Your Favorite Pics Feature for the week of June 4, 2007. The Photography of Paul VanDerWielen

  Due to Gather glitches(I had an impossible time uploading pics today) this week's feature has photos mostly in the smaller format. I will try to re-post when time permits. In the meantime, to see larger versions simply click on the viewing box in the upper right side. They may or may not show up :-( Sorry, it's taken me three hours to upload these. The images keep disappearing !

 Fasten your seatbelts folks, we're about to take a whirlwind tour around the globe courtesy of Paul VanDerWielen's captivating photographs. I think his work speaks for itself and I only did one of my usual 'before and after' photo make-overs.  I thought it might be interesting to start showing the face behind the camera in these feature articles. Here's a playful diptyque I did of Paul.

An interview with Paul VanDerWielen. Please take a peek at his other pics at pvanderwielen.gather.com

Can you tell us a little about yourself?
 I was born and educated (Architectural Engineering) in the Midwest (US) and have worked in the design, construction, and appraisal of commercial real estate in 38 US states and in several countries in western Europe. Although I've lived in the Midwest and northeast for a number of years, I currently make my home in Scottsdale, Arizona. I have two lovely children and I'm married to my high school sweetheart, Julia. In January of 2008, Julia and I will have been together for 20 fun-filled years. To learn more, visit our website at: http://www.vanderwielen.org
Please check out Paul's interesting website and blog.
When did you get into photography?  
 I starting shooting pictures when I was eight using one of those flat, bar shaped 110 Kodaks. Film was expensive for an elementary school student, and developing cost were even more so. Due to this minor financial setback, I sought out sponsors; my parents, sister, even grandparents were hit-up for film, with the promises of great results. Sadly, the quality was poor and so were my skills. But hey, at least I was out there.

The passion was born early and later?
 In my early teens, say 13, I started a lawn mowing business in my Chicago land neighborhood. Suddenly I was flush with cash, and soon my bank account was drained for a Nikon N2000 with a 50mm f/1.8 Nikkor lens; oh yeah, for a junior high school kid, I went all out. I loved the low ISO film at the time and splurged for Kodak's Ektar 25 film and good professional processor for almost everything. I disliked, and still dislike, flash photography, so it took me 5 years to buy my first flash. I used it only a few times, with mixed results, and still find the unnatural "fill-in" light to lack realism.
What kind of equipment do you use?
 Through the years I've learned that I enjoy most of the photographs that appear the same as the images in my head. Zoom and wide angle lenses either distort or create images that can have great composition, but don't invoke any direct connections to my visual memories. As such, I shoot with a 50mm lens as much as possible. Anyway, I had the N2000 for a little more than ten years, until I sent it in for a cleaning in 1999; big mistake. The camera came back with a broken shutter, and I was forced to buy new. This time I went the Canon route with an Elan II. I bought a couple of USM zoom lenses and a flash. Overall, I was happy, but I missed shooting with a 50mm...and I really missed the low f-stop.
A couple of years ago I bought a Canon 20D with a f/1.4L 35mm lens. With the CMOS bed conversion, the camera shot 56mm which was as close to 50mm as I could get. The rig was heavy, but satisfying. Today I'm using a Nikon D200 with my old favorite 50mm f/1.8 Nikkor; it is by far the best camera I've ever used.
What still inspires you about photography today?
 I certainly I'm no pro, and I take pictures only for myself and my family. One day I hope to take things more seriously and buy a studio. However, time and life dictates otherwise. Still, it's always fun to have a dream and to share fun images when I can.

The tour begins on top of the world. This is Mt. Everest from a plane over Nepal. 

  "Prayer flags in Bhutan" This is the first image of Paul's that captured my imagination which I believe photography is all about. The depth of field, the colors, the iconography makes it my favorite.

"Monks in Jakar Bhutan." This delightful candid captures the more playful side of monks.

 "Red Fort in New Delhi India"

" Lloyd's of London Building U.K."

  "Snow leaf'

"Winter Boardwalk in Newburyport Mass." 

 "Chicago skyline" aerial view "before" There is a velvety mystery in the photo but I was so curious to see what the darkness might reveal.

  Chicago skyline "After"

Next week's feature is about Father's Day. If you have a photo of a father you'd like to submit for the special photo montage, the deadline is June 12th.  Please post the photo marked Father's day in the title box to Your Favorite Pics. If you have any questions, kindly send me a private message. 

I'm committed to doing two more weeks of features but will be unable to continue for most of the summer. If anyone would like to take over for me, choosing, curating member photos for articles, please contact me privately.