THOSE WHO MADE IT POSSIBLE
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Editorial Editorial
Abhishek Singh Priyashi Negi Chief Visualiser
Sheetal Mann Design
Harjeet Singh Abhishek Gangwar Research & Operations
Prateek Kashyap Sarthak Jain Melissa Sherpa Writers
Saman Waheed Ruchi Kapoor Dhawal Pagay Sana Singh Technology
Sachin Arora Rishabh Jain Aditya Baghel Abhishek Tyagi Business Development
Rajesh Basu Amit Ghosh Sales
Krishna Srinivas Amit Gupta Marketing
Sriram Ramanujam Vasundhra Sethi Shivika Garg Staff Photographers
Abdul Momin Susana Gomez Tarundeep Singh Urshita Saini
For those of us who have since childhood been intrigued by the huge majestic birds we saw flying in the sky, it was only a matter of time before we picked up a camera and captured them on film. While some got over the fascination with a few clicks, others couldn’t seem to stop, having caught the bug that we call aviation photography. Planes are a brilliant invention that inspire as well as awe us all. Be it modern jets or the warbirds, aviation keeps both the photographers and spotters on their toes. This issue of Chiiz explores aviation photography and presents the magnificent beasts in their full glory. Bjoern Schmitt’s photographs of airplanes in different colors are a treat to the eyes and shows us a vibrant side of aviation. Ziv Koren’s photographs explore the cultures and nature of the various countries that he has travelled to and are a testimony to the diverse cultures in the world. Carl Ford is one of the photographers who saw the shift from analogue to digital photography. His photographs of the aircraft are awe-inspiring and makes one wonder as to how these were shot. Matthieu Douhaire combines his knowledge of interior design into aviation photography to produce some beautiful shots. Fashion and editorial Vipin Gaur share some of his work and his experience in the industry. Last but not the least is the Chiiz Gallery which includes the best of chiiz.com in aviation photography category. Aviation Photography is a whole new world as far as photography goes. Those who do it once, can’t seem to leave because of sheer fascination. That’s just what aviation photography is- it lures you in and shows you a world that you don’t want to return from. To those who worry about the nitty-gritties of gear and access, I’d tell them that “for those determined to fly, having no wings is just a little detail.’’
Finance
Neelu Singh Consultant
Apratim Saha Mansa Inc. CEO
Mukesh Kumar Cover Photo
Abhishek Singh
Regards, Abhishek Singh
Contents Features Birds of Mettle Abhishek Singh
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Flying Colors Bjoern Schmitt
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Keeping It Real Ziv Koren
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Giving Wind to Wings Carl Ford
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Soaring High Matthieu Douhaire
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Commercial Meets Creative Vipin Gaur
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Chiiz Gallery Best of chiiz.com Best of chiiz.com
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Triggers Michael Marston Magnus Farnes Frida Isadara Arseth Krishna Angira Federico Bonifazi Markus Cederberg Suda Kana Georgina Steytler Songda Cai Emre Can Alagoz Photowalk Dubai Hendra Lesmana Dixie Dixon
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Hall of Fame Model of the Month Yashaswini Raj
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Makeup Artist of the Month Rosario Belmonte
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Tools App of the Month Filterloop
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Classics Movie Review William Eggleston - In the Real PC: Michael Marston Rainbow Contrails Canon 1DX 800mm F/8 1/800 ISO200
Old is Gold First Flight of the Wright Brothers
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Birds of Mettle
Airbus A400M Canon 5D Mark II 400mm F/14 1/800 ISO500
Abhishek Singh is one of India’s topmost travel, lifestyle & aviation editorial photographer and a filmmaker with 14 years of professional experience. He is also a Panasonic Lumix Luminary and Ambassador. He has conducted 321 photography workshops and 37 photography tours. He has created photography tutorial video content for Nikon India and other imaging brands. You can see more of his work on www.iamabhishek.in Prateek Kashyap, from Chiiz, gets in talks with him. Following is what Abhishek Singh has to say about Aviation Photography and his experiences on the field. You dabble in various genres of photography. What made you interested in aviation photography? My primary photography genre is Travel & Lifestyle. Airplanes, be it civil or military, have always fascinated me since childhood. Like any other kid, I used to look into the sky every time I heard the familiar sound of aircraft engines. My curiosity to get closer to these birds when they fly up in the sky motivated me to pick up a camera with a zoom lens and that’s how it started. Because of the nature of my travel photography assignments, I have travelled more than 90 thousand miles and I still become a kid whenever I board a plane or see an airplane flying. Do you rely on air shows for your photography? Or do you have people working at military air bases or airports who grant you access to 10 FEATURES
the aircraft? Airshows are fun as they give us a mix of all kinds of content in terms of aircraft. You get to capture both civil and military aircraft. From the biggest of the aircraft to the smallest in the business, you can see them all. Capturing the reactions of the pilots, crew and spectators add dimensions to my pictures during an airshow. Unfortunately photographing in and around airports in India is not that easy and involves security concerns. Hence, airshows give photographers a lot of opportunities to satisfy their passion as an aviation photographer, especially if you spend a few days photographing air shows like Farnborough Airshow UK, Paris Air Show, Dubai Airshow and Aero India Show. As far as photography inside an airbase or military base is concerned, that is more serious and challenging.
At times, I pitch an idea to the forces and if they like it, we get exclusive permission to photograph inside the base and sometimes, they share a brief and based on their requirement, we execute the shoot. The processing of security clearance is very rigorous and involves a lot of documentation and I believe that is imperative, considering the threats we have. One thing for sure is that our armed forces are very supportive once they see that your work has potential and is impressive. What are the lessons that working as an aviation photographer has taught you? The most important thing that I learned is agility, which is how quickly you respond to a situation and the subject. Agility forces you to learn your camera technically well. In my case, it’s the Panasonic Lumix GH5
and now the latest Lumix Full frame S1R. Another lesson I learned after spending years on tarmac with the planes is the creative ways to photograph them. I just don’t document them, I try my best to keep my shots dynamic, showcasing the capability of the aircraft in the best possible manner through my pictures. What is the best part about capturing aircraft and what is the most difficult? For an aviation enthusiast and a photographer, every part is a masterpiece in itself. My favourite shot in case of a military jet is capturing the takeoff of a fully armed jet, which is not very common and can only be captured during military exercises. If we talk about civil aircraft like an A380, then I prefer those long exposure tarmac shots at night. The most difficult part or rather perspective, I would say, is to capture the top angle of the aircraft because you need to be positioned on an elevated platform or surface to take a picture of an aircraft from the top or it can only be done by photographing air to air, which is not easy either.
