@tak's photostream  

I have collected my "professional" work here: www.flickr.com/photos/conceptsbynicholaslopez/

I was born in 1977 in a small town in California's Central Valley. I spent most of my life within the small cities of that Valley. Growing up, I was surrounded by a wide variety of friends and family that turned me onto the creative arts. These people didn't lead me into photography, but they did affect the way I took photos. What my photography lacks in sophistication is made up for in originality and a certain peculiarity that comes from such a humble beginning.

I was drawn to photography in my high school days. My realization that nothing lasts forever but pictures can be worth a thousand words as well as memories fueled my desire to take pictures. I originally began shooting with a simple Kodak point-and-shoot until my grandfather, Francisco, gave me a Braun Super Paxette. {The Paxette was a line of viewfinder and rangefinder cameras made by the Braun company in Nuremberg, Germany in the middle part of the 20th century.} It wasn't until three years after high school that I finally bought a Nikon N60, my first 35mm SLR. It was about that time that I married a beautiful woman, Martha. She has supported my decision to pursue photography but it wasn't until 2003, after the purchase of a Canon Digital Rebel SLR, that I finally took a college class in photography. In addition to the college class, I also attended and ultimately graduated with honors from the Modesto Institute of Technolgy. There I studied graphic and web design. I use my graphic design skills to make subtle changes to my photographs as well as to create something way beyond my original idea. Although my formal photography study came much later in life, I feel it will never end.

Now that I've begun my own company, Concepts by Nicholas Lopez, I hope to take my photography to another level. I continue to learn new techniques and I'm constantly practicing my picture taking. I hope to provide a creative environment for my daughter, Sofia.

Currently I shoot with a Nikon D300, Yashica Electro-35, and a Holga 120N, Hasselblad 500C/M, once in a while I fulfill a need by shooting with my Super Paxette.

"I believe that beauty lies within everything good or bad. Pictures simply capture light reflected in a scene at a given moment. We put forth our past, our experiences, ourselves and it is reflected back to us from those images giving them feelings, emotions, and truths. Some images are better at reflecting those things than others. I photograph in the hope that my images can reflect something more than just light."

I always appreciate feedback.

You can learn a little more about me on myspace.
www.myspace.com/hatefork
The Photograph... A Collection In Pr... By Nicholas Lopez Book Preview