Photographer Profile: Derek Schultz

Where are you based?

I live in the picturesque market town of Beverley, situated in the East Riding of Yorkshire (UK). Beverley is around 1,300 years old and is noted for its main feature, Beverley Minster, the most impressive church in England that is not a cathedral. It also has a bustling market place and racecourse.

What's your preferred subject matter?

I think rather than having a single specialist subject, I am fascinated with the art of photography in general. So I tend to always be aware that at any second, anywhere, an image could register on my retina, that sparks the desire to capture that impression. It could be anything, but that something triggers something in my brain and I just feel the compulsion to try and capture that specific moment in time. Of course on top of that are the subjects that my customers choose for me!

What first got you into photography?

I first started taking pictures with an old box brownie that was in the family, but it wasn’t until I left school and could afford something better, that I really started taking more pictures. I bought a Zenith EM if anyone remembers those! My careers officer put me on a slightly wrong road by telling me she had found me a job using an ‘enlarging camera’. This was actually at a lithographic printers. The camera in question was for photographing negatives for the print process and for turning photographs into screened halftones. I can remember trying to control the temperature of the chemicals in a freezing garage in order to prevent the burning out of the screen dots from the highlight and shadow areas.

Eventually through the years I worked my way into various design studios where part of the job was to commission and art direct photographers. I never seemed to get what I wanted though. However, with the advent of digital and the subsequent demise of the darkroom, I was able to put all my experience with Photoshop, etc, to good use and start doing the photographs I needed myself.

Are you a digital or film photographer?

For me digital is king for what I do. I do not denigrate anyone for using film, but the sheer speed and flexibility of digital suits my way of working and being able to service my clients. The list of benefits are too long to go into, but I think that now the quality issue has been resolved, using digital is a no brainer when it comes to commercial work.

Where do you go to shoot and how do you prepare?

I have been shooting all over Europe and in the Studio. Last year I did a project that involved 3500 miles in a camper van around Holland, Belgium, France and Spain, so distance and effort required do not faze me. A lot of photographers will only work in their own vicinity, but I love new and exciting challenges and the more complex the planning and preparation the better! I think my clients always appreciate my willingness to go that extra mile and I am constantly coming up with new ideas to interest them.

I keep two bags packed and ready to go at all times, particularly in case a newsworthy situation occurs and then I can get away quickly, knowing everything is charged up, clean and ready to shoot.

What equipment do you use?

I use Canon kit with Elinchrom lighting, Canon EOS 1Ds MKII & MkIII Bodies, Canon EF 16-35 F2.8/70-200 F2.8/85 F1.2/180 Macro F3./24 TS F3.5, Speedlite Flash Units, Sekonic L-758DR lightmeter, Apple Macintosh PCs

What I want to add to my equipment is a long wheel base Landrover defender with all the trimmings!

How does Pixaria fit into your workflow and what other tools do you use?

Pixaria is the only tool that I have tried and like using as a means to having a web presence for selling my images. In addition on the software side, I use: Phase One/Capture One Pro processing software (I only shoot in RAW), Adobe Creative Suite 4, Genuine Fractals, Mask Pro

What features do you like most about Pixaria?

It’s simple; clean and efficient, but more than that, it has the obvious interest of its creator! Feedback and suggestions are noted and acted upon and I’m sure Pixaria will continue to develop in such a way that I will be relying on it for years to come.

What has been your greatest achievement (in photography) to date?

My greatest achievement is to be able to do what I most enjoy and get paid for it! I feel like I am cheating! My wife goes out to work in the morning and she comes back stressed in the evening - I have to pretend that I had a hard day!

What are your plans for the future?

I am planning to buy a medium format kit (Phase One) and really develop the fine art side of things. I am also working on projects to get my ARPS at the Royal Photographic Society and I have just forced myself to go back to basics by starting a BA(Hons) in fine art but specialising in photography of course! I think that this will force me to break out of the mould and stretch the boundaries further.

Has your work ever been published?

Yes - on the web, magazines, PR and marketing and more recently the front cover of Socialist Appeal!

What do you think is driving change in photography at the moment?

Obviously technology is a big driver. More pixels and more colour heads in printers seems to be the preoccupation with many photographers as well as the companies promoting them. I think this muddies things though for people coming into the medium of photography. What we need to focus on is the ‘buzz’ of making an image that we can say ‘wow’ to. Although I love technology, I love photography and image making more and I still, on the odd occasion, get that ‘wow’ factor from some of my images. What could be better?

How is the internet changing your business?

What a tool. What a development. It is the means to spread my own personal view of things and communication throughout the globe. The potential to matter, to effect, or to change, even in a small way is huge...