Nick Tippmann
Over this past weekend we where able to sit down with Randy Jay Braun a photographer out of the state of Hawaii in which we are all jealous about. Besides talking about his love of Photography, he goes into how mobile phones will be the future. As well as how they might one day take over DSLR’s.
1. Tell us a quick back story as to whom you are and what you do
My name is Randy Jay Braun. I am a professional camera artist. For 18 years I owned Hawaii‘s largest and oldest photography art gallery. I closed it at the end of 2011 to pursue travel, teaching and writing (about photography).
2. What was your original interest in photography? Was it a photo you saw or a photographer who got you into it
I learned photography skills in my 4-H club and in Boy Scouts, as a young teen.
3. Do you do this full time or as a hobby and have another paying job that you do
Photography has been my only source of income for 28 years, since I graduated from Occidental College in Los Angeles.
4. Your favorite thing to shoot, and location
I love working with individuals whom I find interesting. I like to get to the point in a portrait sitting where I am shooting and talking and we both forget that I have my camera aimed at their face — where the camera is an insignificant part of the interaction. Hawaii is my place. It is what I know. It is a dream to live in such a photogenic and diverse location.
5. What is your dream shot (model, location, event, ect) and why
As a photographer, I work on self-generated “projects”. I have many dream photo projects on-going at all times. Some projects will culminate in an exhibit, or a book, others will fizzle away. I am working on a project about a Hawaiian village called Hāna right now, in an attempt to capture the historical and cultural significance, before it is forever lost. I plan to spend several months in Venice, and in the Dolomite Alps of Italy working on other projects in the next couple years.
The world is small, and for each beautiful location (like Maui), there are dozens of professional photographers shooting the same iconic scenes each day. The skill comes in the photographer‘s unique vision, or interpritation of the scene, to show it off to the world in a new light. I love to shoot the iconic locations using different methods, or during a very different time of day, or from a different perspective.
6. Do you think with the recent improvements of mobile devices such as the iPhone and Android phones that they’ll ever replace the point and shot cameras
Yes. I think that our phones will eventually have nice optical zooms, or high-end attachments. The all-in-one super-gadget is just maybe a couple years away.
7. With the likes of Canon and Nikon having the ability to shot from your iPhone/iPad/Android phone do you think it’ll help people get into photography more with DSLR’s or do you think they’ll just stick with their mobile phones
Likely, DSLR‘s will cease to exist. Higher-end cameras will morph into something easier to use, but I will leave that discussion to the techies.
8. What phone do you have and your reason(s) to that over another model. Also, how much do you use that phone when it comes to shooting. IE, help find locations, prep shots, ect
My iPhone 4 is fun. I always have it. I send quick and silly snaps to friends. I use the video apps to shoot slo-mo as a sports coaching tool for my high school track athletes. Sometimes I use the phone camera to document things for the record, of to make notes to myself.
9. What do you mainly shot with? Camera(s)+Lenses
My current cameras are Nikon D700 & D7000. I carry the 14-24, 24-70, 70-200, 2X converter. I also own Canon, Mamiya, Fuji cameras, and am not really attached to any brand.
10. What tips could you give to people who are just starting out and wanting to get into photography
Stay current with processing apps. Develop a style or niche that is identifiable and unique to you. Don‘t spend a ton of money on equipment that you can rent. Attend classes and workshops by your favorite photographers. Join a trade association like NAPP, or PPA.
11. Where can we find you? Websites, Social Networks, Locations as to where you mainly shot, ect
Find me on:
If you would like to be featured in future Beyond The Lens articles, please contact brent@nibletz.com with the Subject Beyond The Lens
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