Feature Friday: Ghost River Photography
I have known Jon and Lee for quite some time now, and I finally got to do my first proper photo shoot with them last week. I am so excited to feature them today because they really bring a fierce Photoshop game to the front lines. I haven’t gotten to do very much extreme special effects with my cosplay photography, but I’m looking forward to working with them more in the future.
As they are a team, Lee’s responses will be in plain text while Jon’s responses will be in italics. When there is no differentiation between their answers, it will be plain text. I hope you enjoy their work and feature.
Ghost River Photography
What is your photography name? Ghost River Photography
What are your names? Lee Parks and Jon Perry
What do you do when you do when you aren’t behind the lens? Engineers (Enginerds). Family dudes.
How old are you? I’m 46, not sure how old Jon is. Probably 60 or 70. I like to think I’m currently the answer to the universe (42 for you hitchhikers)
When did you first decide to become photographers? Officially, we kicked off the business in early 2016, but we’ve been doing it as a hobby for years and years and years… I think Lee had a camera instead of a pacifier, maybe not.
What made you want to be a photographer? We like art. but I cannot paint worth a darn. I’m pretty sure Jon is allergic to anything that’s not made out of a computer. I’m a very visual guy. I’ve always had an appreciation and affinity towards art…. photography is the best medium I have to express that because I can’t paint. And drawing is too time consuming.
Tell us about your photography style. We definitely lean towards creative photography. As noted earlier, we cannot paint. More specifically, we cannot paint with traditional tools but we have ideas and the camera and acomputer allow us to create those visions. Lee’s more of the photoshop genius, I’m still a padawan. I lean more toward portraiture and amazing landscapes. Cosplay portraits are tons of fun because a lot of the photoshop ‘work’ is done by the cosplayer when they create all of these amazing costumes
What is your weapon/camera of choice? Sony A7RIII is the way to go. It has great dynamic range, high ISO capabilities mixed with low noise make it a dream. Definitely Sony fanboys since the Sony Nex 5… we’re fortunate enough now to be using the new A7RIII cameras with a lot of fantastic Sony glass. Lee likes the versatility of the 24-70 zoom lens, while I like the creamy backgrounds prime lenses provide.
How do you use photoshop as a tool for enhancing your photos? And what got you into doing that style of photo editing? To us, cameras are a tool, not a style. We use the camera to get us started and then Photoshop to turn those images into art. The photo is our canvas and photoshop is our brush and paint. Again, Lee’s the PS genius. I use LR for most of the normal photos, but definitely lean on Photoshop’s layers, filters, and action capabilities for creative photos. Having the ability in Photoshop to make non-permanent/destructive changes is a key to trying out different looks and styles
What is your favorite cosplay photograph you have taken? Nope! Can’t have just one favorite. Choosing only one is like asking me to say which emotion is best. Circumstances can evoke emotion and depending on the circumstance and moods, any given image will be the most copacetic at that moment. Yeah… that’s like asking which breath of air was your favorite… we like them all.
What is your favorite photograph (doesn’t have to be cosplay) you have ever taken? See previous answer. Although, it has been really cool working on the League of Extraordinary Children project. Seeing those kids and families light up at the sight of their super kid is really cool. So one of the impacts that photography has for me as a photographer is that looking at each photo reminds me of what it was like when I took the photo, and I don’t have a ‘favorite’ memory.
You primarily work as a team, how did that partnership form? I’m awesome and Jon is awesome. Awesome attracts awesome. Like poles of a magnet. Except not opposite. Also, we work together at GE. We had a few projects together and we’re both gamers, so we got into gaming together. Our daughters are about the same age so we started family trips and camping. We both liked photography so we’d bring our cameras on the trips, and what started as landscape photography eventually turned into family photos. Then a couple of friends asked us to do their weddings. Voila! Did we mention we’re awesome?
What advantages do you think you have working as a team rather than solo? Definitely idea sharing and the #1 thing is that we both know how to respectfully share ideas. Also, when one of us is not feeling it, the other can step in influence the flow of the energy. It keeps the creativity moving and flowing. Yeah, this is definitely key. We are a lot a like so it’s natural to work off of each other’s ideas.
What are some dream cosplay photo shoots that you would like to do? We’re planning on some sick duo/team shots at Dragoncon this year. We’ve got a few epic match-up ideas and are hoping that we can get a few cosplayers to work with us to make them come together. Working with other cosplayers who want to collaborate to make epic shots is what we strive for. Dream photoshoot? Do ALL THE PHOTOSHOOTS!!!! (Insert do all the things meme here).
What is your biggest challenge as a photographer? Time. Always time. We have hundreds of creative photo ideas but we also have bills, so there’s that. Being awesome has a price, and that price is sleep isn’t overrated. At least for me… Lee doesn’t sleep, but he isn’t tall so…..(haha)
Who are the biggest inspirations/influencers in your photography? There are hundreds of unnamed artists who did the covers for fantasy and sci-fi novels back in the day. Of course the comic book artists like Todd McFarlane and Joe Madureira and so many more. Also Dungeons and Dragons artists. Too many! Recent artists to check out are Benjamin Von Wong and Lora Zombie. They rock. Everyone.
What is the best advice you have for models as a photographer? Relax, but don’t relax too much. Modeling is easy. Great modeling is hard work. Most important, keep the positive energy flowing. This is fun. I’m having fun. Have fun!
What is the best advice you have for aspiring photographers? The only real audience in the world for your art is you. Do what you love, what you want and if other people are into it, that’s cool too. Also… Success is not the absence of failure (that’s Lee’s line) Don’t be afraid to try and fail.
Anything else you’d like to add? Go out of your way to surround yourself with those who you love and inspire you to be better. Call them, message them. Stay in touch. It makes all the difference in the world. People are more important than things (although things are nice). Enrich yourselves through the people you meet and surround yourselves with (even the assholes, they teach you how not to act)
Who is ready to hire them for all the things? Leave a comment for us below, and make sure you check out their social media pages below before you go. Don’t forget to subscribe via email or Bloglovin’ to never miss a post.
Ghost River Photography’s Social Media:
Instagram: @ghostriverphotogaphy
Facebook: Ghost River Photography