Jorge Quinteros

» Stories Behind Your Photographs

When it comes to sharing photographs, the presence of nice composition, lighting and contrast can make any image speak for itself because it has the opportunity of having captured the glory of what you experienced when you took it.

There really is no need for words to describe it other than for it to maybe have a title but I’m one that feels more of a connection to a photograph when there’s a friendly caption shedding light on the thought process behind it.

We’re all obessesed in wanting to know how things were made and for me a photograph isn’t any different. Isn’t the bonus footage of a movie and everything that played a pivotal role in making it what entices us to invest on buying DVDs or Blu-Rays in the first place? At least that’s the reasoning behind my purchase.

At the moment, I can look at 20 pictures of Big Ben in London on my computer and remember the exact feeling of standing before this prominent landmark and wondering if I would ever be back.

I remember the crowds I had to manipulate around to get the angle, I remember how hot it was, I remember feeling the energy of the structure and having to crane my neck to fully frame the shot I wanted and I certainly remember Vanessa hustling me to hurry up because I was taking countless shots of the same landmark.

Of course you were all oblivious to this conceptual story and I like to think sharing this type of insight offers an added layer of sentiment to a photograph because it demonstrates the humanistic considerations that influenced its making.

What makes a photo so attracting is not just admiring the final piece printed and framed but seeing beyond the obvious, beyond the technical details and understanding its personal meaning, in learning about moments that are not always shared but that have equal significance which will be remembered both on paper and in your minds.

Tell Us About It

Some people are just not interested in travel and in that case, they are likely to have minimal appreciation for photographs, no matter how impressive they may be and in those moments you realize that the reason you find your photographs remarkable is because of the memories they elicit.

The audience may not share the exact memories but hopefully the photo will carry enough emotion to speak for itself and even if it does, having a caption to support the underlining story of a photograph is always a receptive detail I admire and one that viewers would appreciate more if you include it.

I am interested in learning about the stories behind your photographs.

March 14, 2010 |   Tags: article photography

» Walking New York with the G11

I took to the streets of New York armed with a great mood, a well trained eye and a desire to test out my new Canon Powershot G11.

The overall experience was satisfying especially more on the comfort of having a small yet well solid built camera that’s not intimidating to whip out when opportunity calls.

I shot entirely on Aperture Priority mode, used RAW format and was amazed by how entertaining it was using the swivel screen to capture those unconventional angle shots or even just photographing without onlookers knowing that you’re actually clicking the shutter button.

Despite the camera being classified as a point & shoot, it’s definitely in the high section of the category and it has all the features to keep you occupied in making adjustments to captures that make you feel like you’re operating a DSLR.

I can see this camera becoming my best friend where ever I go and freeing myself a little of the sometimes burden of a DSLR. There’s a charm about its simplicity, it’s black finish and perfect fit in your hands that just feels right.

The piece I wasn’t crazy about was the camera strap and I’ve been hesitant on relying on one when it relates to small cameras. I just don’t trust them and will be investing on the Camadapter CamStrap to have that extra security in handling the camera and avoid dropping it which I felt like I was going to at times.

March 9, 2010 |   Tags: article photography

» A Worthy & Perfect Companion

Based on the amount of photographs in my Lightroom library, I’ve contructed this lame excuse to justify the shortage of shots I’ve taken in the year so far.

Photographic opportunities present themselves in countless ocassions and my lack of enthusiasm for taking advantage of them is due because I’m not always being up for carrying around the D90 all the time.

Granted the 50mm f/1.8 is my primary lens so I don’t have too much weight to complain about but there are instances where a pocket-sized camera is all I want to resort to.

Nevertheless, I still want to make sure that whatever compact camera I alternative with, that it still yields the same RAW capable and professional-quality prints that I would expect from the D90. In essence, I’m looking to free myself from DSLR a little.

Traveling and photography has always gone hand and hand for me and whenever I see tourist photographing monumental landmarks with a point & shoot rather than something as robust as a DSLR, I’ve never been one to judge because ultimately it’s what you do within the limits of that camera that makes the difference between a good photograph and a spectacular one.

Not having my D90 with me won’t make me less of a photographer. In fact it’ll grant the opportunity to demonstrate how much more can be accomplished because of it’s versatility.

There’s more to photography than just pointing and shooting. You have to decide on your subject, on framing your shot and in the process make decision on how you want to tell your story and if you can do that with an expensive camera, there’s no reason the same principles can’t be applied with one that doesn’t draw as much attention and make you feel more important.

