Norman Negre isn't one of those photographers who finds his muse in his subject. He isn't really subject-oriented—or muse-oriented—at all. Instead, the longtime photographer approaches his craft from a practical perspective.

“;I like to emphasize that the camera is a precision instrument,”; the Big Island photographer says. “;That means precision in concept, composition and technique—and that takes knowledge and skill.”;

Negre says the ideal environment for control is, of course, the studio, but there's a level of control a photographer can have outdoors, “;in composition, knowledge of the subject and knowledge of lighting.

“;You've got to make the best of what you have, and that's where skill really comes into play. It's about really knowing how the photographic process relates to human vision.

“;What you see is NOT what you get, so the photographer must have an idea of what (the picture) will look like. Sometimes this is formed along the way.”;

  Negre was interested in photography for most of his life, but it wasn't until 1969, when he joined the military, that he got his hands on his first camera. “;I could afford one, finally,”; he remembers.

But until five years ago, Negre rarely earned money behind the lens. In fact, his work resume is fascinating for its diversity. Negre spent most of his career at Hilo Coast Processing Co. as a power plant operator for the sugar company. He anticipated the decline of sugar and left before Hilo Coast closed, but continued working as a power plant operator for the local utility. Today, Negre has a new job as a funeral director's assistant.

And for the first time in nearly 40 years of shooting pictures, he's a portrait photographer. It's work Negre finds rather daunting.

“;It's challenging, because these subjects have emotions, feelings, egos, so it's hard to do what I want. It's not like shooting a rock or something. You gotta have people skills. That's something I'm working on,”; he says with a laugh. “;Still, it's enjoyable. I'm fortunate because ... I have as much freedom as can be expected in a business environment.”;