tell us a bit about you and where you are from?

I am from France, I grew up in Strasbourg, Alsace and I spent 10 years in Paris. I moved to New York two years ago. I'm a patent attorney specialized in internet and mobile technology.

how and when did you get interested in photography?

It's a pretty recent hobby. I used to have a compact camera until late 2006 when the prices had dropped enough so that I could buy my first DSLR (a Canon EOS 400D). Since then it has become a real passion !

what are two of your favorite photos that you have taken?

Those two photos were taken in New York during my last trip before I moved there.

which photographers works do you like?

I love old photographers like Stieglitz or Steichen and photojournalism in general

your favorite photobloggers that you follow?

I used to follow a lot of them, I have less time now. I still follow Daily Dose of Imagery, Digit@l Pixel and Tetsu

what kind of equipment do you use?

Now I mainly use a Canon EOS 7D mainly with the Canon EFS 17-55, f2.8 lens. I wrote a post on my cameras here : http://blog.julienvilla.com/2011/02/photo-through-lens-1.html and on my lenses here : http://blog.julienvilla.com/2011/03/photo-through-lens-part-2.html

do you have any formal training?

Not at all. I just take photos. That's the magic of digital photography : you can try again and again until you understand how it works !

do you use software to touch up photos? what do you use?

I only use Adobe Lightroom. It has enough features to allow me to get the result that I usually want without requiring to get into Photoshop

what kind of pictures do you love to take?

Usually street photography. I begin to like to take portraits too.

what inspires you?

Everything. I almost always have my camera with me, it can happen at any time, anywhere

where do you want to take your photography? publishing a book?

I'd love to publish a book and to have an exhibition in a New York gallery :)

what else would you like to tell us?

Thank you Jafar for this interview.