[Skip to Content]

Why we love photography

summer coverReaders,

This article is from the leisure section of the summer issue of Upstate Health, a consumer health publication provided by Upstate Medical University. Click on the copy to your left so you can page through the entire issue.

The ubiquity of cell phone cameras allows the capture of many more moments in time. That works fine for Instagram. But to get some photographs requires a little more than pointing and shooting. Meet two photographers from Upstate:

Bob Shea

Bob Shea


Photographer

Bob Shea of Camillus, a surgical technologist in the pediatric operating room.

Camera

Cannon 70 D, with a full series of lenses.

Start

I started photography as a hobby in high school and fell in love with it. This was back in the day of film and darkroom. I was trained in the old ways. If you told me then that it would turn digital, I would have never believed it.

Today

With the easy of digital photography, I have now been able to start a small part-time photo business.

Baby, Photo by Bob Shea

Photo by Bob Shea.


Subjects

Portrait and wedding photography. These are very special times in people's lives. I not only feel privileged to capture this time of their lives, I also enjoy getting to know these people for a short time and giving them a product that they may view for many years to come.

Enjoyment

One of my favorite aspects of photography is its artistic interpretation. I believe that a photo is moving and has all the correct elements of an artful photo, and the person standing next to me can think that it is not worth the paper that it is printed on. That's the beauty of art.

Advice

The best way to get people to smile is to make them feel relaxed.

Challenge

One of the biggest issues with the computer age is an unrealistic alteration of the photograph. Over correction and digital alterations are some of the most common mistakes that a nonprofessional makes.

Stand on cell phone cameras

They are increasing in their quality; however, their digital plate will continue to be on the small side. This will limit what you can do with the photo and print size. I only use a cell phone camera for casual photos or photos that I will use as a backdrop on my phone.

Wendy Kates.

Wendy Kates.


Photographer

Wendy Kates of Syracuse, a professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.

Camera

A Canon Digital Rebel, which is from Canon‘s consumer line of single lens reflex cameras.

Start

It coincided with the time in my life when I began to develop a progressive hearing impairment.  I had worked as a clinical psychologist for many years, but in about 1992, I began to lose my hearing, and my hearing loss led me to refocus my career on research in neurodevelopment, using the analysis of MRI scans as my primary research method. Basically, I had to stop relying on my auditory and listening skills, and start relying more on my visual skills.  And of course this affected my choice of leisure activities. I became much more interested in photography, which was the perfect adaptation to my hearing loss.

Today

I‘ve haven‘t been paid for my photography yet, but I‘m still hoping. My main photo “job” at this point is to produce a calendar of my photos each year, which I distribute to members of my family.

Subjects

I am most drawn to nature photography.  Even before I got started in photography, I have always cherished the sense of solitude, tranquility and peacefulness that I experience when I am hiking or camping. I try to evoke that quietude, as well as a sense of place, in my photographs.

Enjoyment

I feel such a sense of accomplishment when I finally get a good shot.

Geese landing at Montezuma Photo by Wendy Kates.

Photo by Wendy Kates.


Advice

The best time to shoot landscapes is during the “golden hours,” within two hours of either sunrise or sunset.

Challenge

At first, I was shooting in jpeg, but eventually I realized that I would have much more flexibility if I shot in raw format. But shooting in raw format meant that I had a lot more control over exposure, so I had to read up on all the elements that go into exposure to make the correct choices.

Stand on cell phone cameras

I love the convenience of taking photos on my husband‘s iPhone, and I‘m amazed at how good they come out.
Top