Or website at least.  HIs name is Fuzzy Duenkle, and website is here.  He's featured in this month's Rangefinder magazine, and his photos are awesome.  He also doesn't use flash, just reflectors or flags.  Pretty cool environmental shots!

EDIT: here's the Rangefinder article

All I can say is wow.  If I'm ever half as good as these guys, I'll achieve my goal!!  Thanks for the site, I'm bookmarking it for sure!

I did too.  Oh to have that kind of talent!

Fantastic.

But man, that last shot...WOWZA!

this is the second website in the last couple of days that makes me think "I am so not worthy"  BUT I WANNA BE THAT GOOD....lol  ok whine done time to get to work...

I've been to websites of several members on the Mpix forums and I personally believe that the members on the Mpix forums are much better.  I didn't really like this photographer's photos. 

I stumbled across Fuzzy and his Wisconsin based photography business only after reading Bill Hurter and Amherst Media's book: "Portrait Photographer's Handbook". Being new to the portrait photography business, I started ordering books and more books. This and several others were invaluable in education that I very much needed. It's also available at amazon.com. There is a 2007 version now, but the one I ordered can be found by searching for ISBN# 1-58428-140-5.

Fuzzy's work is highlighted several times in this book and several others by Bill Hurter. I too saw those images and thought "I'll be years before I get to that level". But the simple use of proper posing, available light, and by forcing the light to go where I want it to go by use of reflectors and shades has proven to be the single best improvement to my photography.

My work has gone from little more than point and shoot, to photos of seniors that make their mom's cry. If interested, check out my MySpace page, and my Student Portraits page on my main web site www.someoneblinked.com.

I know this is still a work in progress, but with time and practice I'll get there. Fuzzy's examples and the use of simple and inexpensive tools have been key and inspiration to my rapid improvement. Some of the poses and shots I don't like, but he has mastered the use of available light.

Tim VanBergen, Newberg, Oregon

www.someoneblinked.com • Tim VanBergen Phogography • tim@tims-site.com

 

 
 

I have been a big fan of Fuzzy's for a while now.  My daughters get a big kick out of his name and whenever we see a cool shot that looks like his style, we all say "It's a Fuzzy picture!"  and die laughing.  What a name!!

glad this got brought back up. 

Welcome TIm.  HOpe you like it here!

JessE. I just visited your web site. I too have bookmarked Fuzzy's page and refer to it often for posing and lighting inspiration.

But looking over your site, the images of the young lady in the Seniors gallery are gorgeous. Of course it helps to have a stunning model, but you captured her wonderfully, and the retouching work was wonderfully done. Don't sell yourself short in comparing to Fuzzy and company. Your's is a talent all to itself that I admire. I like the way you incorporate other artistic elements into the images like year, name, and other text. Nicely done. I hope to one day have the photoshop editing vision that so many have.

The best I can do now is take the pictures, and make the camera do the hard work. Here's what I have so far. There is VERY little photo editing done, mainly because when I get started editing, I either don't have a plan or vision, or I don't know when to stop and the shot is ruined:

http://someoneblinked.com/Seniors.htm

Tim VanBergen
Oregon

 

Are we looking at the same thing? LoL  I assuming you are talking about the pictures on his website and not the website itself as your favorite, right?  And what do you mean he doesn't use flash?  He clearly uses flash in many of those shots, there's even at least one ringflash picture in there.  =D

Nice shots though, not arguing that.  I don't know about favorite though, that's a stretch with some of the amazing photogs out there... but he definitely knows what he's doing. :) 

Tim thank you for your nice comments.  The girl is my step daughter in my seniors section.  I am not a photoshop pro by any means, and there are tons that are very creative on here.  It helps having the tools, like full PS with masks and such.  That's one thing that is lacking, so therefore can't do montages like others can.

Ryan, I do think he was very good, but also someone that can be emulated.  Some photogs sites are filled with complete sets, that a regular person could never compete with, but he used regular things and places.  It's nice to see someone's work that could be studied to improve our own work.  I've found mulitple photogs sites, which have all now been lost with the computer crash.

I think Rangefinder is an excellent source for looking at other photogs sites.

Yah, I'm looking at the same thing :-) . Pictures yes, not the web site. But point well taken regarding the quality of photogs out there. I bookmark and refer frequently to all that catch my eye and inspire me to improve. And I can tell by the images on your site that you're a prime example of that. But from a relative beginner photographer's viewpoint, I look for images and sites that inspire me to improve and emulate.

Truthfully, your images are inspiring as well. I have only done a few weddings, but steer clear unless really begged. That is such a hard project to shoot and should NOT be taken on without good understanding of my camera and equipment, and MY ability to use them with mastery.

That shoot, if not taken with much forethought and planning will be ruined. A senior portrait can be re-shot time and time again until perfection is attained. But a wedding, man, you have maybe one chance to get it right. There are no second chances, and opportune moments will pass by in a blink. There's nothing worse than a disappointed bride viewing the failed results of her most anticipated of day.

And yes, I believe that Fuzzy does use flash, but to the best of my knowledge it's only a fill flash to remove incidental shadows, but only when needed. His primary light source is available light with reflectors. That's inspiring to me because 1) an on-board flash, and remote flash if not used properly produces washed out elements, and 2) I'm REALLY cheap. To use the available light and a reflector is my kind of inexpensive lighting. Also Fuzzy also does quite a bit of post production in PhotoShop editing as advertised on his web site.

Thanks for the comment though. I'm an aspiring "pro" photographer. I'll get there one day. 

Tim