Boeing C-17 Globemaster-US Air Force Nikon D600 24mm F/4.5 1/1000 ISO100
What, according to you, makes a good aviation photograph? One that makes the other aviation photographers say, “I wish I would have shot that.” Photographs portraying the capabilities of the aircraft, shot in good lighting conditions will always bring a smile on any aviation enthusiast’s face. If you get to hear “How did you take it” very often for a picture, then that’s a good shot. Remember aviation spotting and aviation photography are two different things. When you keep the rules of photography like the rule of thirds, leading lines, balancing elements, etc. while capture aircraft, then it improves the creativity and aesthetics of the image and that is what I call a good aviation picture.
Prateek Kashyap prateek@chiiz.com Prateek Kashyap is a travel photographer and he takes his inspiration from the mighty Himalayas, where his passion for photography took a more serious turn. With an eye for photography and a fixation with photographic compositions, Prateek is always on the lookout for innovative frames.
Indian Air Force Mi-35 Nikon D850 200mm F/2.8 1/8 ISO180
Indian Air Force LCA-Tejas Nikon D5 20mm F/8 1/400 ISO125
Hindustan Aeronautics-LCH Nikon D850 350mm F/5.6 1/160 ISO64
Indian Air Force Sukhoi-30MKI Nikon D850 200mm F/2.8 1/800 ISO110
Michael Marston has been photographing since he was a teenager and is currently turning his passion into a full time business in the form of ePixel Images. He mainly provides corporate and editorial photography currently. In his spare time, he tries to photograph difficult, real and unusual aviation photos, purely because it is hard to capture those images. He likes to challenge himself, always gives his best and stays focused on achieving the results that he is looking for. The images he has captured often become a centrepiece of conversation with his peers, family and friends.
QantasLink Boeing 717 Crosses the Disk of the Sun Near Sunspot AR2664 Canon 1DX 1120mm F/8 1/500 ISO400
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Two RAAF F-111’s Dump & Burn Brisbane Riverfire 2006 Canon 1D Mark II N 65mm F/13 25 ISO50
Philippine Airlines Airbus A321N Condensation Rainbow Canon 1DX Mark III 800mm F/11 1/500 ISO200
RAAF F-111C “Pig” Dump & Burn Amberley Airshow 2008 Canon 1D Mark III 560mm F/8 1/2000 ISO200
Singapore Airlines A380 Passing Over Brisbane with Contrails Canon 1DX 800mm F/8 1/1000 ISO200
Qantas Boeing 737 ‘Torquay’ Fancy Wing Vortices Canon 1D Mark III 800mm F/11 1/500 ISO400
Thai Airways Dreamliner Crosses the Waxing Gibbous Moon 73.1% Canon 1DX 800mm F/5.6 1/1000 ISO200
Magnus Farnes is a 24-yearold photographer currently living in Oslo, Norway and working for Scandinavian Airlines as a loading supervisor. Since a very young age, aviation has been his biggest passion and he recently finished his pilot’s education. Another one of his passions and hobbies is photography, and Magnus has combined his two passions by pursuing aviation photography. Most of his work can be found on his Instagram profile, @mfarnes. He loves traveling and always takes his camera with him on his travels. Therefore it’s important to him to have light and compact camera gear without compromising on quality and features; which is why he recently switched from Canon to the Sony A7III.
Engine Icing iPhone 6S 29mm F/2.2 1/33 ISO32
Germania Airbus A319 Aircraft at Tromso Airport GoPro HERO4 15mm F/2.8 1/4 ISO750
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Wing Ice Check GoPro HERO4 15mm F/2.8 1/529 ISO100
Space Shuttle Endeavour Fierce Parvati Canon 7D50mm 10mmF/1.8 F/3.51/500 1/40 ISO100 ISO640 Canon 600D
World’s Best Office View Canon 7D 10mm F/3.5 1/125 ISO100
Loading Baggage GoPro HERO4 15mm F/2.8 1/2174 ISO100
Hereford Mother & Son Canon 70D 200mm F/2.8 1/2000 ISO250
FridaIsadara Arseth is a 22-year-old photographer living in the middle of Norway. Cows are her one and only passion and she loves sharing photos of them with others through social media. She started photographing cows in 2016 and has four pet cows herself. She works on a small farm and visit other farms to photograph their cattle. 22 TRIGGERS
Julie Making her Funny Face Canon 70D 70mm F/2.8 1/1000 ISO320
Petra with her Newborn Daughter Wilma Rose Canon 70D 120mm F/2.8 1/2000 ISO250
Highland Cattle Cow Canon 70D 125mm F/2.8 1/4000 ISO200
Daisy’s First Meeting with Snow Canon 70D 135mm F/2.8 1/3200 ISO320
Luna Relaxing in Front of Ă…rsetfjorden and Heilhornene Canon 700D 28mm F/9 1/250 ISO100
Ten-year-old Isabell Jumping Towards the Pasture Canon 70D 200mm F/2.8 1/2000 ISO250
Krishna Angira is an editorial and commercial photographer based out of Delhi. He started photography as a profession in 2012 and earned his keep in the profession by paying keen attention to detail and believing that in every image, there is a story to be told. Krishna Angira specializes in commercial and editorial photography which includes food, lifestyle, products and people. So far, he has been working with some big brands in India and abroad like Vanesa India, Swiggy, Pizza Express, Max India, Lonely Planet Magazine India, Outlook Traveller, 5th Dimension London, Edition29 USA, etc.
Croissant Nikon D800 50mm F/16 1/160 ISO100
Ayurveda Tea Nikon D800 50mm F/7.1 1/20 ISO100
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Masala Chai Nikon D800 50mm F/14 1/160 ISO100
Bread Nikon D800 50mm F/16 1/160 ISO100
Indian Food Nikon D800 50mm F/14 1/160 ISO160
Essential Nutrients Nikon D800 50mm F/14 1/160 ISO100
Flying Colors Bjoern Schmitt has always been amazed and inspired by his father, mainly taking photographs of the landscape, him, and his mother. Years later, he received his first point and shoot camera as a birthday present, and started taking photos all by himself. Besides photography, he is a full-time aviation enthusiast and is currently a fully licensed Tower Controller working at Frankfurt Airport.
