Photographer Spotlight:Fred SanFilipo aka TheWalkingMan

Where are you currently located, where were you born and how old are you:
Born, raised and currently living in Rochester, NY for 58 years.

What is your main source of inspiration?
As a graphic designer and struggling photographer I get inspired creatively from many sources both still & moving but Flickr.com has been an inspirational Mecca for my growth as a photographer for the past 2 years. The quality and quantity of talent contributing to that site is amazing. Having the opportunity to meet & interact with shooters like John around the globe with a few keystrokes provides a steady stream of motivation and learning that one would never been able to tap into just a few years back.

Do you remember your first camera?
My first rig was a used Minolta with a sticky shutter that left a soft edge on one side of every shot! I quickly upgraded to a Nikon F2 (1975), a real workhorse of a 35mm. I still have that camera and it shoots today like the day I bought it. Strangely, after a few short years of using it I suddenly stopped taking pictures and didn't pick up a camera again or over two decades until a few years ago, when the digital revolution in photography kicked into full gear. I bought a Nikon point-and-shoot and found that digital images and the control one has over them with PhotoShop brought back my passion for shooting again.

Do you have a favorite subject?
I try to vary my subject matter to stay fresh but I always find myself going back to the shooting that makes me tick – portraits. There is is no greater joy for me than when I am able to capture and bring out the essence of the person in front of my lens. The intensity and commitment I find in photographing people is like no other creative experience for me and the main motivator for to me to keep picking up my Nikon.

What kind of equipment do you use?
Currently using a Nikon D200 with a mix of prime and zoom lenses. I also recently made my first step into studio lighting with the purchase of a used Speedotron setup. After shooting with only natural light for so long this has been a daunting but positive step and has made a big difference in the development of my portraiture. I'm also waiting and lusting for the new version of the full sensor D700 which should be coming out any time now.

Do you have a photography goal for the 2010?
My goal this year is push harder. Not only creatively but with what I do with my images. I have a show in a local gallery next month and I've also slowly started to take on some paying gigs. Hopefully, the joy of making images will continue to inspire . . .