Featuring Brevard's photographers
Keith Betterley- Melbourne, Florida
Tell us a little about you.
I was born and raised in Lakehurst NJ. Lived there until I was 21, spent a couple years in upstate NY and then move to Melbourne, FL in 1996. I have called it home ever since. I love the area, love the people. I am really appreciative of all the great friends I have made here.
I love spending time with my son and my girlfriend, Ahlea and just soaking up life with the people I love.
What sparked your interest in photography?
I first became curious about photography when I was really young. I use to watch The Odd Couple TV show and Felix Unger was a photographer and I always got a kick out of the way he'd introduce himself, "Felix Unger, freelance photographer, portraits a specialty." As a child I thought it was odd. My interest really peaked in 1987, I was 15 and U2's Joshua Tree album was released. Anton Corbijn's cover shot of the band in was so amazing to me. I had really never seen anything like it. It was the first time I really thought of photography as art and I was hooked. I dug through my father's closet and pulled out his dormant Pentax K1000 and have been hooked ever since.
Is photography your hobby, passion, or profession?
I think passion turned profession. I had to make it my profession, I was so obsessed with photography that I couldn't focus on much else. I spent years as a graphic designer, always working with others photographs, whether retouching or just placing in layouts they were just taunting me. I felt a dire need to be the one shooting the pictures.
Film or Digital?
Today all digital. I did love the days of being a darkroom but it is tough to justify film. Digital SLRs have eclipsed 35mm and is rivaling some medium format film and the instant gratification is just too good. Digital is just too flexible, the ability to change ISOs shot to shot is amazing. The ability to show someone their picture on an LCD can be invaluable too. I have photographed so many people who are absolutely petrified of the camera, so I talk to them a bit, get them to relax and pop a quick shot then show it to them. Once they see how great they look they loosen up and you end up with really great photos.
Black & White or Color?
My first love was B&W. Starting out in high school all I shot was B&W and most of my shots by other photographers were B&W. I think it is a little easier to get an interesting picture in B&W because it really focuses on the subject by not letting colors distract the viewer. Color on the other hand requires a little more work and little awareness. I think if you can make a great image in color you can make an amazing B&W. Another great aspect of digital is you can have both.
What do you shoot with?
I'm a Canon shooter. I currently use a 1Ds Mark II and a 5D Mark II. Both are full frame cameras, which means the sensor that captures the image is actually the same size as 35mm film. This really suits the subject matter that I shoot such as portraits, interiors and landscapes. I like shallower depth of field you can achieve with the larger sensor. I have 3 Canon prime lenses, 35 1.4, 50 1.2 and the 85 1.2. I also have 3 zooms, 16-35 2.8, 24-70 2.8 and 100-400 4.5-5.6. I have been shooting with prime lenses more and more. I loved the convenience of zooms but have really fallen in love with fast apertures and image quality of the primes. Plus I like the thought and effort that comes with composing a shot with a prime. It makes a shoot a little more fun and interesting.
Favorite camera/ lens set up?
This is a tough one. This is like asking someone which is their favorite child. Since no ones feeling are getting hurt I'll say my 1Ds Mark II with the 50 1.2 is my favorite. My 5D Mark II is more megapixels and probably sharper images. But there is something about the images out of the 1Ds that have a film quality about them. In comparison I think the 5D might be too perfect. Plus the 1Ds is weather sealed and if I get caught in the rain it's no big deal. I chose the 50 1.2 lens over the 85 1.2 just based on usable focal length. The 85 is my favorite lens but it is a little too long for some things and the 50 is that old standard focal length. It is easily a close second favorite.
Most interesting subject you have ever photographed?
In April Health First commissioned me to shoot five portraits to commemorate the 10 year anniversary of the Homes Regional Trauma Center. The subjects were people who were involved in life threatening accidents and saved at the Trauma Center. All the stories were incredible and heart-wrenching but one really stood out to me, LyCurtis Snead. He was on a motorcycle and someone turned out in front of him. He sustained an unbelievable amount of injuries but the worst of all was internal decapitation. An injury that leaves a victim with just a .05% chance of survival. Meeting LyCurtis and being asked to photograph him has been a inspiration and a huge honor for me.
Do you have a favorite photograph that you have taken?
LyCurtis Snead's portrait and shot of him and his young daughter at the presentation of the Trauma Center wall. It was just amazing to see him there knowing how close he was to dying and seeing him hold his daughter. Very very humbling.
What is your favorite thing to photograph?
People. I love meeting new people and getting know them. I feel very honored to take someones portrait. How people feel about themselves and the way they look can be a delicate thing that I don't take lightly and I am honored that they have entrusted me with this. You get a really great feeling when people like the results. I feel like I've made some really good friends along the way.
Have you studied photography or are you self-taught or a little of both?
I would say as far as the technical aspects I am self-taught. I learned a little in high school from teachers but no higher education. I have gone to school for graphic design and I think that has had an influence on my composition. The best educator is just going out an doing it. There really are no excuses with digital these days.
Who if anyone has influenced your growth as a photographer?
I don't really have any close personal photographic influences. Some of the pros that inspire me are Anton Corbijn, Richard Avedon, Herb Ritts, Annie Leibovitz, Ellen von Unwerth, Russell James, Steven Meisel and David LaChapelle just to name a few. Personal influences would be my son Justin. He is not a photographer but I'm learning a lot from him. He is a teenager now and I find myself giving him pep talks about life and I'll realize that I am not just giving them to him but to myself also. He has always been a great kid and now he is turning into a great young man and I feel I have a lot of catching up to do.
Do you have any interesting stories that happened during one of your photo shoots?
Just recently I was shooting at the Yellow Dog Café and they had set up a dining table out on there dock. Unfortunately it was quite windy that day and one of the chairs was blown into the water. Stuart, the owner and one of his wait staff grabbed a canoe and went out to retrieve it. Not a great story but it was pretty entertaining to watch the rescue mission.
How can people view more of your work?
You can log on to my website www.betterleyphoto.com. The Trauma Center at Holmes Regional is where you can see the portrait of LyCurtis and the other Trauma survivors or you can pick up a copy of the Yellow Dog Café Cook Book. I worked with Stuart and Nancy Borton for a month or so on the photography and we are all really proud of the results.
How can people get in touch with you if they would like to hire you for a photo session/project?
Send me an email, keith@betterleyphoto.com. Or go to my website all my contact info is there.
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