[Photographer Profile #14] Adrian.Sadlier

Adrian.Sadlier

Where do I start?

Probably with the obvious – my name is Adrian. I’m in the early stages of the 2nd half of my first century. I’m bald, bearded, fat and freckled – and they’re my good points!

As long as I can remember, I’ve always had a camera. But I didn’t really know how to use them. If it had an auto setting, I used it. Myfirst decent camera was a Yashica SLR (with auto). And sometimes I’d get luckyand take a nice snap. But I didn’t know how – and couldn’t replicate it easily!

I’ve worked in IT since the late 70’s (yes, I’ve used punched paper tape – Google it!). My main hobby (obsession) was computers and technology until the advent of affordable digital cameras - for me that was in 2003 when I got a HP PhotoSmart C945 5 Mp bridge camera. I still didn’t understand photography but now I had a gadget that produced computer files so I dabbled! I used Paint Shop Pro to edit and early Epson inkjets to print (all of which have long since faded). My interests were still on the “gadget” side of things – I messed about with “files” and any attempts at producing an image were done in crude PP.

Then in Sept 2007 I got my ultimate gadget – a Nikon D80 with an 18-135mm Kit lens. I was in Nerd heaven – and I still don’t know anything about photography. I didn’t use RAW until February 2008. I still didn’t know what I was doing but I read somewhere I should at least shoot RAW as well as Jpeg – the logic being that if I ever took this photography stuff seriously I could always go back – disk space was cheap. I’m glad I did – I have re-visited a lot of my earlier stuff since then.

It wasn’t until 2010 that I took photography seriously and decided I wanted to take better photographs. So I joined a camera club: DublinCamera Club. I have a strong competitive streak so when I discovered they held regular competitions there was no holding me back – until I saw the other members’ photographs and I realised how little I really knew.

And so began my journey. I’ve only really started – I now know how little I know – buts that’s a good place to start from.

I take a lot of photos but they tend to be of the same subjects – you see the main opportunity I get to take photographs is when I’m out walking my dogs. Let me introduce them to you:

Buddy & Shadow




All of these shots were taken when walking the dogs:










The odd time I get out to take photos without the dogs –once a year I go to the zoo:









I also shoot birds







And flowers







I even shoot people







Lately I’ve gone back to film, just for fun and a change of pace.




I’ve even done the lone tree bit!



I don’t have a “style” – some would say I “have no style”. I just enjoy taking pictures, sharing them and learning.

And if you made it this far, thanks for your patience.

Adrian

secman

Lovely shots, love the nature ones . I wouldn't mind not having a style if I could get shots like those .

Secman

Adrian.Sadlier

secman wrote: »

Lovely shots, love the nature ones . I wouldn't mind not having a style if I could get shots like those .

Secman

Thanks Secman. I'm not searching for a style - my tastes are too eclectic!

But you can't help noticing on here that the really good photographers tend to have a style that is "recognisable" - and not in a limiting way, if that makes sense.

What I mean is, once you see one of their shots you know who took it, without looking at the name.

I don't think I will ever develop a "style" - my mind (and my eye) jumps around too much!

secman

I see with you are from an I T background. How and where do you store your pics . Do you use photoshop ? I am just a Newby and still have my pics on card in camera . Almost full as decided to shot raw after reading many posts on boards .

Thanks

Secman

Adrian.Sadlier

secman wrote: »

I see with you are from an I T background. How and where do you store your pics . Do you use photoshop ? I am just a Newby and still have my pics on card in camera . Almost full as decided to shot raw after reading many posts on boards .

Thanks

Secman

Secman

I transfer them from my camera to my computer as soon as I get home - I never trust a memory card for longer than I have to - I've lost too many and had a few "fail" on me.

I then backup everything once a month (I know I should do it more often but I'm lazy).

I use Photoshop (CS5) for PP.

Stephen P

Great photos Adrian

I don't really have a style either, I like to take a mixture of different subjects. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or bad thing but the way I look at it is if I dabble in different styles be it landscape or wildlife or whatever I'm learning about the camera all the time and applying different settings to different situations, I think that's how you grow as a photographer - be versatile!

dinneenp

That Gorilla and orange one is stunning, something you'd see in National Geographic or elsewhere.
Have you submitted it to any stock photo sites etc.?