SunExpress B738 Wearing Special Istanbul Colors Canon 7D 28mm F/13 1/320 ISO100
Alaska Airlines B734 with Special “Make A Wish� Colors Canon 7D 60mm F/8 1/800 ISO100
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Alaska Airlines B739 with Disneyland Special Colors Canon 7D 600mm F/8 1/500 ISO100
Southwest B737 with Special Illinois Colors Canon 5D Mark III 420mm F/8 1/320 ISO100
All Nippon Airways B777 with Special Star Wars-C3PO Colors Canon 5D Mark IV 200mm F/8 1/320 ISO100
Special Etihad A333 with “Visit Abu Dhabi” Colors Canon 7D 300mm F/9 1/500 ISO100
Busy Terminal 1 of Los Angeles International Airport Canon 7D 300mm F/8 1/320 ISO100
Emirates A380 Passing Lufthansa A321 Canon 7D 420mm F/6.3 1/1250 ISO100
Keeping It Real
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Preparing Incense in Vietnam Canon 1DX Mark II 78mm F/6.3 1/500 ISO320
Thimphu Festival in Bhutan Canon 5D Mark IV 16mm F/4 1/640 ISO320
Ziv Koren has been a professional photojournalist for over 25 years. Today, Koren represents “Polaris Images” photo agency in Israel and is working on personal projects worldwide. Koren’s documentary projects focus mainly on humanitarian issues in Israel and around the world such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, poverty, the tsunami in southeast Asia, the earthquake in Haiti, AIDS in South Africa and more. His photographs have been widely published in international media and his award-winning photographs have contributed to many solo and group exhibitions worldwide. Priyashi Negi, from Chiiz, interviews Ziv Koren and finds out more about his practice. How did you break into photography and as a profession, how does it treat you? At the age of 18, after graduating from art school, I was drafted to the position of a military photographer in the IDF. During my 3 years’ service, I documented the First Gulf War in Israel and its effect on the country. This assignment made me realize that this is the profession I wanted for myself.
Voodoo Ceremony in Benin Canon 1DX Mark II 108mm F/4.5 1/250 ISO400
Panda Conservation in China Canon 5D Mark IV 100mm F/4 1/125 ISO1250
As a photojournalist and a travel photographer, you must have seen many unusual practices or experienced something out of the ordinary. Can you share some stories from the field? I have a strong attraction to documenting cultural celebrations and traditions. I noticed throughout the last two decades that many traditions have changed or are on their way to disappearance and that it will become even harder to find some of these traditions practiced by the coming generations. I shoot rituals in the most remote places on earth to show the fascination in belief and traditions regardless of their origin- let it be Voodoo ceremonies in West Africa, a religious Kumbh-Mela gathering in India, the Santo Tomas festival in Guatemala or a Crucifixion in the Philippines, to name a few. A longlived cultural tradition in East Asia is the blood sport of cock-fighting. I have seen and documented it in Laos, Vietnam and also in the Philippines. In some places it is practiced covertly. A little similar but very different is the ultra-orthodox Jewish tradition during the religious holiday of Kippur, where as part of the religious tradition, one swings a living rooster up in the air, above the head, minutes before it is slaughtered. In both very different traditions the animal rights organizations make efforts to try and stop it. In several states it has become outlawed but yet practiced covertly. Sadly, in numbers it’s not even a drop in the ocean in comparison to poultry killing in the food industry worldwide. You document conflict zones as a photojournalist. I assume that it must take a toll on you. Does photography then serve as a friend or a foe? Clearly there is a price in shooting complex human conditions and conflicts, yet at the same time, those are exactly the domains where I am certain of the necessity of this unrewarded profession – photojournalism. The camera is the best tool I know that can tell a story without
words for every human to understand. It doesn’t have to be a heroic war situation; it can be any humanitarian issue around the world that needs to be shown. So, yes, the camera is always a friend. What projects are you currently working on? These days I’m in the Philippines, teaching a documentary photography workshop. I’m also working on an exhibition of photographs from a voluntary project I am a part of, with a delegation of doctors from TAMC hospital in rural places where the rate of mother and child deaths at birth is high. What’s the one quality that you possess as a photographer that sets you apart? During the digital revolution, photojournalism lost a huge portion of its credibility. I have a tattoo on my arm that reads “I’d rather be honest than impressive”. I do everything in my power to be as accurate as possible and as loyal as I can be to the scene and the subject, under the most stringent ethical code, to provide the viewer the confidence that while the picture may not be perfect it is absolutely real.
Argan Tree Goats in Morocco Canon 5D Mark IV 45mm F/13 1/250 ISO250
Priyashi Negi priyashi@chiiz.com
Trekking in the top of the hills through tiny little paths and between pines is nothing short of paradise for Priyashi. Books and poetry are her refuge. She is a foodie at heart and seems to be blessed with a sweet tooth (sweet-teeth rather) and a love for all things cheese (pun-intended). Santo Tomas Festival in Guatemala Canon 5D Mark IV 16mm F/4.5 1/320 ISO250
Novice Nuns in Myanmar Canon 5D Mark IV 33mm F/5.6 1/80 ISO500
App of the Month Filterloop Rating: 4.4/5 Platform: Android/ iOS Cost: Free (In-app Purchases Available) Photographic filters for smartphones have become a common feature in both, the Android Play Store and the iOS App Store. Filterloop is one such emerging filter that is gaining popularity. Developed by Platform Inc, Filterloop can be downloaded and installed on Android devices supporting 21 API and above. A premium all-inclusive photo editor that caters to all your demands, the latest version of the app sees an expanded adjustment kit, loads of new features (some of which are paid and can be purchased on the Filterloop Store) and an updated user interface that simplifies the entire editing process. If you wish to enhance the photo editing experience, you can also purchase additional filters and texture packs, starting at $0.99 each! What makes Filterloop unique? Providing a plethora of photo editing features, Filterloop provides an exhaustive and wholesome experience while simplifying the user interface of the application.
