Meet a photographer: Eric Kim

Eric Kim. Born on 31-Jan-1988 and lives in Los Angeles (USA)

Eric Kim in a shutter click

Main camera: Canon 5D.
Main lens: Canon 35mm f/2
Post-processing software: Adobe Photoshop CS5, Silver Efex Pro, Lightroom 3.
Favorite lighting: Golden Hour (before sunset).
Favorite time to make photographs: During my lunch breaks at work.
Favorite season to make photographs: When it is rainy.
Favorite music while making photographs: The sound of cars on the streets.
Your dream equipment: Leica M9 and Leica Summilux 35 mm F/1.4
Favorite photographer: Nils Jorgensen.
Favorite quote related to photography: “If your photos aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough.” – Robert Capa

Eric Kim, street photographer

Why photography? What do you hope to achieve?
I love photography because it gives me an opportunity to slow down in my everyday life and appreciate the places and people around me. I want to show people the beauty of ordinary people and things.

Which photograph do you consider is an example of surreal photography? In what sense?

UFO 200x300 Meet a photographer: Eric Kim

UFO

I consider my photograph: “UFO”, a quite surreal image. I find it surreal because the structure above the man in the bike looks out-of-this world, very similar to an UFO. When I saw this scene unfolding before my eyes, I imagined the “UFO” about to pick up the man on the bike and take him to another galaxy.

Which photograph made you fear for your equipment? What is the story behind it?

Together in the rain

I shot this photo in Seoul, Korea during the summer when there would be irregular but strong rains. I was inside a bar, and suddenly it started pouring outside. I then saw these two ladies about to walk into the bar, and I jumped outside (nearly getting soaking wet) to capture this shot. My camera was a bit wet, but overall okay.

What style attracts you most? Why?
There is no comparison, I love street photography. I feel that through this style, I am able to capture the rawness of life. Street photography is spontaneous and I have no idea what is going to happen next. Not only that, but the thrill of getting a once-in-a-lifetime shot is unexplicable.

How far do you go with post-processing?
When processing my images in black and white, I use the Photoshop plugin called “Silver Efex Pro.” By far it is the best black and white conversion software out there, as it allows me more control of my conversions. Not only that, but I can add grain to my images (which I love to do).

What motivates you to grab the camera and go make a photograph?
I love to make photographs in the street because it gives me a sense of calm and peace. Not only that, but I love the feeling of waking up every morning knowing that there is something new to make a photograph of.

Tell us about a weird thing you do or a weird habit you have before a photoshoot:
I clean the front element of my lens using my breath and t-shirt.

Describe your feelings during a photoshoot:
When I am shooting on the streets, I feel connected to the people around me. I am able to see a deeper insight into their lives through the images I capture. At the end of the day, I feel that I share the same experiences as them in living everyday life.

Ethically, what are your limits in photography?
I try not to take photos of homeless people. In most cases I think it is just getting an “easy shot” which uses the misery of others as a crutch. I think that taking these types of photos are not only overplayed but tactless as well. There are cases when people can take tasteful photos of homeless people, but it is something I try to avoid.

3 tips / advice to other photographers:

Always carry your camera with you everywhere you go – everywhere.
Only show your best work.
Shoot everyday.

How can we stay updated with your work?
Website: http://erickimphotography.com
Blog: http://erickimphotography.com/blog
Twitter: http://twitter.com/erickimphoto
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ekizz
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/erickimphotography

ritakml picks 5 photos

Oblivious

On the prawl

Red Umbrella

Superman

The conductor

Meet a photographer: Juergen Buergin

Juergen Buergin in a shutter click

: Juergen Buergin. Born on 31-May-1971 and lives in Germany.

Main camera: Sony α55.
Main lens: My favourite lens doesn’t really exist. It would be a prime lens, very very small, of high quality, 20 or 25mm, f/1.4
Post-processing software: Photoshop.
Favorite lighting: Available light.
Favorite time to make photographs: Twilight.
Favorite season to make photographs: Spring and Autumn.
Favorite mood while making photographs: As I am, although my pictures do not often show this: optimistic and full of fun.
Your dream equipment: Does not yet exist. A smartphone size camera with all DSLR abilities.
Favorite photographer: I don’t have one and those I do have are changing constantly. OK, I have to decide for one, so let’s say: Henri Cartier-Bresson. But it’s not really true. Or Elliott Erwitt? Or Nan Goldin? Or Robert Doisneau? Richard Avedon? So you see it’s changing constantly.
Favorite quote related to photography: “Photography is not about the thing photographed. It is about how that thing looks photographed.”- Garry Winogrand

Juergen Buergin, street photographer

Why photography? What do you hope to achieve?
It’s somehow weird. Nearly all photographers I know say that they started with photography when they were a child or a teenager. It’s totally different with me: I started with photography less than two years ago. OK, I had a snapshot camera for holidays, but that wasn’t really photography. Suddenly I decided to buy a DSLR and this was the beginning of a great passion for me. I’d like to do some exhibitions and make some coffee-table photography books with my photos. That’s a dream I have – so to all galleries and to all publishers: Don’t hesitate to contact me!

