Beyond the obvious

Wabi-sabi is a Japanese aesthetic concept that has fascinated many Westerners who have tried to encapsulate its meaning in a neat definition. I have delved into its meaning as I learn more about Japan as I explore the country and culture in my photographs. Levels going down to the dry stone garden in Keninji, Kyoto. In Japan, the concept is well recognised, but I think Japanese people are comfortable with a more vague and ambiguous notion of what it means. The ideas and definition of wabi-sabi have changed over the centuries and continue to evolve. Literal translations are not useful, and as far as I know, you can't look the word up in the Japanese dictionary. The closest literal translation you can probably get is something like 'humble simplicity'. Based on what I have read, here are some of the key concepts that seem consistent and inform my vision of what wabi-sabi means: Impermanence - everything is in a state of continual change. Nothing remains the same. Imperfectio...

We spent a wonderful afternoon doing a photoshoot with ballet instructor Christian Dedeene at dance school Rose De Leyn in Brugge, Belgium. I worked with Christian as he free-styled an impromptu choreographed piece for me. He was moving quickly. I worked with the available light, going with the flow. Technically it was challenging as I tried to balance keeping the ISO as low as possible against a high enough shutter speed to keep everything sharp.  I think our collaboration produced some interesting images. These images tell a story and are some of my favourites because of the gestures and intensity.  Before becoming a dance teacher, highlights of Christian's career included five years as solo and star dancer with Maurice Béjart's company.  Béjart was one of the greatest choreographers of the last century, and Christian says he learnt a vast amount from the maestro. Christian regularly performs his own choreographed pieces.  We first met, 24 years ago and recently te...

Firstly, there are no shortcuts. A camera is a simple recording device. You point it at something. Click. It records what you aimed at, and that's it. Simple as it sounds, improving photography is only about improving what is happening in that rectangle, whether you're looking through the viewfinder of the most expensive camera in the world or a box brownie. All through the age of photography from the first cameras through to film and then digital cameras, beautiful images have been made. Images that have stood the test of time and are as exquisite today as they were the day they were made. Ever complained about the weight of your camera. You need a transit van rather than a camera bag to move this Hunter and Penrose camera around. Never mind slipping a Smartphone camera in your pocket. As big as two fridges Hunter and Penrose camera was carefully restored by documentary photographer, Ian Beesley, and is now displayed alongside his exhibition of photos at Salts Mill. The truth ...

Notice on a ferry. This image is manipulated. The word 'anything' was replaced with the word 'anyone'.  The notice on the ferry said that passengers were forbidden from throwing ‘anything’ overboard. I rarely manipulate images, but I couldn’t resist a spot of fun in Photoshop. However, there’s also something else that I want to communicate. It’s easy to manipulate images and video. We should question everything we see and hear because dark forces are at work. People are using social media to shape public opinion. Check every story with at least two sources. Include sources with a proven record of journalistic integrity. Photographers also need to be more transparent about image manipulation (beyond the typical image enhancements). I think photographers should tell people if they have manipulated their images. Till soon, Paul Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paul.indigo

Follow me on Instagram  @paul.indigo As photographers, we walk around seeing the world in a different way to other people. Something catches our eye and triggers our interest. We decide to lift our cameras and take a shot. A photographer with a professional approach will ask themselves several questions before lifting their camera. Three key questions I always ask myself are: What specifically in the scene caught my eye? Is it really worth photographing? How can I make a stronger image to communicate what’s important to me?  There are, of course, many other questions you ask as you make a series of decisions which lead to the final image. You work the scene. You think about how the light will change, different angles and perspectives and you keep going until you’ve revealed the essence of what you want to communicate. Once you have the first shot, you look for ways to make an even better image. You keep going through this process until you’re sure you’ve got it. ...

Sarrusi and his hat I approached him on the market at his stall because his hat caught my eye. I’m sure you can see why. At first, Sarrusi was not keen on being photographed. But we chatted. Eventually, he agreed after a bit of banter. The first portraits were quite austere and serious, and then he cracked and I got his lovely engaging smile. Patience, kindness and understanding are things every photographer should pack, along with lenses and cameras. Till soon, Paul www.indigo2photography.com

81 Bo Kaap What is the difference between a random snap and a careful photographic composition? The answer may not appear obvious at a glance. Uncovering the joy of carefully crafted photography requires effort. The viewer must engage with the image. Sadly, too often in our hyper-speed online and social media world, images are swiped past in a split second. The carefully crafted image loses out but so does the viewer, missing the joyful discoveries that await someone who takes the time to really read an image. Today, image consumption is akin to flying over the grand canyon in a jet at the speed of sound. If you really want to enjoy the view you've got to sit on the canyon rim for an hour and watch the sun go down. I'll try to illustrate why 81 Bo Kaap is not a random snap. The first reason is something the viewer will not know. The photographer, me in this case, pre-visualised the image. I didn't just lift the camera and press the shutter button. Walking toward these l...