Create your own statement With numerous filters and varying opacity levels, you can design and edit photographs as per your liking; layer effects and filters being at your disposal. Using these in various combinations and volumes will create stunning results, something that will be hard to emulate in the future. So show off your flawless pictures amongst your peers! Adjust until you’re satisfied Ever been in a situation wherein a photograph seems too saturated? Filterloop empowers you with features like saturation, contrast, hue, exposure, brightness, and many more, so as to conjure up a photograph that is to your liking! Be a trendsetter Glitch art is all the rage now with celebrities applying distortion effects to their pictures, becoming a ‘trend’. With Filterloop, even you can explore the avenues of this feature. Who knows, maybe you could be the next trendsetter! To start off, you can explore TV Glitches and their textures with portraits, the two complementing each other.
Share your photographs with friends In the world of social media, Filterloop enables you to post edited pictures on your social media accounts. For starters, look up #filterloopapp and @ filterloopapp on the social media for inspiration of what others using this application have been developing and the filters and textures that they have been using in the editing palate! Make sure to tag your pictures with #filterloopapp so that other users can identify and connect with you in the Filterloop community! 36 TOOLS
Customizable Textures Although Filterloop provides you with an array of texture presets including dust scratches, light leaks, flares and more, you can manually adjust and fine-tune the opacity, color, brightness, orientation, etc, of each of these textures, thereby providing you with endless opportunities! Blending Modes Blending modes affect how the texture interacts with the image beneath it, giving you a wide choice and flexibility in terms of the final look of the texture. This unique feature allows you to adjust the blending mode for each texture and can alternate between industry standard blending modes such as screen, overlay, soft light, difference, and multiply. Exhausted of using photo editors that have a limited palate of texture presets and do not have up to the mark adjusting features? Filterloop provides you with the perfect alternative with its wide-ranging features and easy to operate user interface. Immerse yourself into the loop of these exotic filters and create photographs that are noticed and appreciated by your peers and family members! Dhawal Pagay dhawal@chiiz.com Dhawal Pagay is a travel enthusiast, writing for whom is a whetstone as he believes that our thoughts define who we are. Apart from academics, he finds himself engaged in all kinds of sports, be it cricket, tennis or football. Exploring new ideas and trying to refine himself by imbibing the values on offer everyday, is a motto he tries to abide by.
Federico Bonifazi, from Rome, is passionate about new technologies which are also an integral part of his work. He attends photography courses in Rome in renowned schools that, however, do not completely satisfy him, not finding, in their teaching methods, that passion that every photographer should convey in talking about their profession. For work and for his pleasure, he travels a lot in Italy and abroad, succeeding in combining his passion for photography with that of discovering the uses and customs of populations, even very distant from ours. His interest extends immediately to the exploration and documentation of fauna and people. He specializes in naturalistic, portraits and reportage photography. He believes that he can capture moments, expressions and emotions that go beyond just the image. He shoots around the world and exhibits in Rome, at the most important centers related to reportage and naturalistic photography.
Start Signal in Sumo Nikon D5 200mm F/5.6 1/250 ISO4500
The Dohyo Nikon D5 200mm F/5.6 1/250 ISO4000
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The Winner Takes It All Nikon D5 70mm F/5.6 1/250 ISO5600
The Battle Scars Nikon D5 35mm F/5.6 1/250 ISO100
The Mawashi Grip Nikon D5 200mm F/5.6 - 1/250 ISO2500
Intense Moment Nikon D5 70mm F/5.6 1/250 ISO4500,
Face-off Nikon Df 35mm F/4 1/250 ISO500
Fight for the Win Nikon Df 50mm F/2.8 1/250 ISO1000
We are all living in an era of endless distraction and constant input. Channeling a sense of calm, Marcus Cederberg translates society’s intrinsic need for a slower pace into minimalist photographs. The Swedish artist’s outlook on life is thereby converted into colors, contrast and negative space. His work has graced the walls of galleries in New York and in Sweden and his “less is more” message echoes through the online world from his Instagram (@marcuscederberg). You can see more of his work on www.minimalpics.com
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Balcony-Man Canon 750D 55mm F/5.6 1/320 ISO100
Mexican Roof Canon 750D 150mm F/5.6 1/2000 ISO200
Coffee Break Nikon D3000 125mm F/6 1/160 ISO200
Red Wall Nikon D3000 150mm F/4.1 1/2000 ISO100
Lamp Post Nikon D3000 35mm F/9 1/320 ISO100
Movie Review
William Eggleston - In the Real World Duration: 1hr 27mins. IMDB Rating: 6.4/10 Released: 2005 Genre: Documentary
“Photography tends to show, to describe, much more than it can explain” William Eggleston always felt that he did not belong in any of the three universities that he attended, as he was a man of artistic puruits rather than what was considered male puruits in the 1950s. Eggleston started photography when he received a Leica camera from a friend, and since then, he never stopped. His adventures and life experiences are tracked by Michael Almereyda in the 2005 documentary film ‘William EgglestonIn the real world’. Directed and written by Michael Almereyda, with music by Simon Fisher Turner and cinematography by Kiko de la Rica, the documentary opened in the United States on 31st August 2005 and was nominated for best documentary by Gotham Independent Film Award. The movie opens with Eggleston
and his son shooting on the roads of Kentucky, as the narrator (also Michael Almereyda) follows them around as they click pictures of whatever they find fascinating. Over the next several minutes, the documentary simply shows Eggleston and his youngest clicking pictures throughout the city in the most common and regular places, entering and exiting and asking and learning whatever he finds fascinating. An introduction follows. Eggleston rose to prominence in 1976 when his work was featured in the museum of modern art’s first solo color photographs exhibition. Most of the documentary, from that point on, captures the essence of Eggleston’s life, his daily routines – him clicking pictures, developing them, selecting them, playing the piano, sketching, having a conversation with someone from his family and having a conversation with the narrator. The structure of the documentary is fairly simple – natural videos capturing Eggleston’s processes in cities of Memphis, New York, Kentucky and Los Angeles. Later, some narration about the major events in Eggleston’s life, ups and downs, achievements and losses, photographs and their importance and meaning follows. “I am at war with the obvious”, says Eggleston, which, the documentary states is exactly the kind of thing he captures – obvious moments, that nobody notices fleeting. Obvious people and objects with a balance between color and light that describes the photos through indirect means and a fluid approach, one that he also follows in life. The documentary is unique in the
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sense that it looks inside-out at the artist, without decorating him or glorifying him. It is Eggleston with his people in his world. Another uniqueness of the documentary lies in how little the narration is, and how few the interview moments aremoments in which anybody talks to the camera – in fact, even in those moments, Eggleston or his wife are mostly sharing a dialogue with Michael, rather than to the viewers. The angles of cinematography while showing pictures of Eggleston on the wall or a projector are the most informal. Even when his work is shown specifically as images within the documentary, it feels that one may need to pause and the images change too fast – probably owing to the fact that there were a lot of images to show, as the documentary states – Eggleston has captured 250,000 images in his lifetime. A lot of Eggleston’s work is highly diverse and yet surprisingly simple and fluid. They are stills that feel in motion. This documentary discusses the making of Eggleston in the simplest form possible. Simple is not easy. Worthy of watching, every photographer will take away something important from this – learning intellectually or skills. The documentary focuses on the life of Eggleston, more than his work, which, like his photographs create small scenes, which together form a larger whole. Ruchi Kapoor ruchi@chiiz.com Ruchi Kapoor is an enthusiast and an observer. She practices as an architect and believes that she can take best photographs of the built environment; which she calls ‘man-made art’. She is a realist and dedicates her resources to doing instead of dreaming. This quality of hers is what makes her write about the realities of our world, instead of fiction, and this governs how she perceives others and how others perceive herself.