Which photograph do you consider made you get out of your comfort zone in order to make it? How did you feel about it?

: Uncertainty

Well after all my work as a street photographer one day, I decided to make some portrait shootings with a young woman, Maxi, who had never done this before, either. This was completely new to me: I had to make decisions about what clothes and make-up she should wear, if she should smile or not, how she should hold her arms and so on. It was not easy for both of us, but I think we learned fast.

Which photograph do you consider is representative of the life in Berlin?

: Taking the bus home

For me, this photograph tells so much about life in a big city like Berlin. I think it’s a picture about solitude. It’s one major topic for me: To show people in their loneliness in Berlin – or in any other big city in the world. It’s such an inner contradiction: 3.4 million people are living in Berlin, but nevertheless, a huge part of them are singles or don’t even have close friends. They are lonely, although there are thousands of possibilities to meet people. But many people are afraid to open up to others, to listen to their stories, to their everyday life problems, and even worse: many people are afraid to talk about their loneliness. And instead of getting help, they live a sad and lonely life. I think this woman is a represents this subject very well: We do not know her, we do not learn a lot about her in my picture. But I was impressed by how she stood there and didn’t know if this is the right bus that will be taking her to her lonesome home in any district of Berlin. What really makes me proud is that I’m on the shortlist for this year’s Sony World Photography Award with this picture!

What style attracts you most? Why?
I’m not sure if I should call it style, but for me it’s important, that a photo tells a story, evokes emotions and that it surprises the viewer. I think those are three rules to prevent photography from being boring. It’s not that all good photos must have all three of them, but a great picture for me has exactly those components. To tell a story with a single shot is so difficult to achieve, as you need to implement the viewer, the recipient as an active part of the picture, because the story has to evolve in his mind – he has to invent a pre-story, and he has to think about what will be happening in future. And that, makes the photo totally different for every single recipient: Everyone has his own different story, a story that is influenced by his experience, by his past, by his social life, by his relation to arts and so on. On my Facebook fanpage, I love to encourage the fans to write down their stories.. and it’s so amazing how many different views of my photography are written down under them. The next part is to evoke emotions. I did not yet come to an end on how this really works, but often, it has to do something with the relations between the people on my photos and with the views towards each other. But that’s not all, by far. And the third point was: surprise the viewer. Life is too short to be boring.

How far do you go with post-processing?
Post processing is an elementary part of my work: I often crop a lot, I often work with the contrasts and the colours of my photo. By the way, many people forget this: Post processing is not a digital invention, what I’m doing with Photosop today has been done in the darkroom in former times. My street photography does not claim to be a documentary work nor even a journalistic work. It’s all about art. Maybe this seperates me a little from many of the classical street photographers that have a more documentary approach. All I like to do is to evoke something in the viewer, and if it helps to alienate the colours or the contrasts of my photos, then I’ll do that.

What motivates you to grab the camera and go make a photograph?
I always have my camera with me. Mainly there are two aspects: Is there any situation with some people on the street that could tell something that leads beyond, that could possibly tell me something about life? And: Does this scene possibly make a good photo, let’s say for example in a graphic way?

Tell us about a weird thing you do or a weird habit you have before a photoshoot:
I wouldn’t say that it’s a photoshoot, as mentioned, I always have a camera with me, so it’s more a constant shoot. There’s nothing too weird I do. Maybe one thing while making photographs: I never look through the viewfinder of my camera, but always on the display, so I don’t look too much as a photographer when I’m taking photos.

Describe your feelings during a photoshoot:
It’s a constant up and down. Often I miss to make photographs of situations that could have been good because the camera is not ready, or I had it in my bag, or it would be too obvious to take it out or so. Often I’m sure that a photo should be great, but when I’m looking at it on the computer it’s simply boring but often it’s the other way round: pictures that seemed not to be too good turn out to be great after the post processing work. Going around through the streets and make street photography is a complete fun for me, as I discover so many details, so many things that I would never have seen, if I didn’t have started to make photos. You learn so much about the world and about the people, so I love doing street photography because it’s so rewarding!

Ethically, what are your limits in photography?
I don’t make a photo if someone lets me know that he doesn’t like this an I don’t make photos of situations that are evidentally meant private.

