Photographyreview: The People

[natatbeach]

STEW---you're alive!!!!! wow...how ar ya? we still owe you dinner------

[natatbeach]

A few of my favorite pictures:
Take a trip to my website.

THAt was shameless advertising of your talents...


sending a hug your way ;)

[shrapnel]

I'll play along

Name:
Chris R.

Meaning of handle:
alterego at work and on the internet playing network games


Dorky PR club I belong to (if any):
Nikon Samurai #16.

Location:
Dublin Ireland at the moment

Born:
Paris France

Other places I've lived:
London, Hong Kong, Paris, Singapore, Melbourne...

Like to Retire:
Somewhere by the beach and where it's hot!!!!

Ethnicity:
Half french half english

Marriage/Family:
Married and soon to be dad (terrified!!!)

Languages I speak:
English - French- Spanish

Education:
Masters in Chemistry (forgotten everything i learnt though)

Occupation:
For the moment, working in the video games industry (likely to change very soon though)

Religious affiliation (if any):
Catholic back bencher

Political affiliation (if any):
No not really. I believe in policies not tendencies.

Other hobbies:
Sports (everything) and litterature (mainly science Fiction) and film

How long I have been a photographer:
Not long. Got a lomo about 3 years ago which i took everywhere with me, but it broke so i seriously upgraded to a D70 and love it!!!

First "real" camera:
Lomo

How I found Photographyreview.com:
google search: Research on the d70

Date I joined PR :
A couple months ago

Favorite forum:
Viewfinder and photo critique (I'm amazed at how much i learn there!!!)

Photogatherings I have attended:
none

Favorite subjects:
Landscapes and people

Current Gear:
D70 + 18-70mm +70-300mm
old smena

Camera I use the most:
D70

Why I prefer film or digital:
I love the colors from film but digital is making me a better photographer and lets me shoot everything in a guiltless manner

What I like about Photographyreview.com:
The knowledge and enthusiasm of everyone posting and incredible camaraderie

What I am trying to accomplish with my photography:
To see the world differently and with another perspective

A few of my favorite pictures: unfortunately, all my favorites were taken with my lomo and i don't have a scanner but here's one of my wife and I.

[Photo-John]

Location: Boston, MA ... soon to be San Jose, CA hopefully! Wheeewww! Can't wait.

You're coming to San Jo? You get a job here? Make sure to keep the Bay Area crew posted. Maybe we'll have a welcome dinner or something. We need to get more organized, here.

[villenadecorte]

You're coming to San Jo? You get a job here? Make sure to keep the Bay Area crew posted. Maybe we'll have a welcome dinner or something. We need to get more organized, here.

Definitely keep us posted! Welcome dinner would be awesome!

More organized....Is that a hint PJ? ;)

[natatbeach]

Marriage/Family:
Married and soon to be dad (terrified!!!)

you'll both do fine...just remember---don't drop the baby


how soon?

[opus]

Name:
Kelly

Meaning of handle (if it's not obvious):
My favorite uncle dubbed me when I was just a toddler. I can still hear his voice singing "Kellybean!" and see his huge smile with outstretched arms. I miss him so much.

PR club I belong to (if any):
Clan O'Canon

Location:
40 miles from my first home

Born:
Milwaukee, WI

Other places I've lived:
6 blocks from my first home
50 miles from my first home
-- all in SE Wisconsin --

Like to Retire:
Before I retire, I'd like to live a few places around the US and Europe, maybe studying, wrapping up a degree or two: San Diego, San Jose, London, France, the Netherlands ... then retire someplace warm but keep traveling.

Ethnicity:
English, Irish, Scotch, Pennsylvania Dutch (that's German, I think), and Bohemian. I identify most with the English side of me, although I'm told I look Czech (Bohemian).

Marriage/Family:
Married twice ... not sure I made the best decisions with either one.
One son from first marriage.

Languages I speak:
English; just enough Spanish, French and German to thank them for putting up with me; also the languages of diplomacy, poetry and music.

