Then & Now - Hanss FM

Hello, my name is Hansel. I was born in Seville, Spain, but I have always lived in Gran Canaria, Spain. I am a young adventurer, I like rock, cooking and photography. I think my biggest dream is to travel the world with my partner. Currently, I like (and I'm more comfortable) photographing couples. I love the feeling I get whenever a couple sees their images for the first time.

Then

How did you learn photography?

I started as a kid in the world of photography. My family gave me a simple compact camera. Later on I studied fine arts, and knew this is what I wanted to do. Over the years, I have assisted workshops, private courses, and many hours of study and practice, I always want to know more.

Now

What year were your "Then" photos taken in?

They were taken in 2013

Then

What did you do to better your photography skills?

Practice a lot. Read and find information, but above all, go out with the camera. Having a base is important, but where you really learn is to practice. Meet with other photographers, see how they work. The inspiration helps them grow. Feeling happy with what one does.

Now

What is one piece of advice you would give to a new photographer to help them excel in their craft?

Get outside with your camera. Make lots of pictures, practice, thoroughly know your camera. Interact with other photographers, learn from them, we all started from scratch, do not be ashamed to talk to them. Don’t run. Take your time, do it quiet and eager. That's the way to do something good.

Then

What gear do you use?

I use a Canon EOS 6D. My lenses are: Tamron 24-70mm 2.8, Canon 50mm 1.8, and my favorite, Sigma 35mm Art. To work at home, I use a Mac and process images in Lightroom. I like Lightroom because it lightens my working time.

Thank you very much for this opportunity to appear alongside other great artists in this great community.

Check out more awesome images from Hanss below.

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Then & Now: Jan Krueck

Then

How did you learn photography?

When I first began to shoot, I used a Canon A1 camera and mostly taught myself about technique using a trial and error method. After a while I started photographing people and joined a German photography forum. I met some folks from my town and we started to push our skills together on little trips or developing film in our basements. After a while, I finished school and studied to become an electrician I choose to push it myself to another level with photography and quit my old job. I went back to school and graduated from the university with a Bachelor of Arts. From then on, almost two years now, I have been working as a freelance photographer.

Now

What year was your "Then" picture taken in?

They were taking very closely to 2009 when I started school at the university.

Then

What did you do to better your photography skills?

As I described earlier on, for me it was always "trial & error" that worked out best for me. I still start my shoots pretty much unprepared. No preconceived notions. As soon as I feel comfortable with the situation, I try to do new things as often as I can. I feel this helps to keep my brain hungry new things.

Now

What is one piece of advice you would give to a new photographer to help them excel in their craft?

Meet people who are interested in excelling in their craft as well. They don't have to be better than you so they can teach you. It's actually better to be on nearly the same level so you see everybody developing. For me, it always was a improvement to get feedback on my stuff.

Now

What gear do you use? Cameras, lenses, PC or Mac and what is your go-to preset?

Canon 5D Mark II
35mm f/2
50mm f/1.4
85mm f/1.8
I'm a hybrid user as I have a desktop PC and a Mackbook 13"
I mostly use Photoshop. I never felt comfortable with LR and other file organization programs.

Check out some more images from Jan below.
 

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Then & Now - Daniel Sprague

Then

Introduce yourself.

Hi, my name is Daniel Sprague. I was born in Worcester, Mass and I live in Dover, New Hampshire with my family. I love tacos and pizza and beer and wine and liquor and traveling to find all those things.

Now

How did you learn photography?

My first formal training was at a small art school in southern Maine.

Then

What year were your "Then" pictures taken in?

Around 2008 - 2009

Now

What did you do to better your photography skills?

I shot and shot and shot and shot and shot and shot and shot and shot and shot and shot and shot and I am still shooting.

Then

What is one piece of advice you would give to a new photographer to help them excel in their craft?

Shoot and shoot and shoot and shoot and shoot and shoot. Take breaks from looking at other photographer's work. Then shoot and shoot and shoot and shoot and shoot and shoot and shoot and keep shooting. I am showing some of my oldest and most embarrassing work because I want everyone who thinks they will never be as good as they want to be to know that almost every single one of us started in the same place. It is about struggling through and putting the time in to become what you know you like. You have good taste, hold on to it, and just keep creating work until it aligns with your good taste. Here go watch this so you can hear someone who is good at talking explain what I mean https://vimeo.com/85040589

Now

What gear do you use and what is your favorite preset?

90% of all my work is shot with a Canon 35L 1.4 lens on Canon 5D Mark II. I spent about a year editing and tweaking the Portra 400++ VSCO preset and now I use that for nearly every photo. It looks nothing like the original Portra 400++ preset, but I like it. That's all that matters, use what you like.

Check out more awesome work from Daniel below.

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On Snapchat @ daniel-sprague

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