In conversation with ... FrankMi

[Donald]

In conversation with ....


Frank and daughter Cindy on her wedding day

Frank Miller

Location: Fort Mill, South Carolina but more people would recognize Charlotte, North Carolina which is very close.
Website: None. All public copies of my photography are on CiC.

CiC: Thanks for agreeing to take part in 'In conversation with ....'.

My pleasure - and thank you for being interested in how photographers get to where they are.


Perhaps we can start by you telling us something about your general back-ground. What about your work history – anything interesting?

After a four year apprenticeship in military aircraft electronics, I started working in mainframe computers just as the transistor was coming into widespread use. At that time there were mainframe computers that you had to literally open the doors and step inside of to work on! Although I started in hardware maintenance, by the time the mainframe era was ending, I was an international healthcare marketing manager. Eventually I migrated to the Microsoft support team prior to retiring in 2005.


And what about your family life?

My wife and I were delivered by the same doctor in Newport, Rhode Island but didn’t meet until we were in our late teens. We eloped as teenagers and hoped to eventually have two, maybe three children. The Lord provided us with 4 boys, 4 girls, and 15 grandchildren. I never did figure out quite how that happened but I can tell you that Christmas is a hoot!


If you were staying in tonight, what would you choose as one of your favourite books and/or films to keep you entertained, and what you be having as a favourite meal?

Although my eyesight makes it hard to enjoy reading I do like action films like “The Hunt for Red October”. Food? My young lady puts on a fantastic turkey dinner spread at Thanksgiving and her deserts like Ricotta Cheese Pie and Blonde Brownies will ban me from Anorexic Anonymous for a lifetime.


OK, photography is a given, but what about other hobbies or personal interests?

I love listening to all kinds of music (don’t all togs?). Got my private pilot’s license at 60 and enjoy adding decorative features to our home like built-in cabinetry, coffered ceilings and marble tile.


EDITOR'S PICK #1

Let's get on to photography - how long have you been a photographer, and what got you interested in the first place?

When we were first married I became interested on B&W photography, film processing and printing, but family responsibilities forced photography to be just taking color slide and eventually digital snapshots of the family for over 50 years until this February.


What type of photography are you interested in, and why?

At this point I am excited about learning how to capture many kinds images from landscapes and seascapes to wildlife to macro and maybe even cinemagraph. Although I appreciate viewing many types of images, I really love to explore the detail of sharp, colorful images of unusual subjects. For example, I find it fascinating to play with image stacking would love to be able to create a kind of panoramic image that spans from macro close-up to infinity where every minute detail is clearly visible to be explored.


Any particular photographic influences?

When I first started in B&W, Ansel Adams landscapes made a strong impression on me. Today, in addition to Trey Ratcliff’s HDR work on StickinCustoms.com, I am very impressed with the apparent ease with which many of the photographers on this forum have mastered the art of specific types of images like butterflies, birds, deer, marine life, portraits, macros, flowers, the list goes on and on. I try to absorb as much as I can but find that I need to concentrate in one area at a time to make any meaningful headway.


What do you hope to achieve through your photography - or what have you achieved already?

My primary goal is to learn new techniques have fun! Beyond that, to become good enough to acquire my own unique style and for it to be a style which others will want to emulate and learn from.

EDITOR'S PICK #2

What you think of CiC? Any way it could be improved? Where should it go from here, in your opinion?

Based on CiC’s goals as a learning resource for all photography skill levels, I believe we are right on target.

One area that could be considered would be a linked list of the best how-to and/or resource threads so when a really informative thread goes off the radar it could easily be located by subject.
Ed - Comment noted and brought to the attention of Admins


Getting more personal if you don't mind...what keeps you awake at night, apart from Photoshop?

LOL! Not a heck of a lot. At this point in my life I’ve forgiven myself for more than my share of stupid mistakes so although I am constantly looking for the excitement of the next challenge, I usually doze right off while thinking about it!


I have to ask this…. What photographic gear do you own, and what software do you use for editing?

My primary camera is a Nikon D3100 with the kit 18-55mm lens. I also use a Nikon 55-300mm and for wide angle, the Tokina 11-16mm. For longer telephoto and backup shots it’s the Sony DSC H1 with 12X optical zoom. For editing it’s the Adobe Lightroom 3.5 and Photoshop CS5. I also use Photomatix Pro 4.1.


It’s a tough one to answer, but how would you rate your photographic skills and ability?

I feel that I have achieved a ‘reasonable’ level of skill in limited areas but have Sooo much to learn in many other areas! LOL!


What will the digital camera be like in 2020? And will you still own one?

We are already seeing the incorporation of post processing techniques in the consumer cameras with sharpening, panorama, and even limited HDR capability built in. The consumer camera will likely get more automated features similar to focus stacking to decrease blur, exposure stacking to make taking high contrast images easier, subject motion detectors that will automatically adjust the shutter speed and a return to the ability to take 3D images. Also for consumers, post processing software will likely become far more automated and easier to use for common tasks like color balance, brightness and contrast, leveling horizons, portrait retouching, etc. which will open the way for basic users to one-click post-process their point ‘n shoot images.

For professional photographers I would expect a continued movement toward denser sensors that will permit size and weight decreases for cameras and lenses without sacrificing image quality. We should also be able to get the camera’s Bluetooth output displayed on see-through video glasses – you’ll be able to see exactly what the camera sees in wide-screen high resolution without having to be near the viewfinder.


Are you in a position to help or encourage others in their photography?

