The Resource March 2014 Volume 1 Issue 003 | Page 11

THE RESOURCE - Can you walk
us through the actual process
that you use to set up a portrait?
Nope. But if you want me to shoot
some portraits for The RESourse,
then I’ll let you watch. Haha.
THE RESOURCE - How important is it for a photographer to
“connect” with his subjects to
bring out their true self?
You know, sometimes you don’t
have the luxury of time to get to
this point. If I know that I’m shooting a certain person, then I’ll do a
little research on that person as a
subject of my portraiture. But often, you only have that time when
you’re there together to shoot. I’ll
look at the person’s face, posture,
anything that can give me insight
into their character or personality
and then try to build on that. Most

of the portraits I do are with people
who I’m have just met. I try to bring
out the best in them, and in myself,
to create a photograph that will be
intriguing to the viewers.
THE RESOURCE - Can you tell
us what your go-to gear would
be on a shoot? What do you
deem to be lighting requirements for your work?
Currently, a Canon 7D, a 50mm/
f1.4 lens, a wide zoom lens and
a dedicated flash that I can use
off-camera. If I can use two flashes that is better but in the essence
of minimalism, which is something
that I try to practice, this is sufficient. I always have a couple film
cameras too. Currently a Canon
EOS Elan II E and a little Canon
Sure Shot 80u point-and-shoot.
Reflectors area also good for light-

“Never, never, never give up.”-Winston Churchill

ing people.
THE RESOURCE - What’s your
useable-to-unusable ratio when
you review images from a
shoot?
I try to shoot less and not just fire
off hundreds of shots. You can
definitely tell when the model or
subject is not feeling inspired.
The expressions and postures or
poses start to get weaker or more
contrived-looking. Then I know it’s
time to stop for a bit to refresh the
energy or get a few last images
and call it a day.
THE RESOURCE - Can you describe what your post-process
workflow is like?
As much as possible, I do try to
get as much ‘editing’ done while
I’m shooting so that when I get the
images onto the computer I only

have to do minimal tweaks. I currently use Photoshop CS6 to edit
my pics. I’ll basically use curves,
levels, channel mixers, and maybe a few filters. I try not to make
the photos look too edited. If I’m
shooting film, which I do a lot as
well, my post processing would be
to process film and then select the
images I’m going to print and print
them. Printing in my makeshift
(read: converted extra bedroom)
darkroom is a process of evaluating exposure by making test strips
and determining correct exposure.
Then narrowing down the exposure time and possible contrast filters. You should come and do this
with me. It’s fun in a nerdy photographic way.
THE RESOURCE - What goal are

continued on page 12

march 2014 issue 003

11