Education:
Graduated HS fifth in my class with highest honors, but it took me ten years to go on to college.
Associate Degree in Graphic Communications/Electronic Prepress.
Currently working on a Bachelor's in some form of the arts. Right now I'm a music major but that will change after this year. I'm still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up.

Occupation:
Professional Student?
Actually, I've written a children's book that I've gotten tons of positive feedback on. I'm just working up the guts to write a letter to an agent ... I'm sure my book will get published eventually.

Religious affiliation (if any):
Raised in a fundamental Christian household, spent the last ten years questioning and testing my own faith, am possibly coming out the other side with a stronger relationship with God. Or I'm screwed. Who can know, with all the religions claiming they're the only one? I feel like Martin Luther, trying to cut through the middleman to reach God directly. I love Jesus and am deeply indebted for what He's done for me, and feel strongly that God listens to me.

Political affiliation (if any):
No formal political affiliation at all. Men get corrupted when they enter politics.
But ideologically, I probably lean towards the liberals due to my strong love of peace, diplomacy and non-confrontation. I agree with conservative money policy though.

Other hobbies:
Posting to the computer, singing & studying music, working in the theatre (lighting, set crew, costuming, stage manager for guest acts, etc.), travel, swimming, writing, sculpting, sleeping.

How long I have been a photographer:
Since the eleventh grade, when I was *chosen* by the Journalism Advisor to take pictures for the yearbook. Senior year I was Chief Photographer for the yearbook and Photo Editor for the newspaper. But after graduation I found myself lacking subjects so I got away from it for many years. It was only in 2002 when I bought my Canon Rebel Ti that I realized I still had it!

First "real" camera:
I guess it was my dad's Pentax. My *own* real camera was my Rebel Ti.

How I found Photographyreview.com:
googled "photography bulletin boards" one day, when I got fed up with the snippy snarky weight loss board I was posting to.

Date I joined PR
last summer.

Favorite forum:
Viewfinder

Photogatherings I have attended:
Chicago

Favorite subjects:
I get most excited by journalistic type shots. After that I prefer travel photography, street shots, artistic landscapes and cityscapes, twilight and dawn shots, moody natural lighting, experimental abstracts, great exposures, perfect DOF shots, vibrant COLOR, and finding humor.

Current Gear:
*yawn* I hate this part and skipped through all the details of everybody else's. It's not the equipment I love, it's the eye behind it.

For those who must know, I have a Canon Rebel Ti and a DRebel (3000). Plus two kit lenses that came with each, and a 70-300.

Why I prefer film or digital:
I prefer digital for the instant gratification, the ability to learn as I go, and not having to pay for and worry about film or running out of it.

What I like about Photographyreview.com:
The people
The pictures they post
The interesting yet friendly discussions

What I am trying to accomplish with my photography:
To get better, technically.
To include people in my travel photography, and make more than just "postcards"
To make photos I can hang on my wall, and
To make photos that I can eventually sell

And most importantly, to show everybody how *I* see the world.


A few of my favorite pictures:

My son:


My success in getting people in my shots:


I just *love* the DOF of this shot:


More people (love the shadows here):


And finally, a self-portrait taken this past Tuesday. I'm standing in front of Mt. Quandry (14,285') in Colorado, a few miles south of Breckenridge. I really felt a communion with this mountain that day. I couldn't seem to leave its presence.

[almo]

Name:
Kelly


And finally, a self-portrait taken this past Tuesday.

Found the smallest picture of yourself for this one that you could huh? Well thats cool...Mine is dark and RED.....;)

[opus]

What, you want a large, bright, red picture of me that was taken this past Tuesday?

OK, here you go!

[almo]

WOW!!!! That's brite!!! But now we can see just how cute you are...

[opus]

what happened to your logo? It looks like it got wet.




--- EDIT ---

now it doesn't anymore. Nevermind.



and thanks for the cute comment. I wish I had a neck tho. My goiter didn't like the altitude, I guess.

