Allyn Edmonds

Michael’s images show the everyday scenes that are all around us, but he captures them in a way that gives us a fresh perspective on them. His images are composed and thought out well with wonderful colors and insight.

Michael is a very talented photographer who is continually learning his craft and it shows with each image he produces. I recently was able to catch up with Michael and asked him a few questions about his photography. What follows are his answers:

Q: How did you get started with Photography?

A: When I was a teenager, my brother saved enough money to buy himself a Canon AE-1 Program. I was so intrigued with it and the results that I knew I had to have one. Unfortunately, it was not until a few years later after I had joined the Air Force that I was able to afford my own. I bought a Minolta Maxxum 5000 and tried to learn everything I could about photography.

Q: How long have you been involved in photography?

A: I have been involved off and on since the 1980’s. There were years where I had totally stopped to raise a family and had other interests. I was more into “snapshot” photography at that point, kids, family vacations, etc. Then after I was divorced in 1997, I decided I wanted to take it up again and I purchased a Nikon Film camera – right before the digital age started taking off. I didn’t like the quality of digital and it wasn’t until Nikon released the D50 that I really wanted to convert to digital. Once I bought the D50 – I was totally hooked again!

Q: How would you describe your overall style of photography?

A: I think it’s difficult to describe your own style until you actually have one. I think I am still working on that since so many areas of photography interest me. But I can say that nature and macro photography interest me a lot. I really like vibrant, rich colors in my photos.

Q: What advice do you have for emerging photographers?

A: My best advice is to practice a lot. Like anything that’s worth doing, you need to practice in order to get better. You should also be familiar with your camera. There is nothing worse than missing a good shot because you didn’t know how to adjust your camera. And lastly, buy a good book on photography so you can learn the art and understand it.

Q: What type of equipment do you use when shooting?

A: I upgraded my Nikon D50 to a Nikon D80 recently. I am very happy with it.

Current Lens:
Nikon 18-200/3.5-5.6 VR, Nikon 105/2.8G VR Macro, Sigma 10-20mm F4-5.6 EX, Nikon 50mm F1.8D Flash: Nikon SB600

Q: What photographers are you influenced by?

A: That’s a tough question and I don’t want to list any famous ones since that’s kind of obvious. I do have many on Flickr friends that I find very influential.

To name just a few: Allyn (of course), Jaki Good, Matilde B., Lourdes Carillo ,Ben Visbeek, Carla Freitas, Daniel Cheong, Kate Arsenyeva, Jill Buschlen, Mô_ (Michelle), and Mike Jones

Q: How do you know when the image you’ve taken is a good one?

A: After I have been out shooting and I am browsing through the shots on my computer, there are always a few that just stand out for me. I always consider the day a success if I have just one that I composed and exposed correctly! It really makes me happy!

Q: What’s your goal with your photography?

A: My first and foremost goal is to continue my hobby – this is something that genuinely makes me happy in life. I love capturing the world in my photos and sharing them. If I were given the chance to work in the profession, of course I would love that, but that is not realistic at this point. If someone smiles and likes one of my photos, then I have achieved my goal.

To see more of Michaels work, visit his stream on Flickr. He’s a nice guy and I’m sure he wouldn’t mind if you commented on his work.

Keep up the good work Michael!