D. Thomas Virtue
D. Thomas Virtue
Welcome To The Artists Blog
When did you first become interested in art, in general?
I was five. I was scared. I thought I would never learn how to tie my shoelaces. I couldn’t get anyone to understand my fear. It wasn’t real to them. I turned to art to illustrate the things that I couldn’t explain.
When did you first become interested in photography, specifically?
I was twelve and my mom bought me one of those cheap throwaway cameras. She bought it for me because I was going on a trip. I shot all my film the next day trying to document my day, from when I woke up to when I went to sleep that night. I remember going to MacDonald for dinner that night with my Dad, and I asked if I could take a picture of the cash register guy. This really embarrassed my Dad. But even at that age I knew that every detail was important.
A Boys Place
In what other forms of art do you also work, if any?
I write. I doodle. I received my BA in English in College. I’ve always been writing. I write plays and poetry and non-fiction. I work with both mediums of writing and photography to get across a story in some cases.
On which style(s) of photography do you specialise?
I shoot fine art. I take hours to set up my shots and normally plan everything I use in the shot. Even thought sometimes people will comment that my work looks documentary, it’s really a manipulated environment; in order for me to show the image in my own light.
Has your style changed from when you first began?
If so, why?
I think I just got better at what I liked. I don’t think conceptually I’ve changed just technical things.
Blue Nights And Blue Bikes
What kind of equipment do you use?
Most of my stuff is shot with a Pentax 6×7. I shoot with Kodak 160 VC for color and kodak 125 +PX for Black & White film. I use a 55mm wide angle lens. I do occasionally shoot 4×5 large format, when I get the chance. I have Pentak K10d, but don’t use it for my artwork. I have Bogen tripod.
What made you choose that equipment?
The uniqueness that a medium format camera can give you with the 120 film.
How do you choose what you’re going to photograph?
I don’t really it chooses me in a way. I do a lot of walking and thinking about different thing and I normally draw sketches of a shot that I get stuck in my head, that I think expresses what I’m thinking.
Bontanical; Silly Mechanical; Shrumes
What kind of editing do you perform on your photographs, if any?
Mostly dark room. Color correction, some cropping nothing substantial normally. I do negative scans, and I normally just edit them on CS3 to make them look like my dark room prints.
How much time (on average) does it take to complete a work?
Three Months for a project.
How do you know when a piece is finished?
It’s not easy, but I normally give a couple of days. I work on something when printing and take as long as I need. I normally still don’t thinks done, but I give a couple of days and come back to it. At that point I know if I need to start over, or if it’s good.
Dr. Taylor, Can I Get A Refill?
What do you do to overcome a ‘block’?
I move on. If I get stuck with an idea. I move on to the next idea.
How well do you take criticism and how do you make use of it?
I take criticism well. Normally in it’s relevancy to the person. I think everyone has a valid opinion and I do take into consideration and think about changing work.
Who is your favourite photographer?
William Egglestone.
Which one of your photographs is your favourite?
The one I haven’t taken, yet. If I’ve already taken my favorite then why keep shooting?
Have you exhibited any of your work in galleries?
I had three of my pictures up at Webster University Annual Juried show 2008.
Tree And Need
Will your work be included at any upcoming contests or galleries?
Not that I know for sure right now.
What are your plans for the future?
Keep taking pictures. Keep getting better.
What advice do you have for budding photographers?
Figure out what you’re taking pictures of first. And learn how to make it better.
Some wonderful Photographs! and thank you so much for taking the time to be a part of my ‘Interview With The Photographer’!!
You can see these and more of Daniel’s images at virtuedaniel.imagekind.com
