We are always looking for new artists to spotlight and as I am constantly amazed at the new and interesting people that I run into around the web. From “meeting” people on Facebook, Twitter or even Flickr I have been introduced to a insane amount of great photographers since starting this website almost 2 years ago. Its really awesome some of the connections I have made and I am always looking out for new work out there. If you know of anyone that is doing sometime great please let me know!

Today I want to share some work from Daniel Fox who is currently working on a project about our relationship with nature. Enjoy a quick interview with Daniel and some of his work below.

What is your current project “the wild image” all about …
Ever since I was a young boy, I found my inspiration and comfort in nature. It thought me about life, and death, about change and evolution, about challenges and perseverance. It thought me about perspective and balance. Most importantly, it thought me about being humble and spiritual. I started the Wild Image Project so that I could tell a story. A story about our relationship with nature, about our journey in this universe, a story about being human. The story I want to tell is a story of hope and of unity. We are part of Nature, and it is part of Us.

How did this project get started, where did the inspiration come from…
I have always wanted to travel the world and study animals. I watched religiously the adventures of Jacques Cousteau and the Wild Kingdoms of the Mutual of Omaha with Jim Fowler. They showed me a world which I wanted to be part of. Unfortunately – or maybe fortunately, since I do believe everything happens for a reason – I ended up going into marketing and moved from Montreal to New York City. I did try to make it in the business world, but my heart was never into it. At some point, I had a chance to reassess how I wanted to spend the rest of my life. I felt that I had been given a second chance, so I invested everything I had and created the Wild Image Project. My first expedition was in Argentina, kayaking the Peninsula Valdes and photographing the wildlife. It was the best decision of my life and I don’t regret one single moment since!!

the reason you love what you do ….
Often, I find the wilderness more…. sane. Nature is raw, it is life in its purest form. It constantly reminds of what is essential. And then, there is that moment, when I am laying on the ground, with the animal in front of me, when we start to communicate. There is nothing like it. There is a sense of connection. There is no longer them and me, but Us. We are all part of the same world, we share this beach, this ocean, the air. Our existence is bound to each other, to this Planet. Our goal is the same, to survive, to live. It is humbling.

Who do you get your inspiration from …
I get a lot of my motivation by reading biographies. It might seems like a funny answer, but I am a dreamer and have never done what I “was supposed to do”. When you read or learn about other people’s lives – their struggle and their journey – before they “made it”, you find comfort and inspiration, knowing that each has been called crazy and told that they would never make it.

How did you get started in photography …
Photography has always been present in my life, but it is only in the last 5 years that I really started to make a career out of it. The arrival of DSLR is really what allowed me to fully embrace photography. I didn’t have much money when I was young and it always seemed to me to be a hobby I couldn’t afford. The first time I bought a digital camera, it was like heaven had revealed itself. I could experiment as much as I wanted. I could shoot for days, and weeks and see what I liked and did not. I did not go to photography school, everything I learned, I learned it on my own. And I think that sometimes it is better, because I have a learned a lot by not following the “rules” of photography.

What does photography mean to you …
Photography is an exchange between a subject and an observer. In my case my subject is wildlife, nature, and in these portraits there is a dialogue between me, the animal and the environment I am photographing. My objective is to capture a photographic moment with the intensity felt at the instant the shutter opened. I create a composition in my mind and then shoot until I feel I have reached my objective. It is later, when I look at the images, that I am often surprised and amazed at the results. The vast majority of details are unnoticed when the picture is taken. It is only later that the richness of the moment is revealed. This is where my intuitive response to that moment comes to fruition.

Your photography specialty …
Wildlife portraits.

Who is your photo idol …
To be honest, I don’t really have any photo idols. I do have though “storyteller idols”. People who had a gift in telling stories and communicate their passion. Ever since I was young boy, I was fascinated by Jacques Cousteau, Jim Fowler with the Wild Kingdoms, and David Attenborough with BBC. They are certainly my heroes, the ones that have inspired me to do what I do today.

Lens of choice …
I shoot with Canon. My favorite lens is the 100-400mm. It is perfect for what I do.

Favorite photography product …
I always travel light, so anything that allows me to do much with little, is a plus for me. My Canon 7D with my favorite lens allow me to do everything I want. I can shoot HD video, I can photograph landscape, people, and wildlife. It is by far my most treasured equipment. Another thing that is always with me, is my polarize lens. I can’t go anywhere without it!