In the Market For

On Sunday I spent a solid 3hrs reading countless reviews on 3 specific P&S cameras that have caught my attention: The Nikon Coolpix P6000, the Canon Powershot s90 & the rugged Canon Powershot G10. All with RAW support and megapixels higher or equal to 10 and the one that has fascinated me the most has been the G10.

I haven’t purchased it yet but I will be in the next couple of days and what honestly sold me on it was photojournalist Gary Knight’s commentary on how it’s been the perfect street camera for him and that’s exactly what I’m looking for.

I have big hands so I don’t want a camera as small as the s90 because it just feels uncomfortable and the G10 seems like the perfect middle ground and I’m enamored with how many accessories are available to extend its capabilities.

I love my D90 and I’m merely looking or a worthy and perfect companion for it.

March 1, 2010 |   Tags: photography article

» 9 Things I’ve Learned from Watching Kitchen Nightmares

Gordon Ramsay is a well-known chef, television personality and restaurateur with a show that I’ve become very fond of watching. It’s called Kitchen Nightmares where he spends a week with a failing restaurant in an attempt to revive the business.

If you’re not familiar with his advising tactics, you’ll be in for one heck of a surprise in watching an episode but it’s that same refreshing honesty that adds credibility that I as a viewer appreciate. In the process of it all, I’ve learned a few things and that seem to be a resonating theme throughout each episode.

In no particular order -

1. Keep shit simple. Don’t overcomplicate a dish, especially if the purpose is to compensate for how crappy the food may taste.
2. Don’t clasify yourself as a chef if your main tool in the kitchen is a microwave.
3. Choose fresh over frozen ingredients all the time. Customers will know the difference and will talk about it.
4. If saying that you own a business is more important than actuallly running a sucessful one, do yourself a favor and close down the shit because having a title means nothing if you don’t know what you’re doing.
5. There’s a difference between uniqueness and confusion when it comes to a menu.
6. Bad food is not the only thing that can bring down your restaurant. So can the driftwood that doesn’t believe in your vision and that you probably still refuse to get rid of.
7. If you’re running low on food products, don’t always assume it’s being sold because it just may be that an employee is stealing them.
8. If something you created is not working, don’t be against in admitting that it needs fixing. Sometimes swapping some ingredients or replacing the whole dish can be the best option.
9. Gordon Ramsey is one mean SOB but I respect him because of his achievements and because his f-bombs and healthy doses of criticism works.

February 23, 2010 |   Tags: shows article tv

» Loose Thoughts on Photography

With photography being a very gear oriented craft, I really try not to get caught up in the notion that having the most equipment will in truth make me a better photographer.

The real skills come from habitual practice, reviewing the material, making notes on what worked and what didn’t and equally important sifting through endless photographs on Flickr to gain inspiration. There’s nothing more encourging to me in doing all these things or a combination of some.

Buying anything is addicting but the downside to photography is that it’s a costly hobby that can sometimes lead you to spend more than you can afford and need. But if expense wasn’t an issue, in a heartbeat I would splurge on expanding my gear with some impressive lenses and among other knick knacks but that’s more driven on what I “want” than what I “need”.

Define you Intentions

I’ve mentioned the gear and tapped on the process but eventually it’s the combination of what you do with both that matters. The real difficult part of photography isn’t knowing how to make the picture but in determing what picture to make and with that comes deciding what your real commitment to becoming a better photographer is.

I still consider myself a complete amateur when it comes to ability, so I take any and every feedback I get in seeing what else I can do to gain a different reaction from people with my photos.

Perhaps not every shot you take will have that innate condition to stimulate someone but it’s acknowledging those intentions that will greatly enhance that chances that you will.

Frame the Picture

When we travel, even though she may not verbalize it, my wife’s experessions says it all in how irritated she gets sometimes when all I think about is photographing everything.

She loves reading the inscriptions to artwork in museums while I worry more about how to avoid reflections through the glass, or how to gain the best possible perspective or in making sure to adjust the White Balance from place to place. It’s a thrill to photograph and visualize what the end resuls of each shot will look like already framed in our living room and that pretty much outlines what I think about before I shoot.

Finding the Story

The photographs that draw me in are generally always the ones accompanied with a good story. These are the ones that have subtle and surprising details throughout it that lead your eyes in new directions with every glance.

Photos that have this element makes you want to keep searching and imagining more of what you don’t necesssarily see and trying to envision what else was around that wasn’t captured.

Honestly, the most important things to remember is that you feel that you have to take pictures and that you have a camera you’re content with in using and with that, great photographs will come.

February 1, 2010 |   Tags: photography gear article