[shrapnel]

Marriage/Family:
Married and soon to be dad (terrified!!!)

you'll both do fine...just remember---don't drop the baby


how soon?

I'll try not to!!!! (but i heard they bounce anyway)

it's due in august, and we don't know yet if it's a boy or a girl yet but we'll find out in three weeks after the next scan

[almo]

I'll try not to!!!! (but i heard they bounce anyway)

it's due in august, and we don't know yet if it's a boy or a girl yet but we'll find out in three weeks after the next scan

2 good names for a boy: John, Almo.

Just cosider it...

[almo]

what happened to your logo? It looks like it got wet.

...thanks for the cute comment. I wish I had a neck tho. My goiter didn't like the altitude, I guess.

My logo looked wet...neat!


My goiter tends to act up at low pressures too...small world huh?

[natatbeach]

I'll try not to!!!! (but i heard they bounce anyway)

actually they do as long as their little heads don't hit anything on the way down on the floor. if it's rug they bounce a bit and then they just roll till they come to a stop... he he...

sorry- some of my sick humor---never dropped my own kids just someone elses...about a month after meeting her


...we're still friends---kid's still alive

(not an actual drop---she rolled off the diaper table(parenting hint #2 --strap your kid in when changing a diaper especially after 3months of age). ;)

[another view]

I'm still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up.

Yeah, me too. Anyone else?

[mjs1973]

Name:
Michael Smith

Meaning of handle (if it's not obvious):
My user ID is my my initials and the year I was born.

PR club I belong to (if any):
Clan O'Canon
Canon Bird Nerd in training

Location:
Mineral Point WI, a small town of about 3000

Born:
Dodgeville WI, about 6 miles from Mineral Point

Other places I've lived:
Right next door. Seriously. I bought the house right next door to the house I grew up in. My parents are my next door neighbors. An interesting side note, both of our houses have the same house number. Been that way ever since I can remember.
I spent 3 years in Platteville WI while in college. That's about 20 miles south of here.

Like to Retire:
Someplace warm. Perhaps Arizona or Utah. I would like to be close to some National Parks, and I would love to do some traveling.

Ethnicity:
Norweigen and German. I believe my dads family is from Luxumburg, so does that make me Luxum?


Marriage/Family:
Not married but I live with my girlfriend. No kids, unless you count Holley, our 4 year old black lab.

Languages I speak:
English is it for me.


Education:
BS in Economics
BS in Business Administration with a tripple emphasis in management, human resource management and marketing.

Occupation:
My official title is CAD Generalist. I work in the CAD dept. of Lands' End in our Business Outfitterd division

Religious affiliation (if any):
Lutheran. I don't go to church often, but I do still believe.

Political affiliation (if any):
That's kind of a tuff one for me. I lean more towards the liberal side as a general rule, but I conduct myself in more conservative manner. Just because I don't believe in something, I don't feel that I have the right to tell someone else that they can't either.
To each, his own is my political philosophy.


Other hobbies:
I enjoy reading, and listening to music. Playing with the dog and spending time with my girlfriend and my family. I own 3 guitars and a bass, but I'm struggling to find the time to learn how to play them.

How long I have been a photographer:
I have been taking pictures for a long time. I have only gotten serious about it in the last 10 months.

First "real" camera:
I still remeber my first Disc camera. It's still at my mom and dads house. I still carry my Canon WP 1 with me. It's my first 35mm camera. Takes great pics too, and it was free from Marlboro. (no, I don't smoke). My first SLR was a Canon Rebel G. It drowned in a horible canoeing accident last summer. I was able to save it from the murky depths of the river, but it was too late to revive him. R.I.P. Rebel G.

How I found Photographyreview.com:
I did a web search looking for advice on getting the Rebel G fixed, or taking the plunge into digital.

Date I joined PR
June of 2004

Favorite forum:
Viewfinder, Help, and Critique

Photogatherings I have attended:
None yet. I did meet Chunk when I took his darkroom equipment off his hands. Does that count?