Favorite movie …
I watch a lot of movies and documentaries. But I only keep in my library a very small selection. I have watched over a dozen times BBC’s Planet Earth and Life series. I have on my computer Tron:Legacy and The Golden Compass, I don’t seem to get tired of them either. I am also an avid consumer of PBS documentaries – I think I have watched all the Frontline, Nova and Nature episodes they have online!

Last rental you watched …
My last rental was the full BBC’s Human Planet Series. Absolutely stunning!!

Where can you be found on days off …
All my time right now is dedicated at preparing my next adventure, the “Extreme Islands Expedition”. In 2013, I will be leading a team of filmmakers and scientists on a 6-year around the world sailing/kayaking expedition. We will circumnavigate Antarctica, the Arctic, and cross the Pacific and the Atlantic from their lowest point to their highest point. We will visit over 250 islands, 16 countries, cross 4 oceans, navigate 13 different ocean currents and pass through 6 geographical zones. It will be one of the largest and most ambitious maritime exploration expeditions since the 17th century, at the end of the Age of Exploration.

The expedition will be looking into fulfilling important scientific and conservation goals but the main mission will be charting new territories. In a nutshell, we want to create Google Islands. The expedition will visually map the coast of over 250 islands, scan their surrounding seafloor and document each island’s wildlife, environment and culture. The goal is to develop 3D interactive views of those remote islands, mixed with above and underwater photographs, videos, and audio recordings, that can be viewed in Google Earth and give the viewer an immersing interactive exploring experience on the planet’s most remote and wildest islands.

What superhero would you be …
I think it would have to be a mix of superheroes. First, I would need to be able to live underwater, so that I can explore the oceans and swim with the orcas. Then, I would need to be able to fly. So that I can go everywhere I want and explore the most remote places.

If I am typically craving something it is ….
Get out of the city!! Don’t get me wrong, I love cities, particularly New York. In fact I lived there for 7 years. But I am definitely more in my element in the wild. It usually doesn’t take much. After a couple of weeks in the city, my mind goes all bizarre, and my body starts to show signs that it is missing something.

What is your most fav photo you have recently taken …
I am particularly proud of my last work, done in the north region of Argentina. The two portraits of eagles I did are especially strong and the photo of the caimans at night and the giant moth at night are not only incredible but on technical side, I must say I am really proud of the result.

To learn more about Daniels project “The Wild Image Project” head on over to http://wildimageproject.com/. You can also read about his upcoming project the Extreme Islands Expedition here. Here are some more images for you to enjoy.

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Sometimes I take for granted some of the amazing beauty that surrounds us in nature and the intricate detail of our surrounding galaxy. There really is so much beauty to be found by simply looking up and staring at the stars and the clouds. Every once in awhile I come across an artist that just amazes me with some awesome landscape work. They take the amazing beauty of this earth and capture work that makes us see the world in a whole new light.

Recently I have seen a few videos from Terje Sorgjerd and have been blown away from the beauty in his artwork. He has some really creative video work that is very inspiring. I’ll see if I can contact him and get some insight into this work and will share anything in a future post.

But today I wanted to share some of his work for a little inspiration for everyone. Would love to know your thoughts on these videos, leave any comments at the bottom of the page. This first video was filmed from El Teide in Spain and captures the milky way above the mountains. Using a canon 5d Mark II camera, and a variety of lenses including the following; Canon 17mm TSE, Canon 16-35mm, Canon 24 f1.4 and a Sigma 12-24 this is a awesome movie and I am sure will inspire you all.

The Mountain from Terje Sorgjerd on Vimeo.

He also has an amazing video of the Aurora Borealis, that is another ver cool video that will blow your mind.

The Aurora from Terje Sorgjerd on Vimeo.

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Today we are going to spotlight a very talented HDR photographer Trey Ratcliff AKA stuckincustoms. HDR is one of those techniques that I didn’t like much for the first few years it was out. Back then all I saw was overly post processed images that were so loud with colors it almost was a strain on my eyes. I think when it was a newer technique people wanted to push it to the end of the limit and the common style was to go crazy with HDR. As its matured and also attracted more artists into the space there have been some really amazing HDR images, some of the recent work I have seen lately is just breaktaking. One of the top people in the HDR space that I just happened to run across while browsing some images on flickr is Trey Ratcliff. His work is beautiful, such a rich range of color and tone that just take you right into the landscape and make you want to explore the photo. If you follow his website at http://www.stuckincustoms.com he always posts some very cool photos on his blog at some amazing locations around the world.

