Random Thoughts & Photography

Life happens, and we need to make the best of it, or, at the very least, make it work. There are periods where it becomes a daunting task to even go through a single day, and days of abundant joy. There can’t be one without the other. There will be periods where everything is going perfect, and another when everything will seem to be going wrong.

We need to push on. We need to continue existing as the best version of ourselves - do something that makes existing better, not only for you, but for others.

I guess this is why I’ve found photography such an addictive activity - I get to create and express the best I have to offer, while at the same time documenting and giving others a chance to see and appreciate what might otherwise never be. I’ve found within my own country, Guyana, the experience I believe I’ve always yearned for - adventure and art in nature. There’s something about a relatively untouched landscape that speaks to your soul, and, for each of us, there’s a different lesson to be learned. There’s something about our brothers and sisters in feathers and fur, scales and shells, that teach us that life is not only limited to the human experience, and the societies we live in. We’re all trying to make it, to survive, and to keep on existing no matter the challenges. There is no art that can surpass the art that nature has created - it’s perfection, and I try to capture that in whatever small way I can, and to the best of my abilities.

There are challenges to the type of photography I pursue - it’s expensive, time consuming, requires a lot of planning, and sometimes quite dangerous. But I get inspiration from others who have done exponentially more than what I will probably ever achieve. If they can do so much, I can do more. Maybe one day I’ll pursue it full time, but for now I’ll take it step by step.

In a society filled with amenities and technological crutches, we lose touch with our physical selves more and more. Instead of looking at the stars, I stare constantly at an illuminated screen. Instead of climbing mountains, I’m climbing the financial ladder. Instead of seeing everything as within, I constantly see everything as without. So, I take my explorations and photography as a form of meditation - a practice I can fall into without it becoming a task, something I can let happen naturally, like breathing.

These are just a few jumbled thoughts I wanted to put in the open. Random, and spontaneous.

Colour

I’ve struggled for a while with colour in my images. Somehow it never seems to come out right, so initially I was drawn towards black and white. And though black and white has its place in photography, I believe that being versatile is very important in the world of photography and art.

Tonight, I finally uploaded colour images of landscapes and birds - images that I’m satisfied with for now. It has been a challenge for me to get my images looking the way I want them to in colour, and this is a step that I need to take to review and display my images for others to provide valuable feedback.

It’s amazing how long it takes to develop a sense of what you want, and that keeps changing as we change. Our mood often determines what is produced as a finished image. What we create is ultimately a result of all our experiences and knowledge acquired put into physical form.

The next step is for me to print my images as often as I can to determine what I need to tweak so as to achieve a result that can be something I can be quite satisfied with.

Visions 2018 - A Curated Exhibition Pt.1

When Visions 2018 was first announced and the organiser, Michael C. Lam, opened the floor for submissions, I wasn’t sure what images I’d submit. This would be the first time I’d be submitting my work to be exhibited as printed pieces at a gallery, and I wanted to choose images that would have a positive impact on viewers. In the end, I submitted five images of the white-chinned swifts in flight at Kaieteur National Park - the title was ‘Dance of the White-chinned Swifts’.

Not long after submitting my images, I got an email informing me that some of my images were chosen pieces to be displayed at the exhibition opening at Oxygen Arts Gallery on 1st December, 2018. The curator had only chosen 30 photos from a total of 15 photographers, and I wondered from the beginning: why only 30? I was now even more curious to see what were these choice pieces of art that were selected.

On opening day, I took a drive up to Industry to the gallery and found the place, thanks to Google Maps - a small place where people had already gathered, and were mingling outside. My first impression upon entering the space was that it was not the atmosphere where you can truly appreciate printed pieces. You see, I’ve spoiled myself visiting the Whitney Museum of Art (Manhattan), The Metropolitan Museum of Art (Manhattan), The National Gallery of Art (Washington DC), and a few other smaller galleries for photography and art. Oxygen Arts was simply too small to host this event in a way that could be fully appreciated by viewers, but I was thankful nevertheless. It had it’s benefits of feeling like a grassroots movement to further art in Guyana. It gave me hope: that even though there are many challenges, people are still willing to sacrifice their time, energy, and property to provide a space for art, and that trumps any gallery I’ve ever visited. The facts are:

1. Oxygen Arts agreed to host this even for free, a gesture of greatness in itself.

2. This exhibition is better than none at all, and a step in the right direction for the art.

3. It was well organised and had an awesome turnout.

4. It gave me perspective on how much Guyana needs to invest in the Arts and Culture.

5. Reinforced in my mind how much talent and potential we still have residing in Guyana, even with the economic, political, and social challenges we face.

