JackAZ Photography's photostream

I was introduced to photography at six years old with a Kodak 110. When my parents tired of developing film I graduated to a Polaroid One Step 600. Unfortunately, my skill set was virtually non-existent and I produced lots of instantly available images that included the tip of my middle finger. I later hijacked my Dad's Canon AE-1 Program and was hooked. I shot mostly motorsports and landscape. However, when Dad wanted it back, and I realized how many rolls of undeveloped 35mm film I had lying around as I scrimped to get through school I gave photography up. Being young with too many expensive interests relegated photography to the wish list.

Fast forward to the spring of 2008 when the wife was researching a new digital camera for a planned summer roadtrip. She decided on the Olympus E-510 and the first chance I had I grabbed one for her. About two weeks later I got my grubby paws on it and never looked back. To compensate her for the loss of her camera (which she later admitted to choosing only because it was going to be our only good digital camera) I gave her an Olympus E-410. She preferred the E-410 due to its smaller size and weight.

A journey to rediscover my creative side was underway as I happily clicked photographs of anything in my path. During the first year I made about 12,000 photographs. During that time I transitioned from shooting JPG only to a combination of JPG, RAW, and RAW + JPG depending on the circumstances. I learned the importance of RAW files and began my post processing journey (not quite the same as the dark room I remember from oh so long ago). I also learned there is a time when JPG only is the most logical solution. Sports and other rapidly changing activities are prime for JPG only. In my first two thousand sports photographs I learned that the smaller JPG file allowed for more images to be stored in the buffer and faster transfer of the image from the buffer to the CF card keeping me focused on producing great actions shots rather than waiting for the camera to catch up. For most of my work I shoot in combined RAW + JPG so I have the post processing control I like from RAW files but the JPG's are readily available for anything not requiring serious post processing. Having the JPG's handy for full size previews is invaluable as they are much easier to preview full size than a RAW file under Linux.

Since my return to photography I've ventured into areas I never thought I would be interested in. My initial interest was mostly in landscape photography, however, since then I've come to enjoy event photography (especially car shows, concerts, etc.), commercial and product photography, and now have a hankering to learn portrait photography. I've had a few photos used commercially and have found the more I learn the more I want to know. It is through photography I have rediscovered my artistic side I knew so very well as a kid. Where the road leads from here no one knows, but I'll be sure and make a few photographs along the way.

Most photographs and artwork are available for commercial use. Contact me via email or Flickr mail for licensing options.

You can visit my blog where I post photos, poetry, and random thoughts here.