06
2013Julian Escardo Photography
http://julianescardo.wordpress.com/
https://www.facebook.com/FJEimages?fref=ts
What kind of equipment (camera body, lens, filters, flash, tripod, cleaning equipment other) do you use?
I am a Nikon guy. I currently shoot a Nikon D300 and my chief lens is a fantastic Nikon 14-24, 1:2.8G ED, excellent for architecture. I also have a Sigma 10-20, that extra angle comes veeeeeery handy sometimes, I cannot tell you how many times it got me out of a bind when needing to capture that extra curve or an edge. Oddly enough and due to the type of photography I capture I don’t own a tripod; I do all my work hand held, though I brace my body as a tripod or control my breathing when shooting straight up or in tight spaces. I never lie down of the floor as it has been suggested. No flash or filters for the moment. I will get a tripod soon when I can afford one, it is stupid not to have one.
What do you like and dislike about your equipment, specially your camera, and how would you improve it?
Oh this is a good question….my current camera is great, that’s all I can say. If anything I am grateful to have it. But, I bought it just before the D700 came out and I really miss the full frame feature. I guess if I had to start again today I would go with a smaller Leica, perfect lenses too and not as menacing as the big SLRs, especially because I attach the double battery/grip and that makes it huge. I’ve been kicked out of several places and I think it is because the image big equipment portrays is that of ‘being up to something’. Same for people, they scare people too.
What is your favourite lens, and why?
As mentioned, the 14-24 – fast and reliable (heavy!!). I would love to experiment with a good fisheye. My next lens if I stay with this general configuration will be either a prime 135mm or a 24-70 to begin working on some street photography and details.
When you travel, what is in your essential photographic kit bag?
Camera body, main lens (already mentioned), also the sigma 10-20 and I pack a very old 50 mm, 1.8, manual focus. I love this last one for artistic details, compos requiring depth of field, plain having to move into position to frame, etc. I always pack a cleaning brush pen and a large microfiber cloth. I can’t tell you how many times I grab the lens thinking the cap is on and I put a finger smudge on the glass. And anyone that says they haven’t done that is full of crap.
What kind of software/tools do you use for post-processing, if any?
Lightroom 5 and PS Elements 11. That’s it. I am very basic when it comes to processing. I try and stay pure and focus on my basic style; yes I dodge, straighten a bit and color/tone correct. All I can say is that I shoot photos, not layers, if you know what I mean, so when I go to the ‘lab’ all the basic structure is there and I don’t have to clip but crop, or replace, transport, borrow skies or add elements that were not there to begin with. If it is cloudy and you need blue skies you come back, period, old school style…if the light is not good you take a break and come back later. With all we have a our disposal that may sound stupid but it is that kind of old fashioned approach that makes it gritty and exciting, I love the process, and the results are the results and they are true.
How long have you been taking photographs? How do you find inspiration?
I have been taking photographs since 2006, but I did a stint in the late 70’s with two great Canon cameras, first the AT1 and then the AE1, I loved it and them. I shot landscapes in Canada, mostly winter scenes. TriX film 400 bw, had my own enlarger, the Ilford paper, etc. It lasted one full year and then bam! I sold all my gear and never looked back, I needed the money, I was getting married, etc., but the bug was always there to come back one day. I had to wait I guess. I came back during a big change in my life, I needed to adapt to coming back to LA after many years of being absent. I bought a D50 with whatever lens came with it (18-55) and I went out to take pictures, compartmentalize the city, break it down to begin relating to it once again. One day I turned a corner, downtown, I was suddenly face to face with Frank Gehry’s Disney Concert Hall, I was immediately hooked, I had found architecture, geometry, lines, sensuality, form. I chose digital this time around. Yet, I’m looking for an AT1 at the moment…for old time’s sake.
How long have you been taking photographs? How do you find inspiration? How do you take your pictures?
It is everywhere! otherwise I walk and walk and walk. When I visit a building I like I try to sense it, I walk it first, I pretend I’m strapped to the architect’s pencil when he drew the first drafts. I take my time. Then I take a few shots to begin extracting the essence, understand the language, capture it’s elegance.
I take my photographs any way I can…..Mostly I stand and look straight up. By the time I take the camera to my head I already have the image composed. I do square format so when I take control of the camera I have to factor in that crop, not always easy.
Looking at your own work, which piece is your favourite? Why? Please provide a link to the picture.
hummmmmm, probably the hardest question to answer. I did a Disney Concert Hall piece in LA, my favorite building thus far and the one that is responsible for my love of architecture and forms. Here’s the link, it is totally abstracted and even has a light texture, an unusual POV for that building and I couldn’t even look through the viewfinder to take it because there was a wall in front of me so I raised the camera and shot blind. I love the harmony, the negative space.
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 work fits into two categories I guess: architecture and abstracts, with many of those abstracts being architectural abstracts. My work fits into the category of Architecture, Black and White, Geometry, Urban, Artistic and Design…at the risk of sounding silly.
Are there any photography websites that you visit regularly?
Yes, I cruise the internet to view the work of other photographers, read blogs, and stay current, get inspiration. The sources are so varied it would be unfair to name just two or three.
What is the one most important lesson that you have learned since you started taking photographs?
My most important lesson when taking photographs? Oh well, the same as in life, listen and be ready. After that, focus, be yourself, don’t gamble yet take chances, feel your surroundings, use all your senses and be safe. I can’t tell you how many times I could have fallen from a height or gotten killed by oncoming traffic. I shoot alone like most photographers so I have no one to warn me when I go into a trance and start photographing if I’m walking backwards and risk losing my foothold. When I get in the groove I forget to eat, go to the bathroom, or drink water. I am one with my subject and nothing can disturb me.
