[Photographer Profile] #8 Maddog

maddog

[Photographer Profile] #8 Maddog

Boards Photographer Profile
The idea of these threads is to give some insight as to how some of your fellow photographers operate. Each person invited will write about their photography and provide some examples. This thread will be sticky for about a fortnight (longer if needed) During this time feel free to comment and ask questions. Please allow the subject to answer questions and do not do so on their behalf.

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Hi my name is Brendan O’Neill and I live and come from Balbriggan, Co Dublin.
I started my journey into photography at the start of June 2011 and I’m enjoying the learning curve that goes with it. I started off with my first purchase of a Panasonic FZ45 Bridge camera (A fine camera I might add) I then purchased a Canon 600D and a Sigma 10-20mm three weeks later (Awesome camera!) 4 to 5 weeks later I went full frame with I bought a 5D MII….yes I know it sounds crazy and expensive but as my hunger for knowledge for photography grows and the more I learned from looking at other photogs images I just had to go full frame.

I’m still searching for my style I suppose…something that defines my images to me and other people viewing them, I like bright vibrant landscape images that pop out of the print/screen at you. I don’t do much mono work yet nor have I done any portrait or street photography yet, I set myself a goal when I started and that was a 5 year plan starting with Landscapes (3 years to get it right) and the moving on to people (2 years to learn and execute good images) with some other disciplines like Macro and Astro along the way.

I now shoot mostly with the 5D MII and I use the Lee Filter system and one of my favorite lenses is the 24mm TSII MII, I also have a 17-40mm L, 24-105mm L plus some primes like the 50mm F1.4 by Zeiss

I recently made a journey across the pond to the States to shoot in and around Nevada, Utha, Arizona and California; I was on the ground for 12 days driving around chasing the light….and I loved every minute of it of that challenge.

I process my images in Lightroom (about 90% processed) and then finish in PS4 for sizing and sharpening for web or print. I do however try and capture as much as possible in camera to minimize the time spent in front of my laptop…… as I’m pretty useless at Photoshop.

I also joined Malahide Camera Club last September and I was very happy that one of my images was selected for our National Shield entry this year which we won; I also achieved my Licentiateship last month from the Irish Photographic Federation.

So to sum up…. Join a camera club near you…learn from the web as it’s the best way…get out and shoot and of course most of all ENJOY IT!
My Facebook, Pix.ie, 500px links I don’t have a website for my photography yet.

dirtyghettokid

huge fan of your work! i also love bright vibrant landscapes. you are a very talented tog. you sure learned quick!

ronanc15

Brendan,

Great to see your profile here, massive fan of your work. A number of your photos have previously inspired me to push myself that bit further out of the comfort zone when it comes to landscapes. Did you find the full frame made a major difference for you?

P.s. heading to nevada myself in February, love those images!!

Regards
Ronan

maddog

ronanc15 wrote: »

Brendan,

Great to see your profile here, massive fan of your work. A number of your photos have previously inspired me to push myself that bit further out of the comfort zone when it comes to landscapes. Did you find the full frame made a major difference for you?

P.s. heading to nevada myself in February, love those images!!

Regards
Ronan

Hi Ronan,

I can say that it did make a difference in terms of having to buy good glass for it and that's were it's at for me...if you think of it this way...it's like watching a movie in HD on a crappy 800*600 resolution lcd....it just doesn't do it justice.

What part of Nevada are you off to and is it for photos?

Regards,
Bren:)

ronanc15

maddog wrote: »

Hi Ronan,

I can say that it did make a difference in terms of having to buy good glass for it and that's were it's at for me...if you think of it this way...it's like watching a movie in HD on a crappy 800*600 resolution lcd....it just doesn't do it justice.

What part of Nevada are you off to and is it for photos?

Regards,
Bren:)

Yeah Im hoping to pick up something full frame with an L glass with it before March for that reason. I want anything I print to be A1.

Im holidaying in Vegas & Mexico. 5 nights in vegas so loads of time for exploring! Anywhere in particular you would recommend?

davyjose

maddog wrote: »

Hi Ronan,

I can say that it did make a difference in terms of having to buy good glass for it and that's were it's at for me...if you think of it this way...it's like watching a movie in HD on a crappy 800*600 resolution lcd....it just doesn't do it justice.

What part of Nevada are you off to and is it for photos?

Regards,
Bren:)

Just wanna say I love your work, Maddog. Phenomenal that you are so new to this.

Expanding on this point, I'm some way off being able to afford a full frame camera. Are you saying the main benefit to having it is the quality of lenses available? Or is it inherently the camera that provides such quality? Do you think an option for someone like myself would be to invest in high quality lenses, or to bite the bullet and go for the expensive camera instead?

maddog

ronanc15 wrote: »

Yeah Im hoping to pick up something full frame with an L glass with it before March for that reason. I want anything I print to be A1.

Im holidaying in Vegas & Mexico. 5 nights in vegas so loads of time for exploring! Anywhere in particular you would recommend?

The Valley of Fire is less than an hour outside of Vegas....10 bucks for the day there and it is awesome...loads to shoot.
Death Valley is a little over 2 hours out from Vegas.... Don't go alone and do stock up on water and provisions before you go there..... and what ever you do DO NOT GO INTO the toilet beside the pay station in Death Valley..... you have been warned!

maddog

davyjose wrote: »

Just wanna say I love your work, Maddog. Phenomenal that you are so new to this.