I try to see the positive in what can initially appear negative. There was also much to learn about photography at the event. I always enjoy viewing the work of my peers because it brings the art a bit closer to home, and what we are capable of capturing right here in Guyana. The pieces that I particularly enjoyed were:

1. Mashramani by Fidal Bassier. There is something that speaks to your heart when you see this photo. It shouts: Guyana, Generations, Tradition, Culture, Art, Life.

2. Regent St. Labourer by Nikhil Ramkarran. Much to be analysed in this photo, but there is something that connects me to the hard-working people of the street. They are an important aspect of the culture and ethic of this nation.

I’ve sent in requests to purchase both of these prints.

Visions 2018, for me, is more than just an exhibition where my work has been featured for the first time; more importantly, I feel compelled to do more to further the art. Maybe play a more active role in organising and promoting events like these.

Photography may be relatively new in Guyanese society, but there are enough great works by Guyanese photographers to warrant a permanent space where people can escape to experience moments, experience the art.

Vidyaratha Kisson had his take on the event. Read about it here.

Kopinang

On a recent trip to Kopinang from the 29th September to 3rd October, 2018, I found some of the most outstanding scenery, I’m quite sure, in the whole of Guyana. There’s no questioning the beauty of Kopinang, and the Potaro Region in general.

Naturally, I applied some new techniques, since I’ve been considering changing and evolving the way I take photographs, so most of the time I shot in colour. The trip wasn’t a dedicated photographic mission, but a cross between pure pleasure, documentation, learning, and overcoming challenges.

On the journey, we experienced the nature of the rainforest within the Northern Pakaraimas, which is relatively untouched except for a few trails and camps in the forest. The views are stunning, the water is crystal clear, and the waterfalls are like none I’ve ever seen. Wildlife is abundant, although we didn’t encounter much large animals or birds on this trip, so what I photographed included mostly landscape shots.

We didn’t spend much time in the village and I was asked by our host not to photograph people, which I completely understand and respect. So, what about the photos? I moved away from black and white to colour. Not only did I want to try something new, but I realised that colour adds another dimension to photography and can even make it more challenging, but at the same time more rewarding. It’s easy to subtract colour to get the desired effect of a black and white image, but to add colour and compose correctly for the desired effect of the image you want to create can be even more rewarding and worthwhile.

I’ve also learned the pleasure of capturing small moments with a decent camera phone. There are just some moments that you can’t always have your camera with you to capture, and that’s where a phone comes in handy. The image doesn’t have to be pixel perfect, or well lit - it just has to convey the most important parts of the scene, or subject - viewers will fill in the rest, and for that reason - I recently began uploading street photos that I am now capturing with my phone. More on that later.

On Social Media and Photography

This is not meant to cover this entire subject, but simply to record a thought I had a few moments ago. Maybe if I did this more often, the blog would have a decent record of my progress in photography.

Most of us know of Instagram and Facebook. Many of us have shared photos on these platforms, and as an amateur photographer, I’ve used both to view the works of others, and also to publish my own for feedback. I think it’s important that we share our work, but to share with the best intentions for ourselves, and for others. It’s great to be inspired by likes and encouraging comments, but to truly improve, we need to be highly critical of our own work - in a way that isn’t disparaging, but incites more learning.

There is a trap at many fall easily into, and before you know it, your work isn’t yours anymore, but your followers’. Before you know it, your photography may begin to look like thousands of others that have been seeking the same thing that you are. What’s popular isn’t always what’s good. In a world where millions of images are taken every day, it’s not about standing out, or being popular, or even being loved, but being true to yourself.

Anything worthwhile doesn’t come easy, and photography, like any skill, takes a great deal of hard work, patience, perseverance, and sacrifice to develop. The work we put in, is what we’ll get out

Taking a Step Back

In the journey to improve my photography, I’ve decided to take a break and learn more about what I enjoy in the work of others. Just the other day, I purchased my first online course from the Masters of Photography website, and it turned out to be quite excellent. It’s more about how to train your eye to see rather than fancy camera techniques.

I’ll need to do quite a bit of contemplation to decide what direction I want my photography to go, but for now, I think I’m on the right path. I’m looking forward to implementing an improved approach to this wonderful art.

Making More Meaningful Photos

Recently, my mind has been searching for an answer to this question: What more can I implement in my photography to make photos worth remembering, worth viewing, worth keeping.

