Meet a photographer: Nick Haigh

Nick Haigh in a shutter click

Nick Haigh. Born on 21-Jan-1975 and lives in the UK.

Main camera: Canon 5D MkII.
Main lens: Canon 17-40mm L & 85mm.
Post-processing software: Photoshop CS3.
Favorite lighting: Canon Speedlite with Softbox.
Favorite time to make photographs: Night time or with moody weather.
Favorite season to make photographs: Autumn.
Favorite music while making photographs: it’s usually R&B but my own choice would be Trance.
Your dream equipment: A Hasselblad H4D (£12,000 Camera) but more realistically I am very happy with my camera so dream lenses would be Canon 24-70mm L, Canon 70-200mm L.
Favorite photographer: I have many but one photographer that inspires me is Rarindra Prakarsa.
Favorite quote related to photography: ”There is 3 key things for good photography: the camera, lighting and… Photoshop.” – Tyra Banks

Nick Haigh, the photographer

Why photography? What do you hope to achieve?
This all happened by accident, I was given a point & shoot camera as a present to take snaps while on holiday and also of family and friends etc I was on holiday in Paris at the end of 2006 and it was night time, I tried to take a photo of the Louvre but the camera required to be supported due to it being very dark, I placed the camera on a stone pillar and set the camera on timer, when I looked at the screen at what I had taken I was truly amazed, I had taken a perfect night time shot of the Louvre, this was the moment where photos where no longer snaps but more of an art form and I was hooked. I love experimenting with different techniques and styles, i’ve come along way since 2006 but I am still learning and gaining more experience.

Louvre, Paris

Which of your photographs do you consider had an impact on someone’s life? How did you feel about it?

Angel

A while back, a guy named Mike emailed me to say how much he liked one of my images and asked if he could have a copy; he said it was for a tattoo which he has been meaning to get but hadn’t found the right design until he saw my image.

He said he didn’t want the whole image, just the angel! I agreed and sent him the angel statue, didn’t really think much of it at the time. I then stumbled upon his email again a few months later and decided to email him as I was curious to see what had happened!.

I was amazed and deeply touched at the response I received;

Mike did get the tattoo and sent me a photo of what he had done, this has got to be one of the most rewarding things that has come out of my photography and probably ever will, that my work has reached out and touched someone in such a way, I feel deeply honoured and it’s this that has made me feel, that what I do is all worth while.

I thank you Mike for sharing this not only with me but letting me share it with others.

This is his story…

This story is about my journey to finding Nick’s picture and ultimately, getting my tattoo. I’ll start by saying that throughout my life I have suffered severe anxiety and depression. About two years ago, I was at my lowest point ever. I was in a thankless job, and dealing with the sickness, and eventual death of my father. I had always suffered through my depression alone, hiding it within. But this time was different. I started out hiding my depression because I didn’t know how to explain how bad it was to my wife. The fear of losing the best thing to ever happen to me was excruciating. Once I did reveal what I was going through, I came to realize that the beautiful love of my life, was perhaps sent to me for a reason. We have spent a wonderful 12 years together (8 years married), but I would have never thought that she would save my life the way she did. Supporting and never questioning what I had to do to get myself through this tough time. I am not a religious person, but I have no doubt that she was sent my way for a reason. I now have the faith that no matter what happens in the future, I will have power and the unconditional support of my “guardian angel.”

This brings me to Nick’s photo. I always loved tattoos, but my anxiety prevented me from getting one. After this event in my life, I knew that the only approval that mattered, was my wife’s, and because of that she would be the focus of my first tattoo. I decided that a angel would be most appropriate, as that is exactly what she is to me. It would be symbolic of what she had become to me, and something that I could look to for strength, if ever the need arose.

