JOBY Pro Spotlight | 13 Questions for a Pro Photographer |Petr Jan Juračka
This month we’re featuring professional photographer Petr Jan Juračka. Petr is based near Prague and works as a scientist and photographer for Charles University. Over the last few years Petr has shared his images and love for JOBY products with us. Petr is a photographer that other photographers look up to. His work is awe inspiring and we’ve never received an image from Petr that didn’t have the whole office gathered around the screen to see it. Petr is also an avid GoPro and drone enthusiast. He was big into drones before they became the latest craze. When Petr post a YouTube video the footage looks on par with the promo videos GoPro produces. It’s safe to say we think Petr is an awesome photographer but even more so he’s become a great friend to several of the staff at JOBY.
Petr Jan Juračka | Age: 29, soon 30 ;) | Prague, Czech Republic
Website: petr.juracka.eu
Google Plus: plus.google.com/+PetrJanJuračka
Twitter: twitter.com/PetrJanJuracka
500px: 500px.com/petrjanjuracka
What type of professional photographer are you?
I have to ask myself, as I am not sure, what type I might be. It is quite complicated, as I am 3 days a week considered to be a scientist (Ecology: Hydrobiology) at Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague (Czech Republic). Rest of the week I work as a photographer on the same place I take pictures of the scientists, scientific experiments, animals… Most often I am using very special gear including various both light and electron microscopes, or radio controlled drones. During the weekends and free days I am leading landscape photography workshops, as well special macro & microphotography lectures. However, a major part of my work is free, and consists of personal photography and video projects…
Your Gear What gear do you use regularly?
Yes, this is crucial for me. I cannot take an image of my gear, as these things are sputtered on multiple places over our country, and it is not possible to photo all these subjects in one room some microscopes are too large ;) So, maybe it is easiest to have a look in my bag, which is completely differently packed for every event this is my favorite setup for a short walk with my daughter… ;)
The most important parts of my gear are Nikon DSLRs (Nikon D610, Nikon D800, Nikon D300 and others), then lenses (the most favorite are 10.5/2.8, 14/2.8, 28/1.8, 50/1.8, 105/2.8, 180/2.8 and 300/2.8), tripods, camera slider, drones (FR1200, DJI F550), action cameras (GoPro 4), microscopes and tons of various accessories (external recording, grips, power supplies, cables, cards, bags etc.). Among those, Joby products are really the most favorite ones, as are quit handy and steady at the same time. I take into account to my photography gear also some climbing stuff, as this enables me to shoot from interesting perspectives. I love my work… ;)
What would be your dream photography job?
I would like to make a really beautiful and extensive gallery of the nature as seen from above from the drone. It would consist of the landscape structure shots, taken on various places of our planet. Just to show, how different the places of our Earth are. But this is wholelife project with a need of some really liberal financing ;)
Why did you become a professional photographer and when did you know you wanted to be one?
Since my 11 I was trying to found, what is better: photography or the science? That is why I am still something between. I love photography and started as a pro in 2009. However, the scientific environment is somehow still around me.
Did you study photography?
Yes and no. I have never attended any photography school or courses. But…, my father is a professional artist and used to take me to the nature quite often when I was young. It was a hard school of life, as he is really hairsplitter and the differences between his profession (graphics) and mine are substantial. However, I think this gave me a lot.
Do you carry a camera with you daily when not working?
My gear weights about 70kg, so I have to choose very carefully what to give in the bag. When travelling to a job, I am used to have a pocket camera with me, my favorite Nikon Coolpix A. However, right now I am sitting in the train from my job and have any camera with me. So sad ;)
When you’re not shooting photos you are?
Probably editing shots, sleeping or typing my Ph.D. thesis ;)
If you couldn’t be a professional photographer you would be a?
Professional painter, but I would die of hunger soon, as I cannot paint.
Have you ever dropped a lens? Come on be honest!
So many! But all of them survived, even washing in the Caribbean, falling many meters in the Czech caves or dropping to the fine sand in Mongolia.
If you could only have only one lens for a year what would it be?
WOOOOW, this is a hard question! Probably 28/1.8, as I love the perspective, it is possible to use for landscape as well as human portrait with very shallow depth of field.
Name a famous person living or dead whose photo you would wish you could take.
This is easy Michael Jackson. When young, I wanted to be his personal photographer! ;)
The next piece of gear you’re going to buy is?
Today I bought TASCAM external recorder, tomorrow we are going to build a new DIY thing. I am going to love it RC cablecam! Yes, as I am going to Egypt, where the drones are forbidden, I am trying to bring some alternative ;)
And finally what is the one thing you wish a professional photographer had told you before you became a professional photographer?
GO AHEAD!
