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Focus on Nature interview with Kevin Ames
By Einar Erlendsson
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Q: Hi Kevin, for my first question have you ever been to Iceland?
A: Good morning Einar. No I haven’t. And a shooting visit is very high on my list of must-photograph places. I am captivated by the photographs your colleague shared when the three of us met for breakfast at Photoshop World in Boston in March.
Q: What is your idea of the nature?
A: Nature is wonder. When I look at dawn and see the colors evolve into brightness I am in awe. Everything is so orderly in its chaos and vice versa. I know that sounds kind of metaphysical or even contradictory yet… I think that everything I see has an order and at the same time a sense of timeless wonder when I look at mountains for instance. I understand that over the span of a mountain’s existence it changes from a majestic snow capped barren peak thrusting into the sky to a rounded off foot hill in the fullness of geologic time. That fills me with wonder and I am so very grateful to be able to stand in nature’s presence and enjoy that wonder.
I am particularly excited by the possibilities of working with beautiful girls in compliment to Iceland majestic scenery. I think these two kinds of nature are made to be photographed together.
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Q: What do you thing about the up to four hours twilight zone in Iceland?
A: It’s the perfect time machine. Those fleeting moments we work so hard to capture in the southern zones extend in Iceland. That allows truly surreal photography to happen. I am very excited about exploring the relationships with the models and the extended twilight and the lower contrast that it will offer. The possibilities are endless. I can see shooting with electronic studio flash on location and really taking advantage of those contrasts. The results ought to be magnificent especially when coupled with Iceland’s exotic landscapes. Students that want to learn how to light using electronic flash will love the extra time to explore working with this technique. Iceland’s long twilight is the perfect learning lab for mastering fill flash.
Q: Do you feel that your Iceland workshop will be different in some way to your normal workshops?
A: Absolutely! Anytime I can get a group of passionate photographers together in a location that inspires them the results of their vision as it evolves during the workshop is thrilling not only to them, to me as well. I love the thought of taking your beautiful models into the Icelandic landscapes along with lights and making breathtaking photographs. Also we are going to concentrate on each participant’s work, reviewing it, discussing it then refining it in subsequent shoots. I truly believe this workshop on the Art of Photographing Women is going to be a singular experience for those taking the workshop and for me as well. I can’t wait!
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Q: What’s your teaching style?
A: That’s a great question Einar. I adapt my teaching style to the level and goals of the students. I’m very organized and approach each workshop with a plan for what I’m going to present. Since people who come to workshops like the Art of Photographing Women have differing levels of experience as well as personal expectations, I listen to them during the first session in the course to get a feel for their level. Then I tailor my plan to fit them. It’s not unusual to have beginners and very experienced photographers together in my workshops. I find those starting out have amazingly fresh perspectives, ideas and really want to get better while the more experienced shooters are looking to refine what they already know. By having both in a class the different experience levels feed each other and everyone has a great time. Everybody makes better pictures than they imagined they could by the time the workshop wraps up.
Q: What do you like most about teaching?
A: It’s not just like Einar, it’s love. I love sharing what I have learned and seeing others take great joy in making photographs that really please them. It’s a wonderful experience to see someone have that “Ah hah!” moment when they master a concept, shoot the photograph and are delighted with what they have created. Helping someone make a photograph they never thought they could is a thrill beyond words.
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Q: What are your students mostly likely to learn?
A: Lighting, posing, composition, exposure, creativity, workflow, retouching. Photography means “light writing” so we’ll concentrate on lighting mastery. I like to think that Photoshop means “working light” so we’ll use Photoshop to finish the photography where the camera left off. In other words they’ll learn how to shoot for refining the picture in Photoshop.
Q: Do you set assignments for students during field trips?
A: Yes. Specific assignments evolve based on what comes out of the review of work and the critiques. Often time assignments are for teams of students with each acting in turn as photographer and assistants. The best place to learn is watching someone on your team shoot an assignment while you are helping them make that happen. It evolves communication, creativity and fosters thinking about “what will I do differently when it’s my turn to shoot…?”
Q: How important are critique sessions to the success of your workshops?
A: Critique and discussion are the foundation to making a workshop truly worthwhile for the participants. Digital offers the opportunity to see what we as photographers are accomplishing as we work or soon thereafter. One of my favorite learning tools is shooting directly into the laptop so the work is checked and challenged as it is being created. The other part is having the participants discuss what the see not only in their work it’s also important for them to be able to review their own. I love to direct these conversations and participate in them as well. I show work that I have done so students have the opportunity to comment on my work as well.
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Q: Nature is wonderful. And Mother Nature can be well, whimsical. When the weather gets challenging what are you most likely to do?
A: Well Einar, it all depends on what you mean by challenging. The light moves when weather happens. Big weather makes for big changes. I have the students shoot when safely possible. If it’s raining umbrellas are great to keep water off of gear. And models look amazing when posing in the rain…
Sometimes though you get forced in out of the rain. This photograph was made during a heavy rainstorm while I was shooting in the “Sunshine State” – Florida. I moved the models into the hotel and had them lie down on the bed, covered them with netting we were going to use on the beach and used the very soft light coming in trough the window for Illumination. It’s one of my favorite images from last year and all because of challenging weather!
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Q: What characteristic do you feel will be of importance for participants to nurture and develop staying with you out in the Iceland workshop, that should last in their images?
A: Curiosity… inquisitiveness and the willingness to do new things. That will stand them well not only with me in Iceland it will work for where and whatever they are photographing. They are good characteristics for living too.
Q: Should your students prepare in some way before the workshop
A: Sure. They want to be able to shoot directly into their laptop if they have one and be really familiar with their camera and how to use it. Of course they’ll want to bring the instruction manual for their camera. (Mine lives in my camera bag.)
Q: How would you describe your photographic approach?
A: I always begin with the subject and the light. I look for the background that compliments the subject and work from there. I have ideas about what I want to accomplish and at the same time remain open to the surroundings if I haven’t had the opportunity to scout a location. I always ask for opinions from my crew on a job and my students in a workshop.
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Q: How would you characterize your visual style?
A: I don’t have one per se. I prefer to let a style evolve for each project. It’s really easy to get slotted or fenced in by a specific style. I look to the subject and what I want to say with the photograph to set the tone and thereby the style.
Q: Do you have a personal concept or future project in mind before you travel to a place like Iceland?
A: I research as much as I can before going to an exotic locale. I ask people who have been there what worked for them. I also ask about the culture. What are things to watch for so I will be appropriate in the culture. And most importantly, I leave time and opportunity for serendipity to enter in. This photograph of the skyline of downtown Atlanta is a great example… I could smell the rain in the air, it was going to be a major downpour of a thunderstorm. I shot until the sky opened up. This was the last exposure.
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You never know when something might come up that will yield amazing results. While I like to know as much about a place as I can I really avoid getting to attached to specific ideas. After I’ve been to a place I get tons of ideas about what I want to do when I go back…
Q: Thank you Kevin for your time today. I know your workshop will be lots of fun for those who sign up for the week with you here at Focus on Nature workshops.
A: You’re most welcome, Einar. I’ll see you again this August!
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