The Candid Frame: Conversations on Photography

Valerie Jardin is a versatile photographer who shoots interiors and architecture where the details tell the story. She also photographs food and loves working with culinary artists on location. Portraiture work gives her the opportunity to photograph people in their environment and capture their true personality. She also has a passion for street photography, writing and educating other photographers. Her articles appear regularly in the Digital Photography School online magazine and she teaches workshops including a street photography through the street of Paris.  www.thecandidframe.com info@thecandidframe.com

Robert Rodriguez Jr. was trained as a musician, Robert graduated from the Berklee College of Music in 1990 and was a music producer for 12 years before transitioning to landscape photography and the desire to spend as much time in nature. With visual story telling,  he discovered the potential to express a more creative and personal vision. Focusing on the Hudson Valley allowed Robert to discover not only beautiful landscapes often taken for granted, but the changing mood and character of the region. Seeking to capture the beauty, or convey the emotional qualities of a place or moment in nature, his images have elicited responses ranging from evocative, to spiritual and breathtaking. He frequently travels beyond in search of other dramatic and unique locations, including New England, the southwest, and Canada. Robert takes pride in a hands on approach to creating his expressive prints, working on every stage, from the initial exposure and processing, to printing and framing. His prints have been purchased by private collectors and commercial clients throughout North America. www.thecandidframe.com thecandidframe@gmail.com

Brian Matiash is a professional photographer as well as the Education Manager for OnOne Software. In his role as an educator, he teaches photographers how to improve their photographs and their editing skills with his many webinars, articles and blog entries, but he also has his own passion for photography. He has specialized in developing and refining his use of HDR (High-Dynamic Range)  to use it not merely as a gimmicky visual effect, but rather as a tool to help him realize his own personal vision of a subject and a scene.  www.thecandidframe.com

Jasmine DeFoore is a photo consultant who knows first hand what busy editorial and commercial clients are looking for when it comes to finding photographers. She infuses her consulting projects with energy, enthusiasm and fresh ideas. Her approach integrates social media marketing with traditional promotional efforts and relationship building. Jasmine launched her consulting business in 2010 and continues to be an active member of the photo community. Whether reviewing portfolios at international photo festivals, judging contests, blogging, lecturing at universities or mentoring young photographers, Jasmine keeps her love of photography at the forefront.

Tony Di Zinno is a photographer whose assignments have led him to six continents in over 58 countries. Easily at home on Hollywood's studio back lots and on the foothills of the Himalaya, this self proclaimed 'photo-sherpa' has made his bones on propaganda by producing iconic images for Nike, Adidas and The North Face among others. Now as a faculty member at the Art Center College of Design, near Los Angeles, CA (his alma mater, PHO 89), Tony teaches various hybrid classes multi-discipline in nature.   Tony was invited on the board of Mountain to Mountain, a non-profit foundation working on projects in Central Asia, (Pakistan and Afghanistan). Previously, he had worked with M2M curating for a traveling photo exhibit called the 'Views of the Himalaya' benefiting a village in Nepal. The focus is on the education of young journalists in Kabul (video, radio and photo) with an emphasis on young women in the roles previously prohibited by Taliban extremists. He will soon be returning to that country as part of his work with M2M.  www.thecandidframe.com thecandidframe@gmail.com

Mike Moats is an award winning, professional nature photographer from Sterling Heights, Michigan. Her started as a hobbyist in 2001 but it quickly grew into a full time business. He  has published articles and images in Outdoor Photographer Magazine, PC Photo Magazine, Natures Best Magazine, Nature Photographer Magazine, Photolife and Tamron’s “Angle of View” Blog. He has won numerous local and international awards, and in 2006 was asked to join the Fuji Pro Talent Team and in 2009 was added to the Tamron Lenses website as one of their ”Macro Masters”. In 2006 he started offering Close-Up/Macro Photography Workshops. He is also a moderator of the macro gallery at . www.thecandidframe.com, thecandidframe@gmail.com

Jay Patel is an exceptional landscape photographer whose passion for the outdoors began with his family travels in his country of origin,  India. Since picking up a digital camera a little more than a decade ago, he has developed both a keen eye and a mastery of the technical to create stunning images of the natural world. Along with his wife, Varina, another passionate photographer, they share their experience and extensive knowledge of photography and the natural world through workshops, e-books, blogs and an active presence in various social networks. www.thecandidframe.com, thecandidframe@gmail.com

Mathieu Young is a commercial photographer as well as a socially conscious photojournalist whose work has taken him all over the world. His entertainment work includes production images for such popular programs such as So You Think You Can Dance? and Glee. His journalistic and personal projects have focused on deforestation in Cambodia, the ongoing struggles of Haitians following the devastation of an earthquake and the personalities that make up the Tea Party Movement. His work has been published in numerous newspapers and magazines. He is a good example of a photographer who uses the funds earned by his commercial work to help fund his personal projects, which not only satisfy his desire to make a difference with a camera, but at times can also earn him greater professional opportunities. www.thecandidframe.com thecandidframe@gmail.com

Bruce Smith is a fashion photographer who has been working professionally for over three decades. In this second conversation with the Liverpool-based photographer, we discuss what's involved in sustaining a long-term career as a photographer. His commercial and advertising work has been published in publications throughout the world. His sensitivity and rapport with his models extends to his clients, which reflects one of the reasons for his continued success in the highly-competitive field of fashion photography. He is also a generous teacher and offers his years of experience and talent though his international series of photographic workshops.

Rebecca Jackrel is a freelance photographer based in San Francisco, California, who shares her love of wild creatures and places through her photography. In the last few years she has been involved in using her photography to help environmental causes and organizations like the  and has raised funds to finance this project through KickStarter.   Rebecca has been honored with several awards including the 2010 Nature's Best Photography Awards and the 2008 Art Wolfe International Conservation Photography.   Rebecca is a member of NANPA (North American Nature Photography Association), ASMP (American Society of Media Photographers) and PPA (Professional Photographers of America) and lectures on nature photography and environmental issues.