angel tatt Meet a photographer: Nick Haigh

Angel tattoo

I started searching for a reference for my tattoo. I looked at a seemingly endless number of books and websites before I decided that I wanted a stone cemetery angel. To me, it seemed the perfect representation of the epitome of protection. I had spent approximately six months looking, before I stumbled upon Nick’s Flickr page, and saw his beautiful photo of the stone angel, titled, “Sacred Prayer“. I told my wife that I had found the perfect picture. Later that evening, when I sat down to show her, I then stumbled upon the photo, “Untitled Remix”, and both our jaws dropped. It was as though Nick had customized the photo just for me. I couldn’t imagine how, but it was if he had read my mind. In a million years, I couldn’t have come up with a better depiction of what I wanted. I‘m sure Nick would never had imagined what a impact his photo could have, but I will be forever grateful that he took this picture, and even more grateful that he was willing to give me license to use it.

When I’m in need of strength and look at my tattoo, I will always remember that I married the most beautiful and supportive woman in the world. But I will also never forget that Nick took the time to email me back months later. Not only did he email me to inquire about the resulting tattoo, but also asked for me to share my story behind it. A great photographer, and obviously, a special person also. You should be proud of what you do Nick, and I will be forever thankful and inspired.

Sincerely,
Mike Robitaille

P.S. I will also like to thank Richard Morrissette (Ventura Blvd Tattoo Studio, Ottawa Canada), for the incredible tattoo.

Which of your photographs do you consider is the strongest cityscape photo? Why?

Canary wharf clocks

It has become one of my signature shots. It has been used for my own website promotion, it has been used by my company for backdrops being blown up to 3 meters x 7 meters and more recently I donated the photo printed onto canvas and it was auctioned, money raised would go to Chance UK (Chance UK provides mentoring programmes for children aged 5-11 years with behavioural difficulties, I am proud to say that the canvas raised £350 on the night.

What style attracts you most? Why?
HDR initially attracted me to photography and still does but I think the style that I love most is IR (Infrared). The effect gives a surreal other world feel to photos, deep blue skies with pure white greenery.

How far do you go with post processing?
As far as I can, I see taking the photo is only half the process, so I love the post processing just as much as being out there taking the photos.

What motivates you to grab the camera and go make a photograph?
All kinds of elements I think, such as the weather, looking through other peoples photos (online), discussing ideas with others etc…

Describe your feelings during a photoshoot:
I used to get quite nervous, especially when dealing with models, talking to them, directing them etc but now with experience not so much, I now get totally immersed in only the subject and immediate surroundings.

How do you go about making a difference between photography for work and photography for pleasure?
Photography for work is very different to doing it for pleasure as your working on behalf of a client, it’s their vision you have to take into account not the vision you would normally go with, you can suggest ideas etc but it’s their product and their ideas you have to capture, which is sometimes hard, so photography for myself will have many different styles, techniques and more experimenting while having fun with it.

3 tips / advice to other photographers:

Read camera manuals, search the internet for tips.
Pick up your camera, go out there and start taking photos, experiment, try things.
Join photography sites such as flickr.com, browse other photos and don’t be afraid of asking the pro’s questions on how to do things.

Publications:

Out of the Dark & into the Light by Nick Haigh published by Blurb Books 2009
Total Retail Magazine (Front Cover – February 2009)
Practical Photography Magazine – Issue Showcase (June 2009)
Retail Design Magazine (December 2010)
Perspectiva Exterior Magazine Architecture (Article)
London Calling Greeting Cards (distrubuted in Cards Galore, Waterstones & WH Smiths)

How can we stay updated with your work?
Website: http://www.nickhaigh.net
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/nickhaigh
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Nick_Haigh

ritakml picks 5 photos

stream Meet a photographer: Nick Haigh

biker Meet a photographer: Nick Haigh

Meet a photographer: Simon Garnier

Simon Garnier in a shutter click

: Simon Garnier. Born on 1-May-1981 and lives in the USA.

