Interview with Allan johnston Photography Wine and Tourism [allanj]

Do you have an online gallery where one can view your photos?

I do you can see it at http://allanjohnston.co.nz My new web site is being done now.

For how long have you done photography? How did you begin?

I got my first camera around 1966, it was a Agfa 120. From there It was my mums sister Wendy and John her husband who I watched, they had a photographic business till last year.
There have been 9 photographers in my family so it is very much in my blood.

What has been your education as a photographer?

I never did much good with formal education and it wasn't till I left school that I started to really learn. Having been given a camera at such a young age and watching family it came naturally. I have a little different view on education, I think for me, its like being in a race and your parked in the pitts going nowhere alot of the time.
there is a lot of junk out there and I find many youth that really need to unlearn bad habit or so called rules, If you don't know the rules how can you brake them?
One of the smartest things some one told me to do as a youth was to turn the sound off on the TV and watch how the cinimagraphers frame things.
Iwas luck to meet and work with 2 masters of photography in the USA and I really thank them for letting me in to there work and world.
I think a really smart thing is to have good mentors, even today I have a number of them.
A.S.K. and you maybe suprise who will give you the time of day.
Always Seeking Knowledge...

Please list any exhibitions in which you have participated.

The Bank Gallery Invercargill New Zealand (The town where they shot "The Worlds fastest Indian").

Amisfield Winery Solo show 15Th Sep

Please list any awards for your work.

I have never entered a competition, I did attenented a photography club many years ago and submited a couple of prints. There were about 30 or so people there, and was award best image of the month, I was all of 19 years old.
Award I think are subjective to a degree, it is something I intend to.

What is your favourite type of photography?

Landscapes People and sometime studio still life.

What do you try to express through your photography?

The character of the land and the taste of what comes from it like wine.
With people, its the lighter side with a little humor sometimes other times it a sense of soul.

How do you choose your subjects?

I let the landscape choose me, I don't shoot off randomly. I get taken in by the landscape and then think how it could be under different lighting conditions, then go back. Sometime I will put something into the shoot.

What type of preparation do you do before undertaking the photo session?

Where is the light, compass,
am or pm shot,
the color of the light,
film type and format to use,
filter if there needed,
any props needed,
sleeping bag, food and water,
warm clothing.

Sometime I sit on the side of the mountain waiting for what I am after.

Do you normally photograph with a purpose already in mind, or do you let yourself go with the flow?

I mostly shoot with something in mind and will go look at location before taking the picture. However the cameras are always with me and there are those time where it just comes together.

Canon, Nikon, Fuji, Sigma, Olympus, Sony, Pentax...which do you place your bets on and why?

Nikon, My family has always used them, before that my uncle has the first LEICA, he is 81 this year and saddly he is losing his mind, but he still have his LEICA that he got wile in the Dutch army.

Describe your current equipment: cameras, lenses, computers, accessories...

6x6
Pentax 6x7 Lenes 55 75 105 150 300
Cambo
6x9
6x12
Custom
6x17
6x26
4x10

Digital
S5 Pro FijiFilm

What software and plug-ins do you use to retouch and manage your photos?

A little Photoshop mainly, I like to most all in the camera.

What measures do you take to protect your work against Internet piracy?

I use meta tagging, overlays of copyright and contracts. After that I call my layer.

Are you a good salesperson of your work? In what should you improve?

I have a couple of agents howver I sell more myself than the 2 put together.
I have won sales award in another industry.

Which past masters of photography do you most admire?

Are technology and digital retouching reducing the gap between professionals and amateurs?

Pro and is really only spotted after is drum scan.

With which other photographers do you normally team up with or do sessions with?

At this point I have not teamed with anyone but are looking to.

Do you consider yourself more technical or more artistic?

Artistic and cre8ive.

What have you learned about the art of framing and composition?

Be as naughty as you can and brake all the rules you can.

How does one develop the instinct of knowing when to press the shutter release button?

Take lots of image film or digital make lots of mistakes (that where you learn the most) and don't listen to anyone who tell you there an expert, and expert is a dip under presser.
Master and good shooters often give talks arond the place, go meet them and listen to what they have to say. Become a goffer that a go getter for a master.

When should one use film, and when should one use digital?

I use very little digital as I blowup very large and don't like the look of digital, its lifeless for me.

Does photography have the recognition that it should have in contemporary art museums?

I would like to see photography get more recognition, I think that the old master paint were trying to do what a camera now dose, that is to create the perfect picture in some cases.

Which websites for photographers do you frequently visit?

Yjere so many good ones out there, but I like Magnum agency, Jim Krantz my mentor, Ansel Adams alot as I am now doing B&W again. Lots of old masters.

Is there any particular technique that you could share?

KISS = Keep it simple smartie

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