For years, I have admired the work of Rob Dobi. He is mainly an illustrator but does photography on the side. I was fortunate enough to get a response from him when I emailed him some questions.
1) When did you first become interested in photography?
When I first started exploring abandoned buildings when I was a freshman in college in 1999, I realized I needed to document them somehow so others could see.
2) What was your first camera?
This horrible Sony Mavica digital camera, it wrote the images to a floppy disk (I’m not kidding) and the highest resolution was 640 x 480.
3) Did you ever take any photography classes or buy any photography related books? / How did you learn photography?
I was pretty much self taught, being an illustrator I had an eye for composition and framing images through a camera came naturally. I took one photo course in college which basically taught me how to use a darkroom and that I should probably work in digital rather than film.
4) Did you start out shooting film or have you always used digital cameras?
I shot film for 3 months, I enjoyed it but the costs add up and I’m more of an instant gratification kind of guy so digital works.
5) What camera and lens do you currently use?
I use a Nikon d70s with a bunch of lenses, 18-70mm, 70-300mm, 50mm portrait lens, and 12-24 wide angle lens.
6) What type of lighting do you use? / Do you ever use a flash? How often do you use a tripod?
I use all natural lighting, I might use a flash if I’m in the dark and need to see where I’m going, other than that all my shots are shot on my Manfrotto tripod.
7) How do you find the buildings that are listed on newenglandruins.com
?
Sometimes by accident, sometimes by word of mouth, sometimes by reading the paper, sometimes by getting lost.
8) How do you typically get inside? / Are you ever nervous about getting caught? / Have you ever been caught?
I generally find my way in, I never break my way in. More often than not there is an open door or window begging for me to open it. I’ve been caught a few times, never really been given a harsh penalty. I set off an alarm last week and fled the scene, that was fun.
9) How often do people buy your prints? Has your work ever been published?
Not that often, I sell a few every once in awhile, I’ve been published in a few magazines, most notably Preservation Magazine.
10) If you could have any camera, and any lens, what would it be?
I don't even know, I’m about to purchase the Nikon d80 which is a step up from the d70.
All of Rob Dobi’s work can be seen at dobi.nu and newenglandruins.com.