We normally do some Q&A questions for our photographer spotlight but today have our questions answered as a video, so sit back and enjoy a little insight from Trey Ratcliff on his photography and HDR photography. He has some very interesting points, I love his point about the “gatekeepers” of photography and how that has really opened up with the internet. He shares some great thoughts about art and really how it has to be created when the time is right not just on a schedule. Check out the 2 videos below and let me know any comments at the end of the page.

Trey also has a very nice video tutorial on HDR photography available to purchase that is a very good tool for anyone looking to learn more about HDR photography. He walks you through some examples of images and how they were made and has a really good easy to understand way of teaching. For anyone who is looking to learn more about HDR I definitely recommend checking our his DVD or eBooks. View the HDR video tutorial info

And for all of you iPad lovers out there he has some great HD wallpaper packs on his website that have some of his best shots. I have the image below on my iPad and there are some pretty awesome shots in here. Click here to view more details

Here is part 1 of the interview with HDR photographer Trey Ratcliff.

And part 2

And a few more images of Trey’s:

Trey has some pretty great learning tools available on his website.
Click here to see all of the eBooks and photography learning products they have at Stuck In Customs.

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We like to highlight a photo every week that sometimes is a recent image I shot and i’ll include some tech details about the shot and the creative vision behind it. But sometimes I like to get you all involved and will normally send out a tweet and facebook post for submissions of a reader photo of the week. This week I want to highlight a photo sent in from Roberta Prendin, a striking image of the Italian Dolomites. What really caught my eye when she sent this over was the contrast of light on the green fields in the mountain. The mix of light and dark cast on the mountain from the clouds really create an interesting dimension to the image which makes your eye explore all around the shot. Thanks Roberta for sending this in! Here is a little bit of information from her about the image:

This photo comes with a bit of a story. It was the first time I visited that particular area of the Italian dolomites so I was a bit lost: I knew there was a small mountain lake near Valparola Pass but I couldn’t seem to find it. My boyfriend and I walked back and forth for at least thirty minutes before realizing the lake was literally under our noses! So this is my tip for landscape photographers with little knowledge of the place where they are: don’t give up, keep searching and you’ll find what you look for. Or buy a gps like we did the year after!

Kidding aside, when we actually got to the lake I was overwhelmed: too many things to shoot! So I decided to take a few (better, a dozen) steps back and try to capture the whole scenery in a single shot, focusing more on the mountains on the background than on the lake itself. I used a Nikon D80 with a bundle lens, a Nikkor 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 VR at 18mm, exposure 1/250sec, aperture f/9.0, 100 iso. Not the fanciest equipment but it works fine for me… and, more importantly, it doesn’t weigh too much – which is a “must” if you have to hike for hours through mountain terrain. As for the post-production, I didn’t do much: I simply tried to enhance natural light by adding a little bit of contrast, and lowering the exposure.

My contacts:
I’m Roberta Prendin, 22-year-old amateur photographer and philosophy student from Venice, Italy. For other photos, take a look here:
http://coveredinice.deviantart.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/covered_in_ice/

Every time I put a call out on Facebook or Twitter for a new photographer to feature for our Photographers Spotlight I always get some really great suggestions and get to meet some new people that are just awesome and create some very cool images. Today we have a wonderful portrait photographer that I met on Twitter, check out some of her work below and a little more info about her.

Renee Bowen is a portrait photographer from Los Angles who specalizes in Senior Portraits. You can see more of her work online at:

Who are you …

Most of the time I feel like a 25 year old trapped in a 40 year old body…my brain still hasn’t accepted my chronological age. Besides a photographer, I’m just your typical imperfect but well-meaning Mom of three, tired but supportive wife, lover of all things clean and organized – with a tinge of OCD, perfectionist, late night twitter lurker, and music lover. I also have a passion for all things special needs ~ my oldest son is an amazing soul who happens to have autism.

the reason you love what you do ….

