It is no secret that the founder of Monochromia, Joseph Giordano, has been running interviews of photographers and friends on his alternate world WordPress site I GET BY! So we have decided to turn the tables and ask him one or two dozen probing questions. Whether or not he will answer is another question! Please feel free to click on the linked names of any of our questioners to visit their personal websites at any time.

It was an exceptionally balmy, early spring day when the three of us finally sat down for this interview at the newly restored boardwalk in Long Beach, New York. There was Joseph Giordano (affectionately known as Joe), myself (affectionately known as Emil), and Samuel Adams (affectionately known as Sam). So, let’s dive right in…

Emilio- Thank you Joe (may I call you Joe?), for sitting down and talking to us today. We (that’s the editorial “we” which we will be using to refer to me in order to give this interview more gravitas. We will refer to you as Joe!) have been following your progression on social media for a long time, from a mere nobody who called himself a photographer, to a media mogul with four WordPress websites that we know of (Monochromia, X-tended Vision, The Visual Chronicle, and I Get By), as well as several (OK, at least one) facebook pages. Let’s start with a simple question. What gives? Your own wife (the beautiful and gorgeous child bride, Terry) has asked; “Given your derelict background I never would have guessed you would be into photography.  What in the world made you pick up a camera?”

Joe- A co-worker at Ford got me addicted to photography, my dear.

Emilio- That’s it? Listen, Joe, for this to work you have to give more than a one sentence answer. Dig down deep. My wife has a way of telling a story by giving as much back story as she can and taking side trips along the way. Then she ties it all together at the end. That’s what you have to do. Now, loosen up. Have another Sam Adams! Better? OK, now David Jensen asked; “How did you first get introduced to photography?” Try to make us interested.

Joe- I became friends with a co worker mechanic when I worked at a Ford Dealer who was also into photography, so I would have to give the credit to him for introducing me to black and white, Ansel Adams, and 35 mm cameras.  Back in the late 60’s and early 70’s none of the dealer service departments were open on Saturdays like they are now so we would plan during the week where we would go out shooting on the weekends.  If we shot two twenty four exposure rolls of film all weekend that was a lot.

Emilio- Better, much better. Now, this next question from Elina Kesvetera, is in that same vein. She asks, “How and when did you get into photography, how did it become a passion?”

Joe- That’s a really good question, Elina.  I was always into taking photos ever since I was a child but I don’t think it was until I saw my first Ansel Adams image that I considered photography an art form.  I was totally blown away with the range of tones he was achieving.  I think it was at that point I decided to buy my first 35 mm camera.

Emilio- I’m going to allow Elina to continue and see where it takes us. “I know photography has been a hobby of yours for long (40 years?) and I see that the way you shoot and work on your photos keeps evolving all the time. What do you think influences you as a photographer and brings along the constant development?”

Joe- I think in order for someone to evolve as a photographer they must learn to see the image in their head before they even pick the camera up to their eye which means you have to take photos every day and experiment with the way your particular camera records tones.  I think my photography is evolving because I am able to go out every day and take photos.  When I put the camera down for extended periods of time it takes me a very long time to get back into the swing of things and I can go for weeks without taking a single image I would consider acceptable.

Emilio- I believe it is safe to share the observation, sort of throw it out there for all to read, that you have amazing amounts of energy and lots of joy to share for an old codger such as yourself. In fact, Elina has commented on just that. “You seem to have amazing amounts of energy and lots of joy to share, where does it all come from?” 🙂 (The smiley face is hers! Not mine.) In fact, Laurie Buchwald has asked the same question, “Where do  you get your energy?  Besides photography (and Sam Adams beer) what kinds of things do you do for fun?” But, before you answer, we would like to correct a misconception that readers might…, well…, misconceive. Laurie is not stating that Samuel Adams Beer is capable of imparting great reserves of energy to the imbiber. The most it imparts is a consistent urge to visit the local toilet, or similar facility!

Joe- I think my energy comes from being retired.  Trust me I had nowhere near this amount of energy when I worked because I had a physical job. As I mentioned to Elina, a lot of my energy stems from not having to go to work every day, Laurie.  I am also an audiophile, I’m big into audio systems and music in general so I spend a lot of time just vegging out to music.  I know quite a few photographers that are also audiophiles so it must be a sickness; expensive cameras, expensive audio equipment, LOL.  Obviously when Terry has time off we like to travel and it’s a blast getting to meet fellow bloggers like Patti and Susan.

Emilio- Han Dekker has asked whether or not “… you [have] traveled a lot for your photo’s? If so, where did you go? Who is Susan Tuesday?”

Joe- I have been to quite a lot of places in the USA and Canada a couple of times but I really have to get over to Europe and spend some time there.  I guess I should have said I would be meeting Susan on Tuesday in her interview, LOL.