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Giving Wind to Wings Carl Ford was born in Birmingham, England and worked as a fireman on British Railways steam engines. After redundancy, he worked as a lorry driver before moving to Dublin, Ireland where he worked until retirement as a crab and lobster fisherman. He is now married and a proud father to one son, Bran. He has been interested in photography since 1958 and has been practicing for a long time now. Mukesh Kumar, from Chiiz, gets in conversation with him. Here are the excerts:
Blackburn Beverley C.1. XB259. Ex RAE sold to Court Line as an engine transport for their L.1011 Tristar engines but the company collapsed before it could be used. Luton 20th June 1972. Praktica Nova 1B with a Tessar F/2.8 50mm lens. Kodachrome 64asa film.
What piqued your interest in aviation photography and how has your journey been so far? I photographed steam engines until they were all retired in 1968. Diesel locomotives didn’t interest me; so I decided to photograph aircraft, which had interested me since attending air shows at Castle Bromwich Aerodrome in the 1950s. What are the challenges you faced when you first started aviation photography? The biggest challenge was that I had to buy a telephoto lens and, of course, an SLR camera which was a big expense for me at that time and also the cost of film and the development. I was also using a handheld light meter and had to learn that I needed two extra stops of light 44 FEATURES
when using my 200mm telephoto lens as most of my photos were coming out underexposed. This problem was solved when I bought a new camera in 1972 with a built-in light meter. You started photography in the late 1950s and saw the change from analog to digital as well as black & white to color. Has the change in equipment had any change in your style of photography? It hasn’t changed my style but it has opened up a lot of opportunities, like being able to use the high ISO ratings on a digital camera to take images of faster moving objects in poor lighting conditions. I’m able to use high powered telephoto lenses to take photographs of moving objects, which was virtually impossible when I used 64 or 100 ASA slide film, which I
would normally use. If you were given a choice to photograph any aircraft, which one would that be and why? Although I already have a few images of the Lockheed Constellation, I would love to be able to photograph them in some of the international airline liveries from the 1950s. For me, it’s the most graceful piston-engined airliner ever built. What advice do you have for somebody who wants to pursue aviation photography? Look at aircraft photography online which is mainly “side-on record shots”. Try to do something different. Get close in with a telephoto lens, don’t be afraid to crop the image, watch the heat haze from the engines
of taxiing or moving aircraft. If you have a 100-400 mm lens, try zooming in on parts of the aircraft, like the undercarriage when they land, trying to get the smoke from the tyres or head on taxiing shots turning onto the runway, getting the nose of the aircraft and the crew in the cockpit and the background should be blurred out with heat haze.
Mukesh Kumar mukesh@chiiz.com Mukesh Kumar is an Indian Air Force veteran and has a passion for photography. He has more than 13 years of corporate experience as a Business Consultant in reputed organizations like World Bank, National Geographic, Deloitte, TCS, US government, etc. Apart from this, he has traveled and worked in many countries like USA, Canada, South Korea, Austria and China.
Lockheed SR-71A Blackbird 64-17967 US Air Force 9th SRW. Fairford July 1989. Nikon F.3HP with Nikkor 70x210 zoom lens. Kodachrome 64asa film.
McDonnell Douglas F-15E Eagle 96-201 LN 494th Fighter Sqn. Mach Loop (Gwynedd Wales) 22nd Feb 2019. Canon 5D Mark IV 241mm F/5.6 1/4000 ISO1600
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29 Fulcrum 925 Russian Air Force, Gromov Flight Research Institute. IAT, RAF Fairford, 24 July 1993. (The pilot ejects from his burning aircraft.). Nikon F.3HP with motor drive & Nikkor F/4.5 300mm lens. Fujichrome 100asa film.
Boeing KC.97G 52-2630 USAF Ohio ANG at Greenham Common 6th July 1974. Pentax SP.1000 with Takumar F/2 50mm lens. Kodachrome 64asa film.
Boeing 377SGT Super Guppy Turbine F-BPPA. Airbus Skylink, Manchester April 1981. Pentax SP.1000 with Tamron 70x210 zoom lens. Fujichrome 100asa film. Airbus A300B4-608ST Beluga F-GSTD Airbus Transport International. Zeltweg 28th June 2003. Nikon F.3HP with Nikkor 70x210 zoom lens. Fujichrome 100asa film.
Rutan Long-EZ 160 G-WILY Birmingham 15th October 1986. Nikon F.3HP with Nikkor 70x210 zoom lens. Fujichrome 100asa film
Grumman E-2C Hawkeye 162799. US Navy. Dublin 1st July 1996. Coded AJ-602 of VAW-124 from the USS John F. Kennedy. Nikon F.3HP with Nikkor 70x210 zoom lens. Fujichrome 100asa film.
Lightning F1 XM139 Royal Air Force 74 Squadron. Alconbury 21st Oct 1972. Praktica Nova 1B with Mepro F/4 200mm lens. Kodachrome 64asa film.
Fiat G.91 5452 Portuguese Air Force. Fairford July 1991. Nikon F.3HP with a Nikkor F/1.8 50mm lens. Fujichrome 100asa film.