Main camera: Panasonic Lumix GF1.
Main lens: Panasonic Lumix G 20mm F/1.7 ASPH ”Pancake”.
Post-processing software: Adobe Lightroom.
Favorite lighting: Natural lighting, no flash. I try to avoid strong lights, because it is often hard to get good exposition and nice colors in these conditions, and also because it is very tiring for the eyes.
Favorite time to make photographs: I like soft lights during early morning and late afternoon, shaded areas and cloudy days.
Favorite season to make photographs: I don’t have a favorite season to take pictures. Cold winters and hot summers can be challenging for the body, but they also provide endless opportunities to capture people in extreme moments.
Favorite mood while making photographs: I’m always happy when I take pictures, but it’s not obvious for the people around me as I become very focused when I shoot.
Favorite music while making photographs: The music of the streets: the sound of the car engines, the screams of the kids playing, the steps of the people on the sidewalk, etc…
Favorite photographer: There isn’t one in particular. I take in with what I find on the Internet mostly. One day it will be a retrospective on Henri Cartier Bresson’s work, the day after the gallery of some unknown, yet talented, photographer on Flickr, Tumblr or some other website. But if I had to recommend one in particular, I would probably suggest people to have a look at Gérald Verdon’s work (here on Flickr for instance: http://www.flickr.com/photos/geraldverdon/). He is a gentleman and his talent makes me seriously jealous
Favorite quote related to photography: ”Compose and wait” – Sam Abell

Simon Garnier, street photographer

Why photography? What do you hope to achieve?
I’m a visual animal, I have always been attracted toward pictures. They are able to trigger emotions in me more than anything else. But I have always been a bit clumsy. Painting fine details for instance is a real challenge for my shaking hands. Thus, photography was the natural choice for me. I’m at a very early stage of my artistic development, so I don’t have a very good picture yet of what big project I’d like to achieve in photography. Last year, I took a big step by deciding to commit myself mostly to street photography. One reason is that I have always been interested in documentary photography and photojournalism, and it seems to me that street photography is the perfect entry point to this world.

What do you do when you are not making photographs?
I am a scientist. I specialized in the study of collective behaviors. I study everything that can form a crowd, a school, a swarm, a flock or a herd. Think of ant colonies, football fans or legions of tiny robots invading the solar system, and you will have a pretty good idea of what I am interested in my research.

Which of your photographs do you consider is a reflection of loneliness? What attracted you to it?

Alone in the dark

New York is an enormous city where people move fast and rarely stop for the outcasts, the pariahs, the nuts and all this invisible people who are the soul of the city. This woman was sitting alone next to an empty chair and grumbling things that nobody else could understand besides herself. She was the perfect representative of these people we unconsciously ignore because they don’t belong to our fast paced world. This picture has been taken on Broadway, one of the busiest street in Manhattan. I had to wait between two waves of people to make sure I would photograph her without anybody else around.

Which of your photographs had a strong impact on you? What’s the story?

The wait

This picture was taken in Lisbon, Portugal, in 2007. It was my first real street photograph, even if at that time, I had no idea whatsoever about street photography. It always had a special meaning for me though, maybe a sort of premonition about what I really wanted to do with photography.

What style attracts you most? Why?
Street Photography. The constant discovery and the feeling that I understand something about the place where I am and the people I meet there because I have been able to capture this fraction of a second where everything falls in place perfectly and they look magical.

How far do you go with post processing?
I try to keep post-processing as minimal as possible in terms of time consumption. I use 3 Lightroom presets of my own that correct the white balance, the contrast and the luminosity in various ways and I choose between them as a function of characteristics of the raw picture. I often add some vignetting when I want to lead the eye of the viewer to a particular point in the image. As much as possible, I try to take into account the future addition of the vignetting when I take the picture.

What motivates you to grab the camera and go make a photograph?
In my everyday job, as a scientist, I try to understand the emergence of collective patterns at large scales, that is at scales that cannot be directly perceived by the individual (when you walk in a busy street for instance, you are not aware of everything happening around you). As a street photographer however, I try to focus on individual moments of candid beauty that stand out from the urban crowd. I will look for people who contrast from other people around, and for situations that diverge from the usual (to not say normal) behavior of the surrounding crowd.

Tell us about a weird thing you do or a weird habit you have before a photoshoot:
I play frenetically the solitaire on my iPad in the train to New York. It helps me relax and forget about my problems.

