astrophotography

 

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

 

I use Canon cameras: 1DMKIV, 1DX, and 5DMKIII. Lenses are: 14mm fisheye, 16-35mm f/2.8 II, Nikon 14-24mm w/Novaflex adapter and Fotodiox Polarizer, 24-70mmL f/2.8 II, 70-200mm f/2.8 II, 28-350mmL, 400mmL f/5.6, 300mmL f/2.8, 400mmL f2.8, 1.4 and 2x converters, 100mm f2.8 macro.

Singh-Ray grad filters 2-stop – 5 stop hard and soft edge, Singh-Ray LB Warming Polarizers, 5, 10 and 15-stop ND’s, 8 stop Vari NE (all SIngh-Ray).

Canon 580 flashes.

Really Right Stuff: TVC-33 Versa Tripod, BH-33 ballhead, L-plates for all three cameras.

Gitzo Mountaineer 4 tripod with RRS ballhead.

 

 

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

 

I would love it if Canon was to make a lens similar to the Nikon 14-24mm. That is the sharpest wide-angle zoom lens on the market. Other than that, no complaints.

 

 

What is your favourite lens, and why?

 

 

My favorite lens for landscape is a split between the Nikon 14-24mm (for reasons stated) and my Canon 70-200mmL II as I love isolating scenes in nature.

 

 

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

 

My travel bag is the new MindShift Rotation 180 degree Pro. I carry my Canon 5DMKIII and Canon 1DX, Nikon 14-24mm, Canon 24-70mm f2.8 and my 70-200mmL II f2.8 and a 1.4x converter along with all my filters in a Kinesis filter bag that hangs around my tripod.

 

 

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

 

My post-porocessing is done with Lightroom 5, Photoshop CC, and Nik plugin filters.

 

 

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

 

I have been a professional photographer for 40 years. My inspiration is fed by just simply being in nature and allowing it to seep into my soul. At this point in my career, I really don’t follow others though both Galen Rowell and Ansel Adams had a huge influence in my development as a photographer.

My image taking process is rather complex and something I teach in my workshops but suffice it to say, depth, lines and shapes are how I see the world. I don’t think “subject first,” rather, I think “light first” then I try to find something in the landscape to match the light.

 

 

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

 

The style of photography I do is landscape and sports (team photographer for the NHL’s San Jose Sharks). My images are represented by Getty Images.

 

My landscape photography is geared towards sharing the scene and emotion I am feeling at the time that I am making my image.

 

 

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

 

My goal is simple: study light and art and work at my craft daily. One never stops learning as long as one’s mind is open to learning. Photography and art are an endless journey.

I also try to see the world with my eyes, heart and soul, not copy someone else. I study art, and that translates into seeing the world with an artist’s eye. I also experiment with processing and new software all the time.

Much of it I discard, but every once in a while something comes along that incorporate into my workflow. I am heavy into using luminosity masks to control multiple exposures of a single scene. It produces a much more realistic view of the world than HDR.

 

 

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

 

I have many favorites, not sure if one stands head-and-shoulders above the rest. Here are my top 12 Images of 2013. The lightning image is listed as #1. I captured this image along the north rim of the Grand Canyon 28 days after partial knee replacement surgery:http://wp.me/p1u3wy-3n8

I was lucky I didn’t get hit as the following strike was right over my head!

 

 

Are there any photography websites that you visit regularly?

 

Photo websites I visit regularly? No, I’m too busy with my own work. When I do have time off, I like being with my family and not surfing the web. Love playing golf with my two sons.

 

 

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.

 

Genres? Not really, I just go with what I am feeling at the time and I try not to put limits on myself.

 

 

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

 

Most Important lesson is simple: Study art and light, and practice, practice, practice. Remember the camera is just a tool, the artist is you. If you can’t feel an emotional attachment to what you are photographing, move on, the image won’t resonate with others.

 

 

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

 

Gary Hart is a photographer you should feature. He is a good friend and colleague: www.garyhartphotography.com

 

 

Don Smith Photography

www.donsmithphotography.com

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Don-Smith-Photography/371422548082?fref=ts

 

 

 I have just released a series of new videos (26) titled: A Simplified Method to Workflow. Here is the link: http://www.donsmithphotography.com/Asset.asp?AssetID=61078&AKey=J5ADJ6V2