Henry Jager Photography

http://www.conartix-photo.ch/home

http://1x.com/playlist/362489/popular

http://www.pixoto.com/henry.jager

 

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

I’m using Olympus cameras since a long time. After working with their DSLRs like the E-3 and E-5 I switched to their mirrorless systems (OM-D E-M5) and now to their new flagship, the E-M1. I use Nauticam housings to shoot underwater together with the INON Z240 strobes and Light & Motion’s SolaVideo and SolaPhoto products.

To perform model shooting and studio photography I use also a Nikon D800E equipement.

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

Besides the quality of the products, I’m fascinated how a small player like Olympus regularly brings inventions to the market which are really ahead of the big names.

My biggest dislike with my equipment is (or was) the size and weight of it. Flying with the DSLR to the dive destinations, an extra luggage of 32kg was needed just to transport the underwater part of the gear, having the camera and the lenses in the carry-on bag. This became much more convenient with the mirrorless systems.

What is your favourite lens, and why?

The m.Zuiko 60mm macro lens convinced me from the first shot. A brilliant sharpness, high resolution and a wonderful bokeh not reached by any other big name macro lenses made me love this lens till today.

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

Camera and lenses, underwater housing including several ports, external strobes and lights, attaching devices, plenty of memory cards, a 5 outlet power bar with adaptor, a lot of accus and charger, a laptop and an external drive to backup my pictures. When performing also top water photography, several filters and a tripod are essentials, too.

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

I’m shooting raw and therefore I use postprocessing software. I use Adobe’s CS5 CameraRaw and Photoshop.

How long have you been taking photographs? How do you find inspiration? How do you take your pictures?

I started early in my youth taking pictures. I spent hours in the lab, the grammar school provided, developing the films and also adding creative effects while exposing on paper. Strangely I lost my hobby for years but recovered it 2007, starting with digital underwater photography. Enthusiasm drove photography to a never expected semi-pro level. Since a few months, I started also with experimental liquid and high speed photography connected with water in all its forms.

I get my Inspiration through beautiful sceneries, stress-free conditions and experimentation.

 

Which style of photography do you like the most, and why?

I don’t rank my different styles, I like underwater photography as well as my experimental liquids and high speed studio photography. They are so complete different and same exciting, that judging one as fav would not reflect my passion for both styles enough. And finally it’s the element water with all its life and physics etc. which is the core fascinating subject.

 

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

I want to show the beauty of the underwater world to the broad audience, to people who never have the chance to visit the reefs by themselves. You only protect, what you know and what you love. Therefore I see my work also as a contribution to preserve the nature’s biodiversity.

 

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

It’s the “Sardines Tornado”, A picture I made 2010 at Pescador Island, Philippines. It shows a school of sardines appearing like a tornado. Seconds after the shot, they passed in front of the sun and it darkened like with topside tornado, too. A picture full fo dynamic resulted and combined with the emotions experienced in that moment, leaving no doubt that this is my favourite photography.

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.

My works fit into underwater photography, nature, wildlife, and experimental/abstract

 

Are there any photography websites that you visit regularly?

1x.com
pixoto.com
theopen.ca
robinwong.blogspot.com
dxomark.com

 

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

Take your time and be patient. Anticipate the behaviour of the animals.