3 tips / advice to other photographers:

Do not think that expensive cameras will produce good photos. It’s you – not the camera.
Look at as many photographs as possible. Go to your public library and to your bookstore and take every book about any photographer.
Do not hesitate to do post processing if it helps the effect andthe impression of the photo.

Prizes and publishings:
Competition: Sony World Photography Awards 2011 – Open Competition Shortlist.
Magazine: SCHWARZWEISS 80 – Das Magazin für Fotografie, February/March 2011, p. 67+69

How can we stay updated with your work?
Website: http://www.juergenbuergin.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/JuergenBuergin
Artflakes: http://www.artflakes.com/de/shop/juergen-buergin
Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/JuergenBuerginPhoto

ritakml picks 5 photos

Close to you
Far far away

Meet a photographer: Simon Wallerstedt

: Simon Wallerstedt. Born on 17-Sept-1984 and living in Sweden.

Simon Wallerstedt in a shutter click

Main camera: Nikon D90.
Main lens: Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 D (although I’ve found that I want something wider on the crop sensor).
Post-processing software: Adobe Lightroom 3.
Favorite lighting: Sunlight, I like the shadows.
Favorite time to make photographs: Anytime, depends on what I’m shooting.
Favorite season to make photographs: Autumn.
Favorite music while making photographs: Elliott Smith, Circle Takes the Square, or early Springsteen.
Your dream equipment: It’s kind of a cliché, but I have to say Leica M9 with a 35mm lens.
Favorite photographer: Henri Cartier-Bresson and Susan Burnstine.
Favorite quote related to photography: “Gear is good, vision is better.” – David DuChemin

Simon Wallerstedt, street photographer

Why photography? What do you hope to achieve?
I feel like this is what I was born to do, not because I’m good at it, but because of the way it makes me feel. It makes me happy. It feels so natural to me. I can truly be myself to a much greater extent than anything else. I want to show the world as I see it, and show others what catches my interest. I want to capture brief moments in time that pass us by so quickly that we often don’t even notice them. A photograph is able keep those moments, and give us time to see and understand all that happened in that split second of time. I want to tell stories with my pictures.

Which photograph do you consider reveals the beauty of something/someone other people usually consider ugly? How so?
There is something about old, decaying industrial buildings (and other similar things) that I find really fascinating. I think there is a depressive, raw beauty to it. In this photo I like the rugged feel of the building, and also how the different straight lines work together with the graffiti. A kind of order versus chaos.

Which photograph do you consider was kind of funny to make? Why?

I was photographing this wall when this man walked into my frame, stopped and looked up towards the sky. The buildings were under construction, and that’s probably what he was looking at. I’m very grateful, for without him, this would’ve been a very boring picture.

What style attracts you most? Why?
I like different styles, but street photography is what I’m most passionate about. I feel that there is a certain honesty and spontaneity to a good street photograph, that I haven’t found in other styles. I think that’s what really attracts me to it. I mostly work in Black and White; I love the look of it. I have nothing against color, it’s beautiful and a lot of pictures wouldn’t work without it. But more often than not, I find color to distract from the message (or story) of the photograph.

How far do you go with post-processing?
I usually convert to Black and White, maybe crop the image, adjust the contrast slightly and correct the exposure (if needed). When I started out, I used to experiment and play around more with different effects, but I’ve found that simple black and white works best for me most of the time.

What motivates you to grab the camera and go make a photograph?
My love for photography, and also the hope of coming back with something special. But mostly just because there’s nothing better and more satisfying than to be out photographing.

Tell us about a weird thing you do or a weird habit you have before a photoshoot:
Not really weird, but I check my batteries and memory cards and things like that. Lately I’ve also started to turn the LCD image review off. I find that it makes me focus more on the actual shooting.

Describe your feelings during a photoshoot:
I feel really good! I’m happy and excited. I’m doing something I love, and it brings me joy.

Did you ever cross borders in photography?
Now this is a tough one.. I think everyone has a different opinion about this. If you’re exploiting other people’s misfortune, that’s crossing those limits, if you ask me. Say for example photos of homeless people (which seems to be a heavily debated subject), I don’t think it’s unethical as long as it’s made with respect for the person. If, on the other hand, it is made just to get a “cool” shot, it is wrong. If a person clearly doesn’t want to be photographed, I won’t make a picture. It all comes down to showing respect and compassion for other people.

3 tips / advice to other photographers:

Don’t go anywhere without a camera.
Experiment and try different styles to find out what’s best for you.
Shoot as much as you can! That’s the best way to learn.