Describe your feelings during a photoshoot:
I’m very focused when I take pictures, I don’t really have much feelings. I try to evacuate all my emotions to be able to get as much information as possible from my environment. The feelings come several days later when I decide it is time to have a first look at my picture on my computer screen. And they can be very strong when a picture turn out good.

Ethically, what are your limits in photography?
The most important thing to remember is that you owe a lot of respect to the people you’re taking a picture of. They create and execute the story, your role is to capture it in the more meaningful way. It’s like an untold collaboration. For this reason, I don’t try to hide and if people have questions or concerns, I always take the time to answer and to explain what I do.

3 tips / advice to other photographers:

Be technically ready. There is nothing worse than missing a picture because the camera was still in the bag, or off, or set up with unsuitable parameters.
Be mentally ready. Street photography is practiced live. There is no possibility to stop the action, to make adjustments to the scene or to repeat the shot until it is perfect. Concentration is therefore required to anticipate events and to react on time.
Be perceptually ready. Observation is the key for a good street photograph. I spend maybe 99% of my time looking around me and only 1% looking through my viewfinder. The viewfinder is a tool to compose a picture, but it is too restrictive to help me have a good idea of what is happening or about to happen around me.
I will add Sam Abell’s quote : ”Compose and wait”; it’s the best piece of advice I have received this year.

Publications:

La salamandre (October-November 2011)
Our Town Downtown (September 15, 2011, cover)
Viewfinder Magazine (August 2011, page 35)
AmplifiedNY.com (June 19, 2011 and August 3, 2011)
bhinsights.com (August 5, 2011 and August 8, 2011)

How can we stay updated with your work?
Website: http://www.simongarnier.org
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SimonGarnierPhotography
Tumblr: http://simongarnierphoto.tumblr.com
500px: http://500px.com/sjmgarnier
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/sjmgarnier
Twitter: http://twitter.com/sjmgarnier
G+: http://gplus.to/sjmgarnier

ritakml picks 5 photos

Stripped

She is not who you think she is 300x300 Meet a photographer: Simon Garnier

She's not who you think she is

Transparency

Whats on a doormans mind 300x200 Meet a photographer: Simon Garnier

What's in a doorman's mind?

Reading shadow

Meet a photographer: Orlando Uy

Orlando Uy in a shutter click

Orlando Uy. Born on 10-Oct-1971 and lives in the Philippines.

Main camera: Canon EOS 450D.
Main lens: Canon EF-S 17-55 f/2.8
Post-processing software: Adobe Lightroom.
Favorite lighting: Natural light referably during mid-morning.
Favorite time to make photographs: Late afternoons. It’s during this time that people are more relaxed.
Favorite season to make photographs: Over here, we only have two seasons: Wet and Very Wet. I love taking photos in the rain.
Favorite mood while making photographs: When I have too many thoughts running in my head. Photography is an escape.
Favorite music while making photographs: “Thank You” by Dido.
Your dream equipment: A medium format digital camera.
Favorite photographer: None in particular; I just admire great photos
Favorite quote related to photography: “Any monkey can press the shutter button” as said by my mentor and friend Dave Fowler, emphasizing on the importance of composition in a photograph.

Orlando Uy, street photographer

Why photography? What do you hope to achieve?
Photography is a way for me to show others what I see and how I feel. Is world peace through photography possible? Hahaha. My hope is that everyone will learn to respect everybody else and try to see things from the other’s point of view.

Which photograph do you consider is a capture of an unexpected encounter reflecting the spirit of the Philippines?

I saw these kids playing in the rain along the side of the road while I was driving. I stopped a distance down the road and started shooting from across the street. The scene depicted of pure joy as both of them happily played in the rain without a care in the world and welcomed every splash made by passing cars. I was lost in the moment and was happy for them. Their expressions captured in this photograph are priceless. Filipinos are generally happy people, fun-loving and sincere. Despite all the difficulties they face in life, they always find reasons to laugh and be happy.

