Foto: Jim M Goldstein. Jag har haft turen att lära känna Jim M Goldstein via Flickr. Han hade lagt märke till att jag har skrivit om hans blogg här på Bild och foto vid ett par gånger. Jim är bland annat en lysande landskaps- och naturfotograf. Jim driver bland annat sin blogg som ofta blir uppmärksammad på grund av de fina artiklar han skriver med jämna mellanrum. Han är också med som värd för Photonetcast tillsammans med Brian Auer, Antonio Marques och Martin Gommel. Jag är ju nyfiken av mig så jag frågade om det var okej med en skriftlig intervju. Nu blir intervjun givetvis på Jims eget språk engelska. Det är viktigt att låta sig inspireras och ta in andras idéer.
1. What do you think is the most three important things one should think of when it comes to Nature Photography?
1. Respect the environment in which you are photographing. The commonly referenced phrase “take photos and leave only footprints” comes to mind.
2. Good things come to those who wait and great things come to those who do their research.
3. Never lose sight of your personal safety. Whether you think you can reach a lens cap few feet below you on a cliff or you want to get a little closer to the animal you’re photographing don’t take any unnecessary risk.
2. What do you think a beginner should focus on when they want to develop their own style?
Style is a very personal thing. Photographing what you enjoy is the most obvious recommendation. In doing so you’ll find that a style develops just from that. It’s easy to over complicate developing a personal style in dwelling on camera settings, post-production, etc. Style can come about in very subtle ways. If you take photos long enough and look back you’ll start to see your own style emerging whether you’re conscious of it or not. Just keep photographing the world as you see it, experiment and have fun.
3. Your blog is very popular. How has that influenced your own photography?
My blog has not influenced my photography in the least. Blogging is merely a channel to share my thoughts, knowledge and photographic work with others. To date I’ve not thought of my blog once when behind my camera. Photography and blogging are two independent thought processes for me. If anything I find my blogging is influenced by my photography. In discussing or describing a photograph to someone I’ll develop new content to share with my readers.
4. We talked about different places and you mention Svalbard as a place to travel to and photo. If you should rank your three favourite places to go and photo at which should they be and why?
There are places I’d like to photograph and there are places that I’ve photographed that are favorites. Three places that I’d like to photograph include Madagascar, Iceland and most anywhere in the Arctic (Svalbard included) Three places that I’ve photographed that are favorites the Alaskan Arctic, White Sands, New Mexico and Yosemite, California
5. If there were just three websites about photography besides yours which three would you like it to be? Why these three?
I read so many sites online this is a tough question.
For news and technical reviews: RobGalbraith.com
For great insight into the creative and business side of photography: aphotoeditor.com
For great software & tech news and wide ranging links on photography: John Nack
6. Do you have a nearby place where you return to over and over. Where and why do you return?
I find myself returning to Yosemite over and over. Who wouldn’t want to return to this beautiful location?
On the other hand living in a beautiful location like San Francisco I’m able to frequent many picturesque locations including many vantage points from the Marin Headlands. The Marin Headlands afford many wildlife/landscape opportunities as well as classic views of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge.
7. What are your point of view using strobes in naturephotography?
I personally don’t use strobes when taking nature photos, but that is not to say I wouldn’t. Using strobes in nature photography is situation dependent. It would make perfect sense to do so if photographing fast moving animals or for fill flash. I just happen to photograph subjects using natural light when ever possible. This is particularly true for my landscape work.
8. Do you have any projects ongoing or planned for the near future? Can you tell me something about it?
At the moment I’m starting up some photo tours and workshops in the Northern California area. The first begin this September photographing Sea Otters. In the future I’d like to expand such workshops/tours beyond the California area. Photographically I’m working on a few photo projects concurrently. I’m hoping to publish these on going photo projects in a series of books. I’m very much looking forward to all of these endeavors coming to fruition.