How can we stay updated with your work?
Website/Blog: http://www.simwallphoto.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/simwallphoto
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/simonwallerstedt
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/simonwallerstedt

ritakml picks 5 photos

Meet a photographer: Legge

Legge in a shutter click

Legge from the UK

Main camera: I have 4! It all depends on what I’m doing and where. I work with a Nikon d2xs, Nikond2x, a 1939 film range finder and a Nikon ranger finder.
Main lens: Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 and sometimes 200mm and 300mm f/2.8 For candid shots I use the 17-55mm or my 30 year old 35mm f/2.8 but have been using a 50mm f/1.8 for some low light work which has a nice feel to it.
Post-processing software: Photoshop and Aperture.
Favorite lighting: Natural lighting. I use flash only if I have to.
Favorite season to make photographs: Spring and Autumn for the color and light. Winter and Summer have their moments too: Winter for its harshness and summer for the life it brings out.
Favorite music while making photographs: Anything works. But mostly it’s quite. I have my ipod plugged in when I’m doing street and candid photographs.
Favorite photographer: Tom Pilston and Man Ray.

Legge, street photographer

Why photography? What do you hope to achieve?
I loved it since my childhood. Moving and still images always attracted my attention. I took my first pictures when I was 11 years old with a Asahi Pentax SLR in Belgium. I actually always have a camera with me whether a small range finder or a DSLR whenever I go out. I have a camera with in arms reach even indoors at home. My aim is to freeze a moment in time.

Which place do you frequently visit to make photographs? Why?

Embankment

The river embankment in my hometown in the early morning. I love the peace and slowness of the early morning as well as watching people getting ready for the day ahead.

What style attracts you most? Why?
Candid street photography and informal portraits. I like to capture people reacting to life in their own world.

How far do you go with post-processing?
I work on my photographs until they feel and look right. I think it goes back to my darkroom press days where time was everything.

Describe your feelings during a photoshoot:
I get concerned with the small details. I focus in order to get the picture right.

Ethically, what are your limits in photography?
Good question. Well as an ex-press photographer it was always take the picture first and worry about everything else later. I think that in the recent years, I have questioned a few things.

Tip / advice to other photographers:
As told to me, always keep your camera on 400asa 1/125 F/8,when walking around. it is fast enough to freeze someone falling out of a building! That was in the days of film.

How can we stay updated with your work?
Blog: http://leggephoto.wordpress.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/leggephoto
Facebook page: Legge Photography

ritakml picks 5 photos

Meet a photographer: Fady Nammour

Fady Nammour. Born on 22-Aug-1980 and living in Lebanon.

Fady Nammour in a shutter click

Main camera: Canon 7D.
Main lens: Tokina 12-24mm f/4
Post-processing software: Adobe Photoshop CS4.
Favorite lighting: Cloudy days.
Favorite time to make photographs: Afternoon for street, at sunset for landscape.
Favorite season to make photographs: All year long for street, October / November for landscape.
Favorite photographer: Andrzej Dragan.
Favorite quote related to photography: “Photography is all about catching the light…” – Unknown

Fady Nammour, street and landscape photographer

Why photography? What do you hope to achieve?
Why not? What I hope to achieve is to let people see things the way I see them in my head, and the only way I am able to do so, is by translating what I see and how I see it through pictures.

Which photograph do you consider gave you the most satisfaction so far? Why?

With every photo I post online my satisfaction builds up. It resides in all the shots I take. This photo is special because it was like a peak on the technical level, composition and luck with the colors in the sky, since I only believe in natural colors and not editing them on Photoshop.

What style attracts you most? Why?
Street photography and landscape. Street is about changing the perspective of everyday scenes into a photograph that will make the person, who is looking at the photo wonder. It allows 2 different persons looking at the same photograph to see a different story right there. Landscape is about capturing a moment that no one noticed, and you become the tool that transforms a real place that people pass by unnoticed every day, into surreal scenery.

How far do you go with post-processing?
I perform minimal post-processing. Small adjustments to colors and contrast and Black and White conversions when needed since I shoot in digital and not film.

What motivates you to grab the camera and go make a photograph?
I usually don’t like to repeat myself. I don’t like to make the same kind of photos. So I leave quite a period between every photoshoot to be motivated enough to actually grab my camera and go make a photograph. It’s only when I see a possibility of making new kind of photos.

Tell us about a weird thing you do or habit before a photoshoot:
I double check all my equipment, because I’d hate to miss a photo opportunity because I forgot something.

Describe your feelings during a photoshoot:
I usually go with no expectations and just try to make the best of where I am, if it works, then I’m happy, if not, there is always another day.

3 tips / advice to other photographers: