Page 19 - NyghtVision Magazine Volume 3 #1

FRANCOIS DEWYNTER 19

phers start with an ASA (film speed) of 400. arrived, one of the tripods was damaged. Plus,
Digital cameras are at their best when the ISO Falcon took out all the electricity on the floor
(the digital equivalent of ASA) is set between in the hotel where we stayed.
100 and 200. A lot of what we learned that Francois: What did he do?
year was counterintuitive, but it worked. JD: He plugged in a power strip not knowing
Francois: Counterintuitive? Can you give that the LED in the power-on switch would
me another example? blow and take out the breaker.
JD: Sure. Making the camera less sensitive to Francois: (Laughing) That must have
light produces better photos. caused a problem.
Francois: Why is that? JD: Yeah... I won’t ever forget the look we got
JD: It has to do with the design of the sensor. when they came to our room to find out what
Digital cameras determine color based on ton- happened. Still, it was a great trip.
al contrast—the difference between black and Francois: Tell me about 2007. I understand
white. The camera sees the world very differ- that was a difficult year.
ently than we do. Our brains divide a scene JD: Yes, but difficult doesn’t begin to describe
into thousands of images—each one properly it. We took a hit in every major market—we
exposed by the brain, and then combined into went from sixty weddings in 2006 to about a
a single image faster than we can see it happen. dozen in 2007. The recession hit a year early in
The camera can’t do that. Making the camera architecture and construction. Then, our sem-
less sensitive to light is part of the solution to inar business dried up overnyght.
this problem. Francois: How has the company changed?
Francois: Now, I'm going to change the JD: We learned a lot from what happened in
subject again. What was it like working with 2006. I think we are more focused now. We try
Falcon in those early days? to pay closer attention to market changes so
JD: Well, Falcon isn’t always detail oriented. that we won’t get caught off-guard again.
I am. I like to think through something before Beyond what we learned in 2007, I think
I do it. Falcon just does it. Before I try some- our technical skills have improved. Our light-
thing, I research what others have done and I ing methodology didn’t exist ten years ago. We
will try to find “best practice.” Falcon usually have grown up a lot.
just jumps right in. So, working together has Francois: Here’s my last question—I plan
always been interesting. (Smiling) on asking Falcon this one too—how do you
Francois: Falcon has told me that you real- keep a creative interest in your work? I have
ly came of age as a photographer on the trip to asked a lot of professionals and they all say it
Copenhagen. Would you agree? is difficult.
JD: Hard to say. Falcon and I had been to JD: It isn’t easy. In fact, it can be very hard.
Grand Turk on assignment, and I think I Photography has been my passion since I
learned a lot on that trip. When we went to looked at my first National Geographic. We
Copenhagen, we were on our own. Our client went back to Damascus this fall. Made me
wasn’t with us, and we had to step up. envy those early days, but as the economy im-
It was a mess. Our tripods and our clothes proves, things will be easier and there will be
were left in Amsterdam and when they finally more time for the old days.

nyghtvision magazine RETUEN TO CONTENTS volume 3, number 1, WINTER 2013