North American Rockwell OV-10 Bronco G-ONAA (99+18) (Private owner) In Luftwaffe markings. Portrush Co.Antrim (Northern Ireland) 4th Sept 2016. Canon 5D Mark III 600mm F/6.3 1/2500 ISO320
Old is Gold First Flight of the Wright Brothers Orville Wright used to say “If birds can glide for long periods of time, then…why can’t I?” This was probably what motivated Orville and Wilbur Wright to create something that would not only help them take flight like birds but also give them an everlasting name in history. It was December 17, 1903 and the time was 10:35 am. As is clear from the photograph, the place was the sand dunes four miles south of the fishing village of Kitty Hawk in North Carolina. This was a dream for the brothers and that was the day when they would find out whether their dream would materialise into reality or get shattered on the ground. It was the day when they would test their flying machine. Orville had set up a camera on a tripod at the place where the supposed flight was meant to happen. He had asked John T. Daniels to capture the moment who, by the way, was an amateur photographer. He was one of the people from the life-saving station in that town to help with the flight. Who could have thought that he would click the most amazing thing in the whole wide world? Daniels had never operated or seen a camera before this life changing event and this was going to be the first photograph he was going to take. After setting up the camera, Orville had instructed Daniels to squeeze the shutter release bulb of the camera once the flight was in air. Daniels was so shocked that he almost forgot to follow the procedure. He was 48 CLASSICS
awestruck at the flight. Propitiously, he triggered the shutter as told and captured on of the most fantastic moments in the history of this world. This was an achievement like no other and it immortalised everyone who was associated with it. Daniels is not very well known but if you read about the first flight of the Wright brothers, you will most probably find his mention somewhere. Let us now get into the technicalities behind this photo. The camera used for the photograph was a Gundlach Korona 5X7-inch glass plate view camera which belonged to the Wright Brothers. This clearly shows that we are not looking at a professional photograph but a picture that captured the hopes of the two brothers. They had a total of three plates which is why out of the four flights they took, only three could be captured-the first, the third and the fourth. Digital photography had not developed until then so it would take them some days before they found out whether anything was actually captured or not and as we know now, it sure was. Before taking the flight, in order to decide who would go first, Wright brothers tossed a coin. Although Wilbur won and went first, he couldn’t reach the conclusion that they had wanted. So, Orville went next and aced the attempt. Therefore, the man standing on the ground is Wilbur and the one flying the airplane is Orville. Orville Wright was flying into a 24-27mph headwind and he
was trudging forward so slowly that Wilbur while being on the ground could keep up with him. His distance over the ground was a mere 120 feet, but due to the headwind, the true distance was calculated 540 feet. This photo captures the moment when the elevator was at its highest point in the sky. Each of the 3 flights after the first one was longer than the previous one, with the ultimate one covering 852 feet over the ground in 59 seconds. They had been successful in testing a flying machine that flew with its own strength at even speeds and landed safely without damage. However, there was a minor mishap that took place after the Flyer was hauled back from the last flight. A powerful wind caught it. Daniels wanted to save the flight but was caught between the wings. Daniels escaped with minor injuries but the Flyer was destroyed and the Engine split in half. This was also the first plane crash in the history of the world. This photo is full of hope and optimism and gives us the lesson that we should dream and we should dream big. Because everything is possible once we set our hearts to it. So, all you readers, if you have a dream, chase it until your lungs give out and those of you who don’t, don’t worry, you will find your dream.
Saman Waheed saman@chiiz.com
Saman Waheed, like all writers, loves writing about each and everything under the sun. An indoor person , she loves to sit back and just travel to another world, lost in her thoughts. She loves the company of books as they take her to places she has never been.
Suda Kana is a photographer from Taiwan and is currently living in Taipei. He is a huge aviation buff and and is passionate about aviation photography. He started photography about four years ago. Since then, he has studied photography and has grown very passionate about capturing those special moments that seem to come and go so quickly. “Life is short and photography is a great way to make time stand still, even if only in pictures,� says Kana
Sunset Nikon P510 220mm F/6.3 1/2000 ISO1250
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Charming Nikon D800 300mm F/8 1/2000 ISO1250
Let There be Flight! Nikon D5 800mm F/5.6 1/500 ISO220
Busy Day Nikon D7200 400mm F/6.3 1/400 ISO1250
Georgina Steytler is a nature photographer and is passionate about ethics and conservation. She grew up on an orchard in Donnybrook, Western Australia where she developed a love for the natural environment. Her awards include Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2018 (first Australian women to win in the category), Bird Photographer of the Year (UK) 2017 (Creative), Australian Photography Awards (Wildlife) and the Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Portfolio Prize (2016). She is widely published in books and magazines, producing articles, running workshops and giving talks on bird photography throughout Australia. She currently lives in Toodyay with her husband (Chris), dog (Tawny) and two baby kangaroos (Possum and Peanut). Himalayan Bulbul Canon 1DX 600mm F/8 1/640 ISO640
Superb Fairy-wren Canon 1DX 600mm F/4 1/1250 ISO640
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New Holland Honeyeater Canon 1DX Mark II 600mm F/6.3 1/4000 ISO1250
The Screaming Owl Canon 1DX 500mm F/8 1/4000 ISO1250
Black-necked Stork Canon 1DX 600mm F/8 1/4000 ISO640
Three Welcome Swallows Canon 1DX 600mm F/7.1 1/3200 ISO800
The Intruder Canon 1DX 600mm F/8 1/1250 ISO2500
Three Galahs Canon 1DX Mark II 600mm F/5.6 1/2500 ISO640
Songda Cai’s underwater photography has a unique perspective and agile enthusiasm. Ever since he was young, he’d had an interest in exploration, which eventually led him to pursue Black Water photography. He has won numerous awards in various international photography competitions and has been publicized in many famous magazines. His works have been exhibited in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, USA, Natuur Museum in Netherland and Venice, Italy. His photographs have been reported by Chinese and international media channels. His ability to blend color and light in underwater macro photography is always amazing and he has long since specialized in Black Water Photography. It is one of the mediums wherein the wonder of these sea creatures is emphasized. As the stars shine brighter in the pitch black skies, the dark seas also give his photo subjects this unique glow that can only be attained in black waters.