It was really important for me to be able to be with my kids when they were little. I love that I can go off and be creative in my work and then bring it back home, where I can work around their schedules. I love what I do mainly because I can have as much creative license as I want ~ there are of course down sides to working for yourself, but one of the benefits is being able to call the shots and have as much creative control as I want.

who do you get your inspiration from …

I sort of soak everything in….photographs, ads, art, movies, set design, books I’ve read….and of course, my kids are my muses, but I also get a lot of inspiration from music. Music has always been a constant in my life and although I don’t play an instrument, I just feel more present and grounded when I listen to music as I edit.

How did you get started in photography …

My father is a photographer but I didn’t really get into it until much later in my life – after my first child was born. I was OBSESSED with him and my love of photography was re-born. Of course, I was shooting film, and my transition to digital was slow. I still love shooting film, and I still sometimes shoot film during sessions – just one roll, just for me.

What does photography mean to you …

Besides the obvious opportunity for creativity, to me, as mainly a portrait photographer, it means becoming a part of someone’s life for a short time – a connection. I love people (I actually have a degree in Psychology) and I very much enjoy getting to know what makes them tick….I think we don’t have enough connecting happening these days. Now, I’m not going to pretend to know everything about someone just because I shoot their photos; but I do feel a shift happen from the beginning to the end of that session. Even the shyest of people drop into a comfortableness, even if it’s just for a few moments, and that is when I get the best out of them. When someone just drops it all and lets go….for some reason, that is so satisfying for me. I’m always searching for those real moments.

your photography specialty …

Although I shoot, or have shot, just about anything and everything, portraits are my “thing”, specifically Senior Portraits. There is something so amazing about spending time with people that age…they aren’t kids so much anymore, but are still so raw and open…..they live so much more “out there” than most of us boring adults.

who is your photo idol …

I’ve always loved the raw honesty of Annie Lebowitz’s portrait work. Even with the elaborate sets and makeup, there is something inherently real about her work. More recently, I’ve come to love Jeremy Cowart’s portraits……he is such an amazing creative force. Michelle Moore = amazing at just down-right beautiful, clean work. And I adore David LaChapelle.
Was that supposed to be just one person? Sorry

favorite photography product …
Lightroom – can’t live without it. Although…..I really want the Nikon pocketwizard….can’t wait to experiment with that!

lens of choice …
I’m in love with the new Nikon 85 1.4, but I gotta give a shout out to my 50 1.4 and 35 1.8

favorite movie …
hard to pick just one, but I’d have to say Wizard of Oz

last rental you watched …

Toy Story 3…my life is so very exciting. And – I cried like a baby – in front of my kids. Again. We saw it in the theater too, even though my kids are 12 and 10 – they still wanted to see it because the first two were so much a part of their lives. OMG, this movie hit me right in the “your kids are growing up” nerve. Sigh.

where can you be found on days off …

Typically at one of my kids’ various activities – hockey, dance, theater rehearsal, or running the roads to an audition (my kids are in the biz, like their Dad)
But, I definitely take time for me – and I love hanging out with friends – going to movies, concerts, or just sitting by my fire pit drinking good wine and being in great company.

what superhero would you be …

Well, if it’s a “real” superhero, I’d be Fleur de Lis, aka Noelle Avril from the DC Comics – because I’m a Southern girl at heart (Louisiana) and love all things fleur de lis. (don’t tell my husband, who is a crazy Marvel fan) But if we’re making her up, then it would have to be some kind of multi-tasking, caffeine-driven saver of the day.

if I am typically craving something it is ….
chocolate…or wine….or both

what is your most fav photo you have recently taken …
I love the shoot I did recently with two seniors – friends….had this idea for something different; bought some gerber daisies and colorful ribbon and experimented ~ loved the results.

Check out more of her senior portrait photography below:

You can also view some of our past Photographer Spotlights here, Digital Photo Buzz Photographer Spotlight

I always get some great suggestions from everyone on some great photographers out there to highlight for our Photographers Spotlight. I am always looking for people that are out there creating amazing art that most of you might not have heard about before. Awhile back someone referred me to Bob Lussier and I was mesmerized by his HDR work, the texture and depth in the work really draw you in and make you want to spend hours investigating the scene and exploring it with your mind. Some really great work I think you will all enjoy. You can also check our more of his HDR work online at: www.lussierphoto.com

What attracts you to HDR?
Two things: texture and control. When I am standing in an old mill building I can reach out and feel the texture of the century old brick
and wood, or the cold metal of a piece the machinery. I want to convey that feeling in my images. HDR allows me to.

