit in the shoots and exercise but all would be lengthier if not for the time needed at the computer.

Q. The easiest part of your job?

A. Shooting is the easiest part of the job, being in the moment, seeking images, watching light, watching a day unfold and creating memories. Another great part of the job is working with assistants and second shooters, watching them grow in depth as photographers, experiencing and viewing how they see and what they create.

Q. Your favorite movie of all time?

A. Actually I’m not a huge movie buff and have probably seen fewer films than most people. But did love the movie A Walk in the Clouds, Chocolat, The Red Violin and A Thin Red Line (terribly disturbing but a deep story with amazing light and videography).

Q. Your favorite meal?

A. A favorite meal would depend on where I am – at home it would be pasta, I love to cook and Italian is often the theme. In Chicago it would be sushi or French at La Sardine; in New York it would be Italian, Babbo is perfection; in Napa Valley it would be everything starting with a long lunch at Bouchon. Jackson Hole would be a bagel at Pearl Street Bagels. To choose one quick meal I suppose it would be walnuts and a fresh apple.

Q. Who do you most admire? Why?

A. There is a long list of those I admire – Julie Child for her perfection in the art of cooking, her sense of humor and her openness to the world; the philosopher Dr. George Sheehan who wrote Personal Best on running and the mind of the inner runner; and the Vietnamese Buddhist Monk Thich Nhat Hanh for his guidance towards love, kindness, compassion and generosity.

In photography the man most admired is Henri Cartier Bresson for his dedication to the art of being present, awareness and capturing life in the moment. To quote Bresson, “The picture-story involves a joint operation of the brain, the eye and the heart. …the world is movement, and you cannot be stationary in your attitude towards something that is moving”

Q. What will you be doing 5 years from now?

A. Five years from now I would like to continue to be free and happy. In photography I would like to also be creating books.

Interview with Carisa Chee

This month we are featuring an interview Vera did with Carisa Chee. Her website can be seen here. Hear Carisa talk about her likes and dislikes, her favorite subjects to shoot, favorite movie, favorite meal and plenty more… [Read more]

Interview with James Karney

James Karney has over 20 years experience as an award-winning professional
photographer, teacher, and author. During is career he has been a full-time
wedding photographer, newspaper photojournalist, medical photographer, and
served four years as a U.S. Marine Corps Photographer.

He designed and taught the 18-month photography certificate program at South
Georgia Tech. His books include Mastering Digital Wedding Photography (named
a Book of the Year by Shutterbug Magazine), , and Discovering LightZone. He
has a Masters Degree in Computer Technology and is a graduate of the U.S.
Navy Photographic School. He is currently working on a series of workshops
and authoring The Official Guide to Photodex Proshow coming to bookstores
this spring.

Interview with Mary Lynn Burke