about this website
Unlike most websites, this one in not trying to sell you anything. On the contrary, I'm giving you something.
I am giving away my "secrets."
I have chosen the four most difficult, in my opinion, areas of photography that I have encountered in my photography journey. I explain why I believe that to be true and tell you what I did and how I overcame those photographic challenges. I hope that you benefit from my experiences.
This section is primarily autobiographical. I include it so that you understand the source of the information that you are about to receive. You can skip this section if you wish.
By way of introduction, my name is Manuel Gaetán -Rivera. I was born in Puerto Rico in 1937.
My photography journey started with couple of childhood friends
1952-1954 - We were the photographers for our high school annual. We used a 5 ¼ Graflex-Speed Graphic camera and we developed our own black and white pictures in Ensor’s garage.
1954-1958 – I did most of the photography for my college fraternity using an Ansco bellows camera with 620 size film. I graduated with a BS in Management Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
1958-1964 – I took photographs sporadically using an 35mm Argus C-3 camera.
1964 – 1970 – I took photographs, but infrequently. The variety of engineering jobs that I had during this period limited my photography opportunities, with the exception of travels throughout Central and South America from 1964 – 1967, when I took my 35 mm camera.
During a three year period of time (1968-1970) I attended Cleveland State University at night and earned a degree of MS in Industrial Engineering in 1970.
1970 – 1998 – I was hired as editor of Bobbin publishing company, publishers of Bobbin magazine and it is when I started my serious photographic journey, all with 35 mm Canon cameras, whichever was the current model at that time. I even owned a KOWA, a large format camera and regarded as the poor man's Hasselblad. I also owned a Bronica, a medium format camera, which I used primarily for weddings, for the short period of 4 years, which I practiced it.
During this period, besides photographing for Bobbin Publications, I photographed for the Sports Program of the University of South Carolina, for Physicians and Sports Medicine magazine owned by McGraw Hill publishing company and for Century Publishing Company, who produced Basketball Digest.
I also pursued additional schooling using distance learning from 1980 – 1983. I earned a PhD in Management Engineering from Columbia Pacific University in 1983.
Also, from 8/30/1993 through 2/30/1995 I was enrolled in the Canon Photography Master Exclusive Certification Program from where I earned the 5 Star Canon Photography Master certification, which I proudly display everywhere. You can see them at the end of this section.
But where does the motivation for all this schooling comes from?
I believe in a Latin saying that goes like this: “qui cessat esse melior cessat esse bonus."
It means: “He who ceases to be better, ceases to be good.” And I subscribe to it.
I taught Digital Photography courses at Midlands Technical College for 13 years. I also taught in the Photovisual Communications track of USC's College of Journalism & Mass Communications as an Adjunct Professor in the summer session of 2006 and 2007. I have also been a photography instructor at the Northeast Arts Academy.
While photographing for the Basketball Digest, a Century Publishing publication out of Evanston, IL, I had the opportunity to travel throughout the country and photograph in most NBA arenas. I have had several photos published, including a cover photo in Sporting News (at the right) and several in Basketball Digest.
Among the many sporting events that I have photographed, these stand out: two NCAA Final Four (Basketball), one NFL Super Bowl, one NBA Final Championship game, several NCAA Conference Championship games and several events at the 1996 Summer Olympics,
which are the last three images of this section.
More detailed information appears in www.MasteringPhotography.com
I am giving away my "secrets."
I have chosen the four most difficult, in my opinion, areas of photography that I have encountered in my photography journey. I explain why I believe that to be true and tell you what I did and how I overcame those photographic challenges. I hope that you benefit from my experiences.
This section is primarily autobiographical. I include it so that you understand the source of the information that you are about to receive. You can skip this section if you wish.
By way of introduction, my name is Manuel Gaetán -Rivera. I was born in Puerto Rico in 1937.
My photography journey started with couple of childhood friends
1952-1954 - We were the photographers for our high school annual. We used a 5 ¼ Graflex-Speed Graphic camera and we developed our own black and white pictures in Ensor’s garage.
1954-1958 – I did most of the photography for my college fraternity using an Ansco bellows camera with 620 size film. I graduated with a BS in Management Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
1958-1964 – I took photographs sporadically using an 35mm Argus C-3 camera.
1964 – 1970 – I took photographs, but infrequently. The variety of engineering jobs that I had during this period limited my photography opportunities, with the exception of travels throughout Central and South America from 1964 – 1967, when I took my 35 mm camera.
During a three year period of time (1968-1970) I attended Cleveland State University at night and earned a degree of MS in Industrial Engineering in 1970.
1970 – 1998 – I was hired as editor of Bobbin publishing company, publishers of Bobbin magazine and it is when I started my serious photographic journey, all with 35 mm Canon cameras, whichever was the current model at that time. I even owned a KOWA, a large format camera and regarded as the poor man's Hasselblad. I also owned a Bronica, a medium format camera, which I used primarily for weddings, for the short period of 4 years, which I practiced it.
During this period, besides photographing for Bobbin Publications, I photographed for the Sports Program of the University of South Carolina, for Physicians and Sports Medicine magazine owned by McGraw Hill publishing company and for Century Publishing Company, who produced Basketball Digest.
I also pursued additional schooling using distance learning from 1980 – 1983. I earned a PhD in Management Engineering from Columbia Pacific University in 1983.
Also, from 8/30/1993 through 2/30/1995 I was enrolled in the Canon Photography Master Exclusive Certification Program from where I earned the 5 Star Canon Photography Master certification, which I proudly display everywhere. You can see them at the end of this section.
But where does the motivation for all this schooling comes from?
I believe in a Latin saying that goes like this: “qui cessat esse melior cessat esse bonus."
It means: “He who ceases to be better, ceases to be good.” And I subscribe to it.
I taught Digital Photography courses at Midlands Technical College for 13 years. I also taught in the Photovisual Communications track of USC's College of Journalism & Mass Communications as an Adjunct Professor in the summer session of 2006 and 2007. I have also been a photography instructor at the Northeast Arts Academy.
While photographing for the Basketball Digest, a Century Publishing publication out of Evanston, IL, I had the opportunity to travel throughout the country and photograph in most NBA arenas. I have had several photos published, including a cover photo in Sporting News (at the right) and several in Basketball Digest.
Among the many sporting events that I have photographed, these stand out: two NCAA Final Four (Basketball), one NFL Super Bowl, one NBA Final Championship game, several NCAA Conference Championship games and several events at the 1996 Summer Olympics,
which are the last three images of this section.
More detailed information appears in www.MasteringPhotography.com
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