Yawning Goby Canon 5D Mark IV 100mm F/19 1/250 ISO200
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Cenote Canon 5D Mark IV 11mm F/5.6 1/90 ISO1000
Starry Handfish Nikon D850 60mm F/22 1/250 ISO400
Conger Eel Nikon D850 60mm F/20 1/250 ISO640
Yuriko Nikon D850 13mm F/14 1/160 ISO400
Ribbon Fish Nikon D850 60mm F/25 1/250 ISO500
Predators Nikon D850 60mm F/20 1/250 ISO640
Soaring High Matthieu Douhaire is a 39-year-old photographer who has been doing photography for 20 years now. He stared looking at airplanes from when he was a kid and has never stopped since. He is doing both interior design photography and aviation. The way he edits aviation pictures is a mix between interior design, landscape and portrait editing. As a result, it gives a surrealist aspect and after all, isn’t it surrealist to see all those massive pieces of metal flying high in the sky?
Rafale Solo Display Canon 7D Mark II 600mm F/7.1 1/5000 ISO320
F-HENE Canon 7D Mark II 569mm F/7.1 1/1250 ISO250
B-7881 II Canon 5D Mark IV 700mm F/14 1/8000 ISO100
PT-ZNA Canon 7D 300mm F/5 1/1600 ISO400
McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Hornet Canon 7D Mark II 600mm F/7.1 1/3200 ISO500
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F-GLZO Canon 7D 17mm F/8 1/8000 ISO200
N703DL Canon 7D Mark II 12mm F/8 1/100 ISO200
F-HRBC2 Canon 5D Mark IV 700mm F/6.3 1/400 ISO200
Frecce Tricolori Canon 7D Mark II 175mm F/7.1 1/3200 ISO500
Emre Can Alagรถz, based out of Turkey, is a photographer known for his work on photomicrography and astrophotography. In 2013, he started studying photography education at the Faculty of Fine Arts. He started his post-graduate studies in photography in 2018 and has won several awards for his work with the microscope.
Butterfly Mouth Parts Canon 650D 4x microscopic 1/200 ISO100
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Bee Portrait Canon 650D 4x microscopic 1/200 ISO100
Mites On The Dermaptera (Earwig) Electron microscope Magnification 800x 7.4mm
Snake Fly Portrait Canon 650D 3.7x microscopic 1/200 ISO100
Mite On The Polyphylla Fullo Antenna Canon 650D 4x microscopic 1/200 ISO100
Assasin Bug Portrait Canon 650D 3.7x microscopic 1/200 ISO100
Photowalk Dubai Photowalk Dubai, in their bid to encourage local talents, named their contest for the month of March 2019 ‘When On Streets’, wherein the members were asked to share their best street photography moments. Street photographer / Leica Brand Ambassador, Vineet Vohra, served as the guest judge for the contest. Among hundreds of photographs submitted over the month, the top 5 images are as seen below. Vaibhav Jha was
chosen as the winner for his incredible image titled ‘Trees Have Eyes’. Judge Vineet Vohra had the following to say on the winning image: “We are living in times when the term ‘street photography’ is always evolving. Street Photography to me is not about a location but an approach. In this particular image, I felt a fresh pair of eyes and the author tried to speak with his soul. This image was not just a mere sight but an ‘Insight’.”
Vaibhav Jha Dubai, UAE
Captured in New Delhi, India the image captures a tree personified as a human face. 66 TRIGGERS
Tree Have Eyes Nikon D850 24mm F/16 1/500 ISO560
Teovel Iradon Kalibo Aklan, Philippines
Skywalker Nikon D500 16mm F/8 1/800 ISO500
The above photo is a frozen jump shot of a kid who was just having fun with his friends at the banks of the Ganges River in Varanasi.
Jandri Angelo C. Aguilor Dubai, UAE
Well of Death Nikon D750 14mm F/8 1/200 ISO1600
Maharashtrian daredevils nailing their Maruti-Suzuki and motorcycle stunts in the Wall Of Death during Shri Vitthal Birudev Annual Yatra 2017.
Kirti Devnani Dubai, UAE
Reflection Nikon D4S 24mm F/11 1/400 ISO100
The ghats of Varanasi are dotted with chai-wallas, hawkers selling everything from piping hot vadas to wooden handicrafts and jewelry, setting up their make-shift stalls under the shade of a flat-topped leaf-umbrella. They wind up closer to dusk, a routine that comes a full circle symbolic of the umbrellas that adorn the banks of Ganga. They are an indispensable part of this holy city.
Anuradha Kumar Dubai, UAE
Framed Nikon D810 70mm F/3.5 1/320 ISO100
Captured this moment in a flower market where this guy popped to see what I am doing there and he was framed in the mirror among the Gods.
Hendra Lesmana is a wedding photographer and a visual learner who started his career in 2010 in Cheese N Click Photography. Being a photographer made his life even more meaningful not only for him and his family but also for others, especially the groom and the bride that trust him to capture their special moments in life. To him, this alone is a fantastic feeling and very challenging. His photography approach is unique and he is always trying to find new things to capture.
