Dec
29
2013Arnau Blanch Photography
What kind of equipment (camera body, lens, filters, flash, tripod, cleaning equipment other) do you use?
I use film and digital, 35mm, 6×6 and super 8mmm. My digital camera is 5D mark II, G1x and S110. With film I use an F100, Olympus Miju I and Contaxt T2. My 6×6 is a Rolleiflex.
What do you like and dislike about your equipment, specially your camera, and how would you improve it?
My equipment is great but I would like to get a Mamiya 7 II. I like a lot the 6×7 format. I think it’s the best format, work really great both vertical and horizontal.
What is your favourite lens, and why?
I like the 35mm 1.4 because it’s the perfect one.
When you travel, what is in your essential photographic kit bag?
This is a nightmare decision. I always try to bring the “necessary” and I always travel with too many things. There is no essential photographic kit, it depends on what I am going to do and where.
What kind of software/tools do you use for post-processing, if any?
I usually use Camera Raw and film simulation like Exposure 5.
How long have you been taking photographs? How do you find inspiration? How do you take your pictures?
I start to taking picture when I went to the Photography School in Barcelona. That was in 2004 or 2005.
Which style of photography do you like the most, and why?
Documentary photography it’s one of my favorites but not the only style I like. I like the subjective point of view in the photographers.
What goal are you working towards within your photography and when will you know you have reached it?
I would like to make a living with what I do, with my style and my point of view. In the creation aspects I think that the goal is to feel confortable with what you do.
Looking at your own work, which piece is your favourite? Why? Please provide a link to the picture.
My favorite project is Veneno because it’s the project which I’m growing with as a photographer and as a person. I begun on 2007 and I am still working on it.
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.
I consider my project to be Personal Documentary, subjective black-and-white photography.
Are there any photography websites that you visit regularly?
No really.
What is the one most important lesson that you have learned since you started taking photographs?
Work and persistence.
And finally, what other interesting photographers would you like to see in this blog?
Many more! I’ll say some Spanish photographer that are doing great projects now are Antonio Xoubanova (Casa de Campo), Oscar Monzón (Karma), Aleix Plademunt (Almost There), Rafael Arocha (Medianoche), Ricardo Cases (Paloma al aire), Jon Cazenave (Galerna), Jon Uriarte (celebriMe), Julián Barón (Censura), Roc Herms (Postcards from home), Román Yñán (Series Familiares), Tatjana Schloer ((notes for) Das Wesen 2012), Txema Salvans (The Waiting Game) and many many more!
Nov
11
2013Mosa’ab Elshamy Photography
https://www.facebook.com/mosaabelshamy
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mosaaberising/with/9508552545
What kind of equipment (camera body, lens, filters, flash, tripod, cleaning equipment other) do you use?
I use a Canon EOS 60D. My 24mm f1.4 is my most precious possession and most used lens. I also use the 50mm f1.8 and, occasionally, a zoom lens.
What do you like and dislike about your equipment, specially your camera, and how would you improve it?
The 60D shoots really fast. With the 5.3 fps, it’s much faster than any camera I’ve used and that suits my work a lot, especially during street clashes where it takes less than a second! I think it could do better with auto focusing.
What is your favourite lens, and why?
Easily the Canon 24mm f1.4. Amazing sharpness, works great at night, and suits a lot of photography genres.
When you travel, what is in your essential photographic kit bag?
Same equipment I mentioned above.
What kind of software/tools do you use for post-processing, if any?
Lightroom.
How long have you been taking photographs? How do you find inspiration? How do you take your pictures?
I have been taking photographs since 2006. Back then I was interested in nature photography and, from time to time, I’d shoot some street work. When the Egyptian revolution broke out in early 2011, I found my inspiration and chased the protests with my camera. The turmoil since 2011 has gained me a lot of experience and photojournalism became my inspiration. I am always out on the street looking out for the humane sides in all the chaos. The turmoil has left everyone affected and there’s so much to capture.
Which style of photography do you like the most, and why?
Photojournalism fascinates me. Everything is out there, with no setup or meticulous planning required. But it requires a certain level of compassion and intimacy, of getting real close and finding the little stories that are often lost in the grand scheme of things. That’s a challenge I love and I am always after.
What goal are you working towards within your photography and when will you know you have reached it?
My goal is to make an impact with my photographs. As the violence grows and the circle of blood increases, humanity is being lost and many are turning to monsters. What I aim to is to try and stop that with the very little I have. It is very rewarding to hear that people have been touched by my photos and are becoming more compassionate towards the victims – who are many, and keep changing – rather than become apathetic.
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.
Photojournalism, social, and street.
Are there any photography websites that you visit regularly?
What is the one most important lesson that you have learned since you started taking photographs?
Compassion.
And finally, what other interesting photographers would you like to see in this blog?
LJ http://www.flickr.com/photos/16536699@N07/4953407235/
Lou O’bedlam http://www.flickr.com/photos/louobedlam/
Mahmoud Khaled https://www.facebook.com/mahmoudpix