Maurice Johnson

Maurice Johnson(also know as my godfather) is married to LaKeitha Feemster. He is a graduate of The Art Institute in Charlotte North Carolina in 2002. He graduated with an Associate Degree in Digital Imaging and Digital Design. He also attended University of Charlotte before attending Art Institute.  I have always admired his ability for capturing for photography and his artistic creativity, so I decided to interview him.

Interview:

Me: What is your knowledge in this area?

Maurice: My knowledge in this area is Digital Imagining and Digital Design.

Me:Where did you study photography?

Maurice:I took my first class of Photography in High School.  After that I also took a few classes at the Art Institute of Charlotte, NC.

Me:What did you do to gain so much knowledge in this area?

Maurice: I did a lot of reading and research.  Plus took classes on things that I would be interested in to help me become better at what I do.

Me:When did you become interested in this field of study?

Maurice:I became interested in my study when I started creating my own line of greeting cards.  I would actually go out, take pictures and write poems to produce the greeting card.

Me:When did your career start?

Maurice:I tell everyone it started in 98, when I started doing those greeting cards.  But I actually started branching out more in 2002 with not just doing greeting cards but taking my projects a little further.

Me:Why is Photography important to you? 

Maurice:I like to capture the moments.  Some moments may not be caught again or the reaction that you get the first time.  It’s priceless.

Me:Who or what influenced you to become a photographer?

Maurice:I would always look through magazine and wonder how those pictures were shot.  So I guess you can say different magazines inspired me.  Especially the motion pictures in sports magazines. 

Me:Do you believe in the expression “A picture is worth 1,000 words”?

Maurice:I do, but I don’t really know how accurate the expression.  I like to describe my work with one word.  Plus I don’t think I know 1,000 words.

Me:If yes, why do you believe this is true?

Maurice:You can get a lot of emotion and feelings out of a single picture.  Plus everyone is going to feel different about the picture itself.

Me:Do you think that a person must possess talent to capture emotion and expression in a picture?

Maurice:Not really!  Capturing is the easy.  Choosing the right setting, angle and lighting is the hard part.  Also using the camera settings helps a lot as far as the aperture setting and shutter speed.

Me:Does the price of a camera matter in ways that it affects the quality of the picture?

Maurice:Unfortunately it does.  The expensive camera gives you better setting and more control.  Plus you can take as many shots as you want and do not have to develop and waste money and time on pictures you don’t want.  Just hit the delete button as you view it on your camera.

Me:What motivates you to do what you do?

Maurice:With any hobby you have to love what you do.  Now that I have kids, I like to capture them in their moments now so they can see themselves twenty to thirty years down the line.  They are my motivation!  
  

Mr. Johnson also has a website that you guys should check out! He has also created the brochures, logos, and much more that you may be familiar with!  

(If your schools server will not allow you to see this video try the link below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyCzxl_we0Q