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presents
Rick Sammon
PhotoChat: China with Rick Sammon
April 19, 2001
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Jenna:
Which of your camera equipment did you use most while filming in China?
Rick Sammon:
When I was photographing people I started every photo session with my digital camera, because I wanted to get that instant feedback, and I wanted to show the people how they looked. Plus, with my camera set to 3.1 megapixels, I could even get a great 11 x 14 inch print. So, with the digital camera, I knew right away that I "got the shot." But, after that, I photographed everything on my slide film, which was a combination of E100S and E200.
Jorge:
What would you recommend to someone taking a trip to China soon, as regarding film equipment to bring?
Rick Sammon:
Follow the Boy Scouts motto: "Be Prepared". When I was in China, it was overcast for almost the entire time. The people with me did not bring enough fast film. So they had to buy it there. So, I would bring ISO100 speed film, 200 speed film, (which you can push several stops, if it's slide film). If you shoot color prints I would bring 100 for sunny conditions, and Max400 and 800 for lower light conditions. But bring more film than you think you'll need, because photo opportunities really are everywhere.
JenniB:
Where in China did you travel? If you only had 10 days -- where would you go from a photographer's standpoint?
Rick Sammon:
I was with a Popular Photography Magazine group, which was extremely well-organized. So we would "shoot and scoot." We were in the Beijing area for a few days, then we flew to Tunxi, which is a mountainous region, and we took a cable car up a mountain to see a beautiful sunrise. We stayed in that area for a few days. Then we flew to Shanghai, and we stayed in that area for a few days. And then we drove to Zhouchuan, which is a beautiful canal area, and then we drove to Shanghai. So because the group was so well organized, we were able to maximize our time in the field. And my personal philosophy is "you snooze, you lose". You can sleep at home! When you are out there, you have to shoot. Oh, by the way, Popular Photography is running another trip to China this fall. And you can get information on that at www.mentorseries.com .
Jay006:
Why did you retouch the picture of the girl in the red dress?
Rick Sammon:
Several reasons. One, to illustrate the power of Photoshop. Two, to soften her skin. But most important, and I don't know if you can see this on the computer monitor, but I whitened the whites of her eyes. By whitening the whites of the eyes, you can create a daylight fill-in/technique.
JenniB:
How about Internet access for emailing pictures home -- in Vietnam, we found loads of Internet Cafes -- can I do that in China?
Rick Sammon:
Absolutely! I spent time in each city in the Internet Cafe. The hotels, by the way, also have Internet access.
Jay:
Do you consider your work to be documentary?
Rick Sammon:
I consider myself a travel photographer, and I think there is a difference between a travel photographer and a photojournalist, although some of my pictures do fall into a photojournalistic category. So when I take pictures, sure, I'm trying to tell a story, like a photojournalist, but I'm also trying to think like a travel photographer, how can I use these pictures in my travel photography work?
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