About 52 in Saint John
52 in Saint John is a weekly photo portrait project by me, Dan Culberson. I want to document people who are making Saint John better. It is also a project that allows me to meet neat people in the city I love and forces me to practice my photo portrait skills at least once a week.
Certainly a weekly portrait project, or a photo portrait project highlighting leaders in a specific city are not new. However, in looking around, I didn't see anyone doing it in my city. I feel it is important the people I photograph are recognized. I had thought of doing this project many times but could never seem to get it started until I took a third or fourth long look through the complete set of Portraits by Bill Wadman.
52 in Saint John is updated every Tuesday beginning September 1st, 2009.
Please participate in 52 in Saint John by either volunteering to be photographed or recommending someone you feel should be recognized.
The Photographer
I live on the west side of Saint John, New Brunswick, and I work full time at an ad agency uptown. In addition to a number of private and commercial commissions, including working as a photographer at the ECMAs and CCMAs, I have been published in The National Post, Telegraph Journal, [here], and some other publications I can't think of right now.
One time, I had a tiny stock photo of an instrument published in Rolling Stone. Which is funny... 'cause at one time near the beginning of this journey I always figured when I was published in Rolling Stone I'd finally have arrived as a full time photographer. Turns out photographing for big name magazines is about as small time as it gets.
I'm having more fun photographing now than ever before.
Technically Speaking
I don't get too hung up on talking about gear or technique. I intend to keep the portraits displayed here as simple and honest as possible.
In terms of retouching, I edit photos only for color and contrast. I do not add or remove any elements through cloning or stamping or other trickery.
Photos are taken in natural light. Sometimes hauling around a bunch of lights and gear gets in the way of really seeing.
As of the beginning of this project, I am using a Canon 40D. I have a 20mm prime, a 50mm prime, and 100mm prime.
This gear suits me fine.