Today we'd like to introduce to you ViewBug community member shauntokes. Shaun Tokunaga is from the wonderful little island of O’ahu, Hawai’i. His beautiful photos have received over one thousand Peer Awards, visit his gallery and get inspired!
1. When someone looks at your photos, what do you want them to take away from it? What are you trying to communicate?
The way I see it, photographs are time capsules that embrace the essence of a moment in this ever changing world. I strive to create landscape images that are timeless and capture the life of the land. It’s all about finding a groove, vibing with my surroundings and capturing a sense of place that I hope translates to the viewer. With people, I try to capture the spirit of that person when given the creative freedom.
2. What is it that you love about photography?
Photography, like any other skill, the more you do it the better you get at it. I love the challenge of it all. The learning, problem solving, chasing light, making images that when I open up the files on my monitor I say “wow” out loud.
3. What has photography done for you?
More than anything photography has taught me patience. I used to go into panic mode when shooting in certain situations such as being faced with difficult exposures and whatnot. However, the feeling of hurry wore off and the patience I developed has taught me how to problem solve. Making images is a very solitary thing for me. I find my zen moments in life while going out to shoot, getting lost in moments. It’s kind of like therapy.
4. Do you try to be conceptual or do you prefer to show the feeling behind a photo?
My approach to shooting is usually based on versatility, but I usually have an idea of what I’d like to capture before I go. The gear that goes with me corresponds; unless I’m shooting portraits - then I’ll bring the flash kit for more options. There’s always a backup plan because it’s good (and more fruitful) to be prepared. I guess technically I do conceptualize, I’m very loose about it but I do like a lot of drama in my images.
5. What are your 3 top tips for others who want to become better photographers?
My top 3 tips for people looking to improve their photography is to shoot, shoot, shoot! It’s good to find a local mentor too. Sometimes it’s easier to learn hands on than watching videos on YouTube. I’d also say to get a fast 50mm and really learn that lens, regardless of how much you want that expensive wide angle lens for landscape photography. They’re cheap, optically great and will help to improve your photo skills immensely. Also, people tend to get too caught up in all the gear hype. Having intimate knowledge of the gear you do have goes a lot farther than having that newly released camera body. Remember that the camera doesn’t make the photo, you do. If you’re not getting the results you’re looking for, it’s probably not the camera but user skill. Limitations help to nurture problem solving and improvising and this helps to further develop style.
6. Have you received negative feedback from your work? What did you do about it?
I’ve definitely received negative feedback on my work. I think critique is important to push myself further with what I do. Art studio courses require everyone to attend critiques and for good reason. There is never an end to how much we can learn about any art form. It grows as we grow and sometimes tough love is good for building character.
7. Where did you learn to take photos?
I started taking photos during the turn of the digital age and learned what I could by reading. This was in the early 2000’s and the internet as well as photography were not at all what they are today. I used to read all the photo magazines at the bookstore and was shooting a lot of surfing so I’d go through those too. I would study photos that stood out and tried to figure out how they were shot then try to replicate.
8. If you could have the gift of a great photographer who would it be and why?
There’s so many photographers I admire but if I had one to pick from to have their gift, it would be Dustin Humphrey. He was my biggest inspiration during my early years of shooting. Being that he was a staff photographer for one of the big surfing magazines, his published work was plentiful and always had something special to it. There’s that signature look to his photos that you knew it was his before reading the photo credit. The diversity and creativity in his images were ahead of his time.
9. What is next for you? Any planned adventures with your camera?
My next adventure is right around the corner and it’s something that’s been long overdue. Alaska, the last frontier for America, the next step on my lifelong journey around our planet. I’ve been wanting to go to Alaska for as long as I can remember and can’t be more excited to get there. I’m constantly looking for ways to take the next step in my photography and I strongly feel that our work as artists should parallel our growth as people. It’s not just going somewhere different and photographing the places we’ve seen in the photos that made us want to go there. I think that the life experience, the people, the places, the sights and sounds and smells all contribute to the creativity that we ultimately express through photographs.
10. Who is your favorite photographer on ViewBug and why?
I can’t say that I really have a favorite photographer on ViewBug. There’s so many great photographers that it’s hard to single one out. The latest gallery that I’m really liking is by melissahutchinson. Her images are so moody that you can’t help but feel something when looking at them. She’s only got a handful of images posted but I think her style is amazing.
