Member Spotlight April 2011
Alan Patrou
www.apatrouphotography.com
My connection with photography and art began for me as a child in grade school. I received three art scholarships at the University of Rochester, NY before entering junior High. I have always had an artistic eye along with a healthy interest in how gizmos and gadgets worked. After lots of art classes in different media I found in my teen years how much I liked the combination of art and technology that photography offered. I was hooked from there on and although I never received a degree in photography or art, I have attended numerous classes, workshops and photography courses over the years. By the time I finished college my art and photography had taken a back seat. For many years I made a living and paid my bills by working with electro-mechanical and electronic equipment. I never stopped using my artistic abilities and have always had creative projects going on since my early years.
After many years of technical work an injury forced me to slow down physically but allowed me to take up once again my art and photography about 10 years ago. This time I was using digital photography and Photoshop 5 instead of film and darkroom. After several years of steady progress I decided to try my hand at going professional and joined AZPPA in 2005. I became interested in the print competition and started entering images in 2006. I have found that this one activity has had a great effect on the way I think, shoot, and edit all of my images. I now have one 16 foot wall in my studio covered with awards from one corner to the other. I find that through print competition and having received many awards has helped my confidence greatly and opened many doors. Please visit my main website at www.apatrouphotography.com if you would like to see samples of my work.
Of course I have attended many AZPPA workshops over the years and have taken the time and effort to become a Certified Professional Photographer. The combination of print competition, AZPPA workshops and net working, and becoming certified has helped me to become a very competent photographer. I feel like I still have lots to learn in all areas, especially when it comes to marketing and business, but I'm making progress in those areas too.
One area of interest for me recently has been learning to shoot and edit HD video with my Canon 5D Mark II and offering this to my clients. I feel like it is critical to keep learning, growing, and following where the market trends may lead. Check out some of my videos at www.blog.apatrouphotography.com.
I have always enjoyed portraiture and that is my main product. I try to take some of my portraits into the artistic realms and I love doing fantasy and unique creative projects. This could include dance, maternity, equestrian and even western portraits. Creating just the right mood with the right pose, lighting, story line, editing, and watching the quality at each step to the printing stage is not easy. But when all of the elements come together just right you really have something special. Those are the images I usually enter in the print competition.
Although I don't know if I'll ever consider myself any kind of expert, especially since photography is such a broad field, I do enjoy sharing what I have learned with others and learning new things. I hope I can share some inspiration, a photo or lighting tip, or something helpful with you. Please don't hesitate to ask me any questions you may have and I hope you will take the time to see some of my work or to share some of yours with me.
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