Friends

 

Idols

And a Few Others

Friends & Idols

I know alot of photographers. A few of them are very passionate about their work and quite good. Others are passionate about their work and getting better and better. I decided to devote some space to a few of these people as they simply deserve a little recognition.

Scott Johnson

Scott Johnson passed away December 28, 2007 in New Zealand. Scott was an awesome photographer and a great guy. I spent a day with Scott and another photographer, Marc Millar, in Mahahual Mexico. I was still running around with a Mavica in those days. A few of those photos are featured here as well a small collection of Scott's photos that he was kind enough to let me publish on-line.

Links: Scott Johnson on Eclypso and A Day With Scott and Marc in Mahaual Mexico, Marc Millar Photography

Goran Saban

Goran is getting to be an old friend as I've known him a few years now. Goran writes and shoots for National Geographic Jr. European Edition. Goran is a photographer, journalist and graphic designer (as well as a very nice guy). Some of Goran's work is featured here on Eclypso. Goran now has his own site as well.

Links: Goran on Eclypso and Goran Saban.com

Mehmet Ilbaysozu

I've known Mehmet a few years now. Mehmet is one of the most passionate photographers I have ever met. Mehmet is from Turkey and is very dedicated to his art. Mehmet is known for his urban street photography. Mehmet likes to go off the beaten path and photograph people from all walks of life but especially poor people who live in areas most of us would not dare visit. A mutual friend told me that Mehmet pays alot of money to get his photos. He starts by hiring the biggest and roughest taxi cab driver he can find. He offers the guy about a hundred bucks on top of the cab fare and asks the guy to take him where he wants to go and act as a body guard while he shoots. Mehmet once told me about how he was heldup at gunpoint in China and really thought he was going to die that day. He lived through it and the experience hasn't changed him.

Links: Mehmet on Eclypso and Mehmet Ilbaysozu.com

Clyde Butcher

Clyde Butcher is more an "idol" than a friend. But we met him and he is really cool! Two of my buddies (Mehmet Ilbaysozu and Goran Saben) were in own for a weekend so my friend Lorna and I took them deep into the everglades to see clyde's work. Much to our amazement Clyde came into the gallery while were there and he was kind enough to talk to us. We discussed photography, photoshop, scanners, papers so on and so forth. Someone asked a question about dodging and burning and Clyde decided to give us a Photoshop lesson. He brought us back to his studio and showed us his technique. He spent quite a bit of time with us and we all felt like it was one of the most amazing days of our lives. Mehmet was worried that Photoshop is "disrespectful to photography" and Clyde set him straight. He said if Ansel Adams were still alive "he would have his hands and feet" in Photoshop. Anyway, if you are an Ansel Adams fan then you will love Clyde Butcher. I refer to him as "The Ansel Adams of the Everglades."

Links: Clyde Butcher photo and Clyde Butcher.com

Gabi Porter

I met Gabi on "Flickr's 100 Best Live Music Photos". Gabi has an awesome photo of Iggy Pop in the Best 100 pool. A real punk classic if there ever was one.

Links: Iggy Pop on Eclypso and Gabi Porter.com and Flickr's 100 Best Live Music Photos

No Words - Just Photos

I don't have long stories about everyone. I do know alot of interesting photographers however. I work with alot of them. One guy who I really enjoyed spending time "post processing" with is Robert Vanko (aka "Jakubo"). Robert turned me on to some cool Photoshop plugins and post processing ideas. We looked at alot of photos together and it was inspiring for both of us. Make sure to click on his name and see some of his work. You may see some people you know! Some of the other photographers I admire include Louis Kernes from South Africa. Louie has some nice safari photography. Sandra Fernandez gave me a cool shot of a white lion that she took on her honeymoon. Sandra has lots more on her site. Sandra's hubby, Otto Lock, has an awesome portfolio. I have been trying to get him to show us the goods! Otto??? One of my favorite shots ever belongs to Mauricio Vasquez who also has a photo blog featuring his work. Francis King, the only man I know with a Canon 5D tattooed on his arm, has a blog as well. Petar Pecanac is the only person I know who climbed Mt. Everest! Petar took some photos on the way up. Look here and here. Mark Miranda is a photo lab tech and a cat breeder. Mark has some cool photos of some of his kitties here.

Lucifer's Redemption

I was walking the streets of Seattle camera in hand. Click, click, click. I noticed a small restaurant that I liked, click, and then crossed the street. As I walked by a guy at a table handed me a piece of paper. I usually try real hard to ignore these things as it seems everyone wants something, a dime, a quarter, a dollar, some thing. You can only give so much, you know? I took the piece of paper and looked at it. Words. I started reading them out loud. “..men and women who were raging with life, who looked within and wrestled with their beasts, who were engaged in mortal combat with what mattered and were not gonna let what mattered escape.” I liked the words. I was attracted to the words. The guy drew my attention off the paper and pointed out that he was selling books and signing them (he was an author). I looked at him for the first time. I became conscious of this - I was so fascinated by the words that never looked at him. I picked up a copy of the book and started reading the Preface. He encouraged me on. After the Preface, the Introduction. I was hooked. I was also attracted to the physical form of the book. Apparently he prints the pages himself on a laser printer (that is explained by a character in the book). The pages are then hand bound in leather with string. It had a nice feel. I liked the font. Like an old fashioned typewriter. I liked the book. The sign said twenty bucks so I gave hime twenty bucks. I wanted it. I asked him if I could photograph him. He was agreeable to that. He asked for the book back so he could sign it. I didn’t even care about that but yeah sure. Another shot. I mentioned I like taking photographs. He smiled and said he noticed. I put my book in my bag and he asked where it would be going. Fort Lauderdale, Florida I told him. He asked if I had any questions. I asked him how to get to Chinatown and if it was worth going. That night I read half the book in my hotel room. It hit drew me in. Made me think. Made me ponder. Made me reflect. At times I identified with the main character, James. We share similar attitudes about some important things. I finished the book off in Seattle Tacoma International the following day. Toward the end I almost felt that it was written about me - the inner thoughts. Then I decided anyone who reads it probably feels that way. It stuck with me. It stuck in my mind for two days. It also ocurred to me that I have not read a book in years. This was the first in years. And it somehow seemed that I was fated to read this book by Brett Dean McGibbon.

The book is a spiritual journey. Interested? http://differentfish.com