Friends & Idols

I know a lot of photographers. A few of them are very passionate about their work and quite good. Others are passionate about their work and getting better and better. I decided to devote some space to a few of these people as they simply deserve a little recognition.

Clyde Butcher

Mehmet Ilbaysozu is one of the most passionate photographers I know. Mehmet is very dedicated to his art. Mehmet is known for his urban street photography. Mehmet likes to go off the beaten path and photograph people from all walks of life but especially poor people who live in areas most of us would not dare visit. A mutual friend told me that Mehmet pays alot of money to get his photos. He starts by hiring the biggest and roughest taxi cab driver he can find. He offers the guy about a hundred bucks on top of the cab fare and asks the guy to take him where he wants to go and act as a body guard while he shoots. Mehmet once told me about how he was heldup at gunpoint in China and really thought he was going to die that day. He lived through it and the experience hasn't changed him.

Goran Saban is an old friend who writes and shoots for National Geographic Jr. European Edition. Goran is a photographer, journalist and graphic designer (as well as a very nice guy). .

Mehmet, Goran & Clyde

Clyde Butcher is more an "idol" than a friend. Two of my buddies (Mehmet Ilbaysozu and Goran Saben) were in own for a weekend so my friend Lorna and I took them deep into the Florida Everglades to visit Clyde's Gallery. Much to our amazement Clyde came into the gallery while we were there and he was kind enough to talk to us. We discussed photography, photoshop, scanners, papers so on and so forth. Someone asked a question about dodging and burning and Clyde decided to give us a Photoshop lesson. He brought us back to his studio and showed us his technique. He spent quite a bit of time with us and we all felt like it was one of the most amazing days of our lives. Mehmet was worried that Photoshop is "disrespectful to photography" and Clyde set him straight. He said if Ansel Adams were still alive "he would have his hands and feet" in Photoshop. Anyway, if you are an Ansel Adams fan then you will love Clyde Butcher. I refer to him as "The Ansel Adams of the Everglades."

I recently reconnected with an old friend from long ago who is now an "idol" as well as a friend. Sal is a Fine Art photographer who specializes in landscape photography and shoots a variety of other subjects as well (stillife, wildlife, sports, so on and so forth). Sal goes by his full name "Salvatore Vaspolli." Sal's work has been described as

"Captivating images of the uncivilized and civilized world captured in thought provoking compositions that convey relationships within the environment with or without man."

Sal's work has appeared in numorous publications such as Outdoor Photographer, Sal has two beautiful coffee table size books: Montana and Montana: Portrait of a State. There is much more to tell you about Sal's work but it would be easier if you just visit his website.

Petar Pecanac climbed Mt. Everest in 2007. I don't know too many photographers who have done that!

To be continued...