Pro Photographer Interview With Scott M. Boden Of Toledo, Ohio
Q: Define the word “beauty”!
A: Beauty can have many definitions depending on what your asking. Beauty is a sunset on a calm lake with wonderful colors of orange and red and purple.
A slight hint of blackness in the dense clouds, or a panorama of a mountain range in HDR.
It could be a skinny woman well lit and photoshopped or a heavy set woman with proper posing and lighting or anybody in that perfect moment.
Beauty is a way of looking at the world I guess you could say since everything is beautiful in it’s own right.
Q: Do you like to talk about yourself or your pictures? If yes, about what aspects of photography? If no, why?
A: I enjoy talking about all aspects of photography simply to gain knowledge from people who know more or different things than what I do. I don’t like talking about my work much a simple outline of why it was created but I find myself never satisfied with the work and strive for better.
Q: How would you describe your attention span?
A: I have worked in sales for an extended time giving me the ability to pay attention for hours on end.
Q: When did you decide to become a photographer?
A: 5 years ago I decided to become a photographer and attended school for it.
Q: What does photography mean to you?
A: It’s true meaning eludes even myself, I find pleasure in shooting and have an eye for it.
Q: Can you recall the first photo you took that made you go WOW!?
A: Yes, I was hanging/holding on by a tree branch almost 4000 feet off the ground to get a shot of the Smokey Mountains with clouds from the top of the Chimney Tops Trail.
Q: Do you have any formal training regarding photography?
A: I have a Associates of Art degree (Photography concentration), Commercial Photography Certificate (one class it will be an Associates degree), and a Small Business Management Certification.
Q: How technical is your photography?
A: Auto nothing, I have used and own various lighting, light meters and cameras. Primary camera D200, Secondary D70s, Film: N90s, Horseman VHR, Holga, Brownie.
Q: How do you feel about cropping?
A: I prefer to do it in camera, but sometimes there is a little something special in an image that cropping makes all the difference. Or if your printing you don’t have much of a choice.
Q: Where is your favorite place to live and work as a photographer in the World and why?
A: I couldn’t pick a place. I have traveled the east cost for a sales tour and while loving every place I lived.
I think I can live and shoot anyplace and learn to love it.
Q: What is your most favorite and least favorite word in photography or life? How do they make you feel?
A: My favorite is accepted my least is denied. In life my least favorite is broken and favorite as I am sure most are is yes. I am self contained and see both as equals, it’s life.
Q: How does your personality change when you look through the camera?
A: It don’t, I am me at all times.
Q: How do you feel about missed shots which cannot be recreated?
A: Never good, but almost any image can be recreated with time and money. But I would rather take to many images than miss out on the original.
Q: Ever concerned about failure?
A: The first step toward failure is to try and please everyone. I spend more time thinking about growing.
Q: Who are your influences?
A: Man Ray, Marty Stouffer, Ron Harris, Helmut Newton, Larry Linkous, Eric Eggly,and so many more, finding new ones everyday.
Q: What is your favorite image, either your own or someone else’s or both? Describe its creation or meaning to you?
A: Currently my own personal favorite is the cover of Ohio Stylist (June,2010)simply because it made the cover. Its creation was a culmination of styles from Amy Colvin, her staff and myself with the intentions of getting the cover. We used a three light system and worked in a very small space. The shot was captured from a small step ladder with a 28mm lens and an F11 aperture. The day consisted of 5 hours, three wardrobe changes as well as make up. Studio Space was a salon shampooing room 10×14
Q: Describe a day in your personal or professional life.
A: Currently I am employed selling fireworks. I wake up around 8am check emails and shower, I get work at 9 and get a game plan for my day.
As I move palletes and organize the shelf space I also service customers and run the register. I hold top sales records and have never gotten a complaint in fact I have a following. But what free time I have I utilize numerous websites to advertise myself and also offer my services to everybody I meet at work and in day to day encounters. I have a book on Blurb I try to promote, I joined ASMP and hope to begin networking after season. I try to do any jobs I am qualified to do that come along.
Q: What are the biggest personal or professional challenges you face on a daily basis?
A: Aunt Jane and her point and shoot. While experienced in sales I just can’t seem to find my marketing niche for myself. Personal challenges are simply making ends meet and staying up to date.
Q: What has been the single biggest obstacle against growing as a photographer in whole?
A: I think my worst enemy is not shooting. The obstacle in that is that I get jobs here and there and have to work a regular job and end up with no time to play/shoot.
Q: What are your favorite subjects to photograph?
A: That’s a big list. I prefer to shoot Modeling/Product/Architecture/Nature/Weddings
Q: Tell your funniest, scariest, most bizarre, most touching story from a photo shoot!
A: Funniest: Model was new, very stiff, so I got her to jump up and down for about a minute before she realized I wasn’t shooting.
Most bizarre: I had a model come on to me very strongly. I am not sure if that is bizarre or awkward.
Most touching: I am chaperon friendly, some people bring their significant other. The model and her boyfriend had a moment while getting them a few personal shots.
Q: Have you ever thought about or actually stopped doing photography? What were the circumstances?
A: I have considered giving up on it as a profession, I will never put down the camera. At times I don’t see my career progressing while I am spending a fortune on equipment and marketing. I just keep trying and move on.
Q: Do you ever have photographer’s block and if yes how do you deal with it?
A: Yes, call a friend.
Q: What types of assignments are you attracted most?
A: Paid assignments.
Q: Describe what black and white photography means to you?
A: Documentary, Ansel Adams, Helmut Newton, Zone System, shades of grey, emotional, artistic, decoration.
Q: Do you think of yourself as an artist and what do you think of the word artist?
A: I am an artist being that I have a knack in several medias: Photography, Conte’ crayon, poetry, and multi media
Q: How do you describe your photographic style?
A: Artistic
Q: What has been the most surprising or most predictable reaction to your photographs?
A: Wow that’s beautiful is the main thing I heard at Art-O-Matic 419
Q: Tell a little secret about yourself that no-one knows …
A: I do use auto focus from time to time.
Q: Who or what would you love to shoot that you haven’t already?
A: High Fashion, Photo Journalistic
Q: What would you have done differently during your photography career so far and could this be an advice to others?
A: I would dive in feet first and do it, skip school nobody cares about anything but your final product. Networking is key. Do it for you and not what you can get from it.
Q: What are your thoughts on the paparazzi and their effects on photographers and photography?
A: I think they are doing their jobs, granted they go to far at times, but that’s their job.
Q: How do you feel about digital manipulation and to what extent do you utilize it?
A: I use it moderately after a talk with others in the industry. HDR requires it. For my personal images, I do minor tweaking, some airbrushing and other times I do a complete overhaul but rarely.
Q: What other thoughts would you like to share?
A: Are you bored with life? Then throw yourself into some work you believe in with all your heart, live for it, die for it, and you will find happiness that you had thought could never be yours.
- Dale Carnegie
Connect with Scott via his official photography site: Boden Photography LLC, his MySpace, Facebook and ModelMayhem profiles.
