Hello followers! For those of you who have been keeping up with my weekly posts, I haven’t really posted much about myself and what is is that I do. For those of you who haven’t been following my posts…read the … Continue reading
This week, I decided to interview another photographer friend of mine, Jordan Baker. I greatly greatly GREATLY am inspired by Jordan’s work and how far he has come in the last few years! I also really adore his sense of humor which is evident in each of his Facebook posts (yes…I stalk my photographer friends). I love that Jordan answered all of my questions in such a way as to help me teach you guys a bit about photography. Enjoy this post, and don’t forget to learn something! :0)
Check out his website!
Jordan Baker Photography
jordanbakerphoto.com
1. What kind of gear do you use?
a. Camera body –Canon 5D mark III, Canon 5D Mark II, Mamiya 645 Pro, Pentax ME Super
b. Lens – 35mm f/1.4L, 50mm f/1.4, 135mm f/2L (all canon), Mamiya Sekor C 80mm f/1.9, Pentax 50mm f/2, Pentax 28mm f/2.8
c. Tripod –Manfrotto 055X Classic with 128RC video head, Manfrotto 561BHDV-1 Fluid Video Monopod with Head
d. Filters –Hoya 67mm ND8, Hoya 58mm Cir Polarizer, graduated ND4
e. Flash – canon 430 EX II with no-name wireless trigger
f. Camera bag – Incase DSLR Pro Pack, and a brand-less vintage shoulder bag from the 1970s
g. Anything else you consider important – Sandisk Extreme III CF cards, a pelican case to protect the cards when not in use, and many, many spare batteries…
2. Which is your favorite lens?
I have two favorite lenses that are favorites for the same reason. I like the Canon 50mm f/1.4 and the Mamiya 80mm f/1.9. Since the Mamiya system is medium format, and the Canon system is 35mm film size equivalent, these two lenses on their respective bodies give roughly the same field of view. I prefer this particular field of view (known as the ‘normal’ focal length) for 95% of my work. It’s neither too wide nor too narrow, and is considered to render shape and perspective nearly the same as the average human eye. I have captured entire portrait sessions using these two lenses.
Both of these lenses are also considered to be ‘fast’, utilizing wide apertures to capture lots of light, ie. they perform very well in low-light situations. The wide maximum aperture also causes the lens to render a beautifully ‘bokeh-tized’ out of focus area in front or behind the point of focus. This is especially great for portraits. The Mamiya 80mm f/1.9 performs especially well in this area.
3. When you travel, what all do you take with you?
When I travel I bring everything listed above plus two backup camera and lens systems, a 13inch Apple MacBook, card reader, two portable hard drives, a few Zoom H1-H2 field recorders, cleaning supplies, and battery chargers.
When traveling on foot, I carry just the 5D Mark II or III, the three lenses from above, an extra battery, and a CF card, all within the small shoulder bag (from the 1970s!). The Pentax ME Super sometimes makes it into the bag too.
4. Is there anything in your camera bag that you never use?
I have never had to use the backup camera systems (knock on wood). I also rarely ever use the flash.
5. Do you have a work flow? What post processing tools do you like the best?
I believe that workflow could very well be placed second in order of importance in this industry, right after the actual photo making skill. Adobe Lightroom and Apple’s “finder” and “automator” are the key components of my workflow. After completing a shoot, I make two to three copies of the CF cards, and begin the post process by culling the images. Copy two is usually my working copy. I then process the chosen images in Lightroom. Next, I arrange the images into the desired final order within Lightroom and export two copies with and without logos. If necessary for specific images, I’ll round trip through photoshop and back into Lightroom via uncompressed TIFF format. I am always looking for ways to trim the fat off of my workflow both for more consistent product quality, and for freeing up time to take naps, walks and more photos.
6. How do you educate yourself to take better pictures?
To get better at photography, I believe that a level of confidence mixed with some squelching of cockiness is the right recipe. When the results are good I try to find something wrong with the image, and when the results are bad, I try to find something right with the image. More importantly, I try to make images often, even when I’m not working…practice, practice, practice, practice. Shooting forty or more rolls of black and white film and developing them at home has been super significant in me learning more about composition and exposure. I am also subscribed to several websites that continually discuss the art of photography. I end up reading lots of books about things that don’t have anything to do with photography, because in the end, everything has something to do with everything. In other words, general knowledge and understanding is super valuable to a starving professional artist.
Getting better at photography is a lifelong journey.
7. Whose work has influenced you the most and why?
My biggest influence and inspiration is Jodi Miller Photography. I also recently started following Jonathan Canlas…then there’s Ryan Muirhead, and T&T.
8. What is one thing that you wish you had known about being a photographer/business owner when you were first starting?
I wish I had known the importance of having a streamlined workflow.
9. How often do you update your equipment?
I update camera bodies and CF cards every 1-3 years. I try to keep using everything else until it breaks or fails to function properly.
As always, please leave a comment below. Thanks!
-Casey
Photo Biz Blog 