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1) Firstly can you please tell me a bit about yourself and how you got started in photography?

I’m a professional photographer from Bradenton, Florida who concentrates primarily on nature photography, but is doing an increasing amount of weddings and portrait work as a result of this recession. I’ve always had a strong interest in biology and natural history, and have always spent a great deal of time in the outdoors. From an early age, I knew the name of nearly every plant and animal I encountered, and as I got older, interesting finds eventually led to carrying a camera around with me. Years later and having no photography aspirations whatsoever, I was often told that I should show my images and send them to newspapers, etc. In time, people began to want to buy prints from me, and at this point I began to take it seriously.

2) You have a great website, how much of your time is taken up writing articles?

Thank you. I spend an average of about five to eight hours a week writing articles, blogs, and short pieces. After many years, I’ve finally been cajoled into writing a book on Florida nature photography, and now it’s under way. I finally feel that I have enough of a body of work and enough stories and photographs to make a statement that I can be proud of, and to create an impression on my readers and followers.

3) I notice from you work that you like to experiment with different techniques, what is your favourite type of shot?

I love landscape shots with drama. I will always try to incorporate three or four major elements to show a sense of place – most often starting with strong light as a dominant feature, followed by the lines that make the composition in the form of trees, horizon, shoreline, etc. I often bracket my shots so that with a little dodging and burning, contrast is increased while keeping the image from looking unnatural – unless I am going for a particular idealized look.

4) Is there a location that you have not yet photographed that is on your agenda?

There are lots of places on my list to photograph. One location I’m looking forward to is going inside some of the limestone caves in Central Florida and photographing the light as it spills into the darkness. I think if I could have details like oak roots, moss and algae incorporated into the shot, that would be beautiful! And something not in your usual repertoire of Florida nature photography. I’ve also been tinkering around with the idea of underwater natural spring photography….

5) Looking further a field, is there anywhere in the world that you would particularly like to visit to photograph?

I would love to visit and spend some time on an extended nature photography trip to the Arctic Circle. Particularly in those few months in summer when the tundra is covered in wildflowers and the wildlife is active around the lakes, rivers and mountains. I prefer raw nature images untouched by human interruption, something that is increasingly rare in my home state of Florida.

6) If you could give 3 pieces of advice to someone starting out in photography or looking for inspiration, what would they be?

I love this question. First – if you want to become a good photographer, I would recommend getting a good starter DSLR then shoot with it for several years, without upgrade. Why? People are obsessed with upgrades, and never really learn to use what they have. Master that beginner’s camera and make it do the kinds of things that one expects out of a heightened camera, and make it do the things it was never meant to do. Experiment constantly, and eventually you will start churning out images better than those who spent too much money on a camera with all the features he or she most likely will never use or understand.  Once you do this – then upgrade to a good solid professional camera and then you will begin to understand what they mean when you make pictures, and not take pictures. And always follow this simple rule – RTFM! We’ll call it “read the manual”. It’s included with the camera for a reason!  Next – use criticism as a tool, and don’t get offended by comments about your photography or photographic experiments made by others. Often our first reaction is to get defensive….but if we really think about it – there is sometimes a lesson to be learned in what provoked that response. That said, negative feedback is often better than positive feedback! As in any creative art, thick skin is required.  Lastly – photograph what interests you and …. don’t follow the crowd. If you want your work to stand out, you will most surely never be noticed by doing what everybody else is doing. When you are truly interested in a subject and care about it, follow your passion and it will be reflected in your work.

7) Is photography your livelihood or do you have a ‘day job’?

I work nearly every day of the year with my photography. I rarely take a day off, or can afford to in this recession. I try to stay innovative and keep searching for places, people and publications interested in my work so I can continue to do it every day, and make a living at it. I worked for many years in very hectic country clubs that cater to northerners (or snowbirds as we call them) to afford all my equipment, and have no desire to return.

8) Which photographers inspire you?

Being from Florida, if I didn’t mention Clyde Butcher there might be something wrong with me – the man is a landscape master – just amazing! But the photographers who have inspired me the most would be Rick Sammon – not necessarily because of his work, but for his attitude and enthusiasm toward his work – it’s inspiring and contagious! And then Ansel Adams…. his attention to detail , eye for composition, and phenomenal work ethic.  Strangely enough, it is painters and other artists who inspire me the most visually. I am a big fan of vivid colors. Henri Matisse and his French post-impressionist contemporaries - ”Les Fauves”, and in particular, Florida’s “Highwaymen” – a traveling group of 1950’s African-American landscape speed-painters, are huge influences in my work.

9) What’s in your camera bag?

