The Phottix Journal continue it Photog Friday feature with photographer and native Texan Donald Harper. How did he get started in photography? What’s his advice?
Name: Donald Harper
Country of residence: Texas. 🙂 Seriously, United States
Brief Bio:
I am married with two kids. I work in Information Technology, and have lived in Texas all my life.
How did you first get interested in photography?
I come from a long line of photographers. My granddad used to live in India, and when we went to visit, he would always show us a slideshow, and it would always be new images from when he lived there. My father, his best friend, and my brother are also photographers. All of them would be considered nature and landscape photographers, but they did their fair share of family photos. I picked up the camera more for art than for memories in high school. In college, I had a photo published in the school newspaper. I have been taking pictures since, but in the last three years, I have gotten more serious about improving my craft.
What do you like to shoot?
I tend to shoot a mixture of nature, landscape, and architectural. But, since I live in an American suburb, the mix is a little different than normal.
What’s your approach to photography, your philosophy? What do you look for? How do you set-up a shot?
Since I have been trying to improve my craft, my approach has changed some. If I have time to set up a shot, my main goal is to bring out the beauty out of what I see. I use natural light as it is, and I tend to try to get the light at strong angles to bring out details, or to hide them.
If I do not have time, then I try to frame what I see and get the image before time slips away. I have taken to carrying my camera with me full time, and a lot of my Project 365 (p365.donaldharper.com) are actually take from my car window as I wait at stop lights.
What is the best photo you have taken? Why? Background and details, please…
Ah, this is a hard one. The one I like the best? The one others like the best?
Currently, it is a detail of a sunflower, backlite by a fall sunset. There is a local farm which raises wild flowers, and the family went out. I was having fun getting photos of the sunflowers with the sun behind, and this one came out very well.
What gear are you using? What else do you want to buy?
Main camera right now is a Canon EOS 450D (Rebel Xsi), and the secondary is an Olympus E520. They are both great cameras, and I am still learning which is right for what type of shoot. Next purchase is going to be a wide-angle and a macro for the Canon. At some point, I will probably also pick up some speed lights.
Which area of photography would you like to explore further (macro, landscapes, portraits)?
This has been an area I have been thinking a lot of recently. I know I need to focus on one or two styles for a bit, and I am trying to decide which way to go. I think I am ready to try to make some money from my work, but I am not sure which way I want to go. I am going to experiment with some lifestyle and event photography, and work on the landscapes.
Where do you see your photography 5 years from now?
I hope to have some success in getting exposure. I would love to have my work in a juroried show, and to have published a book or two.
What the best advice you would give to fellow photographers?
I used to tell people to get lots of images, and then you would find a few keepers. Now, I am telling them to learn a few basics about composition and light. I have switched my cameras back to single shot, and try to force myself to think before I push the shutter.
Where can we find your images?
Daily photo blog: www.donaldharper.com
Project365 Blog: p365.donaldharper.com
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/duckunix
Picasa http://picasaweb.google.com/duckunix
Be featured on Photog Friday: See the questionnaire on the Phottix Journal.
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