Rfotofolio is pleased to share the work and words of Randy Efros.

Would you please tell us a little about yourself?

I was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona and have been photographing for over forty years.

How did you get started photography?

In the early 1970s I raced a top fuel dragster and the USAF Recruiting Service was one of my sponsors.  They gave me a Nikon camera and a big bag of several different kinds of film so I could document the different events my car appeared in.  I got hooked and started photographing all different kinds of subjects.

Which photographers and other artists work do admire?

I discovered Edward Weston when my then wife gave me the big Ben Maddow monograph on Edward.  I was very taken by Edward’s photographs and his dedication.  I was fortunate to meet and work extensively with Cole, Brett, and Kim Weston for several years, so their influence is great.  The painter Reed Farrington was a big influence as well as many other painters, sculptors, and photographers.

And what about their work inspires you?

What inspires me most is the dedication the Westons and others have shown to making work.  I was Brett’s last assistant and we photographed almost every day that we weren’t traveling by air.  He instilled in me a workman-like discipline for doing something I love.

Would you tell us about an image (not your own) that has stayed with you overtime and inspired you?

One image that inspires me everyday when (I’m not traveling) is the 1943 Cole Weston photo of Edward Weston with his camera at Point Lobos, beard and all.  It is framed and hanging on the wall in my home and I see it everyday when I leave to photograph or head out to the darkroom.

Please tell us about your process and what the perfect day of photography is for you.

I work mainly with the 4×5 and 8×10 view camera, but also a Rollie SL 66, and always with film.  I make silver, platinum, POP, and color photographs.  Any day I can be out photographing is a good day.

For me it’s the excitement of making a well seen negative and then the magic of realizing my vision in the darkroom.

With the rapid changes in how people make and view a photograph how do you view this time in the history of photography?

While digital has offered new tools that have captured many people’s time and attention, the real challenge has always been to see well and execute your vision.  In the end it matters not the tools but the results.

How do you over come a creative block?

I have several projects in the works at any one time so creative blocks aren’t a problem for me.  More of a problem is not being able to complete my projects quickly enough.  There is so much to do!

Is there another type of photography or subject matter you would like to tackle?

I have never done much portraiture and it is something I will be concentrating on this year.  It’s always good to try new things, to keep learning.

Where can we see your work, and would you like to share any upcoming projects?

Some of my work can be seen on my website, books on some of my portfolios are available from Magcloud, and I try to keep my Facebook up to date on my current activities.  I just offered a five photo set of Saguaros, just printed the limited edition prints for my Alaska portfolio limited edition book, and continue to travel and make more photographs for my Arizona project.  I make my annual trip to Hawaii in April.

To learn more about the work of Randy Efros please visit his page at Randy Efros

You can also find his publications at MagCloud .

Thank you Randy for sharing your work and your words.