citizenlouie's photostream  

Yay, one of my photos is on Explore. :-)

1. Tulip Pink

Here is the address for the film channel:

flickr.com/photos/cl-film

GROUP INVITATION:
Please do NOT send invitation for groups. I am really flattered, but I rarely participating in groups I am already in because of time constraint. Your consideration is much appreciated. Thank you for your consideration. :-)

MY PHOTOS:
My main genre is landscape. Though as you can see from my messy photostream, I shoot most genres, maybe not portrait or photos require quick reflex, but I shoot in many genres, but my main genre is landscape, which I must emphasize.... They're the most representative of my work. Others genres are for fun only.

My main medium is digital photography. I also shoot film, but I feel more natural with digital. I feel more in control with instant feedback of LCD screen. I prefer reshoot the scene right away if I caught a mistake I made on the spot. I don't like finding mistakes on computer screen because that means I have to find time for reshoot, and some scenes are gone forever once you left there.... Some scenes only appear once a month (i.e., moonshots) or once a year (i.e., leaves sprout in Spring), so waiting for film to develop can be a major disadvantage.

Likewise, I also shoot black and white, but my best work are usually done in color (I rarely feel some photos must be done in B&W, but they do exist). This ties to my philosophy that my photos must look exactly what my eyes see, doesn't matter what I see is real or merely a perception. Since I rarely visualize a photo in B&W, so I rarely shoot photos in B&W from the very beginning. They exist, but they're exception rather than norm.

POST-PROCESSING:
I document my photo processing in the comment section. I don't do post-processing extensively because it helps me to improve my fundamental skill. I also believe sharing photo processing techniques with others can help both the audience and me exploring techniques. Despite of my minimal post-processing, if a photo trip can be saved because a photo is merely 1/3 of a stop underexposed, or a photo is not quite aligned correctly, I think we all owe Mother Earth to cut down carbon footprint as much as possible by using the software instead of driving to a scene for just one or two photos.

CENTRAL PHILOSOPHY:
Realism. My landscape photos are meant to be photo-realistic. I achieve such goal through sharpness and correct color balance. I usually carry a tripod and gray card because of that.

My photos usually don't have a story. They can be dramatic, but I almost never paint a story with my photos. Call it photo-existentialism if you will. Like Ansel Adams, I am merely bring you a scene to admire. In fact, I believe what viewers get from a photo is for themselves and therefore, very personal to them. If my photos provoke such thinking (as all great art should do), then that's great. Though provocation of thinking process should be there, but I should not dictate what viewers would think is what I am saying here.

Anyways, I believe in EVO EMO or Evocation of Emotion. Hopefully my photos can help you do that, but it won't be from me.

INFLUENCE:
Ansel Adams. I use his technique to create sharp photos. I do not always shoot national parks, however, but shooting many small scenes that people may overlook, so I guess in that way I am more Robert Adams. I DO shoot abstract forms sometimes. Not always matter-of-fact realism, but realism is my usual practice.

EXPERIMENTATION:
Yes, I do that a lot. Maybe that's why my photostream is so messy and confusing....

COPYRIGHT:
All my photos are original work and should not be used without my permission. Some photos, such as photos of great artworks, the copyright would belong (or partially belong) to the owner of the original artwork. I have asked museum before I took those photos, so visitors of my photostreams have the privilege to see them here, but no party should make a profit off them. I will consider take photos off my photostream if violation is made.

If there is any photos (my original work only), that you wish to license, please write me at citizenlouie@yahoo.com. Usually for non-profit purpose, copyright will be granted with my permission for free. Just let me know is all I ask (and don't abuse the right or mis-represent my work).

MY WEAPONS OF CHOICE:
Gordon Parks, the famous American photographer, refers to camera as his weapon of choice against racism and poverty. My weapon is much less potent, because I shoot landscapes, though I wish viewers will admire wonders of Mother Nature more and therefore, help to preserve it.

Digital Weapons:
Olympus E-620
Zuiko 12-60mm SWD f/2.8-3.5
Zuiko 50-200mm SWD f/2.8-3.5

Film Weapons:
Olympus OM 4T
OM Zuiko 24mm f/2
OM Zuiko 35mm f/2.8
OM Zuiko 50mm f/2 Macro
OM Zuiko 135mm f/2.8
Olympus 35 ECR
Olympus 35 SP
Holga 135BC

Films of Choice
Fuji Provia 100F (slide)
Fuji Superia Reala (negative)
Fuji Neopan Acros (black and white)

Weapon Add-ons
Arca Swiss Monoball P0 tripod head
Slik Pro 500 AMT tripod legs
ColorChecker Passport gray card/color profiler
Minolta DiMage Scan Elite 5400
Various filters from Sigma, Hoya and B+W
Case Logic SLR Sling bag
Olympus RM-1 remote shutter
Shutter release cable for film camera

Lighting
Olympus F280
Olympus PS100G
Olympus PS200 Quick
Olympus FL-14
My trusty homemade reflector

Software
Adobe Lightroom 3
Adobe CS5 Extended
Olympus Viewer 2

Preferred Photo Labs
Foto Express (excellent mom 'n pop lab in San Jose, California)
BayPhoto (in Santa Cruz, California)

I know, so many formality..., but the most important thing is, enjoy my work. :-)