“Flickrite” in the Spotlight: Utah HDR Master

The Distance Between :: HDR :: Vertorama

Originally uploaded by |sumsion|

I’m very excited to present the next PhotoCapM “Flickrite” in the Spotlight. He produces some of the most stunning images that I have ever seen. With each photograph that he posts up I find myself saying, “WOW” and then asking myself, “How did he do that?”

His name is Mike Sumsion (a.k.a. |sumsion|) and his primary method in photographic processing is high dynamic range, or HDR. In this style of processing Mike has produced some the most stunning images of the areas surrounding the Great Salt Lake near Salt Lake City, Utah. His imaginative point of view and use of depth of field only enhances the images he makes as made evident in the photograph attached to this article. Mike seeks to use HDR to portray what the eye sees and I believe he is very effective in doing just that.

I had the opportunity to interact with Mike recently and discovered something that really demonstrates how small the world can be. Mike’s brother Matt and I attended High School together, which made the selection of him as a PhotoCapM “Flickrite” that much more special for me. I also had the opportunity to find out a little more about Mike with our interaction and the following is what he shared with me related to his making of photographs.

Mike got in to photography in High School and told me that he “spent most of his senior year in the darkroom.” He enjoyed the processing of images more than the photography itself. After High School and with many years away from photography he realized that he truly missed it and returned to image making in 2008. In his return he realized something further that was much different from his time photographing in High School, “The landscape [of photography] had changed a lot, because of [the] digital aspect of things. However, that part of it is why I really enjoy the taking part now as much as I enjoy the processing.”

Mike loves to “create” and finds that creative outlet through digital photography. He is inspired by and driven by Flickr. In his own words this is why, “When I decided to get back into photography, Flickr became my classroom. The friends that I’ve found on Flickr have been so helpful in helping me find my eye.”

His favorite styles of photography to view are street photographs and portrait work. He looks to focus more on these two styles of photographic work in the future. Mike loves making photographs of landscapes and says that he will always return to them, but is looking to learn new things. This last fall and winter he has spent a lot of time learning about studio lighting.

As with every article for “Flickrite” in the Spotlight, I asked Mike to recommend one of his photographs to be used with this article. The one he chose is the one that appears above. The reason why he chose this particular image is important, because it demonstrates many things about his style and method in photography. “It combines many of the processes/methods I’ve learned, such as HDR, landscapes, and vertoramas. It’s also [a photograph of] The Great Salt Lake, which is one of my favorite subjects.” As I said in the opening of this article, this is just one example of the “stunning” images he makes that causes me to say, “WOW”.

I had the opportunity to ask Mike if he had any advice for those looking to pursue photography as a hobby, trade, or profession and this is what he had to say to you in his own words.

“Jump right in and start learning from others. I would make one suggestion, however. Don’t do what I did. When I bought my first DSLR (Nikon D90) I purchased the 18-200 lens, thinking that this would do everything I’d every need in photography. I soon discovered that I loved taking landscapes, and this lens was not what I needed. I got rid of it and ended up with a Sigma 10-20. So – don’t purchases any lenses until you’ve decided what you’d actually like to take pictures of.”

Mike really demonstrates what can transpire when someone “jump[s] right in” and is driven to learn about the photographs they make. He focuses on capturing what his eye sees and then shares his eye with you in the fantastic images that he produces. His desire and the results of that desire are why Mike is a PhotoCapM “Flickrite” in the Spotlight. Please visit Mike’s photostream by clicking on his Flickr name above (|sumsion|) and see for yourself some of the most beautiful images will see anywhere.

Until next time…

CbyM

Did you know that Mike has a Fan Page on Facebook? Stop by his page on Facebook and while you are at it become a fan of Mike Sumsion Photography. (Important Notice: The image in this article was used with the expressed permission of and is copyrighted by Mike Sumsion Photography (|sumsion|). All rights reserved.)