There are a few answers I gathered from reading, viewing photos by good photographers, and listening to what other photographers have to say in interviews.

In an age where technology has made it easy to snap a picture, the art of capturing a great image is now the main challenge. When we want to capture a scene, or moment, there is only so much we can fit into a photo - what and how we do it is what will make the image worthwhile. Capturing these moments aren’t easy, and sometimes you might just have to be lucky, but certainly we can increase the odds by being ready when that moment arrives. I feel the need to train my mind how to see as if my eyes were the camera.

I believe it’s the little things in a photo that make a lasting impression, that those who really look at good photography see deeper than the surface of the image (the quality of print, sharpness, colour, etc.) - they see what the photographer sees, and feel what the photographer felt. They appreciate what is being told by the photo, in the same way we can appreciate a good book no matter it’s condition, or how it looks, because the most important elements remain the same. This idea downplays the importance of editing and presentation, which can add to an already good image, but we need to put priority first on the substance of the image - that is the story behind it, or what it’s intended to convey. Then there’s composition - how we choose to construct that story or piece so that it can present our message in the best way possible - one that is unique to us and represents how we see the world.

The photos I admire the most are the ones that allow me to be in the photographer’s position - that allow me a fraction of their experience. In my own way, I want to give that opportunity to others.

Exploration

Exploration can happen right in your own neighbourhood. There are so many place right in your own area that you can travel to and appreciate, and photograph. So many things happening outside your window that may seem normal, but are really quite extraordinary. How we see the world determines how amazing it is to us.

Tomorrow I'm heading to Parika with a few stops along the way, and I'm looking forward to a mind-blowing experience.

Behind the Images for Guyana Photographers

Michael C. Lam convinced me to do a writeup for the series 'Behind the Image' on the Guyana Photographers website. I agreed and it was published on 4th May, 2018.

Here's the link:

http://www.guyanaphotographers.com/wp/2018/05/04/kaieteur-national-park/

Uploads to the Website

I've been putting off updating this website with new images for a while now, and finally got around to doing it this week. The black and white uploads have started, but colour is going to take a bit longer as those images will need more work and careful selection. 

There are many more pages to come, so I'm hoping that I can be consistent with the uploads and getting the site in order.

Absorption

It's been a while since I've written for this blog. I figure I need to commit to short notes and just keep them regular, instead of focusing on doing something lengthy that is less likely to happen or be enjoyable. 
I believe that to be truly good at something most people need to be really absorbed in it, or have a natural talent. Personally, I'm easily distracted, but I find that some hobbies are just too good to not do regularly. For some people, hobbies can become obsessions, even vocations and photography no exception. I can see why some people quit their regular jobs to make photography a vocation. It does so much in enriching your life - you develop a different world-view, you develop patience, you develop a new philosophy. It truly enriches your life, especially if you can see it as creative expression.

Challenge yourself to do better.

Sometimes I sit back and I know that there's some way to improve something about myself, but not sure where to start. We start by doing the simplest things - and one step at a time, you begin to build. But there has to be commitment; sometimes you need to be downright dogged to achieve what you really want if you want it that badly. 

How do you know what you truly desire - learn from some of the greatest minds, who contemplated some of the most important questions in human history - in books, and from your simple acquaintances. 

South Rupununi Expedition

There is so much that can be said about this journey, but one thing that certainly stood out was the pristine landscape - preserved as it was thousands of years ago. There are little villages spread across the land, but nothing that significantly destroys. The native people have done an excellent job at protecting the land through sustainable living. 

The scenery will fill the hearts and souls of anyone who experiences it. 

Return From Orinduik

It has been almost a week that I've returned from the Orinduik overland expedition, and somehow I still feel exhausted. I'm not sure whether it's the overdose of adventure and excitement, or the lack of sleep and extreme mental and physical demands the trip required. Here I am back home and awaiting the next adventure and opportunity to photograph some more amazing landscapes. 

The journey was not only a test of physical capacity, but of willpower and determination, and courage. It's not easy being out in the middle of nowhere with one vehicle and no help for many miles. The terrain was rough, the sun was merciless, but the views and experience more than compensated for any discomforts.

Plans are in the pipeline for another expedition to the South Rupununi very soon. The next adventure awaits; hopefully it won't leave me as drained. 

True Art Is An Expression Of Our Soul

Today I decided to create and publish my own website. It will feature mostly photographs and a few writings, however, I'm not sure how often it will be updated. 

I believe this is the best way to showcase my work and to evolve my creativity through critique and feedback.