My Dad was asked to do an
interview on Flickr about his Photography. You can view all his work
here.
WEEKLY Artist Spotlight: Franks Photos."
1) How did you get first get interested in photography? Are you a self taught photographer or do you have any formal training?I had very little interest in photography until I was stationed at Parris Island, SC after Marine training. Some of the guys in our barracks were the "Combat Photographers" and I would hang around with them a lot and go to their shop on the weekends, watching them develop pictures, and learning a little about taking and developing black & white photos. Then, believe it or not, we all got orders to Viet Nam at the same time and their unit was not far from mine, so we stayed in touch. Viet Nam was where I bought my first camera, a 35mm Minolta SRT-101, which served me faithfully until just over a year ago, when my son Eric finally talked me into going to digital. Other than that, I pretty much learned on my own. I would buy every book and pamphlet that Kodak put out and read everything I could get my hands on. Other than that, I have had no training of any kind. I used to shoot nothing but the old Kodachrome slides, because that way you got your true image, without having to worry about how someone printed your photos. I used to have a saying with color slides, "what you got, is what you shot." You learn a lot that way. Any mistakes are yours, and not a printer.
2) Do you have a favorite walk around lens? If so what is it?I guess my favorite walk around lens would be my 17-85mm Canon lens with Image Stabilization. For 'spur of the moment' shots, it is very handy and capable.
3) What equipment and software do you use?My current camera is a Canon 30D. My Canon lenses include the 17-85mm, the 100mm Macro, the 10-22mm, and the 70-300mm Zoom. The software that I use to 'clean up' my photos is simply iPhoto, which comes on every Mac computer. I'm too old to learn things like PhotoShop and all that.
4) Which one item of equipment would you say is the most important to you?I believe the lens that I have the most fun with is the 100mm Macro. I love flowers and close-ups and it's a real joy when you can get around butterflies, flowers, and other beautiful natural things. It also give a little 'working room' when photographing Nature, without being too close.
5) How do you decide on locations & subjects?As far as locations and subjects, you can obviously have a tremendous selection at places like the Atlanta Zoo or the Botanical Gardens. But I like to go beyond that and see what I can find in the back yard. And when traveling, I've always got my camera. One of my old favorites is the sun rising behind the trees behind the old gazebo up near Helen, Georgia. I left the house at 5:30 that morning, just so I could be there as the sun came up. The fog on the ground and the pink haze cast by the partly cloudy skies gave a beautiful effect on the ground. The photo I posted is a scanned from the old 35mm print, but it conveys the beauty I saw that morning. And I love taking trips to the mountains in the Fall. There is nothing as beautiful as the mountains in the Fall.
6) What are your favorite subjects to photograph?I guess my favorites will always be Nature and Scenics. I get a few others from time to time, but those two will always be my favorites.
7) What continues to inspire you as a photographic artist?I suppose what inspires me the most is the everyday beauty around us. It's there, go after it. And don't take everyone elses' version, take your version. Nature and wildlife is constantly posing for you, it's just up to us to portray it in the way we see as attractive not just to us, but to our family and friends.
8) What is the one thing that you have not captured on camera and you feel you still need to express?I wish I had more opportunity to travel and get photos of more far away places. My dream vacation would be to Japan, where I could get as far as possible from the towns, and have the opportunity to capture the people in their villages, photos of Mt. Fuji, and the beautiful castles and gardens. I'd also like to be able to photo several of the castles in Germany. I feel that you have to know how people lived, well ahead of your time, so you can better appreciate your own history and know where you came from.
9) What other artists have influenced your work?Other artists who continue to inspire me would definitely have to include my Flickr friends. I try not to copy them, but learn from them. That's why I am so interested in the EXIF data on shots that I feel are interesting and appealing. Not just the composition, but the details behind the camera and the artist. And of course, the master of the darkroom, Ansel Adams.
10) What other talents do you possess besides photography? And is there another area of talent you wish to explore that you haven't yet?
Other than photography I like gardening in my yard. Many of the flowers that I have posted were actually taken in my back yard. So it's a double-sided hobby, the before and after results. Other than that, I'm pretty happy where I am in my life.
11) Have you met other Flickrites in person, and how was that experience?I have had the joy and pleasure of meeting two wonderful people already. While taking photos of the Liberty Belle B-17 bomber at DeKalb-Peachtree Airport one brutally cold day I met Elizabeth Fitch. We both agreed, Flicrk people are everywhere. And I also had the pleasure to meet Tammy, who has become my life-long mentor. We both have similar interests in photography and she knows all the great spots in Atlanta. We have been on two shoots and had an unbelievably fun time. And both trips produced some excellent shots. We were always shooting over each others' shoulder, trying to get 'just the right' shot. And yes, there are still a lot of people I'd love to meet.
12) Any words of advice for those who would like to dig deeper into photography?For people interested in photography, start off with a decent camera and work you way up, if the interest continues to burn. Either way, you will never be sorry. You'll always be able to get the photos you want. And with the number of Flickr people out there, there is always help right around the corner. More than you can imagine. Since I got started back with my first 35mm back in 1969, I had amassed quite a collection of lenses, all the way from 35mm to 500mm. But when I had my bag with me, I was ready for anything. And now with digital cameras, your film and processing costs are zero. And now at my age (baby boomer!) digital photography has become my true passion. Even though I only use the iPhoto on my Mac, it suits my needs. I only wish I had more time to devote to it. Looking way back into my younger years, yes, I did a few weddings way back when, and lots of portrait shots for girl friends and people I knew, but now in my older years, I want to stay with Nature, Scenics, and when I can, photos of my loving family and grand-kids and the love of my life, my girlfriend Linda. It just doesn't get any better."