How you got started with HDR?
Like many HDR shooters, I started dabbling in HDR after finding the work of Trey Ratcliff online. I was impressed with the range of light
Trey captured in his images and decided to try it. After a few feeble attempts and horrible results, I gave up.

A year or so later I found myself trying to photograph a series of images in an abandoned mill building in extremely low light. It seemed
like the right time to revisit HDR. I shot a few series of brackets and really focussed on getting the processing right. In hindsight, I
probably didn’t get either the brackets or the processing right, but it put me on the path to learning the technique and finding my own
style.

What do you use to process the HDR images?
My Tonemapping is done using Photomatix Pro. Additional processing is done using one or a combination of tools including Photoshop,
Lightroom, Topaz Detail and On-One Software’s PhotoTools.

A little bit more about Bob:

Who are you …
I’m a graphic designer, photographer and marathon runner.

the reason you love what you do ….
I love what I do for a wide variety of reasons. Photographing the mills and industrial sites in my corner of the world has, in a way
allowed me to connect with the history of this region.

who do you get your inspiration from …

Thanks to the wonders of Twitter, I get a daily does of inspiration from a number of contemporary photographers from around the world. Too
many to name them all, but lately I have been captivated by the work of David Nightingale. I’m also a big fan of some of the Masters of
Photography, particularly the work of Alfred Stieglitz, Edward Steichen, Paul Strand and, (of course) Ansel Adams.

How did you get started in photography …
I picked up photography about 30 years ago, in college.

What does photography mean to you …
It means a lot. Since my first SLR, a Canon AE1, photography has been my primary creative outlet. My passion for it has intensified over the
past decade.

your photography specialty …
I love Urban Exploration (Urbex) Photography. If its old and abandoned, I’ll shoot it. For me, that usually means shooting in the
many 19th century mill buildings in my area.

who is your photo idol …
Tough to define an idol. If you insist, I would have to say Ansel Adams. Nothing moves me more than an Ansel Adams image.

favorite photography product …
Just one? OK. My Promote Control from Promote Systems. Its a must tool for shooting HDR in dark buildings.

lens of choice …
Lately, Nikon’s 24mm PC-E (Tilt/Shift) lens. I love the versatility of the lens. Ask me again in a week and I might pick my 50mm f1.4

favorite movie …
Again … just one? How about Shawshank Redemption. No … Goodfellas. No wait … The In-Laws (the original, not the lame remake).

last rental you watched …
Robin Hood (the latest version, with Russell Crowe – Gladiator, in the woods).

where can you be found on days off …
Running the roads and trails in my area or exploring new old buildings with my Nikon gear.

what superhero would you be …
Spider Man. Photographer by day, super hero by night. Plus, with that sticky spider web weaving power, I think I could weave the ultimate
camera strap. No dropped camera!

if I am typically craving something it is ….
Pizza. And a fine craft brewed IPA to wash it down.

what is your most fav photo you have recently taken …
My most favorite recent shot is, by far, a shot from Arlington National Cemetery of a tombstone of an unknown Civil War Soldier. That
one shot, to me, defines Arlington.

Thanks Bob for sharing your passion with us and the incredible images you create!
Also if you want to learn a little more about HDR photography check out this article we posted, Learn the Basics of HDR photography or view our list of HDR photos to inspire.

Here are some more of Bobs great HDR photos:

Today we are going to feature a photographer that I met through Facebook. I would have never imagined to meet so many great people on facebook and Twittter, it really has been amazing some of the talented and creative artists I have met through Social Media over the past year. Today I am going to introduce you to some very cool and creative work from photographer Jaroslaw Grudzinski. I ran across Jaroslaw’s work on our Facebook page when he had posted this moonlight image of a snowy bench. The photograph caught my eye right away, the tone of the image and dramatic moonlight really peaked my curiosity and I was intrigued. I reached out to Jaroslaw to get some information about his work and he shared a little more about his photographic process and this series below. Enjoy some great work and be inspired.

Photographer’s Spotlight on Jaroslaw Grudzinski. See more of his work on his Facebook page.

Where did the idea come from for this series of work?