Emilio- Now, Stacy Fischer has two questions that she is so very proud of having thought to ask. She just has an unfortunate habit of writing incomplete sentences. Therefore I hope you understand what she is asking. If not, we will attempt to translate.  “Top three locations on your bucket list to photograph and why?”

Joe- First and foremost I would say Italy would be on the top of my list Stacy.  I would have to say Alaska would be next because I am a big fan of nature.  I would also love to go to Finland to meet Elina and go shooting with her for a couple of days.  Actually I would love to stop in Germany also to meet Joerg and while I was there I might as well stop by the Netherlands to have a beer with Han then shoot to Norway to meet David.

Emilio- We have a follow up question from Stacy. “… Is there any photograph you’re particularly/most proud of? Why? (Yeah, this may be a difficult one, but it sure would be interesting to find out.)”

Joe-I think the photograph I am most proud of is “Homeless” on Monochromia – the one I took of a poor guy sitting on a bench with a denim jacket in Manhattan. Ironically I took that image with the Fuji X20, a pocket camera.

Emilio- I have several questions here from Susan Licht. She is curious about “…How long [you have] been into photography and what led you to it? How’s that retirement going…is it what you originally envisioned it to be? With all the blogs and facebook groups you manage, how do you find time to take photos?”

Joe- I have been into photography for about 40 years, Susan.  I was into it heavily for the first eight years, then work (bummer), and now happily heavily into photography again.

Retirement is even better than I envisioned it to be. It certainly doesn’t suck, LOL. Actually everyone would tell me, Oh you’ll be bored within six months, but this would come from co-workers who really didn’t have much interest in anything but work.  I always had plenty of interest in a lot of different things online; stock trading, audio, photography, anything mechanical I could fix, computers, you name it, I was interested in learning about it.  I retired at 58 and it’s been 3 years and I’m still waiting to be bored. (So you’re 61? You really are an old codger. I’m sorry, Joe. I won’t make any old age jokes anymore. – Emilio)

As far as the groups go it’s just something I do.  I thank you and Elina and Susan for helping with Life In Black In White on Facebook and as far as the blogs go I just post when I feel like it so it’s really not too bad, LOL.

Emilio- Robyn Graham has impressed me with how intelligently she has phrased her question. “Joe, you have a lot of technical photography knowledge and skill as well as an artistic approach to your compositions and subject matter.  I am wondering what your previous work/career entailed prior to retiring and taking up photography, blogging, and Facebooking full time.  Did your previous work influence your photography and if so, how?

Joe- I started my work career as an auto mechanic and I did that for ten years before I said to myself “I don’t want to do this anymore”.  I froze in the winter and did a lot of sweating in the summer.  It always seemed whichever car or truck I had to work on was driven in from California or something, LOL. They were always so scorching hot.

I was unemployed for about two years after that and hanging out with my late brother-in-law, hustling here and there to make money until my first wife said, OK it’s time for you to go back to work now, LOL.  We were doing fine financially. I was making more money not working a regular job so it killed me to go back to work.  I actually lost money going back to a regular job.

The job I retired from was in the produce business so in addition to telling you which cameras are good I could also pick out a nice sweet honeydew for you, LOL.

I never liked the produce business but I stuck it out for 32 years and retired with a union pension.  The only thing that got me through the day was dreaming about doing something else. I really didn’t think it would be photography or blogging, but I do love it.

Emilio- We still have a bit of a way to go and I might have to spring for another six pack so I’m going to limit my remarks and just let the questions, or questioners, speak for themselves. Wade Hewitt has stated, “I’ll go for a deep question.  What impact do you think social media is having on photography?  Is the need for speed in getting images up and the volume that’s needed to make an impact reducing the quality of photography as a whole? It’s hard to pretend that you are deep when in actuality a puddle is far deeper.”

Joe- That’s a great question Wade.  I think in some cases social media is having a negative effect on photography, but let me explain further.  The negatives are seen in some of the crappy images people post in the rush to being first.  Having said that, I have seen some amazing images also on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.  In cases like the civil unrest in Egypt or other places, social media is awesome.  A lot of these stories never would have broke if it was left to the news sources.  As far as the crap goes, I think everyone is sick of Kim Kardashian selfies.

Emilio- Mike Pratt says, “…here is my question for the one of the hardest working bloggers out there! 1. As a Fuji user, what do you think the future of DSLR’s will be in this market filled with much more compact cameras & lenses? 2. Do you believe fitting into a single style is more important as a photographer or being able to adapt to a variety of different genres?”

Joe- Great question, Mike.  Henri Cartier-Bresson used Leica rangefinders for a reason.  They were small, discreet, and silent.  The lenses are legendary.  These cameras have soul, for lack of a better word.  Probably 90% of the images taken with these cameras are easily recognizable as having a distinct personality.  Images taken with Carl Zeiss lenses are easily recognizable, also (the German made lenses, not the ones subcontracted to Cosina in Japan).

