Q: Tell us a bit about yourself and your background, where you are from etc.
I’m a “hometown boy”, having lived in or near Clarksville since 1972. Being an Air Force brat, I moved around quite a bit until my dad retired and we came back to Clarksville. I’m a 32 year veteran of the Clarksville Police Department – currently supervising our Evidence/Property Room and our Crime Scene Unit - with retirement looming quickly on the horizon. I own & operate ‘Flat Hat Photography’ as a side business for now. I’m hoping to increase my advertising and work once I retire.Q: What camera do you shoot with?
I use a Nikon D7100 and myriad of lenses. I started with a D3100 and upgraded a few years later. I’m looking to upgrade again, within the next year or so, to a full frame Nikon body.
Q: What is your “go to” lens?
My workhorse is a Tamron 18-200mm lens. It works great for landscape shots. I’m also very partial to both of my Prime lenses, 35mm & 50mm. The DoF I get with these, not to mention both are f1.8 and super sensitive to light, make them excellent for low-light images.
Q: How and why did you get into photography?
I started shooting 30+ years ago with a Yashica fixed lens 35mm B/W film camera for a college course. Obviously this was way before the digital era, so I had to learn about the interaction of shutter speed, ISO, and aperture size. I also did a bit of developing of my own images in a studio owned by a friend of mine. With the advent of 110 cameras, disc cameras and early digitals, I got away from the SLR type camera. AT least until after my wife went back to college after a 28 year hiatus. All of the images were lousy with my ‘point-and-shoot’. She was continuing on for a 2nd degree, so I bought my first DSLR and lenses to capture the next graduation. That camera re-ignited a fire I thought long extinguished. I haven’t put a camera down since then.
Q: What places, states or countries have you gone shooting?
I have been to several locations in Tennessee, East Tennessee being a favorite, as well as Alabama, Florida, South Carolina, and Louisiana. Those were all vacation spots, but perfect for finding new vistas and new challenges. My dream trip is to go to Ireland and the UK to shoot those landscapes and architecture.
Q: How often do you shoot and what is your favorite genre?
My “day job” does not allow me as much time to get out and about as I would like. To that end, I typically have a camera with me so that I can capture whatever images catch my eye on the fly. I love shooting architecture, particular older buildings or vacant, abandoned structures. I would love the opportunity to get into some old abandoned homes/factories and shoot those. Landscapes are a close second. I also enjoy doing family photo shoots or senior/graduation shoots. I find it a lot of fun to interact with people and watch them come out of their shell as the shoot goes on.
Q: What is your favorite photo that you have taken and why? Please explain how you took it, was it all planned, if so, what was your planning process?
This is like asking “which of your children is your favorite?” It is difficult to choose just one. Of all, I have to say I love an image of a lightning strike I captured in 2014. An electrical storm was moving in around 10 pm one night. I wanted to see what I could capture, so I set up with tripod and cable remote on the front porch. It took a few minutes to determine where most of the lightning activity was in order to aim the lens. There I sat, shooting 10-15 second exposures for 30 minutes. The main strike I captured was across the street from me and I got the entire bolt. This entire venture was 30% planning and 70% luck, but it resulted in a great image.
Q: What was the hardest thing you've learned in photography?
Patience. I still try and rush shots at times, but I’m getting better at just letting the moment dictate the image. On a technical note, post-processing is an ever-changing, ever-adapting process. I am still learning my way through the software I use. I want to be able to deliver the best possible image without relying so much on software work afterwards. This is why I want to begin investing in better quality filters and lenses, to help reduce any work post-capture.
Q: What do you hope to still learn/improve?
EVERYTHING!! I have learned so much over the years, yet every time I view someone else’s work, I learn something new. I am accounted as knowledgeable amongst my friends & co-workers, but that simply means I have so much more to learn. A goal of mine is to find a remote area with no light pollution and good foregrounds and capture the Milky Way along with some star trails. I’ve attempted it on a couple of occasions and failed miserably. I need to educate myself on that process a lot more, first. Going back to the previous question, I need to learn more about my software capabilities. I acquaint this with a photographer being knowledgeable in post-shot development years ago.
Q: What challenges you the most in photography?
Honestly, not being a ‘copycat’ and trying to recreate someone else’s image. I see so many great shots from across Clarksville that it gets hard to not shoot the same image someone else has done. Then again, that makes me look at locations in a new way, maybe with an eye to a new treatment. “OK … Rafael shot the “Commons” from here. But what would it look like from this angle & in B/W? Or earlier/later in the day?” I think that is what brings out the best in all of us … a desire, not to copy or improve upon, each other’s work, but spark the imagination to find something new in the mundane.
Q: What's one piece of advice you would give to someone starting out or early in their photography journey?
First and foremost, learn to use any mode other than “green square” automatic. Once you have a basic knowledge of photography principles, you’ll find yourself experimenting more and more with long exposures or depth of field shots, and a true joy will begin to develop. Also, know your camera and lenses. Get familiar with all of the buttons, bells, and whistles your particular choice offers you. You’ll find that you can concentrate more on getting the image without having to think about where the exposure value adjustment is, or where the bracketing button is.
Q: Can you please share some of your favorite photos – say 3 max. and why you like them.
- Lightning Strike - image that I spoke of earlier.
- 2 Barns in Fog - This was captured on my way to work one morning. As I passed by, the scene just grabbed my attention. I stopped on the side of the road and shot only 2-3 images, before moving on. It has been a favorite ever since, just because of the serene feel of it.
- Uneeda Biscuit - Obviously this building and sign has been captured by MANY people over the years. I just happened to be downtown around 6 am that morning, and the rising sun was hitting the sign at a great angle. I will always love this building and will always continue to photograph it.
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/terry.minton.16
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