Today’s showcase is a really unique photographer hailing from Paris, France. The fifteen year old teen photographer makes use of available light in spectacular ways, and his portfolio is certainly on par with any industry professional. Sittler advocates understanding light in a lightweight manner without a huge emphasis on expensive equipment, creating photos that are epic in scale and wonder. He provided us with tips on creating beautiful star trail photographs earlier in a fantastic tutorial.

Pont Alexandre III, Before Sunset

Pont Alexandre III, Before Sunset

 

 
I’ve noticed that you have a very diverse portfolio. What’s your favorite type of photography?

I experiment with all kinds of photography; I really follow my whims and what I feel like experimenting with at a given time. However, since I live in a big city, architecture photographs have begun to dominate my portfolio. This does not prevent me, of course, from using every opportunity I can get to photograph landscapes, nature or people, or to explore ongoing creative projects, or even to have some fun with light painting. I can’t say I have a favorite kind. That awesome feeling of excitement, when the shutter clicks and you know you just took a really good picture, can occur regardless of the subject.

 

 

Camping Beneath The Stars - With Star Trail Tutorial

Camping Beneath the Stars.
This more outdoorsy picture was taken only a few months back in the Moroccan Atlas massif. I was on a group hiking trip where we slept in tents, and some people would read in their tents at night, beautifully illuminating them from the inside. To obtain this 56-minute exposure, I combined 28 120-second images taken on a tripod using the program startrails.exe. I framed my composition (hard to do because of near-total darkness), then used an intervalometer to time the shots automatically for me. After that, I just had to wait the required amount of time. The stars’ movement relative to the camera during these 56 minutes is such that they form trails on the picture. (For more on Star Trails, read the tutorial)
 
 
 
How has living in France shaped your photographic journey? What are some of your favorite places to take photos?

My arrival in Paris actually predates my interest for photography, so I can’t really compare this with living in another place. I have had some contact over email with Owen Hearn, who was a featured photographer on your site previously, and lives on a farm. My experience was certainly different from his, and I could say that my inclination for very graphic, geometric architecture photos was caused by my living in a big city. I like to view all places as “places to take photos”, but specifically for Paris, I enjoy the bridges along the central parts of the Seine, as well as the modern business district La Défense. But I certainly have only scratched the surface of what can be easily photographed in Paris.
On their way down

Métro Cité
People going down the stairs to the Metro.
 
 
 
You’re stranded on an island, and can only bring one camera, two lenses, and one other accessory. What would they be?

Assuming unlimited budget for this question, i’d bring a Nikon D4, a 28-300 lens for versatility, and probably a 1000mm lens so I can use it as a magnifying glass – always useful on an island.

 

 

Top three tips for aspiring teen photographers.

1) The “always have your camera with you” stuff is not doable for most people, and I personally find it’s not very useful either – the only really good pictures I’ve ever taken were on specifically planned photo outings or trips.

2) Which brings me to my second point: plan your shots out. If you have the possibility to go to one place more than once, do so! First time, do not put pressure one yourself, just go there, and take pictures in as many different ways as possible. Then go home, look at your pictures, perhaps pictures that other people have taken of this place, and also a map of the location if relevant. Think carefully think about which pictures you’d like to take. Don’t hesitate to go back 3 or 4 times or more to get the perfect shot.

3) About equipment: the law of diminishing returns totally applies for DSLR systems. The second lens you buy will often bring you a lot of new possibilities, the third one a bit less, the fourth one yet less, and with five lenses and above, be prepared to carry a lens for a week and not use it. So my tip would be to not worry about equipment too much shoot with what you have – I went years with a point and shoot!

 

Check out Thomas’ photo here.



Incinérateur d'Ivry-sur-Seine - Waste Incineration Plant at Ivry-sur-Seine | Plate II | Explored

Arches of Time

Grandes Eaux Nocturnes de Versailles - Bassin d'Apollon

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Madeiran Sunset

Saas Fee Star Trails Plate II

THINK YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE FEATURED AS OUR NEXT TEEN PHOTOGRAPHER?

Email Us: justin@teenagephotographer.com. Send a short bio about yourself, 5 photos you think best displays your portfolio, and your name, age, and country/state/province of residence. If we’re impressed, you may be featured as our next Showcased Teen Photographer.

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Justin Lai

Justin Lai

I'm a sixteen year old photographer from Austin, Texas. I launched Teen Photo in the summer of 2011, the first website dedicated to the growth and collaboration of young photographers. Since then, the site has grown enormously and garnered a lot of support in the photo industry. You can check out my other project, a new magazine for young adults and adolescents at www.neosmagazine.com.