The idea for the moonlight series was born on one of those winter nights when darkness falls early and the evenings are cold and gloomy. I was just playing with Photoshop and created something I liked so much, I decided to try again… and again, and again. These images are not meant to present reality. They show a world of dreams. Most of them were taken with a wide-angle lens at sunset, so if the moon was really there, it would be tiny. Underexposure and high dynamic range are key elements here. They help to make the day to night conversion look believable. Simple pasting of the moon into the image is also not enough. It needs to be blended with the sky and often partly hidden behind clouds and trees for a better effect.

Who are you …
A teacher and a photographer in my spare time.

The reason you love what you do ….
Photography helps me relax and gives me the opportunity to show others the world the way I see it. It can be an escape into dreamland when reality gets too monotonous.

Who do you get your inspiration from …
First of all – Mother Nature. Then, lots of brilliant photographers whose creations I’ve seen on the internet or in magazines, but can’t remember the names.

How did you get started in photography …
I started when I was a kid, but that was not serious shooting. I’ve always had a hobby – usually collecting something. About 5 years ago I bought my first digital point & shoot camera and got hooked straightaway. What made taking photos different from other hobbies was the chance to share and discuss my photos online with people from all over the world. Then I saw a commercial of an online stock agency. I decided to have go, and that’s how it all got serious for me – the stock income allowed me to spend some more money on photo equipment and do what I love doing.

What does photography mean to you …
It’s a way to express myself – not by depicting the world as it is, but by giving me the chance to show others how I see it.

Your photography specialty …
Landscapes – that’s what I love the most. Unfortunatley, I have less and less time for that.

Who is your photo idol …
Joe McNally – his books changed my attitude to lighting and capturing the moment.

Favorite photography product …
Nikkor 24-70 f/2.8 – It’s always with me – fast, sharp, never let me down and it’s a great lens for a variety of subjects.

Favorite movie …
The Boondock Saints and 300

Last rental you watched …
Arn: The Knight Templar

where can you be found on days off …
Hanging out in local pubs with friends, or hunting for a photo opportunity.

what superhero would you be …
Thorgal – popular in Europe, probably not on the other side of the ocean.

if I am typically craving something it is ….
I love good food and I’m always open to new things. Traditional Polish food is always a winner for me, but I also love Italian, Vietnamese and Turkish cuisine, as well as a good burger… and these should go together with a pint of good beer.

what is your most fav photo you have recently taken …
I’ve been a happy father for almost a year, so my favourite photos are those new ones of my son, of course.

See more of his work on his Facebook page
View more of our Photographers Spotlights here: Digital Photo Buzz Photographers Spotlight

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After our post the other day on creating a digital composite I came across an example from one of our readers that I thought was a great example of what you can do with digital composite photos. Digital composites can open up so much and you really can let your imagination run wild. Here is a little bit more about Daniel Freire and the work he is creating.
Have you created any Photoshop art? Share it with us, you can always leave a comment with a link to your work or post a few images on our Facebook page. Also to read an article from a digital artist we interviewed awhile back check out these the amazing digital art of Jorge Machado.

Post from Daniel Freire
About “my first show” pic:

The process was very simple. I was looking at pictures of bulldogs, because I want one. Thus, immediately seized the opportunity to see the owner of abulldog. Regarding bird’s legs, I always thought that one day it would be useful adapting them to someone (never thought it was myself). And also always wanted to play the cello and wear a hat like this that old myself “Manufacture”. The concept was literally become public, simple desires.

How this was created:

The insights emerge as fragments, explaining better, like pieces of a puzzle that i will riding, so I always have different pieces to find the right one so that everything happens as expected. Included in the idea I try to sketch a background in my mind, where it has an atmosphere, characters, objects, then I try to do self-portrait, trying to fit the dimensions purposely created, interacting directly or not with the objects. And after all these definitions, the details that makes hundreds of layers into one in photoshop.

My main criterion is the creation of compositions made in a fictitious reality full of details so that your view is questionable in relation to an alleged lie. That way, I like when I finish a picture and realize that everything is right, because from the time I get to travel minutes setting up my eyes to it, that explains the use of my own image for the most part, just to see and hear comments that help to evade the ego even more fanciful, what makes me want to improve each working.