Expanding on this point, I'm some way off being able to afford a full frame camera. Are you saying the main benefit to having it is the quality of lenses available? Or is it inherently the camera that provides such quality? Do you think an option for someone like myself would be to invest in high quality lenses, or to bite the bullet and go for the expensive camera instead?

I'm afraid they both go hand in hand in my opinion..... but I would lean on the side of good glass.

I hope this helps :-)

davyjose

maddog wrote: »

I'm afraid they both go hand in hand in my opinion..... but I would lean on the side of good glass.

I hope this helps :-)

It does. I'll defo start saving, but in the meantime, I'll be keeping my eye out for nice lenses

ronanc15

maddog wrote: »

The Valley of Fire is less than an hour outside of Vegas....10 bucks for the day there and it is awesome...loads to shoot.
Death Valley is a little over 2 hours out from Vegas.... Don't go alone and do stock up on water and provisions before you go there..... and what ever you do DO NOT GO INTO the toilet beside the pay station in Death Valley..... you have been warned!

Brilliant, thanks for those dude. Although you have automatically made me curious about the toilet lol

Gave the page on facebook a like too - keep up the good work :-)

zerohamster

Stunning work Bren!

Ben D Bus

Great work!

You've only been at it 18 months? :eek: Really? I guess some people just have an eye for good shots. I'm impressed. Jealous, but impressed!

kelly1

I love your work Brendan. Would you mind sharing a few top tips you've learned with those of us who would like to explore landscape photography more?

maddog

kelly1 wrote: »

I love your work Brendan. Would you mind sharing a few top tips you've learned with those of us who would like to explore landscape photography more?

I hate to give advice as I don't think I'm in a position of knowledge when it comes to photography, I would hate to give some one the wrong info:(

For what it's worth this would be the best I could do:
Plan your shots
Download and install The Photographers Ephemeris to help with planning sunset and sunrises.
Check the weather often, and even if it's crap outside...still go out as the light can change for the better when you are at your location.
Always stay for a good 30 minutes after the sun has gone down for some nice blue hour shots.
Try and visualize the image you want before you get to the location, of course this is if you are familiar with the location you're about to shoot.
Find the sweet spot for you lens in terms of aperture, you'll find that stopping down to F22 might not be the best option.
When planning a shot always leave time to hike/walk to the location....I've been caught out a few times by underestimating the walk/hike involved.

If there is any question in particular you would like to ask....please feel free.

Regards,
Bren

kelly1

Thanks Brendan. I downloaded the Ephemeris, looks handy. Scouting/planning are key, I think.

RED Lynam

Good work man...and f88l you didn't waste any time upping your game. Good on ya.

melekalikimaka

the best part about looking at your work is that given you have been at it 18 months, its only going to get better.

... if thats possible

dinneenp

lovely landscapes. you seem to capture great skies.
The Sigma 10-20 lens is next on my photography shopping list.

maddog

melekalikimaka wrote: »

the best part about looking at your work is that given you have been at it 18 months, its only going to get better.

... if thats possible

Who knows? I would hope to get better... only time will tell.

keps

luv your stuff:)

Logie-1

Hi Brendan,

Like everyone before me has said, great work. I cant believe that you are only at this for 18 months.

I see that you where up in my neck of the woods, St Johns Point, Co Down. Can you post some shots?

Keep up the good work.

Paul.

RoryW

Breath taking and inspiring
....and only 18 months
.....imagine what you will be like with some experience :-)

RoryW

A few quick questions

Re Lee filter system, why did you chose this one over others eg Cokin

What f stop do you tend to use on average.

Do you use a UV "protector" filter on your lens (reason I ask is photos are soooooo crisp and clear)

If Boards.ie have another learn from each other day like they did in DCU a few years ago, I vote for you to give a talk (and I reckon a full house will be achieved)

Thanks

maddog

RoryW wrote: »

A few quick questions

Re Lee filter system, why did you chose this one over others eg Cokin

What f stop do you tend to use on average.

Do you use a UV "protector" filter on your lens (reason I ask is photos are soooooo crisp and clear)

If Boards.ie have another learn from each other day like they did in DCU a few years ago, I vote for you to give a talk (and I reckon a full house will be achieved)

Thanks

Hi Rory, sorry for the late reply as I'm out on a four day shoot currently and Internet access is limited.

I used the Colkin filters when I started and then switched to Lee filters as they are so much better and no colour cast as you get with the Colkin filters, I always have a uv filter on all my lenses.

Thanks for the comment :-)

Regards
Bren

stuar

Brendan your stuff is class, your a quick learner or you already had it to begin with, I'm surprised your at it for such a short time with the quality I've just looked at, your a natural, truely a natural!

Just get bigger and bolder as I'm sure you will, thanks for sharing your gift.

ImagenEstilo

Incredible stuff Brendan. Genuinely lovely. If I was shooting landscape, I would aspire to art like this.

Though I will say I am little saddened at the Cokin filters opinion. I have a set of the Cokin graduated filters in the press that I think I have only used once. Meant to get around to using them more but now that you tell me they cause a cast, well it may be time to offload them :-(

siobh123

Beautiful sweeping images.