How do you make a good photographic portrait? The answer is both simple and complex at the same time. The simple essence will probably surprise you. If I had to write a book about it then I'd cover all the usual topics. Lighting, composition, choosing the right lens, using depth of field and thinking about the background and how you use colour and tone. All have a role to play. We could also discuss the softer side. How you build rapport with your subject. And how to collaborate. The truth is none of the above things really matter when it comes down to the essence of what makes a good portrait. Don't get me wrong. They all contribute as stepping stones. They add finesse and enhance. They improve the aesthetics and make it easier to take a good photograph. Other photographers may admire your technique. But good technique does not make a good portrait. Certainly not in the eyes of of the wider public. So, what does make a good portrait. Simple. The expression on the f...

The good Samaritan. Capturing the decisive moment requires patience and timing. Good timing depends on your ability to anticipate the right moment. Street fight Welcome to my relaunched blog. You'll notice a new design to mark the moment. What do you think? The plan is to write far more regularly. Short posts. Easy to read. Focused on a single subject. This time it's about that vital element. The anticipation of the decisive moment. As a scene unfolds you're thinking about what is going to happen next. Where are people moving to? What are they doing? What's happening in the background? Do you have the right point of view or do you need to move? To be ready for the moment you need a prepared mind and a prepared camera. I almost never use burst mode. It's too inaccurate. While the shutter is clattering away you're not seeing what is about to happen. You run the risk that the exact split second you should have snapped is between frames. I pref...

All photos copyright of Renee C. Byer and The Sacramento Bee I wanted to share this interview with you. Award-winning American documentary photojournalist, Renée C. Byer, is best known for her in-depth work focusing on the disadvantaged and those who otherwise would not be heard. Her ability to produce photographs with profound emotional resonance and sensitivity earned her the Pulitzer Prize for feature photography in 2007 and dozens of other national and international honours, including that of Pulitzer finalist in 2013. Well worth watching. Thanks. Paul www.indigo2photography.com

What makes a great photograph great? Now there's a big question. I bet if you asked 20 curators and 20 photographers that question you'd get a different answer from all of them. I will try to distil the answer. You tell me if it resonates with what you feel and think too. The usual text book answers to what makes a good photograph revolve around the composition, the lighting, colour, the action in the photograph, the content, story and emotion, but we all know that technically perfect photos, even of great subjects, can be uninspiring and uninteresting. I think a great photograph goes beyond the individual elements. The sum is greater than the components. All the elements work together, and as you look, something deeply personal unlocks in your brain. You have this moment when everything connects and makes sense. You go 'aha' I see it. You identify with the subject. If you don't get that feeling from a photograph then it is just another snapshot. Crea...

From my new   #CreativeInsights  video series. In this video I explain the composition and why I think the image works. View the photo here https://flic.kr/p/22P7Yy6 Happy with sausage A man looks forward to tucking into a giant sausage on baguette at the German Christmas market in Leeds. Thanks for watching. More to follow in the New Year. Paul www.indigo2photography.com

It’s hard to take a photograph that does it justice. This is one of my favourite views in the world, looking toward Hout Bay from Chapman’s Peak Drive. You stand there with the wind plucking at your clothes, enveloped by the smell of fynbos mixed with sea air and you feel the heat radiating from the rocks and ground around you. Your heart beats a little faster as you try to take in the immense grandeur of the Cape Peninsula at the South Western tip of Africa. How can you put this experience into an image? One way is to add a description, as I have done here. Captions are immensely important. But a photographer has other tools as well. Using the language of light, composition, colour and gesture all help us convey the feeling of what was like to see what we saw and photographed. It's a real challenge and something to think about. Thanks for reading. Paul www.indigo2photography.com

