One Shoot Sunday: Interview with Photographer Roger Allen Baut

""

Welcome to One Shoot Sunday!

I'm Adam and for today's festivities I've decided to post an interview with Detroit area photographer Roger Allen Baut (@ChasingTao on twitter). Roger's work continues to gain a loyal following through social media. He's also very kind and went out of his way to provide great info and insight into his photographic art, including his view of a connection between poetry and photography.
Enjoy!

Do you find similarities between photography and poetry?

"Yes. Poetry is a wonderful art form that creates visual images within the mind of the reader of a poem, and photography brings a visual image ‘captured’ in a ‘moment’ of time to the person viewing it. Poetry and photography are mirrors for one another in that both create images within the mind of the reader and viewer, and from these images one may gain new insights and perspectives into the world around us, as well as our own place within the cosmos."

Do you have a personal philosophy of about photography?

"Photography is an art form that gives one an opportunity to ‘capture’ a moment in time, a specific moment which might otherwise have gone unseen, were it not for the photograph, and the ability to share that moment with others.I also view the photographs that I have been fortunate to take, as gifts from the universe. I know I have been ‘guided’ or ‘intuited’ to them, from a greater consciousness than my own. One example of this, is entitled Green on Green, which I really wasn’t looking for, but some ‘inner’ guidance drew me from the path I was hiking, to find a wonderful small green frog sitting on a leaf."

Tell us a little bit about ‘Contemplative Photographic Art.
"I define Contemplative Photographic Art™ as certain photographs which may lead the viewer into a calm, thoughtful, peaceful, and/or lightly meditative state."

"In this contemplative state an individual may connect, gain access to, or come into resonance with his or her own inner being, and from this connection, perhaps gain insights that will assist that person on their Journey of Life on Planet Earth."

Where are some of the places you’ve shot photographs?

Michigan: Huron National Forest, Alpena, Au Sable River, Oscoda environs.
Ohio: Indian Mounds, Blue Hole, Mound City, 7 Caves.
Germany: Black Forest, Rhine Fall.
Japan: Tokyo, Nikko, Osaka, Kamakura, Nara, Ise Shima.
Switzerland: Berne, Basil, Zurich.

Do you have any favorite locations/spots?

"Not really. I usually “intuit” where I should go, and follow my ‘inner’ direction to where I should find my photographs. For some reason I really like bronze and/or lead statutes, stone sculptures, et cetera. My very favorite is from the Shrine of Eve, and as I call it I Offer you Wisdom. The beauty of the sculpture and sheen of colors on the metal I think are wonderful."

What would you suggest to people just starting out?

"Learn the basics of your camera. Get ‘in touch’ with your ‘inner’ nature, and let yourself be guided by the ‘you’ that resides within your physical body. Think not of making money, but what your photographs can tell others about life, mankind, nature, et cetera."

What kind of camera, lens, filters do you use? What f-stop/settings do you prefer?

"I am presently using a Canon PowerShot S5IS 8.0 MEGA PIXELS, with Canon Zoom Lens 12x and Wide Converter 0.75x. I do not use any filters, nor do I have any f-stop/settings I prefer."

Could you please recommend a few photography resources for individuals who wish to know more about the art form?
"My first recommendation is to keep it simple. One doesn’t need thousands of dollars worth of equipment, tools and software to take a photograph. Also, there are scads of people who ‘photoshop’ their work. I don’t do that. My feeling is that if one has to manipulate a photograph to make it look attractive, then maybe it wasn’t attractive in the first place. I will ‘crop’ or trim a photo when necessary, but that’s it. When you view my photographs they are all ‘raw’ images. Secondly, a good reference book that helps select appropriate photographic equipment is helpful. Peruse a local bookstore and perhaps ask a staff person which books are the most popular for beginning photographers. Again, one doesn’t need tons of books or equipment to take an exceptional photo. Remember: keep it simple."

*********

Hope you enjoyed the interview. Your feedback is always appreciated.
You can also visit Roger's website to view his excellent slide show.

 The Garden of Serenity