Interview with BPN Member Dan Brown

[Julie Kenward]

This week we’re going to get to know one of our long-time members here at BPN. If you’ve hung out in the Avian or Out-of-the-Box forums you’ve probably heard of Dan Brown.

Dan is a native to Sacramento, California. He became interested in photography shortly after he started birding back in 1980. His wife, Kathy, was a birdwatcher when he met her so she gets all the credit (as well as the blame) for his two current obsessions.

His first attempt at photography was with a $5.00 / 126 film camera and a trip to the San Diego Zoo. He photographed everything in sight and, near the end of the day, was attempting to shoot a picture through a chain link fence when his brother-in-law, Al, asked him what he thought he was doing. Dan replied "What does it look like?" That’s when Al promptly informed Dan that he was holding the camera backwards. Dan ended up with a whole day’s worth of photographs of his ear, the people behind him on the tram, and other assorted out-of-focus images. Dan definitely “backed in” to the world of photography!

A few members of the local Audubon chapter were great bird photographers and Dan was very inspired by their slideshows. Subscribing to Audubon and National Wildlife magazines was another inspiration that fueled his obsession with avian photography. He went on to buy a Minolta XG7 and a little zoom lens and started chasing birds!

You can see more of Dan’s images here at BPN and also on Smugmug where he keeps up his portfolio.

So let’s find out more about Dan Brown…

Do you consider yourself to be a professional, semi-pro, or student?
I considered myself to have been a semi-pro when I shot film but, with digital, I am definitely a student! I’m still learning, thanks to BPN.

If you’re not a pro, what’s your day job?
I am recently laid off from a long-time warehouse job and, with no success finding another job, I am sort of retired.

What do you do when you’re not out with a camera in hand?
Post-processing my digital images takes up a lot of my non-shooting time and I really enjoy it. I also keep pretty busy birding. I keep various bird ‘life lists’ and that is a real obsession for me. I belong to the local Audubon Society and participate as both a field trip leader and a member of the field activities committee. I am also the photo editor of a small local birding newsletter.

For the last 10 years, I have been studying Chinese Brush Painting (watercolor) and I really love it! I enjoy using my photographs as a painting reference. I also keep freshwater tropical fish (and have all my life). I also belong to the local aquarium society so, I am rarely bored.

What make/model of equipment do you use on a regular basis?
I live on the ‘dark side’ - Nikon's! I currently use a D300 with an 80-400VR zoom for all of my bird/wildlife photography. I have a D200 as a backup and use it for some landscape and macro images.

What editing software do you use?
I use Nikon's Capture NX2 for raw conversion, then Photoshop CS5's ACR for non-destructive editing. From ACR, I open images in Photoshop and do my selective editing (sharpening, NR, dodging, burning, etc). I also love to go "out of the box" with all the fun plug-ins (Flaming Pear, Topaz, Fractilius, etc). The sky's the limit with that stuff!

Do you only shoot digital or do you also shoot film/slides?
I do not shoot film any more. I have 20 years of slide film in my files, some of which ain't too bad! Digital is so much better, though. I don't know if it's cheaper, what with all the computer hardware/software costs, but the dynamic range and flexibility of digital is really great.

What classifications (or genres) of photography are you primarily known for or interested in?
I love all nature photography but avian is my number one love. I enjoy the challenge of capturing bird-in-flight images. Crawling up on a bunch of shorebirds is very rewarding to me.

When you’re not out photographing one of your primary interests, what else do you enjoy photographing?
My number two love would be photographing my fish, which is also a challenge. Third would be landscapes, especially with the use of Photomerge and HDR software. Macro photography is fun, too, but seems to be harder, as much of the subject matter requires crouching low to the ground (not fun on the back!) and having to use a tripod.

Would you say your biggest strength lies in your technical skills with the camera, your artistic expression/interpretation, or your post-processing skills?
After 20+ years of Kodachrome 64 film shooting, my technical skills are pretty good as far as exposing in manual mode and producing a sharp image; that, combined with my post-processing skills, are my greatest strengths. Artistic expression seems to be harder but, with digital, the ability to re-compose, etc. does make it easier. I believe my watercolor painting skills help my photography skills and visa-versa.

Do you conduct any classes, seminars, or workshops?
I have, but not lately. Back in the early 90's I teamed up with a few local guys for some bird/nature photography workshops. They were a lot of fun and I might like to do that again, now that I am not working.

Have you ever been published? Won any awards?
No awards - but I have been published. Recently, I have credits for small local publications for web use, all of which I donated. Back in the day (the late 80's and early 90's) I compiled a nice photo credit list which included a few minor bird guides, coffee table books, and a few magazines (Birder's World, Nevada Magazine, Texas Parks & Wildlife, and Turkey Call Magazine). My images have been used in a number of educational collections, too. My claim to fame, though, was having three of my avian images published in Time Magazine back in 1986!

What was it about photography that first drew you in?
When I was a kid growing up I was interested in wildlife and would try to catch anything that moved and take it home. Thankfully, I outgrew this, but I think that photographing wildlife satisfies this old desire to “bag-um”!

What keeps you coming back for more?
Improving on what I have in my files for a particular species and the ever-evolving software and camera/lenses. I am my toughest critic. I always want a better shot of a particular subject so I keep trying new techniques (most learned about here on BPN).

