Timothy Kinsley
my photography
Since I first began to take photos with my first real camera, I have been drawn to nature and architecture, especially the detail of built objects and their patterns and textures. In recent years, I have begun shooting people which is an ongoing experiment. I am self-taught and have never taken a course in photography or editing. Learning has come from going out and shooting and seeing where it takes me.
Working in architecture, I was always attempting to capture the spirit of a structure. The details or texture of a structure is what catches my eye. The built world is full of beautiful details that we simply ignore. I have been approaching art in the same manner, focusing on the textures and details of a sculpture. Nature has textures and patterns just as the built world. I like the contrast and juxtaposition of these images up against each other. Texture is everywhere if you look for it.
Mostly my photographs have been void of the human form, preferring the images to be empty. I have always framed people with my eye, not shooting for fear of invading someone's privacy. More recently I have begun incorporating people into my work and even focus on it. I am still trying to find that line, but am not limiting my images currently.
Editing is an equally important part of my process. Post production for me is the fun part and where the creativity is key. I am less concerned when shooting about framing and toying with the camera settings to obtain the perfect shot. I rarely glance at the screen after to see how it looks. Shooting following just my instincts and my eye is what I love doing.
A professional photographer once told me to shoot and shoot and worry about the editing later. I have consistently followed that advice. I use Lightroom and Photoshop for editing and rarely leave an image untouched, even if it is just some minor cropping.
My Gear
My first good camera was a used Minolta srT 101. It was a fully manual 35MM. Although I took many good pictures with it, have no images digitized from that camera.
In 1998, I purchased my first digital camera: an Olympus 250. I used it to shoot some of the nature and landscape shots seen on the site. My next camera was an Olympus 2040. All of the Black/White photographs were taken with this one. In those photographs no gray is seen. The light commanded what is white or black. I never got the same picture twice.
Today, I shoot all digital with a Nikon D-810. I also have used a Nikon D-70, Canon Power shot D10 and D20. They are both waterproof cameras and I have used them heavily for shooting from in and on water and in the woods. I also use an Apple I-Phone 4s as well.
All the photographs have been taken in the United States, Mexico and Canada.