Rafique Sayed chose the field of fashion photography to beckon his arrival but has expanded his portfolio from nature to still life photography over the years. He has worked with some of the biggest name in the industry and his distinct style has earned him respect from his peers and admiration from his fans. Yet, he believes his canvas is empty, waiting to be filled with creative, meaningful and extraordinary work.
You came into professional photography more by chance and than by choice. Can you please elaborate on this point?
Life opens up many options for you but ultimately you choose the path. I’ve
never repented choosing this path as I’ve never had to work because work became
my passion.
Have you had any formal training in photography?
I did a Diploma in Mass Communication from St. Xavier’s College in Mumbai. I also trained as a cinematographer for a while and worked under one of the leading photographers for 6 months before starting on my own. I learnt B&W photography from Mr.R Belhihomji, a very prominent B&W photographer of his time.
Interviews
A self taught photographer, Adam Burton is one of UK’s leading landscape photographers. His informal training in photography has helped him develop a unique style which has caught the eye of prestigious organizations like National Geographic and The Times. He has photographed five of the seven continents but is especially fond of shooting the stunning landscapes of Southwest England. He has authored three books so far and plans to publish two more in the next couple of years.
How did you teach yourself photography?
When I purchased my first SLR I initially took pictures on full auto mode, feeling apprehensive to experiment. But after reading photography books and magazines I started to practice with manual, recording the details of every exposure in a little notepad I carried around with me. Apart from reading magazines, and looking at other pictures on internet sites like Ephotozine.com I spent a great deal of time on location taking pictures, and then reviewing the results once the films were developed. For me this really was the best way to learn, as I was photographing the subject matter that inspired me the most and really enjoying myself in the outdoors at the same time. To this day, I pretty much solely photograph landscapes; being outdoors at dawn or dusk is a tremendously enriching experience that for me beats all others.
Read more: I have little interest in other genres of photography
Multiple award-winning photographer, Jerry Ghionis is one of the most influential photographers of the 21st century. He is the only Australian to be named among the top ten wedding photographers in the world by Microsoft’s magazine, Icon of Imaging. He has won WPPI (Wedding & Portrait Photographers International) Wedding Album of the Year a record six times. A self taught photographer, Jerry is also the founder of the ICE society which educates and guides upcoming photographers.
You quit your photography course within a year of joining. Why?
It was essentially because what I had expected to be taught and what I was actually taught were two very different things. They were teaching me more of the “why” than the “how”. They were teaching so many things that you just don’t [need] in the real world. I wanted to be more street smart. And I really wanted more on-the-job training.
In your early years, you worked at a studio without pay for over a year. How much did this help you in furthering your career?
At the very first wedding that I assisted, I probably learned more than what I did in all six months of my school. And that was because I was getting on the job, real world training. At that first wedding I was taught about the direction of light, how to use flash, interacting with clients, working under pressure and working under time constraints. I literally just carried bags and assisted a photographer for a year and half with no pay while I was working at a camera store selling cameras. I did all of that just so I could be involved in the industry. I believe that assisting at weddings is the best training for any photographer and that’s because when you’re photographing a wedding, you’re actually shooting much more than that. You’re shooting wedding, portrait and fashion. You’re shooting photojournalistically, shooting product (all the details that you need to document), landscape and more. So you’re photographing all these different genres under time and weather constraints while dealing with different cultures and personalities. So I truly believe that a really good wedding photographer can pretty much shoot any genre.
Retro, grounded and ever evolving -- that’s Dabboo Ratnani. Bollywood stars swear by him and the list of those who refuse to shoot without him is steadily growing. The success of his latest 10-year anniversary calendar speaks volumes about his stature in the glamour world. However, a few words with the star photographer and you are pleasantly surprised to discover his down-to-earth demeanor. Dedicated to his work, Dabboo believes in constantly evolving with time as he told us in a one-on-one.
Rodney Dekker- The award winning documentary photographer from Australia is mainly interested in documenting the human condition of environmental consequences. He has extensively photographed the aftermaths of floods, droughts and bushfires in rural Australia and Bangladesh to communicate the effects of climate change on humanity and natural environments. Dekker’s work has been published in several renowned publications like Australian Geographic, The Age and The Big Issue.
Read more: I am a storyteller through visual communication...
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