Short Bio:
I’m graduated in adverstising, sometimes photographer, 23 years, and I have Photoshop as the main tool for work and love what I do. (I am photoshopper)
web: http://www.flickr.com/photos/danieljfreire/

This post is sponsored by Collages.net

Awhile back we ran a post for everyone to share their photography blog and had an amazing response with over 100 photographers sharing their blogs. I went through every single blog and was very impressed with some of the amazing work out there. Since there is such a diverse group of photographers that read this site it was great to see a mix of new work, there were wedding, portrait, landscape, pet photography, you name it. Now I want to see your portfolio website. It can be a full fledged website or your Flickr stream, wherever you showcase your portfolio. And I encourage you to take a few minutes to stop by some of the sites and check out some new work, sometimes viewing work in a totally different photo specialty can be inspiring for your own work.

All you have to do is leave us a comment below!

Our photographer spotlight this week is another amazing photographer that I was introduced through Twitter. It’s amazing how many great photographers I have met on twitter and some really good relationships formed also. One day I hope I can meet all of you in person, there really is a strong community of creative people on twitter and some other networks. Someone send me over a link to some of Troy Paiva’s images and I was amazed! His work is so interesting and thought provoking. Lots of his work is urban nightscapes and the juxtaposition of a broken down car in the junkyard against the night sky and lit up with gelled lights really creates a surreal scene. Some of the cars feel alive again, I can almost hear them speaking. Here is a little more on Troy Paiva and his work:

Troy Paiva, aka: lostamerica.com, ghost towner, urban explorer, night photographer and light painter.

Travelers Motel

I’ve been an artist my whole life and a commercial artist most of my working life. In 1989 I was looking for a new medium to create art as I was working in tightly art-directed job. My brother, a photography student at the time, introduced me to light painting and night photography and I immediately saw it as a way of creatively documenting the abandoned places I’ve always been drawn to.

I’m a surrealist and always have been, Light painting during time exposures at night in abandoned places are the most surreal experiences I’ve ever had. It’s intoxicating and thrilling. And it’s intensely satisfying as an artist.

Could you describe the process of creating a light painted image from start to finish?
First I size up the image by eye to figure out composition and run through the lighting concept. I set up the camera/tripod, set focus and other camera settings and lock open the shutter and repeat the lighting scheme I did in the run through. When the exposure ends I use the camera preview to asses the image. Is the composition good? Horizon? Edges? How did the lighting go? Sometimes I nail it on the first shot, but frequently I don’t. I’ll adjust the position of the camera or change my lighting and reshoot. Sometimes I’ll do up to 8 shots before I’m satisfied. Sometimes I’ll have one exposure with a good right half and bad left, and another with a good left and bad right and I’ll just combine them in post.

The reason I love what I do ….
It’s all about the locations and subjects for me; I just love junkyards and abandoned places. Always have. I enjoy the hands on, physical process involved with my technique as well. I love doing this because it’s a challenge.

Who do you get your inspiration from …
I draw inspiration from everything around me, not just photography. Artists in every medium, from films to painters to writers to musicians. It all affects me.

Your photography specialty …

All I do is shoot junk at night and light paint it. That is all I do.

Who is your photo idol …

Storm Thorgerson? Roger Deakins? Misrach? Frank? Too many more to mention, though I am more interested in the art than the person that made it.+

Favorite photography product …

The Stinger Streamlight.

Favorite movie …
I’m gonna have a hard time stopping at 10. The Big Lebowski, Vanishing Point, Bringing Up Baby, Pulp Fiction, Dr. Strangelove, Fight Club, North By Northwest, Blade Runner, To Have and Have Not, Taxi Driver. Really, I could go all day.

Last rental you watched …
My wife and I are currently blasting through the third season of Six Feet Under. We missed this show on first broadcast.

What superhero would you be …
I don’t care, so long as I don’t have to wear a cape in The Incredbles.

If I am typically craving something it is ….
3 full moons a month.

What is your most fav photo you have recently taken …

The Weather Channel

I did this 2 minute exposure last full moon, while teaching my workshop at the Pearsonville Junkyard. I’ve spent 25 nights, taking 450 finished images, in this gigantic junkyard and this was the first time I’d noticed this TV in this car. It’s the location that just keeps on giving!

To view more of Troy’s work check out these websites:
website: http://www.lostamerica.com/
flickr stream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lostamerica/
workshops: http://www.lostamerica.com/workshop.html

Thunderbirds Are Go!

Exit Row

Time Slide

Impossible City Overlook