Favorite subjects:
Nature and landscapes are what I have been shooting mostly. I want to get into some action stuff this summer when my two nephews start playing some sports. I also would like to venture into some portrait work as well.

Current Gear:
Digital Gear:
DRebel
A couple of kit lenses left over from the Rebel G.
EF-S 18-55mm kit lens
EF100mm f/2.8 USM Macro
Sigma 170-500mm APO
A cheap 16mm fisheye I got on ebay

Film Gear:
Canon AE-1
24mm f2.8
50mm f1.8
30-300mm f4-5.6
135mm f2.8

Why I prefer film or digital:
I love digital for the instant gratification, and for being able to guiltlessly shoot 300+ shots and not have to worry about paying to get them developed.

I just started shooting some slide film and I love that as well. I love the color saturation with Velvia!!

What I like about Photographyreview.com:
The people of course, and the vast amount of experiance that they bring to the discusions. This site has been the greatest photo learning experiance and resouce that I have found!!! You all rock!! Oh, and I love the photos too of course.

What I am trying to accomplish with my photography:
I want people to look at my work and say WOW!! I would eventually like to earn some extra $ with photography, but for now, decorating my house with my own work is it's own reward.


A few of my favorite pictures:
Here are a few of my favorites. I think they have all been posted on the forum at one time or another.

[mattp]

OK, I'm game...

Name:
Matt Perry

Meaning of handle (if it's not obvious):
I think mine comes firmly in the 'obvious' category.

PR club I belong to (if any):
Clubless

Location:
Northwest London

Born:
Crowborough, East Sussex

Other places I've lived:
Three places in London over the last 4 years, but before that I was born and bred in Crowborough.

Like to Retire:
Wealthy, healthy and happy.

Ethnicity:
White, English.

Marriage/Family:
Single (goddammit).

Languages I speak:
English, and enough French to order in a restaurant. Sometimes they even give me what I thought I was asking for.

Education:
BA in English Literature, Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Studies, then Law School.

Occupation:
Solicitor

Religious affiliation (if any):
Agnostic, although leaning more towards atheism.

Political affiliation (if any):
None really, most politicians irritate me. I think I'd rather be in charge myself, if you want a job done properly...

Other hobbies:
I read loads, and I love films, particularly older stuff (Hitchcock is a favourite, films with Bogart in, and It's a Wonderful Life never fails to make me cry like a little girl). Other than that, clubbing and pubbing with friends.

How long I have been a photographer:
I wouldn't call myself a photographer, but I've got into it more seriously as a hobby over the last year or two.

First "real" camera:
A little Olympus mini was the first one I got a few decent shots with.

How I found Photographyreview.com:
Probably Googling.

Date I joined PR
Can't remember, it must be up there under my name though!

Favorite forum:
Viewfinder, Help, and Critique

Photogatherings I have attended:
None.

Favorite subjects:
Anything and everything until I work out what I want to say with my photos.

Current Gear:
A little Yashica T4 Zoom and a Sony DSC-V3.

Why I prefer film or digital:
Like most people I love the look of film, but digital has opened up a whole new world for me to experiment with.

What I like about Photographyreview.com:
Good people, some great photos, and a valuable unbiased appraisal for my shots in the Critique forum.

What I am trying to accomplish with my photography:
I want to get technically proficient first, but then go beyond that to create something artistic. I want to take shots that people would happily put on their wall. I also want to have a vast stock of photos to leave behind when I'm gone for future generations of my family to look through (and hopefully enjoy)!


A few of my favorite pictures:

Just a couple -





..and finally, this is me, having far too much fun on the Professor Burp's Bubbleworks ride at Chessington World of Adventures...

[opus]

actually they do as long as their little heads don't hit anything on the way down on the floor. if it's rug they bounce a bit and then they just roll till they come to a stop... he he...

sorry- some of my sick humor---never dropped my own kids just someone elses...about a month after meeting her


...we're still friends---kid's still alive

(not an actual drop---she rolled off the diaper table(parenting hint #2 --strap your kid in when changing a diaper especially after 3months of age). ;)

ummm.... it's true, they do bounce ...