In my camera bag, I have my Nikon D2X – it’s a workhorse of a camera. I don’t use more than three lenses while I’m out in the field, and I only use Nikkor lenses. The 70-300mm VR f4.5-5.6 works beautifully for me as it can be used hand-held for most of my wildlife shots, and still remain very sharp. I have a little 50mm f1.8 that I adore, and it’s used for a lot of my orchid, wildflower and insect/spider images – it’s razor-sharp! My most-used lens is the one that gets used and abused, and subsequently replaced often, and that’s my 18-55mm VR wide angle zoom. It’s all I need for about 70% of my nature photography, and sharp enough to suit my needs. My better lenses are used less often – primarily for weddings and portraits – and kept clear of the hot, subtropical wilderness that can wear out camera gear faster than it can be replaced. I carry a range of traditional photography filters and a ringflash for those times I need detail, especially when dealing with botanical subjects.

10) What’s the most important piece of equipment in your camera bag?

Besides my camera, my most important piece of equipment is outside my camera bag. It is my Bogen tripod and head. It is ridiculously tough, very solid, and can (and has) taken the full power of an alligator tail’s blow without bending or breaking. I don’t go on a shoot without it.

11) Do you have a favourite location that keeps you coming back for more photos?

I love the Big Cypress National Preserve/Fakahatchee Strand area in Southwest Florida. Everything that appeals to me as a nature photographer is there, and one of the reasons I got serious about it. Beautiful landscapes, abundant wildlife, wild orchids and plants found nowhere else in North America. It’s completely wild, sometimes dangerous, and utterly beautiful. The heat, mosquitoes, snakes, poison ivy, alligator-dodging and general misery in summer can be insufferable, but once the images are onscreen and you’ve got the very essence of your subject perfectly captured – it is totally worth it!

12) Can you describe your photography in 3 words?

Vibrant, Imaginative, Expressive

13) If/when you have inspiration blocks, how do you overcome these?

I very rarely have inspiration blocks. Maybe once a year, and they are short-lived. My problem is that I’m interested in so many subjects that I often find myself wishing I had a clone. When I get tired of nature photography and can’t stand to look at another landscape or flower – I’ll switch to another tack and concentrate on doing portrait work or weddings.  When photography in general gets too repetitive or I’m sick of the routine of shoot/upload/edit/deliver, I’ll take a break from the camera and concentrate on writing or digital art for a while. Then there is always marketing. I do all my own marketing, and that in itself is a fulltime job, and it never ends.

14) What post processing software do you use, do you have a set process to ‘touch up’ your shots?

Every image is imported into Adobe Lightroom before I ever see it onscreen. From there, if editing from RAW cannot be completed with Lightroom alone – then I export to Photoshop CS4 for the heavy work. I rely on making my own actions that I create and use for photo editing. The exact steps I use – or series of processes that I use, depending on what look I’m after, varies from subject to subject.

15) If you had to pick 3 of your photographs to showcase your work, which would you choose?

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16) How often do you venture out on ’shoots’, how long will you typically spend on a shoot and how many shots would you expect to get from the session?

I shoot generally about eight to ten days a month. In nature photography, I expect to get anywhere from four to twelve “keepers” in a full day of shooting. Sometimes I’ll get lucky and get upwards of twenty, and sometimes a trip will be a complete dud. I’m not a camera “machine-gunner” so I take my time to get my shots right in-camera. A typical all-day shoot for me is 5am to about 9pm.

17) What is your opinion on HDR photography as this appears to be a ‘hot topic’ for debate in most online forums?

I happen to love HDR photography, but find very little use for it in what I do. I think it’s a lot of fun to play around with, and it can be used to create some extraordinary images. I do however find it is used best when tonal range is a bit more subdued – less “cartoon-ish”. I think the use of HDR has a tendency to tag that photographer as an amateur, but really don’t know why. I assume that this has everything to do with those “photography purists” who have personal issues with digital photography in general. In my opinion – it is a fantastic and beautiful artistic expression and extension of modern digital photography. I have a few HDR landscapes on my website, and they do sell quite well.

18) What’s the next piece of equipment you hope to acquire?

Ooh! Tough question. I’d probably like to get a good macro lens, as I’ve been wanting to get more detailed close-up wildflower shots.

19) Where would you like to see your photography in 5 years?

I’d like to be showcased in more public forums in the next few years. More exhibitions, more books, and get into teaching nature photography workshops. As much as I love photographing all that is Florida – I’d like to get a change of scenery and spend some time working where it is cold and do some northern winter nature photography – actually have some snow in my images and get out of the heat for a change.

Rich is the owner of  Leighton Photography & Imaging and his websites are both well worth a visit;

• Florida Nature Photography – www.FloridaNaturePhotography.com
• Leighton Photography & Imaging – www.LeightonPhotography.com

His wife, Galina is the web designer for both sites and does a fantastic job with easy navigation and great colours which compliment Rich’s work.

Rich can be contacted on the details below regarding his work and services;

• email – rich@leightonphotography.com
• (850) 339-2686

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