What style attracts you most? Why?
Street Photography. I’m attracted to people because I find myself in them.

How far do you go with post processing?
I used to do a lot of sharpening, blurring, levels adjustments, dodge, burn, multiply, etc in Photoshop but have simplified my workflow nowadays to a few levels and tone curve adjustment in LR, plus a few other tweaks. I have a hard time distinguishing a slight tint of red, yellow or green, which is why I prefer black & white.

What motivates you to grab the camera and go make a photograph?
Meeting people and getting to know their struggles and success. It’s their story that motivates me.

Tell us about a weird thing you do or a weird habit you have before a photoshoot:
I just grab my camera and go before I change my mind about shooting. There’s probably just a very few serious street photographers here in Tacloban City, and being one is probably weird enough for most people.

Describe your feelings during a photoshoot:
I get lost in the moment.

Ethically, what are your limits in photography?
I stop when the picture robs my subject of dignity.

3 tips / advice to other photographers:

Respect everyone you meet. People will know your intentions from the way you look at them.
Tell a story
Enjoy the walk

How can we stay updated with your work?
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/orlandouy
Blog: http://afternoonwalks.wordpress.com
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/orlandouy
500px: http://500px.com/orlandouy
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/orlandouy

ritakml picks 5 photos

img 3937 300x199 Meet a photographer: Orlando Uy

img 5065 300x240 Meet a photographer: Orlando Uy

Meet a photographer: Betty Ketchedjian

Betty Ketchedjian. Born on 23-Sept-1988 and lives in Lebanon.

Betty Ketchedjian in a shutter click

Main camera: Canon 5D mark II , which I recently got. Before, my main camera was Canon 450D.
Main lens: Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 lens, though I really enjoy shooting with my 50mm f/1.8 lens
Post-processing software: Photoshop CS5.
Favorite lighting: Natural light would be my favorite, though I like to incorporate studio strobes with natural lighting, especially during on location shoots.
Favorite time to make photographs: As the cliché saying goes, I like shooting during the golden hour.

Golden Hour

Favorite season to make photographs: No favorite season, though the least favorite would definitely be during winter.
Favorite mood while making photographs: Each mood gives a different type of picture and I enjoy the varied outcomes.
Favorite music while making photographs: I don’t listen to music while taking pictures, but if singing counts, I sing random songs during shoots (not all the time) and make fun of things to lighten the models’ moods and make them comfortable.
Your dream equipment: Since I recently got my Canon 5D mark 2, I think that for now, I have what I want
Favorite photographer: I have a few photographers whose work I really enjoy. Lara Jade would be my current favorite photographer.
Favorite quote related to photography: “Having a camera makes you no more a photographer than having a hammer and some nails makes you a carpenter”- Claude Adams.

Betty Ketchedjian, portrait photographer

Why photography? What do you hope to achieve?
It all started with me getting a point and shoot camera 7 years ago. I started shooting nature and random things around me and with the progression of time – I really don’t know how- I found myself drawn to portraiture and capturing people’s emotions. Now, all I want to do is capture unique pictures of people in different situations, conveying different feelings. It’s a passion and not doing it would be as difficult for me as not eating/breathing/sleeping.

Which photograph do you consider reflects your love to try something new?

The Sorcerer

Actually, I’ve tried a bunch of different techniques in photography to see how I can come up with unique results. This photograph: “The Sorcerer” is my newest addition to this category. I love this picture because of many things, one of them is that the model is my brother. Also, the idea of using something as simple as powder and flash can yield this result. It’s a picture about power and control.

Which photograph do you consider is a story of loneliness?

Your trace lingers

I actually did a series about loss and loneliness and from that series I chose this picture. I was passing through a lonely phase in my life and wanted to put the emotions I felt into pictures, so I could share my feelings with the world. The scenario of my loneliness and the scenario of the picture might be different, but the emotions conveyed are the same.

What style attracts you most? Why?

