Photographer Spotlight: Richard Willilams

Rich Williams describes himself as just an ordinary guy who likes to take pictures and capture the everyday essence of life but what’s remarkable about his work is always seeing the layers that evolve as you pause and examine his work. That plus I’ve never seen anyone capture the town of Boston more beautifully at night.

How would you define your photographic style?

“Anything goes.” While some photographers specialize in one field, I like to flex my creative muscles and employ a diverse range of subjects and techniques — from portraits, to night photography, to floral shots, to random objects that happen to grab my attention.

What does your camera equipment consist of?

I’m currently shooting with the Canon EOS 5D Mark II, an amazing beast of a full-frame camera that has helped take my photography to heights I never knew were attainable.

As for glass, I own quite a few lenses, but the ones I use most frequently are:

Canon EF 24-70mm f.2.8 L USM - This is my first L-series purchase and my preferred walkaround lens. Its focal range makes it a versatile choice for both portraits and landscape photography. What’s more, it’s compatible with my 77mm neutral density 10-stop filter, a tool I use for daytime long exposures.

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8 L USM - Here’s a solid lens that captures crisp wide-angle images, from cityscapes to coastal shots. Its aperture of f/2.8 also makes it an ideal choice for handheld shots in indoor/low-light settings. This lens is almost always in my bag whenever I’m on a photowalk.

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2 L USM and Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM - In my opinion, these are the two finest Canon portrait lenses on the market. Once you do portraits with either glass, you won’t want to shoot with anything else.

At f/1.2, they deliver amazing depth of field with butter-smooth bokeh, and they’re fast enough to use in almost any low-light setting without the assistance of a flash. In addition, the clarity, color and contrast both lenses offer are second to none in Canon’s vast catalogue of lenses. Sure, they cost a pretty penny, but they’re also worth the investment.

Canon EF 15mm f/2.8 Fisheye - When you’re in a creative rut and have exhausted every possible photo cliché in the book, this lens will bring new life and fun into your world as a photographer.

Its super-wide 180-degree view provides some insanely distorted images and radical curves with Ginsu-sharp clarity. It’s a small and lightweight lens, but don’t be fooled by its tiny physical appearance. It packs a serious punch and will transform the conventional into the unconventional.

What’s your post-production software of choice?

I often use both Photoshop and Lightroom for a variety of needs ranging from color adjustment to noise reduction. They both play an invaluable role in my post-processing.

Are you considering any equipment upgrades in the future?

I have no immediate plans to buy new equipment, but I’m growing more intrigued by tilt-shift photography. I’ve seen some amazing photos taken with the Canon TS-E 17mm f/4L that have tempted me to add it to my collection one day in the future.

Share with us you proudest photograph

It’s definitely this shot of the Brooklyn Bridge, taken in March of 2009. The spider-web lines and detailed clouds give this often-photographed bridge a rather dramatic and even ominous twist. If I had to choose the photo that represents my proudest moment as a photographer, this is it.

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1 year ago  /  1 note