In conversation with Al (snarkbyte)

[Donald]

Sorry, but I don't have any photos of myself; not a single one.
Honestly, you're not missing anything... really.




Name: Al

Location: Tucson, Arizona, USA

Website: http://www.snarkbyte.smugmug.com

CiC: Thanks for agreeing to take part in 'In conversation with ....' here on CiC.
My pleasure. I always enjoy these interviews with other members, so it's about time I
contributed.


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

A rather mixed bag. My educational background is in physics, so I've had opportunities to work on many different things. I've done environmental studies, worked with archeologists and paleotolgists, and briefly ran my own business (and discovered I'm a lousy businessman). Mostly, I've worked in aerospace on various projects, including the space shuttle, the Hubble telescope, some communications satellites, and the defense industry.


And what about your family life?

I'm single (never married), and my parents and siblings live 1200 miles away, so I don't really have a family life. I've become something of a recluse lately, but I'm comfortable being alone, so it suits me... gives me plenty of time for reading.

EDITOR'S PICK #1

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?

I grew up in Mississippi, so I'm a big fan of Cajun food (hard to find in Arizona). If I could
find the ingredients, I'd go for Crawfish etouffe with dirty rice, accompanied by a great Pinot Noir. As for entertainment, I read mostly history and other non-fiction; currently "The Spartacus War" by Barry Strauss and "Iron Kingdom: The Rise and Downfall of Prussia" by Christopher Clark.

There's also a stack of technical literature, and plenty of Photoshop/Lightroom training books, plus other photography-related articles.


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

My current passion is motorcycles. I gave up automobiles entirely several years ago, and it's one of the best decisions I ever made. Luckily, the climate here allows me to ride every day, all year, though the storms can get a little intense during the summer monsoon season. I'm not into the "motorcycle lifestyle", group rides, or any of that stuff... just give me decent weather and a twisty road; I don't need the company or the bar-hopping. I used to do a lot of flying, and I'm licensed for single-engine airplanes, sailplanes, and hot-air balloons.

It got so expensive I finally had to give it up, but I'm still a big fan of anything that flies.
I was also into hang-gliding, rock-climbing, sky-diving, scuba, and competitive cycling in my
younger days, but the accumulation of broken bones and the laziness of ummm... maturity have discouraged intense activities.


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

In June 2010, I started looking for an additional activity compatible with motorcycling, which means I can't haul around huge piles of gear. I've been a science geek all my life, and I've had plenty of "adventure" hobbies, but I'd never done anything that required any sort of artistic creativity. Photography just seemed to fit with the way I live, and provided an opportunity for exploring the world in an creative way. It was completely new and different from anything I had done before, and although it does have technical aspects, photography to me is really a creative activity, and I wanted to explore that.


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

Mostly, I just want to have fun and learn from photography, so I'm not really trying to develop a special area of interest. I realize that will limit my expertise to some extent, but I'm not trying to make any money on it, so I don't really care if I'm never as good as the specialists.

Maybe I'm just still in the exploratory stage, and haven't discovered my photographic raison d'etre quite yet. If it happens, fine, but the main thing is that I'm enjoying it, and happy enough with my progress for now. Lately, I have become interested in macro and close-up "near macro" photography, and I'm trying to develop an eye for B&W, thanks to some awesome shots I've seen on CiC. I also really like shots that are abstract by composition; not textured or composited in post-processing, but have strong geometric patterns rather than a specific subject. But I'll shoot just about anything that catches my eye, then try to learn how to do it better next time.


Any particular photographic influences?
I was never interested in photography until last year, so I must honestly say the biggest influence are the people on CiC (which I think is rather fortunate). I did read a lot of
National Geographic mags as a I kid, and some of those shots still stand out in my mind, but they were from so many different photographers (whose names I never bothered to notice), and covered such a broad range of subjects and styles, that I can't say that any of them have had any special influence, other than as inspiration and the knowledge that such images ARE possible, if the photographer has the talent, skill, and determination.


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

To be honest, I'm not sure I'm trying to achieve anything other than having fun with the
activity, and maybe produce some decent and interesting shots. I don't have lofty goals to
become a professional or even a "noted amateur", but ultimately, I suppose I'd like to share my perception and experience of the world with others, admitting up front that my perception is always biased and sometimes a bit off-beat. I believe It's impossible to express anything in a creative way without putting a bit of yourself into it, so the idea is to embrace the biases and prejudices, and try to communicate them, rather than pretending they aren't there.

With a bit of luck and lots of practice on my part, perhaps a few people will be interested, but it's not as easy as it sounds, if the goal is to communicate clearly. Or maybe I just want to take pretty pictures... other people can figure it out for me while I'm having fun in the process.

EDITOR'S PICK #2

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

To my knowledge, CiC is already the best photography site on the web for people like myself, trying to learn and develop as photographers. The tutorials are what attracted me to the site in the first place, and continue to be a great resource, as new tutorials are being added all the time. Honest, knowledgeable criticism, helpful advice, and a general lack of bickering are what makes CiC the great place that it is. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. I do like what I've seen of the planned face-lift for the site.