Jubilance of Youth

I’m attracted to portraiture, and in particular vintage style sun-bathed pictures. I love how those pictures provoke feelings of happiness, warmth, and generally make you nostalgic.

How far do you go with post processing?
Depending what I want to achieve from a picture or the concept I want to convey, I either do a slight color/level tweaking or do a larger processing like photo manipulation, or vintage processing. What I NEVER do is process a person into looking like plastic!

What motivates you to grab the camera and go make a photograph?
Usually, I would have an idea in my head I really want to create; so that would be my motive, and some other times when viewing tons of pictures of other great photographers online, I feel motivated to go out and create a piece of art.

Tell us about a weird thing you do or a weird habit you have before a photoshoot:
Well, I don’t think I have a weird habit I do, but a day (or more) before a shoot, I look at pictures online with the same theme to broaden my horizons and be in the mood for what I have to be shooting.

Describe your feelings during a photoshoot:
My feelings are of pure joy during a shoot. When I’m shooting and I capture a particular shot that’s new and different , I get this weird thrill in me, sort of telling me what I just captured is a keeper.

How do you go about making a difference between photography for work and photography for pleasure?
Well, the excitement I have is the same when shooting a paid job, or when shooting a personal project. The difference would be in the preparation most probably. When I’m shooting a paid job like a wedding or engagement, I don’t have full control of everything going on, like clothes/hair/make up/location. But when shooting a personal photoshoot, I take care of all the details from clothing to hair to location to accessories, to have the best outcome.

Ethically, what are your limits in photography?
I won’t compromise my integrity and beliefs to achieve success in the photography business. That being said, ethically in photography, nothing is black and white, so the intention of the picture is also important in deciding whether or not I shoot it.

3 tips / advice to other photographers:

Never be discouraged or compare yourself to other photographers.
Have a sketchbook/ idea book with you at all times, you never know when inspiration might come.
Narrow down the types of photography you enjoy doing. You can’t be the best in all types of photography. Narrow it down and then focus your energy into being your best in that!

Exhibitions:

I recently participated in an art exhibition for the opening of Mouth Arts Beirut- an art school in Gemmayze from 13-15 March 2011.
I also did slideshows of my photographs for 2 songs that were performed at the concert of the Armenian band Mihr on 6 February 2010.

How can we stay updated with your work?
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/betket
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/betket

ritakml picks 5 photos

Crouching tigress

L 200x300 Meet a photographer: Betty Ketchedjian

Thing called Love

Cry of the werewolf

Nature's embrace

Meet a photographer: Hassane Chami

Hassan Chami. Born on 07-Jan-1988 and lives in France.

Hassane Chami in a shutter click

Main camera: Sony α550.
Main lens: I don’t have a main or favorite lens, but most of my photos are made at focals between 10mm and 50mm. With the Sigma 10-20mm, Minolta 17-35mm f/2.8 and Minolta 50mm f/1.7
Post-processing software: Photoshop CS5.
Favorite lighting: Natural, though I made a shoot under cinematic light once and it was amazing. I was shooting on the set of a short film.
Favorite time to make photographs: The golden hour (sunset or sunrise) / After the rain.
Favorite season to make photographs: Autumn.
Favorite mood while making photographs: Most of the photos that I’m proud of were made during my phases of depression. That’s when I can express myself through photography the most.
Favorite music while making photographs: Depends on the mood really. I love “Sigur Ros” or “Godspeed you black empror”, sometimes “Pink Floyd” or “NoSound”etc.
Your dream equipment: I’m currently looking for a movie camera. Probably the upcoming 5D MKII replacement (MKIII) with some very fast prime lenses (85mm F/1.2, 50mm F/1.2, 24mm F/1.4)
Favorite quote related to photography: It’s a quote that includes both photography and cinema (my other passion) : “Photography is truth. The cinema is truth twenty-four times per second”. - Jean-Luc Godard.