One night when my son was about 3 months old I was feeding him in my rocking chair, which had a matching rocking footstool. Anyway, I was finished so I stood up and started walking, but caught my foot in the footstool and fell flat on my face. I still remember the image in my mind of my son flying from my arms and making an arc through the air, before landing softly on his back a few feet away in what seemed like the hands of an angel.

You've never heard a woman scream the way I did. But he was fine, still is ... he's smart, active, generous and good ... but he has this strange love of roller coasters and snowboarding, do ya think it's related??

[92135011]

Some chairs fell on me when I was a kid - dont know how that happened but it was at someone elses house or something.
I'm not sure if I'm fine...maybe I would have been a genius
According to my parents, they say its the worst to have your baby get hurt and not hear him crying.

[Aaron]

Name:
Aaron Thompson

Meaning of handle (if it's not obvious):
I think mine comes firmly in the 'obvious' category.

PR club I belong to (if any):
Clubless

Location:
Mexia, Texas

Born:
Pilots Point, Texas

Other places I've lived:
Corsicana, Texas and Huntsville, Texas while I was going to college.

Like to Retire:
Already retired and loving it!

Ethnicity:
Texas Celt

Marriage/Family:
Married 30 years, no children - just a wife and a mother-in-law, we could hold a family reunion in a phone booth!

Languages I speak:
English and a bit of TexMex

Education:
BS in Sociology (Law Enforcement) Minor in Fine Arts (Oil Painting).

Occupation:
Retired Chief Officer of Fire Department

Religious affiliation (if any):
Strong Christian belief.

Political affiliation (if any):
I consider myself to be mostly an independant, conservative in some areas and liberal in others.

Other hobbies:
I love shooting sports and have been competing in them for many years, also camping - particularly primative camping and historical reinactment, motorcycles and travel.

How long I have been a photographer:
I have been involved in photography for over 40 years doing everything from evidence photography to portraits.

First "real" camera:
A Nikkormat FTN,still have it.

How I found Photographyreview.com:
A reference to it made in the Nikonians perhaps?

Date I joined PR :
Jan or Feb of 2005 so I'm pretty much of a newbie.

Favorite forum:
Viewfinder, Help, and Critique

Photogatherings I have attended:
None.

Favorite subjects:
Whatever captures my interest at the time.

Current Gear:
Nikon D70
18-70 mm Lense
70-300 mm Lense
SB600 flash
assorted dohickies for above

Fuji Finepix 3800

Nikkormat FTN
Nikor 50 mm f1.4
Vivitar 28 mm f2.8
Soligar 90-230 f4.5
Other assorted dohickies for it - just cleaning out an Old Graphlex Strobo IV, anyone want it??

Full B & W Darkroom that hasn't been used in a WHILE.

Why I prefer film or digital:
Digital, I love the freedom to experiment to get the "instant gratification" making prints using the digital darkroom of the various image processing software. I find my self taking more and more pictures and trying different things.

What I like about Photographyreview.com:
Great information, good review of photo's, congenial folks.

What I am trying to accomplish with my photography:
Just my own satisfaction, if others like my work that's fine, if not, well that's fine too. I enjoy hearing what others say about my photo's and value the information as a way to improve and learn. When we stop learning, I think we start to become complacent and stuffy.

A few of my favorite pictures:

[mtbbrian]

Yeah, me too. Anyone else?

ME!
;)

[opus]

ME!
;)

Brian, I just noticed your shadow avatar. Cool!

[mtbbrian]

Brian, I just noticed your shadow avatar. Cool!

Thanks Kelly..
If you'd like to see a larger version of it, you can take a look HERE
I posted it the galleries and on the Critique Forum.
It's on my site too.
I did it in Ft Carson, CO, back in January during some travels.
Brian

[opus]

I love shadow shots and posted a challenge about it last year (august, maybe). I thought maybe you posted it there and I missed it.