Whose work do you most admire and why?
When I first started getting serious, I followed - and still do - John Shaw; he is such an artist! I also admired and learned much from George Lepp. I participated in several of George's workshops. I learned most of my technical skills from a good friend and great local nature photographer, Jack Wilburn. Jack and George were really into tinkering, building flash brackets, Fresnel’s, battery packs and other cool stuff.

Do you have any current mentors or muses? Anyone who’s rocked your world with their knowledge of photography?
Of course, Arthur Morris! I can remember seeing Artie's work way back in the 80's and really being impressed. His "Birds as Art" credit line was so appropriate for his images as I could see the artistic elements in them. Also, the moderators and members of BPN are just great including Doug Brown, Jim Nieger, Greg Basco, Roger Clark, and Denise Ippolito…the list goes on and on!

How have you personally grown and/or changed because of your love of photography?
First, I can't look at anything around me without instantly thinking "that would make a nice photograph". On a personal note, it has been the people that I have met through the years of birding/photographing that have changed me the most. I started photography shortly after I started bird watching (birding) back in 1980 and their influence on me over the last 30 years has been huge! The birding/bird photography community is filled with the greatest people.

The other major benefit from photography is that the need to keep up with the technology has made learning digital gadgets, computers, etc, a lot more fun in my opinion.

Has your photographic style changed over time? If so, how?
I have always enjoyed all aspects of nature photography but avian photography has always been number one. If there has been a change, it would be that bird photography is now a bigger part of what I do with the camera, probably because, with digital, it is much easier for me. Capturing birds in flight was something that was almost impossible with K64 film and manual focus. Now, I giggle every time I shoot a burst at a bird flying by and then stop to see what I captured!

How has holding a camera to your eye changed the way you interact with the world around you?
I am now much more aware of lighting, detail, and composition. At every turn, I think "what would that look like through one of my lenses and then processed with some cool Photoshop plug-in?" or "How would I go about photographing that?" Using the camera, particularly for photographing birds, has really developed my patience.

How long have you been involved with BPN?
I just checked my profile page and it reads 1-1-2008! Wow, 4 years...

How has being involved in our forums changed your photography?
I owe just about all of my digital photography knowledge to BPN. I had just about given up on photography with the phasing out of film because I was not impressed, at first, with digital. Slowly, as friends started going digital and digital started improving, I jumped in. I really struggled with post- processing prior to finding BPN. (Thank you BPN!)

What’s been the best piece of advice you’ve gotten here at BPN?
Artie's Digital Basic's was, and still is for the most part, a great resource and template for me to follow. That, and background, light direction, and head angle awareness just about sums it up.

What forum do you spend most of your time in? Why?
Avian is my number one favorite forum and Out-of-the-Box is a close second. Avian is where I learn, learn, learn about the tech stuff and get to see some of the best bird photography in the world (in my opinion)!

OOTB is great for letting it all hang out! I love playing with Photoshop and all it can do. With all the plug-ins that are now available, the sky's the limit! Fab Forns and Dave Phillips got me started in OOTB; now, it's the current moderators - Denise Ippolito, Kerry Perkins, and Indranil Sircar - that are coming up with new things to try and live up to; they are all so talented. The regular participants are also so inspiring with their creativity; I love it!

Got any advice for future photographers?
For wildlife photographers, I'd say gear your photography towards conservation. Donate the use of your images to conservation groups and go easy on the wildlife subjects that you work with. For all photographers, be ethical, disclose post-processing manipulation, and try your best to keep up with the fast-moving technology!

What’s currently at the top of your photography dream list?
Australia has always been the number one destination for me because of all the cool wildlife to see and photograph down there! Number two would be the Amazon!

We’ve all heard the phrase, “You can’t take it with you” but if you COULD take it with you, what one camera body and lens would you strap around your neck for all of eternity and why?
My dream lens would be a 15-600mm f2.8 (I'm really dreaming here!) Couple that with a "noiseless" 30 MP Nikon body and I'd be happy for a very long time. Back to the real world now…at this moment in technological time, I would be extremely happy with a Nikon D3 body and the latest Nikon 500 f4 with a 1.4 teleconverter!

Anything else you want to add?
Be ethical and truthful; your reputation relies on it! Support wildlife and habitat conservation so all can enjoy it for a long time to come. Lastly, I want to say a big thanks to the founders and all that have helped me along the way here on BPN!

[Roman Kurywczak]

Nice work as usual Jules and nice to meet Dan who has been a familiar fixture on BPN. Looks like you are moving "forward" now!

[Harshad Barve]

Great interview indeed
TFS

[Brendan Dozier]

That is so cool you have been published as much as you have, Dan. Especially Time magazine - not too shabby! Seems like quite a few of BPN members have been published.
Great photos and looking at your Chinese brush paintings, it appears you have really mastered the technique. Thanks for sharing with us and look forward to seeing more great images, and your next artistic creation over at OOTB.

[Stu Bowie]

I commented on the original thread on Dan, but since it 'got lost' here I am again.

Dan, your interview makes great and intersting reading. Way to go with that chinese art.

Julie, well done on another great interview.

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

Its always great to know a little more of the many talented photographers that live under BPN's roof. Thanks Julie for the interview.

[Kaustubh Deshpande]

Dan, nice paintings...really creative. I appreciate all your help. You are definitely one of the go-to guys here for ID questions.

Jules, another superb interview. Keep it up.

[Daniel Cadieux]

Thanks for a nice interview Dan and Jules! Very creative stuff, and thanks for your participation on BPN

[Sid Garige]

very nice interview Dan. Thanks