Photographer Profiles

Not too long ago I entered a PhotoShelter contest that called for entrants to submit a single photo they deemed their best travel image. I didn’t know if the one I sent was in fact my best, but I was certain it would get the judges’ attention. If you’re a regular reader, you might have seen it featured in my column in the November, 2014, issue: the image of trucks, sheep, and goats held up by a landslide in the Zojila Pass in Kashmir, India.

Jim Harmer didn’t start out as a travel and nature photographer. He was in law school when the photography bug bit him, and, before he knew it, he was traveling the world, capturing moments in time with his camera.

Instagram is, unquestionably, the hottest social network right now for sharing photos. While the service is simple to use, getting your work noticed is not easy considering you’re competing with over 400 million other Instagram users. So what’s the “trick,” if any? We interviewed three photographers who have found success on Instagram to learn more about this social media phenomenon. Along with checking out (and liking) their Instagram pages, don’t forget to visit (and like) Shutterbug’s own page (@shutterbugpix), where we’re sharing our favorite work from readers.

Street photographer Omar Z Robles has spent the past two years photographing ballet dancers among what he refers to as the urban landscapes of New York. Thanks to a grant from the Bessie Foundation, he recently traveled to Cuba—a country with a long tradition of dance—and the images he captured are amazing.

Social media has clearly taken the world by storm and photographers have been quick to catch on. That is indeed true for extreme sports photographer Christian Pondella, who has a strong following on several social media platforms, particularly Instagram.

What we look at when we look at a Sandro portrait is an image that is as much about Sandro as it is about his subject. About that he is frank and fearless.

R. J. Kern is the owner and photographer of Kern-Photo, a Minneapolis-based wedding photography business. He started the company eight years ago after spending five years with the National Geographic Society. His wedding photography locations range from backyards to destinations around the world. He also teaches photography workshops and has won many awards, including making the “50 Top US Wedding Photographers”.