Darren Jew
Having been inspired to explore a career in nature photography by my father's travels in Antarctica, I now pursue a passion for capturing and sharing the wonder of the natural world.
After graduating from the Queensland College of Art, I first worked in commercial photography, before taking up a position as photographer with the Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Service, where I worked for 8 years.
I moved on from that part of my career in 1994 and my work is now published widely in books, magazines and paper products. I've had the opportunity to photograph extensively across Australia and in Africa, Alaska, Patagonia and Antarctica and have introduced many people to the world's great wildlife and landscape destinations first hand, through small group photography tours, predominantly to Africa and Antarctica.
In the bag
35mm (now digital) equipment
I have been using Canon equipment since 1987. My current kit is an EOS 1ds body, EF 16-35mm f2.8L, EF50mm f1.8, EF70-200mmf2.8L, EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS, EF300mm f2.8L, 1.4x and 2x converters, extension tube 25, EX550 strobes. I find the Canon cameras' controls to be laid out conveniently and find I can use them intuitively, ensuring I can concentrate fully on my subject.
Underwater gear
Having taken my first underwater photographs on a Nikonos III and then moving on to Nikonos V, for the past few years I have used a Canon EOS 50 housed in a Subal CE50 alloy housing, and Nikonos SB105 Strobes. Recently I have migrated to digital capture underwater with the addition of a a Nikon D200 in a SEACAM housing, with 10-20mm and 17-70mm Sigma lenses and a 105mm Micro-Nikor for close-ups. The housed cameras allows me to work as I would on land; with a high degree of flexibility and camera control that is familiar.
Larger Formats
I have quite a few landscape images in my collection shot on a Bronica ETR-s medium format camera with 40,50, 75 and 150mm lenses. In early 2003 I purchased Ebony SW45 non-folding field camera, hand-built in Japan from ebony timber and titanium. It is a beautiful camera. I am shooting 6x12's on a horseman roll film holder, with the following lenses: Schneider Super-Angulon f5.6/58 XL, Rodenstock Grandagon 5.6/80, Schneider Symmar-S 5.6/180. The Ebony is light, simple, quick: a joy to shoot with.
Film
My preference has been for Fuji tranny films, and most of my B.D. (Before Digital) collection is on Velvia, Provia and Astia.
Digital Capture
I really enjoy the creativity afforded by digital capture. I always capture in RAW format, mostly converted with Photoshop/Adobe Camera Raw. A times I employ the Canon and Nikon proprietry RAW converters.
Bags
I use various Lowe-pro backpacks and bum bags to shoot from, and Pelican Products hard cases for transporting gear. I wish Lowe-pro would bring back the "made from cordura in Ireland by LASI" range of bags from the 80's. They were bullet-proof.
Imaging
I have an Imacon Flextight Photo scanner for high quality 35mm/medium format/6x12cm film scans, and a Nikon Super Coolscan 5000 and 50-slide feeder for bulk 35mm scanning. A G4 tower runs the scanners and a G4 Dual processor 1.25ghz with 2GB RAM is my imaging workstation. And a G4 Powerbook for in the field.
Print Making
I now produce all my prints on an Epson 9800, through an Onyx Ripstar-based RIP. Prints are made on various media - RC papers, canvas and the new generation gloss-coated fine art papers.
Take only photographs is Darren's regular photography column in Wildlife Australia Magazine http://www.wildlife.org.au/
Click here to see Darren's photos in our Gallery.
Darren's website http://www.darrenjew.com