I feel the same way about Fuji’s, they just seem to get out of the way so it’s just you and the image.  They inject a soul into the images.  Photographic purity, no bells and whistles.  I also feel that the Fujinon lenses are of higher quality than the Nikon and Canon counterparts (please, no hate mail, it’s just my opinion).

When you combine innovative sensor technology, lack of an optical low pass filter to blur the image, and first class lenses, you have a winning combination.

I think somewhere in the near future all cameras will be mirrorless.  There really is no good reason to have a SLR type design in a modern camera.  SLR’s became popular when film was popular.  With today’s advances in electronic viewfinder technology and hybrid optical/electronic viewfinders like in the Fuji X100 series cameras’ the SLR or pentaprism type camera is dead, it just didn’t lay down yet.

I admire photographers that can adapt to all different styles and genres.  As for myself I think my images are more recognizable because of their lack of complexity, in other words they are simple, LOL.  I think most photographers are known for their single style, but if you are going to make money at this game you had better learn to adapt.

Emilio- Patti Kuche (or maybe it’s Patti Fogarty) says “…so much I want to know but streamlining it from the messy ramble in my head, well, here goes . . . 1.   Of all the cameras you have ever used, what’s the one you would choose if you absolutely had to go solo with the one kit? 2.  Do you think Fuji will ever come out with a full-frame to wipe the floor with the Sony A7, is it even a decent idea, and how interested would you be in using one? (There’s another blog for Joe – Full Frame Fuji!)”

Joe- That’s an easy one Patti.  A Fuji X-T1, 14 mm, 23mm, 35mm, 56mm and the 55-200.  My whole kit fits in a Think Tank Retrospective 10 shoulder bag and I even have room for a table top tripod (for operating the camera remotely via my iPhone) and some ND filters.

I see no need for a Fuji camera with a full frame sensor (they are that good). I came from using a full frame Nikon and I like the Fuji’s results better.

Sony has always had great sensors in their cameras (most of the Nikons use Sony sensors) but I’m not too sure about their cameras themselves, but then again that’s just my opinion.

Emilio- OK, we’re coming into the home stretch. I think I might end up breaking this interview up into two parts (obviously, I thought against it. You can stop reading at any time and always come back to the interview, when time allows). Who ever thought you’d be so long-winded? So, since Terry asked the first question, I figured I’d let her wrap this up before I ask my own intelligent and well-conceived questions. Terry? “I was wondering if you have an inventory of your photo equipment because, if I sold one of your lenses it would pay for nice new kitchen cabinets?”

Joe- I have a complete inventory with serial numbers listed so don’t get any ideas, sweetie. Besides that, the cabinets that were made in the 50’s are much better quality, LOL.

Emilio– My questions? What derelict background is Terry referring to in that very first question? Will you elucidate?

Joe- The derelict background is a long story but my photographer friend Gregg knows all about it, he was a fellow derelict.

Emil– Where did you come from, what did you do (legally) before retiring? Did you do anything illegal? Were you ever caught?

Joe- We all did illegal things so I will leave it at that  🙂 I worked for 32 years in the produce business before retiring and, as far as I know, that was legal (well except for that kilo of cocaine I found in a banana box but that’s a whole different story), LOL.

Emilio– Does Terry ever join you when you go out shooting? Do you ever ask for her input?

Joe- Terry joins me sometimes when I go out shooting but she does not like to walk a lot.  I have a bad back but, when I walk, I feel a little better.   On our last trip to Boston, we walked a lot the first day. I felt pretty good, she felt like shit. (Joe, please, this is a family oriented interview. Cut the profanity, damn it! – Emilio) The next day we took the subway a lot and she felt good and I felt like shit. (Well, we just lost all the kids. And any Mormons who were reading – Emilio) Terry is a pretty damn good photographer but, due to a workplace injury, she had to get one of the bones in her right thumb fused, so she really isn’t comfortable holding a camera.  She always feels like she is going to drop it.  A lot of times, when she is with me and I take a shot, she will suggest a somewhat different angle to take another shot.

Emil– Will you ever treat us to an interview with her?

Joe- I doubt that I will ever interview her Emilio, hell she’s just a child, LOL.

Emilio– What did she ever see in you? What does she see in you?

Joe- I have no idea at all what she ever saw in me, LOL.

The sun was slowly setting into the Atlantic when we finally said our goodbyes.I tell you, I’m exhausted. I’d like to thank Joe for being a good sport and for some great insight into his thinking about photography. And I’d like to thank those of you who helped in coming up with some well thought out questions. You are all cute and adorable. And I owe you.