Craig Hill waited eight hours using his full-frame camera with a shutter speed of one-eight thousandth of a second to capture a bald eagle trying to grab a fish.
His patience paid off. The eagle has landed.
Hill, Southwestern College’s new instructional lab technician, has an eagle eye for the camera.
“My favorite photographic experience was in Alaska,” he said.
Hill was four years old when he took his first black and white photograph under the watchful eye of his granddad, Marvin Down a commercial magazine photographer. He taught Hill the art of paying attention to details.
“In New Zealand where I grew up, I received an 88 percent rating for my full exposé documentary on the duck shooting process,” Hill said. “My Dad, Brian, made duck decoys. He was an artist to a degree.”
After high school Craig studied at Massey Fine Arts and the Universal College of Learning (UCOL) in Palmerston North, New Zealand where he received two diplomas Professional Photographic Imaging and an advanced diploma in Professional Photographic and Digital Imaging.
He won a scholarship from UCOL to do 16 panorama landscapes in Australia. His landscapes were his thesis.
“I sold all 16 panoramas to real estate agents and local hotels,” he said.
Hill said Grandad Marvin taught him about famous environmental portrait artist Arnold Newman.
“Grandad Marvin enabled me to grow up in the dark room,’ Hill said. “Everything I did had something to with photography, including lighting and the time of day.”
Hill also had the travel bug.
“I was inspired by a friend to travel,” Craig said. “I applied to a cruise ship company. Within 10 days I got the job as the ship’s photographer and I headed to Juno, Alaska.”
Hill said he traveled the world with the Princess Cruise Line visiting 103 countries and all seven continents. He has also shot 340 weddings.
“It was a very fast turnaround time,” he said. “I had to be ready for cruise ship guests.”
Princess Cruise Line sent Hill to be trained by Joe Craig in Dexter, Missouri. Craig developed the Platinum Studio Program.
“Joe is an excellent portrait photographer who gets emotion and personality out of people,” said Hill. “Being with Joe were the two best weeks of learning photography I have ever done.”
Craig stated he learned how to get people to cry, be happy and he loved showing people in their own character.
“That is why I made money,” he said. “The Platinum Studio Program focuses on capturing people at a decisive moment.”
Sarah Paez de Strongo a student in Todd Stands’ Art 205 beginning digital photography class said Hill discovered what was wrong with her brand new Canon camera.
“Craig figured out that her camera’s lens was broken,” de Strongo said. “Craig’s demeanor and photographic knowledge are impressive.”
Marty La Fond reported a similar experience.
“Craig trouble shot and found the problem,” said La Fond, a high school art teacher.
Raymond Clapper said he had a lens problem.
“Craig quickly fixed the problem with a big smile,” Clapper said. “Craig is easily one of the coolest guys I have met in my years.”
Craig gave Stands’ 205 students a presentation using his portfolio. He advised students to shoot weddings and family shots of people they know.
“Get the experience and learn from your mistakes,” he said.
Biology major Grecia Esquivel said she was inspired by Hill’s portfolio.
“After seeing some of the pictures you have taken it inspires me to continue trying to take the “perfect picture, she said.
Stands said being ready and preparation is key to Hill’s best photographs.
“It is not just being lucky,” he said.