Hassane Chami, street and landscape photographer

Why photography? What do you hope to achieve?
Honestly, I don’t know why. It’s a passion that was born in me when I was a kid, but a remote passion, I never had the chance to grab a camera, until a few years ago, and since then, I got hooked. It’s my free way of self-expression, where I don’t really care about people think. I do it for myself. Some people use poetry or words, I use photography. I don’t consider myself a photographer nor an artist, it’s not my goal to become any of those two.

Which photograph you made with the intention of conveying a clear message? What did you want to say?

: Chacun son cinéma

Though most of my photos have messages, and they’re somehow conceptual, but to choose one I’d say “Chacun son cinéma”. Sometimes when I’m watching a movie, I take a fast look at people’s faces and see how much Cinema has a magical effect on people, like André Bazin once said. He always believed that cinema has this magical effect and how it’s a window to the world. It’s my photographic dedication to the world of cinema, and for me it really shows that gazing effect cinema has on people.

Which photo made you stand speechless? Why? what’s the story behind it?

This is a photo I made recently while discovering the south of France by bicycle. While I was on this trip, I was stunned by this whole new world I’ve never seen before. It was around me all the time. I passed through green deserts, through ancient villages, wine chateaux and forests. This photo was made in a small wood in a beautiful old village called Castrie. I made a few photos of the landscape, but somehow I knew, the best one would be in a portrait format aligning the sun perfectly behind a tree in order to get some beautiful flare, but not an over-exposed photo. I was left speechless when I finally saw the result on my screen and even more I finished with post-processing. The photo means a lot to me, not just on the technical side, but on the emotional side too. During my trip, I felt freedom like never before. Nature is freedom.

What style attract you most? Why?

Favorite Style 1 199x300 Meet a photographer: Hassane Chami

All that Sadness

Favorite Style 2 300x300 Meet a photographer: Hassane Chami

On Every Street

Mostly Nature and Urban street styles. Two different styles. The first one comes from my great love for nature, the second one comes from my great interest in human behavior.

How far do you go with post-processing?

: All The Hope Left

Most of my photography are first made in my head. So I use post-processing to achieve the image I drew in my mind. Sometimes, I use the photo straight from the cam, others, it takes a few hours to get the results I need. But all this stays within the limits of “photography post processing”, without crossing the boundries into “photo-manipulation”. Though this is debatable, but then again, we’re in the digital age and things are changing fast.

What motivates you to grab the camera and go make a photograph?
Anything really: a bad day, a sudden inspiration, a bad mood, a happy thought, the will to have some freedom time. But it’s a shame I haven’t had any time for all that recently.

Tell us about a weird thing you do or a weird habit you have before a photoshoot:
Well, I don’t know if it’s really a habit, but it’s definitely weird: When I go shooting, even if the scene or subject was very interesting, I can’t start shooting right away. I take time to blend in the scene, think about all the possible shots, and first create them in my head. But it’s funny that sometimes, where I’m with people, we leave the place before I get in “trance”… so I come out empty handeds.

Describe your feelings during a photoshoot:
My friends find me really weird when I shoot, especially when shooting nature. I get disconnected from the outside world, and get into my own universe, I don’t even hear my friends calling my name or shouting at me.

3 tips / advice to other photographers:

The camera is not everything. In fact, it’s nothing, so quit your dream of trying to buy the most expensive camera on the market in order to become a photographer.
Learn to love the equipment you have, even if it’s a modest one. (I wrote a blog article about this.)
Photography takes dedication and devotion. It takes deep thought, time, and imagination. If you lack any of those, I say photography isn’t your thing.

Prizes and expositions:
Web: Homepage feature on Redbubble.com and Three Daily Deviation prizes on deviantart.com
Exhibitions:

August 2009: Exhibition at Le Prague bar, Hamra
Summer 2009: Represeting Lebanon in the USA at the “809 Gallery of Art”, LaGrange, Georgia
Summer 2010: International Inter University Photography Exhibition (IIUPE) – 8 photos exhibited.
September 2010: Exhibition in the Hamra festival.

How can we stay updated with your work?
Website/Blog: http://www.c-hass.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/h_chami
Deviant Art: http://c-hass.deviantart.com
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