(I'm also someone who doesn't have a favourite style/subject to photograph. )

Adrian.Sadlier

dinneenp wrote: »

That Gorilla and orange one is stunning, something you'd see in National Geographic or elsewhere.
Have you submitted it to any stock photo sites etc.?

(I'm also someone who doesn't have a favourite style/subject to photograph. )

Thanks - its one of my favorites. I did submit it to iStock but they rejected it - too much processing :-( I may re-edit and give it another go!

thebaz

that 3rd shot of the mad running dog is brilliant - great image

Adrian.Sadlier

thebaz wrote: »

that 3rd shot of the mad running dog is brilliant - great image

Thanks Barry - I've done well with it - it got placed in this months round of APOY13 competition :-)

dave66

Adrian.Sadlier wrote: »

I don’t have a “style” – some would say I “have no style”. I just enjoy taking pictures, sharing them and learning.

Great overview and interesting read of your photographic history/journey, really like your gorilla shots.

I liked your line about having a style, took me two 365 projects to realise I don't have a style. Wasn't at all sure whether that's good or bad, but I really relate to your "I just enjoy taking pictures, sharing them and learning" I guess we've our own No Style Style

Adrian.Sadlier

Stephen P wrote: »

Great photos Adrian

I don't really have a style either, I like to take a mixture of different subjects. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or bad thing but the way I look at it is if I dabble in different styles be it landscape or wildlife or whatever I'm learning about the camera all the time and applying different settings to different situations, I think that's how you grow as a photographer - be versatile!

Stephen, taking photographs of whatever you like is never a bad thing

What I mean by style is not that a photographer limits themselves to a specific genre or subject. Rather it is that there is something about their photography which allows me to see one of their images and think - that might be a "insert togs name here" shot.

It might be the PP, the composition .. whatever. I'm not explaining myself well but maybe some people will understand

I'm a long way from people seeing one of my shots and being able to recognise it as one of mine (unless they recognise the dogs:))

Adrian.Sadlier

dave66 wrote: »

Great overview and interesting read of your photographic history/journey, really like your gorilla shots....

Thanks Dave. I took them in Dublin Zoo. I go to the zoo once a year to take photos. I used to feel quite down when I saw the gorillas in their old enclosure - they didn't look or act at all contented. http://pix.ie/asadlier/2287668

But since they moved to their new enclosure on the "African Plains" its a lot better. They have a little more space and most importantly, some privacy.

I don't feel as guilty taking photos of them now.

dogski

Wow that photo of Buddy & Shadow is just gorgeous. Your photos are beautiful!

Adrian.Sadlier

dogski wrote: »

Wow that photo of Buddy & Shadow is just gorgeous. Your photos are beautiful!

You embarrass me - you must be a dog lover :-)

dinneenp

Adrian.Sadlier wrote: »

I'm a long way from people seeing one of my shots and being able to recognise it as one of mine (unless they recognise the dogs:))

I know what you mean- I see Longshanks (guy in Sydney who does the bokeh photos, bike/skateboard etc.). I recognize a lot of his photos by the tone/colour etc. (sydney skyline is also a giveaway- joke)

Queen-Mise

The gorilla one is stunning - their eyes, & the baby looking a different direction.

I read your intro piece and I can safely say other than recognising it as being the English language, I was lost:cool:

dinneenp

I spotted your Dog on Beach photo in Amateur Photographer mag; congratulations!
And you're in the lead in their amateur photographer of the year competition.

siobh123

Love the image of the family of 'monkeys'. The little guy with the different coloured face looks so shy. The rest of them are protecting him because he is different. Love it!

Synchronicity

Adrian, great pics there. Very impressed with your photoshop/PP skills. Did you put a lot of effort into learning this skill?

I trick around with lightroom (just really boosting shadows, dropping highlights etc) but don't have photoshop, although I have had it in the past. Is it necessary to have Photoshop to get the photos to the level you do?

Adrian.Sadlier

Synchronicity wrote: »

Is it necessary to have Photoshop to get the photos to the level you do?

It all depends I've seen some photographers who get everything right "in camera" and do very little in LR/PS. And I have seen others do wonderful things in LR/PS.

Personally, I tend to use LR/PS to correct the mistakes I made in camera. I'm no expert and tend to just dabble with the odd bit here and there. YouTube is a great source of information on how to do things in Photoshop.

Someday, I am going to have to learn to use layers in PS..........