Who or what influenced you to get into photography?
My mother was a photographer. I remember her always taking pictures, showing us them, showing me her love for photography. Taking an interest in photography was natural to me from the very beginning.
Where do you get your creative inspiration from?
I’m an observer. I may not notice everything, but then again, I’m not trying to notice everything. My inspirations come from the intersections of the physical and the human environments, but usually without any people present. I tend to pay more attention to what has come and gone than what is there at the moment, and thus most of my pictures are of spaces created by humans, lived in and molded by humans, but temporarily abandoned by humans. That’s what tends to catch my eye, mind and soul.
What type of camera do you use most and do you prefer digital or film cameras?
I grew up in darkrooms and shot 35mm black and white film, but these days I shoot strictly digital. Canon Digital SLR (I’ve had four different ones, I’m currently on the 7D) and Panasonic Lumix LX3.
Although I love the quality of the DSLRs, my LX3 is simply too powerful, flexible, and small to not have with me, and thus I end of using my LX3 for the majority of my daily shooting.
What is your next planned equipment purchase?
Perhaps a wide-angle lens, but honestly, nothing.
What do you see as the next evolution in digital photography in terms of trends and new products?
More Micro 4/3, more HD video, a rationalization of features to focus more on camera usability and size, and better integration between cameras and third-party services used to store, display, send, share and print pictures.
Could you share a favorite recent image you took and tell us a little about it?
The best images are the ones we come back to and revisit time and time again.
So, why do we come back to them? Is it because of what we see inside the frame, or because of what we’re imagining happening outside the frame?
In this case, it’s all about what’s happening outside the frame. The picture is a recent favorite of mine because there’s a story behind it, and because I know what they’re looking at, but there is still something meaningful even without knowing the full context. Somewhere in their different reactions and postures are stories about what’s happening on the street below and in their own minds.
What are you favorite websites or blogs that you frequent?
Tons. But I don’t read most major news source, I filter my news by depending on curators to pick out the best stories, insights and opinions I should check out and perhaps dig deeper into. I use Google Reader to skim through many blogs about a variety of subjects. I read everything that John Hagel, Umair Haque, Alan Patrick, Valeria Maltoni, Jan
Chipchase and Clay Skirky write. I depend on friends Sloane Berrent and Ethan Bauley, in particular, to point out things I should be paying attention to in relation to cause-based living and tech and media geekery, respectively. And I depend on many friends on Twitter to point out more things I should pay attention to.
You’ll note that none of that relates to photography. Even though I’m a photographer, I’m still a business geek first and foremost. I do read a ton a photography blogs, notably A Photo Editor and Conscientious, to start.
Any advice or tips for someone wanting to become a photographer or to improve their photography?
Learn all the rules so you can break them completely.
And just shoot what you want to shoot. Because photography is for you.
Taylor Davidson, @tdavidson, is a Business Designer and Photography Geek who focuses on digital business and marketing strategies in the creative content and technology industries.
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