José Ramos Photography

http://www.joseramos.com

 http://www.facebook.com/joseramosphotography

http://500px.com/joseramos

 

 

What kind of equipment (camera body, lens, filters, flash, tripod, cleaning equipment other) do you use?

 
Right now I’m using a Sony Alpha 77, Sigma 10-20mm f4-f5.6 lens, manfrotto 190xprob tripod with 486RC2 head, lots of Hitech ND Filters (incluind soft and hard ND Grads and full ND Grads – standard and ProStop IRND) sigma microfiber cleaning cloths, giottos rocket blower, remote shutter release.

 

 

What do you like and dislike about your equipment, specially your camera, and how would you improve it?

 

 

This is my favourite APS-C camera due to the very high resolution and great dynamic range, with fantastic results at low ISOs. Besides that, the articulated LCD is absolutely essential when I’m shooting at very low angles or in awkward positions (which is, usually, the rule). To improve it, it would have to be a full frame, even though that would mean shorter depth of field and much more expensive lenses.

 

 

What is your favourite lens, and why?

 

To say I have a favourite lens would have to mean I’ve used a lot of them, and I haven’t. I use a ultra wide angle 95% of the time, and so far I’ve been absolutely happy with the Sigma 10-20mm. Portugal economic situation doesn’t allow me to spend a lot of money on equipment, so I’ve learned to use my gear to its full potential.

 

When you travel, what is in your essential photographic kit bag?

 

Camera, lens, filters, cleaning cloth, spare batteries, spare SD cards, remote shutter, tripod, lantern. I like to keep it as light as possible.

 

 

What kind of software/tools do you use for post-processing, if any?

 

RAW processing with Adobe Camera Raw and further tweaks (if needed) with Photoshop CS6.

 

What goal are you working towards within your photography and when will you know you have reached it?

 

I’ve reached my goals since day one, which is quite simply to share the beauty of our planet and help people reconnect with their roots. To do this you just need to create special images, put effort into them and share… Everything else is an added bonus and I don’t have dreams of fame and glory. 🙂

 

Looking at your own work, which piece is your favourite? Why? Please provide a link to the picture.

 

A very difficult choice. Probably this one, due to its concept and the feelings it invokes in me. http://500px.com/photo/29179491

 

Does your work fit into any one or more distinct genres (nature, landscape, long-exposure, black-and-white, infra-red, urban, artistic, macro, vintage, vernacular, social, street)? If other, please specify.

 

Long exposure landscape would be the best descriptor, even though I regularly publish short-exposure photos.

 
Are there any photography websites that you visit regularly?

 

500px, dpreview, luminous-landscape, tao of photography, and many others.

 

What is the one most important lesson that you have learned since you started taking photographs?

 

It’s not about the goal, it’s about being there, seizing the moment, and trying to bring it home for eternity.

 

And finally, what other interesting photographers would you like to see in this blog?

 

I will have to recommend Mara Sarmento, an amazing Portuguese photographer, who has just started photographing 9 months ago. You can check her work at http://500px.com/marasarmento. There’s a slight conflict of interest in this suggestion, as she is my girlfriend! 🙂