Lost America: Call for questions

By coryking written 11/20/05 11:02 AM, published 11/20/05 11:02 AM
Photographer Troy Paiva of Lost America has agreed to be interviewed by us.  Troy is an accomplished night photographer who has been taking pictures of the desert at night since around 1989.  He has published a book Lost America which is full of his wonderful photography.  He has recently switched from film to digital for his work at night.

So, I ask all of you to take a look at his website and think of some questions you would like to ask.  The editors and I will pick the best ones that are not answered in his back story (which is a great read) or technique page and send them off to Troy for a response.

I'll send these questions to him on Monday, November 21'st.

Update [2005-11-20 11:2:9 by coryking]: Last call!


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  • nirak 11/15/05 1:18 PM
    This sounds great! I love his work. I'll have to think hard to come up with a good question. :)

  • jojames1 11/15/05 1:28 PM
    Homework? Hmmmm....we are up for the challenge. (we meaning all my personalities)

  • Blizzard 11/15/05 1:33 PM
    I have questions. How much coffee did you drink on these long trips? What's the longest period of time you went without sleeping? Also did you ever have the misfortune of your car breaking down in the middle of nowhere? If so,what was that experience like? What was the tow truck driver like and was he a local? Did you ever come across a place of business that happend to still be open in an abondon town? If so,what was that experience like?

    - I want to pull your teeth


  • lilbit 11/15/05 1:38 PM
    8 quarts, 48 hours, yes, fat sweaty greasy, yes

  • Blizzard 11/15/05 1:45 PM
    I know there not that interesting of questions, but it's hard to come up with something to ask after reading his back story and technique page on his website.

    - I want to pull your teeth


  • coryking 11/15/05 1:49 PM
    Blizzard, your's are actually pretty good!

    - Random User


  • Blizzard 11/15/05 7:30 PM
    Two more questions. What's the craziest thing you ever did to get the perfect shot? What's the most dangerous thing you did to get the perfect shot? I know he has done some crazy and dangerous things, but I want to know what he thinks is the absolute craziest and dangerous.

    - I want to pull your teeth


  • AnyMoose Hero 11/17/05 8:33 AM
    My question, Troy, I love the Salton Sea Series. I have been captivated and mystified by the area for years now. But, I am afraid to take photos there during the day. How was it shooting there at night? And any run in with the locals there, who can be quite an interesting bunch?

    - Still a Moose


  • jellybean 11/17/05 9:55 AM
    my question is: Do you shoot photos because you like them or with the idea that "oh,,that will sell."?

  • jojames1 11/17/05 10:47 AM
    Question: What do you find to be the most difficult part of photography....what would you consider your weakness?

  • Porkchop 11/17/05 12:00 PM
    How do you approach people to get permission to shoot on their property at night? What words or phrases work to allay fears you are not some sort of nut and obtain that permission? What do you say to the sherrif when he asks, "Wut'r you doin' here at this hour?"

    - Pigs CAN fly!


  • lifeonfilm 11/17/05 6:35 PM
    How does the lack of sleep on these longer drives effect your creativity? I know from my own experience that it effects me differently in the way I think at different stages of exhaustion.

  • Photo Yaloo 11/17/05 8:07 PM
    What are your favorite light sources for nighttime shots? Do you search for subjects in the light and imagine what it would look like at night or do you mainly look for these shots at night? How do you obtain such vivid color in your shots?

    - In tune with the camera.


  • camereye 11/18/05 5:35 PM
    This is so cool you showed this.I happen to live in Monahans, I know all these places he shot here.This place is rapidly becoming a ghost town around here.The oilfield is winding down, fifty years of pulling oil out of the ground. I really like how he see's what others discard as a photo op. What is the main difference in film and digital shooting at nite.What is the advantage of digital over film.

  • throughtheeyesoflauramars 11/19/05 8:59 AM
    How do you break a creative rut?

    - www.niftyimages.com


  • KayN 11/20/05 1:15 PM
    I was wondering the same thing as Rachel....

    - Ms.N