I just wish I had more time and especially knowledge to contribute. As for improvements, I think Colin should be required to PM the phone numbers of his models to me. Sure, he says he's protecting their privacy, but I suspect he's really protecting his unfair advantage for great portraits. Is he really that good, or is it just the raw material?


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

How fast can I really take the curves on my favorite rides after the monsoon floods have washed all that loose sand onto the road? Other than that, it's mostly physics problems.


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

Canon 7D, 5DMkII, and I just got a G12 for pocketability. I picked up an entire collection of
L-series prime lenses from a local estate sale last year at a price that was practically theft,
and I've added the EF 16-36mm, EF 24-105mm, EF 70-200mm IS, and EF-S 17-55mm zooms, plus the EF 1.4x Extender II.

I'm toying with the idea of purchasing some flash equipment and try some studio shots, particularly for macro work. I use Adobe Lightroom 3 and Photoshop CS5 for PP, along with some plug-ins: Nik Software Silver Efex Pro 2, Topaz Labs Remask 3, and Imagenomic Noiseware.


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

My photography is better than my poetry, and much, Much, MUCH better than my singing. It's about even with what my wicket-keeping would be if I were an avid cricket player. Of course, I've never played cricket, and I wouldn't know a wicket from a dog's hind leg. But whatever wicket-keeping may be, my real-world photography skills are about the same as my hypothetical cricket skills. That's just a ballpark estimate.


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

I fully expect that I'll still own one, maybe even the same ones I own currently. But technology marches on, and the mega-pixel wars will continue, even if they are pointless marketing ploys. Cameras and lenses will certainly get smarter, and my guess is, more programmable and more connected via wireless technology. P&S cameras may become essentially web-based devices, where the scene is analysed by virtual cloud applications and camera settings highly customized for that particular scene are automatically beamed back into the camera... the user no longer has to choose which auto mode is best, and the settings will be much more customized.

For DSLRs, we may see things like personal custom settings for button assignments, white balance and other camera settings that can be uploaded and downloaded via wireless connection. Better low-light capability with less noise. Video capability will continue to improve.

Auto-focus will get better, faster, and harder to fool. I also think more highly specialized niche lenses will become available in the prosumer price range.


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

Other than whatever comments I can make on CiC forums, not really. People considering taking up photography do occasionally ask me a few beginner-type questions regarding equipment, and I give them whatever advice I can (mostly what to avoid). But I'm still something of a newbie myself, so other than very basic questions, I usually refer them to a more knowledgeable source.


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

Photography is a tool that can be used for many things, but nearly everyone in CiC is interested in photography as a creative outlet, and in that role, it is definitely art. Any sufficiently creative photography is indistinguishable from art? (Apologies to A. C. Clarke)


How do you feel about having your own shot taken?

I'm comfortable enough with it, although some lens manufacturers have mentioned me by name in the Warranty Disclaimer under "Misuse and Abuse". Most people don't think taking my picture is worth the risk to their equipment, not to mention their reputation as photographers.


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

Good photographers invest much more in time than money. Equipment is cool, but good shots start and end with the photographer. Practice, study, and remaining open to criticism are far, far, more important than any gear you can buy.


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

Waco ZKS-6

This was taken in my pre-CiC days. I love the lines on this classic bi-plane, especially from
this angle. I believe this is the first shot I deliberately composed just for the lines. The
background in the image was manufactured in PS because the background in the original was a cluttered, hopeless mess.

The Topology of Water

This is a shot of ripples in a water fountain. The bottom of the fountain was black ceramic tile with white grouting, and the waves diffracted the grid lines of the tiles into interesting
patterns. This is the kind of abstract image that fascinates me... natural and mathematically abstract at the same time. To me, anyway, geometry and physics are beautiful, sometimes almost hypnotic.

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

I have to pick just one? Hmmmm... My accent has been corrupted from living in many places in the US. Many people are curious about it, but have no idea of where it originated. One person asked if I was from Germany (I've never been there), and another guessed Australia (never been there, either). With such diverse guesses, I have to wonder what I really sound like to other people.

Just what does a German/Aussie accent sound like, anyway?


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

My pleasure, Don, and my thanks to anyone who managed to read this far. BTW, the mods have assured me there will be a test on this material next week.


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

[FrankMi]

Nice to be able to know you a little better, Al. Thank you for contributing.

I appreciate that there are others out there that do photography just for the fun of it, and in that regard, it can be much less stressful when you're trying to learn something new in shooting or post processing technique!

Enjoyed your interview!

[dje]

Thanks for sharing your story Al. It's nice to hear about your background. As an engineer, I have a certain emphathy with physicists, and physics was my favourite subject all those years ago. It also helps with the technical side of photography to have that grounding in optics and semi-conductors that you get studying physics.

Now the creative side of photography - well that's another matter, at least for me ! But your photos indicate you have something there as well.

Cheers Dave

[Colin Southern]

Hi Al,

Facinating stuff! I've long been an admirer of the shuttle space program -- what role(s) did you play with those great technological achievements? How about Hubble?