Featured Photographer: Josh Mullenite

I have met Josh at Flickr D40 forums, as we both owned D40, and I immediately was interested in his work. He knew the equipment and camera technology very well, and was always happy to answer any questions that we noobies have had. I like his work because his main concern is not to create a beautiful picture, but to create a powerful picture and there is always much thought behind and in every image that Josh posts. To see more of his work, please stop by his Flickr photostream.

His favorite three images -







Your home town?
Born in Hollywood, Fl and I float around the area, I currently live in Plantation, Fl. I'm a South Florida boy I guess, as much as I want to I don't think I could ever leave.

How did your interest in photography started?
When I was 15 I found an old 35mm camera in the top of my closet. It was my Minolta X-370 and had a 50mm f/1.7 on it with a broken diaphragm. It still worked but was stuck at f/8. I took it out and played with it a bit before putting the first roll of film in, and it's all been down- (or up-) hill from there.

Why do you do it?
Pleasure. There are very few things that make me happier than walking around with a camera. Even if I don't get anything good that day, I still love the feeling.

What are the goals you have that relate to photography?
I would like to start my own studio. Right now I help run a portrait studio and while I love it, I wish I had more creative freedom and didn't have to answer to someone else.

What recent photo projects have you worked on?
Aside from paid work, I have been getting back in to shooting film. Experimenting with pushing and pulling.

How would you describe your style?
I'm not sure, I like shadows so I would say Dark, but the mood of my photos are not typically dark. I think my style reflects my mood when I'm taking the shot.

What are your favorite subjects to photograph?
People. I shoot everything, I love landscapes and nature, but my absolute favorite subjects are people.

How do you get the inspiration in the creative process?
TV, movies, and nature. Photography is light, I watch these things and feel inspired to create something just as beautiful. CSI: Miami in particular uses some beautiful lighting that is easy to convert in to photography.

How do you define a successful photograph?
If the photographer is happy with it, it is pretty successful in my opinion. In art I don't think it really matters what other people think, you create for your own eye, and with your own mind. Very rarely will you meet someone who thinks or sees the same way you do.

What is the future for photography?
I honestly don't know, cameras are getting smarter and better, and the cost is coming down so I can only imagine good things. Just think how many great artists there are out there who can't afford to show the world what they see. I hope the future of photography can include all those people.

What has been the craziest act you did to take a good picture?
I'm not a crazy person, but I did step on to a ledge that bordered Biscayne Bay in Miami to direct a car in to just the right spot. I don't know how to swim and having half of my foot hanging over the wall with my back to the water was pretty scary.

What has been your favorite location to be at with a camera?
Downtown Miami, it has always been one of my favorite places and has always provided me with wonderful things to see, experience, and capture.

What’s one location you would love to shoot at?
India, my great grandfather was a photographer for the army and was stationed there, I inherited about 80 prints of his from there and I have wanted to go there since.

PC or Mac?
Mac. I just can't see myself using a PC ever again.

What’s your favorite piece of equipment and why?
My Vivitar 19mm f/3.8 for my Minolta. The lens is so imperfect it is perfect.

What are your favorite techniques of processing an image?
My favorite is in a traditional darkroom. I have yet to top that experience photographically. If I had to say in the digital darkroom, it would probably be using ACR. Most of my editing is don't there and very little is done using the features of Photoshop. If I do feel an image is soft I make a duplicate layer, put a high pass filter on the duplicate, change the blending mode to "Soft Light" and adjust the layer opacity until it looks "right."

What are your hobbies outside of photography?
I'm big in to cars and love driving. Photography takes up most of my time however.

What photographer would you love to go out shooting with?
Any photographer past or present? Alfred Stieglitz. Living photographer would have to be Michael Grecco.

What other two photographers you admire?
David LaChapelle and Annie Liebovitz. I am amazed everytime I see their work.