tonmestrom Posted February 5, 2010 Share Posted February 5, 2010 <p>Hi all,</p><p>As a Dutchie I'm one of the many foreigners on this US based site. When my father gave me a Mamiya rangefinder in my early teens I started to shoot a lot but it didn't last. Nevertheless my parents bought me my first SLR with a couple of lenses when I was seventeen but it was through a coincidence that I got really into photography. When my now wife decided she wanted some portraits done we went to a very good pro for that and he and I clicked immediately (forgive the pun). He took me under his wing and motivated and stimulated me in a major way. I got to shoot pro models in his studio and things like that and learned a lot from him and his feedback and always positive attitude. But it also got me thinking I could get more out of it and since there is only one way of finding that out I eventually went to do a four year study in my early thirties at an Acadamy of Fine Arts to study photography. Doing that besides having a demanding full time job proved to be a major task but in some ways it was one of the best times I ever had. God I'm glad I did that.</p><p>I never went pro because while the market was quite good at the time it would have meant doing a lot of things I don't particularly like such as doing weddings and shooting babies and losing a job I happen to like. Also since I know what it takes to actually run a business I eventually decided to stay in my job as a RN which gave and gives me the opportunity to shoot whenever and whatever I like which is street and documentary.</p><p>Since then my life pretty much revolves around photography. There is not a single day that I'm not doing something dealing with photography. I started to do digital processing black and white work for some other photographers and as a RN I actually apply it partly in my work as in processing highly specialised medical images that are part of a fairly new and spectacular imaging technique (might post some examples in the future). It does actually affect our social life but I have a very understanding wife (she also did an art study). Also I've become an ardent student of photographic history since and hence started to collect books.</p><p>Any "wisdoms" to share. Well there is one. Don't get caught up in gear but in getting good results (learning never stops btw).</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshroot Posted February 5, 2010 Share Posted February 5, 2010 <p>Ton is a great PN user. He can be spirited sometimes when the topic turns to something he cares deeply about, but aren't we all spirited at times? I hope so anyway. Life would be boring without it.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonmestrom Posted February 6, 2010 Author Share Posted February 6, 2010 <blockquote> <p>He can be spirited sometimes when the topic turns to something he cares deeply about</p> </blockquote> <p>what a nice way of putting it. Thanks ;-)</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now