I would love to! I’ve taught a number of classes, mostly in computer based subjects, and enjoy helping others.


Another tough one for you…do you consider photography to be art?

Absolutely, like painting or sculpture, in addition to needing to be able effectively capture what we ‘see’, we must also master the tools needed to accomplish the task. With photography, however, the tools tend to be far more complex.


How do you feel about having your own shot taken?

At my age, most folks wouldn’t have the time to do the retouching necessary to get a presentable image! LOL!


What single piece of advice do you think is most useful to someone starting out with photography?

Enjoy the experience. To put it another way, even if you make your living in photography, don’t ever let it become a JOB!


Can we see two of your shots that mean something special to you, and could you explain why.

Both of these shots were early attempts at learning how to tonemap and blend multiple exposure images in Photomatix and Photoshop.

This image was among the first outdoor shots I took with the DSLR. I naively thought I would just drive to the lake about dusk and capture a sunset. After I got there and found a place to shoot from, it looked like this was a really stupid idea as there was not a thing that looked interesting happening. Fortunately, I waited and as the sun dipped below the horizon, the sky lit up in a dazzling profusion of color. As the camera was sitting just above the water level, I had to pick the camera and tripod up, look through the viewfinder, then set it back down to get each series of shots while frantically trying to keep from tumbling into the lake in the dark. I’ve not been able to get another sunset like this since!

This was my first attempt to get a cityscape at night since I first started taking pictures in the early 60’s. We almost didn’t even get set up as there was a violent thunderstorm passing through. We eventually found a spot high in a covered parking deck and waited for the storm to pass. For me, the trick was to get enough images so that I could completely remove all the automobile lights from the city streets.


Finally, can you give us one interesting/weird/silly thing about you that we probably don’t know?

During my first forays into photography I would go out to the private airports and ‘hitch-hike’ by plane across the country to take pictures from the air. I almost got stranded in Westchester, NY one evening, but the Newport Jazz Festival was going on and as the Stan Getz Trio got out of a charter flight from Newport, I was able to call the aircraft owners and get permission to hitch-hike back home with the pilot. I doubt you could do that today!


Thank you, again, for taking part in 'In conversation with .......'

You are most certainly welcome.


Read all the other interviews in the series by going to this link

[dje]

Thanks for sharing your story Frank. It's always interesting to hear more about members, particularly "prolific posters" and "true gentlemen" like yourself

Cheers Dave

[PhotoRob]

Thanks for sharing so much Frank; fantastic story which fits with the inspiring photos you produce...

[FrankMi]

Thank you for the kind words Dave and Robert. It has certainly been an interesting journey thus far and I'm looking forward to all the possibilities that the future might bring.

By the way, after the interview was completed, I did end up getting a SmugMug account for the images I have publically posted. The link is in my signature for those that might be interested.

[Dizzy]

Outstanding interview Frank...

Mike

[jupiterlush]

Hi FrankMi, it's been nice knowing you somehow, and thank you for sharing a part of yourself with us.

[Kris V]

Nice to know a little more about one of our most helpful members. Thanks for being there.

[jiro]

Finally, I was able to know more about you, Frank. Thanks for sharing.

[jprzybyla]

I have had the pleasure of you commenting on several of my posts. I enjoyed reading your interview and knowing more about you. As has been said, thanks for sharing.

[dulceza]

It has certainly been an interesting journey thus far

Indeed, I remember your first pics from around the house, your granddaughter Ivy wonderful eyes and of course your very helpful comments. I very much enjoyed your story.

[Wendy Stanford]

Thanks Frank for a wonderful interview, it was great to know more about you

[3Wheels]

Hi Frank, your interview is one of the ones I've been looking forward to. Thanks for the very interesting insight into FrankMi world.

[FrankMi]

Wow! Guys and Gals, I'm a bit overwhelmed by your warm and thoughtful responses! When Donald and I first discussed doing an interview I had my doubts that anyone would be interested. Thank you so much. It gives me a warm feeling that I have friends that I didn't even know I had and I appreciate that!

[Donald]

Wow! Guys and Gals, I'm a bit overwhelmed by your warm and thoughtful responses!

No more than the quality of the interview deserved. Very glad it's gone down well, Frank.

I'm still tempted to start up a caption competition for that image up at the top of the interview!

[FrankMi]

LOL! I'm not sure where that expression came from! Cindy is the youngest of the eight and has the ability to pleasantly do the unexpected!

You are certainly welcome to start a caption competition if you would like. I'd be fascinated to see how that would turn out!

[epmi314]

Great stuff Frank! I can tell you have a wonderfully witty and fun sense of humor away from photography. These interviews are a great part of CIC. I would argue, it adds to what I see when looking at your images and reading your input. Your images speak for themselves. I have really enjoyed what little "to and fro" we have had and learning from you. With that such a big family perhaps we should begin referring to you as "The Patriarch". Thank you for your contribution to CIC, it is important and does not go without notice... obviously.

[epmi314]

LOL! I'm not sure where that expression came from! Cindy is the youngest of the eight and has the ability to pleasantly do the unexpected!

You are certainly welcome to start a caption competition if you would like. I'd be fascinated to see how that would turn out!

That sounds fun. I think one of the Mods should initiate.

[FrankMi]

perhaps we should begin referring to you as "The Patriarch"

Ho Boy, does that sound "mature"! LOL!



Nope... don't wanna grow up! Whahhhh! Mommyyyyy!

[Markvetnz]

Frank. I've only just read this. I've been off the forum a bit lately. Lovely insight.

Cheers

Mark