An Interview with Dimitrios Kambourkis

DIMITRIOS KAMBOURIS

1. Who or what influenced you to become a photographer? (NA)

2. What types of photography do you specialize in? (IE fashion, portrait, celebrity)

Celebrity, Fashion, Music/Concert

3. Where did you study photography and when did your career start?

Worked in a camera store/one-hour photo lab while a student at Bryant High School in Astoria, Queens. Got hands advice from professional photographers, such as Dan Lecca, when they dropped off film.

4. Do you prefer using digital or film?

Digital. You can see the exposure on the back of camera. Before you had to wait hours, or even days, for film to come back. Digital these days is as good as film.

5. Does the price of a camera matter in ways that it affects the quality of the picture?

No. A nice $800 SLR will take as good pictures. However, more expensive cameras are more durable with metal parts instead of plastic. Professional cameras can also shoot more frames per second.

6. Do you have a special style in your photographs that can single you out like for example strokes in a painting?

Open up and drag shutter for more ambient light.

7. Do you think that society would be different if photography had not been invented?

Of course. We’re freezing the moment in time. You can go back and look at it.

8. What did you do to gain so much knowledge in this area and do you have any tips for an aspiring photographer?

Be hands on. Take the photos yourself. You can’t read a book or have someone tell you what to do. Digital is so easy, like a Polaroid, so you can make corrections. Play with shutter speeds and apertgures. Learn from your mistakes. Actually, there are no mistakes… everything just looks different.

9. Do you have a favorite photograph or photographer?

Ron Galella’s candid of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis crossing the street. It looks vintage. Galella froze that moment. She turned, smiled, hair was perfect in the air. It’s paparazzi, but could have been a cover shoot.

10. What makes a good photographer in your opinion?

Willing to take chances. When someone is doing it one way, you should shoot it differently: crop , lens aperture, etc.

11. What do you enjoy most about photography and what motivates you?

Like going to events and parties. I go to document people having fun, wearing dresses, and that moment in their lives.

12. What is your next big project that you look forward to working on?

Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, Screen Actors Guild Awards, Elton John’s Oscar Party, store openings (Gucci, Dior, etc.).