Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Thane

This blog post is about a long time member of the Taber Photography Club.  Thane is a well know artist who's work has been featured in a number of publications.  Here's is what Thane had to say about his photographic journey.


My love of photography began as a child when I would spend hours looking through countless family albums of special events such as weddings,birthdays and vacations.I took a few shots on my Grandfathers Kodak Brownie Hawkeye,followed by numerous "insta-matic" cameras owned by my parents.
I began my own photographic journey in 1980 with the purchase of a Chinon CE-4S and an assortment of lenses.This is where my shift towards landscape photography started.
With the purchase of a Canon Digital Rebel I entered the digital age.You know you are hooked when you travel down a road at sunset thinking"Gee,I can remove that dust spot from the picture when I get home",only to realize a split-second later it's a bug on your windshield.
  My landscape photography tends to hold detail in the foreground,as I feel this leads my eye into the picture.One of the most asked questions I receive is if my pictures are "Photoshopped".I am glad to say they are,as I find the original file lifeless and somewhat lacking.Having said that,I often find myself thinking of how I will process the shot once I get home,what filters will I use and what actions will be run.To me,my photos are about depth,saturation,mood and detail,as this is what I feel when I take the picture.I guess if I could add a sense of smell and humidity to my shots,I would as well.That would make them better.The only time you will see a lot of my shots without rock,water or wood is when I put on my "Official Photographer" hat for the Alberta International Airshow.
  Photography has led me into another passion,which is printing.I love the total control I take over my images in the printing process...deciding whether to use Canvas or paper,or to perhaps try wood veneer or metal.Once again,I feel that these choices help enhance the vision I see within the original file.
  I have had works published in Magazines,websites and numerous prints purchased through retail venues.Waterton has held a special meaning for me as a photographer with it's many different ecosystems and thousands of photographic possibilities.Trappers,The Heritage Centre ,and Cameron Lake Boat Rentals all display and sell my work throughout the Waterton season,with Anne at The Curious Bird in Mountain View selling my work as well.Photography has been very kind o me as well,with many freindships being established as I play with pixels.
  I have 2 children (Kayla and Garett),a wonderful son-in-law(Brett) ,a beagle named Todd,and a wonderful and very patient wife,Susan to whom I have been married for just over 25 years.The times Sus and I spend together as a couple are increasing,and travelling to photography destinations is playing a hand in our togetherness.She has a lot of patience for "Sloppyshooter".
  My adopted nickname, "sloppyshooter" when accessed through Google takes you to my Flickr site.I overheard a film shooter one day say how "digital photography is making people sloppy shooters because they take way too many pictures" and I thought HEY! Thats me! I also heard something once from Julian Ferreira,one of the partners of the Camera Store in Calgary.It was something like-"The most expensive shot you take with a digital camera is the first one...the rest are free.The most important person to impress with your photography is yourself."

"To me photography is an art of observation.  It's about finding something interesting in an ordinary place...I find it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them."  Elliott Erwitt


Thane













6 comments:

  1. Those are incredible..amazing photos!! WOW!

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  2. Hi Thane!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  3. Great pictures Thane. Your work is fantastic

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  4. What great work!! You're so talented
    Jackie

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  5. Hey Thane-WOw you have amazing photographs. This is a cool blog and I'm def interested in joining the photography club if possible. It seems like a really good learning experience. Keep it up!

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