Strangers united This lady stepped forward, curious, and at that moment I noticed that she was aligned with two other people in the background. Instinctively I pressed the shutter, uniting this little group of strangers in a photographic composition. The image gives form to the idea that we are constantly physically and mentally joining groups, sometimes at random and at other times out of choice, like the tour party in the background, aware or unaware of our behaviour. I am pleased I noticed the moment everything clicked into place. For me street photography is far more than just taking random snaps of people in the street. Till soon, Paul www.indigo2photography.com

On the Burg in Brugge looking toward the Tompouce, terrace filled with people enjoying the sunshine. In the background you see the Halletoren. Brugge is a magical place. I particularly liked the way the light etched out the gables and lit the terrace and the small group standing chatting on the Burg. To the left of the frame the light is just catching the greenery in the flower boxes at the edge of the terrace. The lady with the grey hair on the left sitting in the sunshine helps balance the composition. All of these tiny details come together to create an interesting image. A few minutes later and the beauty created by the light had gone. It’s one of those moments. When you see it you have to grab it. Till soon, Paul www.indigo2photography.com

Raindrops colour abstract Raindrops travelling down the window in little rivulets have always fascinated me. At night together with the lights of the city they make for a lovely abstract and colourful image. Beauty can be found everywhere, in the ordinary and in the extraordinary. I don’t want to have a certain style, a look or only ever photograph one subject. I want to be free to explore and discover new things, the beauty in people, colours, shapes, landscapes food, black and white… everything. The only parameter I consistently apply is to avoid over manipulation and digital trickery to create a fake scene. When you look at my work what you see is what I saw when I was there. Thank you for visiting my blog. Paul www.indigo2photography.com

Stepping out on stage I’ve often thought of the street as a stage. It’s a place where life happens in front of your eyes. People go about their business, communicate with each other and generally keep moving to their destinations. The street is a place of transition. As a photographer you can set the scene, a blank stage and then wait for magic moments. That’s how I got this shot. The perfectly matching colours of his hat ribbon, the movement, the way things all align to create a colourful composition. If you’re a street photographer you’ll understand the joy of seeing an image come together, like this, in a fraction of a second, as you stand there camera in hand. Thanks for reading. Paul www.indigo2photography.com

I saw this long row of porters struggling under the weight of the heavy barrels on their backs. Every step seemed difficult. They were crossing a street next to the harbour in Istanbul. Each time a fellow porter would turn around and help the man behind him step up onto the pavement. Instantly I saw it as symbolic, this human gesture. I was a long way off and ran flat out to get closer. The porters in the photo were the last two in the row. I knew that if I didn't stop and take the shot I would miss it. So out of breath I screeched to halt, still quite a long way away and zoomed to 200mm, pressing the shutter to capture the moment they gripped each other hands. The picture is not perfect. I should have had more of the man foot and the pavement. But this is one of those examples where the emotion in the image is so powerful, it is not important. The image communicates something about the human condition. It one of those rare shots that stays in people's minds. It been p...

Two ladies pass on the street. Their hands, legs and expressions mirror each other. Both carry document folders, both are taking a step with their heel on the ground. They are unaware of each other. It's a perfect Cartier-Bresson style decisive moment. I believe that you make images, you don't take them. In photography, luck and serendipity always play their part. The unpredictability is what makes it so exciting. You never know exactly what you're going to get but you can plan and control a lot of elements that will help you make better images. Walking down the street looking for a background that could work as a 'stage' or canvas, I saw this interesting blue wall. I set up and waited for something to happen. Minutes went by. I waited. People passed but nothing caught my eye. I waited. Then I saw these two ladies approaching from opposite directions and I knew I had a potential image. The thing that struck me was how determined they both looked, striding purpos...

Some images earn a permanent place in your portfolio. Let's take a look at one of my favourites. In this image a couple react as a large wave crashes over the promenade. People often play this game with the waves. Sometimes with tragic consequences. I shot this on a Hasselblad, on film, using an 80mm lens. So I was close to the action. One chance. One exposure. I pressed the shutter button and just had time to spin around to protect the camera with my body, as the spray engulfed us. I had been waiting for a moment like this when all the elements would come together. The spray blurs because of the speed of movement. It reveals the force of the wave. Both the man and woman have a foot off the ground, giving the image a sense of urgency and action. I love the way the dog's ear is flying up and this movement is echoed by the lady's urgent hand gesture. That hand gesture is the essence of the image. It's an instant protective gesture, which says so much about th...