Life Is a Photo Op | Ralph Nardell

Ralph Nardell |Flickr

Where are you from?
I’m originally from West Wyoming, a small town in northeastern PA.

Where do you currently live?
I live in Media, PA, which is about 20 minutes west of Philadelphia.

How long have you been shooting?
Well, I’ve always been dragging a camera around, even as a kid. But if you’re asking when I got serious about it – I’d say about 15 years ago or so. That’s when I became more deliberate about it, taking my camera everywhere, and making it a part of my daily life.

Are you self-taught or schooled in photography?
I am self-taught (may be more accurate to say friends-taught). But no formal schooling.

Do you photograph for a living or is this a hobby?
I guess I fall right between the two. I work full time at Unbound Medicine, a software company I really love. But I do photography every other minute that I can. I sell prints, have small shows in local cafes or small galleries, sell stock photos, etc. I also do freelance work for a local print publication called Fig, and second shoot for weddings quite a bit, which I’ve been enjoying more and more. I have done a few family/kid shoots but I could use some tutoring in that area.

What is in your camera bag?
Nikon D700
50mm f1.8
85mm f1.8
24-120mm f3.5
SB900 speedlight
iPhone 4s (just upgraded last weekend)
Holga.

That’s not only what’s in my bag, that’s everything I own.

Do you shoot digital or film or both?
I shoot mostly digital these days, but still break out the film camera now and then. I love playing with the Holga, and also have a couple of Polaroids and an old Pentax.

If both, what do you find both positive and negative about shooting in both formats?
Well, it’s been said many times but it’s true for me too – a big positive is that there’s no mistaking that unique presence and feel that film has. Even when I’m flying around flickr looking at pics, every now and then I’ll see a photo that just looks different — I’ll glance at the tags and almost every time it says “film”. I don’t know what that is, but I love it. The only negative I can think of with film is the “not knowing” if you got the shot while you wait for the film to be processed. But then again, there’s a sweetness to that as well. I remember those days fondly.

As for digital, a huge positive for me is that it speeds up the learning process. What a gift it is to be able to experiment with exposure & light & settings and learn in the moment, knowing of course that it’s not costing you a fortune in prints and wasted materials. And of course it goes without saying that the low light capabilities & advancements in dSLR technology are mind-blowing.

Why do you love Digital or Film?
Digital, for the speed and learning and technological marvels; Film for the romance and feel of it.

How did this project come about?
I’ve never formally named it, but usually think of it as my Lone Leaf project. When I began, it was to remind myself to slow down & pay attention to the particulars. I love shooting nature, and it’s easy (at least for me) to get caught up in shooting panoramic landscapes or huge sky shots (which I also love) or snow scenes, wide beach shots, etc. 

I thought it’d be a fun and useful project to find something ubiquitous but easily overlooked, and really pay attention to it. The idea was to remind myself that it’s possible to tell a story or find something beautiful in the smallest of details, just as you can with more grand scenes or themes.

What is it about this project that speaks personally about you?
I imagine it will say that I spend way too much time wandering around in the woods. Really, I hope it says that I’m someone who is trying to pay attention as I go through life. I think that when you give your attention to something (or someone), you’re also showing your appreciation as well. Slowing down, noticing these small things – it’s a way to give myself a bit of direction creatively, but also a way to remind myself how grateful I am for all of the good things in my life (friends, family, health, etc).

What would you want this project to say to the viewer?
It’s an interesting question to think about, since I never imagined explaining the project publicly, although the individual photos have been out there for some time. I’d love for the viewers to take from it a similar idea to what you’re doing with this whole “Life is a Photo Op’ series. That there are everyday moments and objects around us that have their own story to tell, and that they’re worth noticing as photo subjects but also for what they are by themselves, the stuff that makes up our days.

Ultimately though, I always like the viewer to make up his or her own mind about what a photo or project means. I love to hear what people think or how they react to a certain photo.

Are you currently shooting or planning to shoot another personal project?
I always have a few projects rolling around at once, even if they’re half-baked ideas and not formally organized as a Project. But I have been working on one that involves using my iPhone and my regular camera at once. I’ve also been trying to shoot people more often.

If so, what is the goal you are trying to achieve from that project?
My goal with the iPhone/Nikon project is to use each of these amazing little machines in a unique and hopefully unexpected way. It’s really just for fun, and to force myself to not get stuck in a well-worn path.

How do you keep challenging yourself photographically?
I need to do more of this, to be honest. 

As I’m sure many of us do, I try to challenge myself by venturing into new territory. Like I said above, I don’t shoot people very often (in a posed, formal way), so I’ve been trying to learn more about that. I’ve also been learning more about shooting with off-camera flash and using a tripod for lowlight and long exposure shots.

I also try to keep an open mind and let other parts of my life inform my photography – movies, books, music, food, conversations, friends, humor, etc. If something finds a way into my head or heart, it’ll eventually find its way into my photos.

Ralph can also be found on Facebook. Like him here!