Blossoming Love Nikon D750 35mm F/2.8 1/4000 ISO200
From Dusk to Dawn Nikon D750 20mm F/2.8 1/60 ISO100
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Happily Ever After Nikon D4 20mm F/2.8 1/200 ISO250
But, You’re My Prick Nikon D4 85mm F/16 1/320 ISO250
Best Man Nikon D750 20mm F/1.8 1/320 ISO1250
Kiss of Love Nikon D750 35mm F/2.5 1/200 ISO800
CHIIZ GALLERY To get published, upload your photos on chiiz.com
Nayeem Syed Bengaluru, India
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Landing in Phuket Canon 5D Mark III 42mm F/5.6 1/1600 ISO100
Sanjiban Ghosh Mumbai, India
Souvik Banerjee Abu Dhabi, UAE
Rock and Roll Nikon D750 120mm F/5 1/4000 ISO200
Jets Entering the Show Canon 5D Mark III 35mm F/11 1/500 ISO100
Tanay Das Kolkata, India
Colors of Monsoon Nikon D5500 300mm F/8 1/500 ISO100
Bill Boswell London, Canada
Oshkosh Heritage Flight Nikon D850 250mm F/7.1 1/400 ISO320
Kristina Mitrović Niš, Serbia
Arbind Singh Bengaluru, India
Hovering beast Nikon D810 200mm F/5.6 1/1000 ISO100
Salekin Himel Dhaka, Bangladesh
Into the Sky Nikon D3300 105mm F/5.6 1/400 ISO400
Rakhee Mullick Kolkata, India
Indian Army Nikon D90 35mm F/14 1/320 ISO500
Rick Lingo Cincinnati, USA
Debasish Nag Kolkata, India
3 of a kind Nikon D200 70mm ISO 400
Blue Angel Nikon A900 24mm F/4.5 1/400 ISO80
Moving Life Sony W310 7mm F/4.9 1/2000 ISO100
Saurabh Vats Muzaffarnagar, India
Hamdi Ghuneim Hamilton, Canada
Koel Das Toronto, Canada
The Will Nikon D7200 35mm F/5.6 1/40 ISO200
Retired Warplanes Sony A7 III 35mm F/5 1/60 ISO800
Dream High & Big Nikon 5200 18mm F/8 1/250 ISO140
Narayan Patel Vadodara, India
Rakib Hasan Sumon Dhaka, Bangladesh
Sky is Not the Limit Olympus E-M1 Mark II 70mm F/8 1/1250 ISO640
Jet Airways Nikon D5100 60mm F/8 1/60 ISO200
Saurabh Gangil Agra, India
Landing inside Nature Canon 700D 250mm F/11 1/500 ISO200
Sudipta Rakshit Fremont, USA
Glacier Landing Nikon D3100 48mm F/11 1/500 ISO125
David Whelan Melbourne, Australia
Yana Lisichenko Moscow, Russia
Anirban Bandopadhyay Kolkata, India
USAF F-22 Raptor Nikon D5 800m F/8 1/5000 ISO1000
Rajiv Malu Mumbai, India
Guardians of the Sky Sony HX-300 10mm F/4 1/2000 ISO80
Aerostat iPhone 6 4mm F/2.2 1/4405 ISO32
Flying Through Light Posts Canon 80D 250mm F/5.6 1/640 ISO400
Yogita Solanki Navsari, India
Kite Lover Nikon D5300 35mm F/5.6 1/1000 ISO100
DURGA PUJA POTOGRAPHY CONTEST
Arindam Das Kolkata, India
Subrata Saha Sodepur, India
Winner Immersion of Maa Durga Nikon D7000 11mm F/5.6 1/200 ISO125
1st Runner-up Thakur Boron Nikon D5200 35mm F/20 1/2 ISO500
Debarchan Chatterjee Kolkata, India
2nd Runner-up Sleeping under her grace Nikon D3200 18mm F/4 1/20 ISO800
Model of the Month
Yashaswini Raj
Yashaswini Raj is a 23-year-old model based out of Mumbai and Bangalore. She has walked the ramp for Blenders’ Pride Fashion Tour, Times Fashion Week, Bangalore Fashion Week and Mysore Fashion Week among others. She has been a part of campaigns for Bhima Jewellers, Fever 104 FM and a print shoot for the Sri Lankan Airlines. She has done television commercials for Bhima Jewellers, Arali Hair Oil and Lakerose Resorts Wayanad and has also featured in ads for Reliance Trends and Central Mall. Height- 5.9 ft Weight- 59 kg Vitals- 33-26-36 Eye color- Brown Hair color- Black Complexion- Dusky
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HALL OF FAME
Rosario Belmonte left his native Sicily at 18 to explore his passion for fashion and beauty in Milan. He studied under Stefano Anselmo, one of Italy’s top makeup artists and was represented by the renowned “Close Up Milano” agency. He became a regular part of Milan and London fashion weeks and traveled between the fashion capitals of the world for editorial and commercial work for the likes of Vogue Italia, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, Grazia, Gioia and many others. Life brought Rosario to Bali, where he joined the “Bali Starz” agency and opened to the Australian market, shooting campaigns for Aussie brands like Spell, Shakuhachi and Bamboo Blonde. His Asian adventures have taken him to Mumbai. Under the representation of ‘Anima Creatives Management’, he has done extensive editorial work with the Indian editions of Vogue, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar and GQ. Mumbai’s movie industry has also embraced Rosario and he is currently working with numerous Bollywood celebrities.
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HALL OF FAME
Commercial Meets Creative Vipin Gaur is an advertising & fashion photographer based out of New Delhi, India. In a career spanning over a decade, he has worked with a wide range of popular brands like Gionee, Fiat, Coke, Berger Paints, Marks & Spencer, Aquarius and many more. Apart from this, he has spearheaded assignments for industry’s leading ad agencies like JWT, Rediffusion, Interactive Avenues, and so forth. During his association with Pearl Academy, T.Series, Elinchrom, and Canon as a mentor, Vipin Gaur has mentored hundreds of budding photographers and is always ready to share his expertise with willing photographers. Sriram Ramanujan, from Chiiz, talks to Vipin Gaur as he talks about fashion and editorial photography. Here are the excerpts. How would you describe your approach to photography? Photography is my passion but what I shoot is entirely commercial, and I don’t photograph something which doesn’t have selling potential, be it fashion, landscape, products, portraits or anything. I love images which are technically robust, aesthetically beautiful and yet stand out for their originality of thought, composition and impact. Photography is not just an art form for me, it’s a combination of art & science. What was the first commercial product that you photographed? If you were shooting the same photo right now, would the result be very different? I shoot people, so my first subject was a model, and the shoot was for a local magazine. At that time, it was all so new and exciting for me, so in retrospect, I feel everything was good about that shoot. The magazine people were also pleased with the results. But that was 11 years back and now when I recall that shoot, I know how naive I was. Of course, as it was my first shoot, it lacked experience and expertise but it definitely had the passion and enthusiasm of a first shoot. Now if I will do the same shoot again, the result would be 100% different and more professional. What is your definition of fashion and how do you, if at all, inculcate it in your work? I am a commercial photographer, and whenever I shoot fashion, the one thing I keep in my mind is how I can sell this product. I try to show the product in its full glory, capturing the beauty, functionality and magnificence of it with each click. Fashion is what people buy not only what they wear. My job is to make the garment look absolutely desirable by clicking it in a 90 FEATURES
way that everyone wants to have it as a proud possession. Business owners and marketing managers want to solve their problems with the lowest possible costs. Despite this, could you explain to them why they have to work with a professional photographer for a satisfactory result? People in the industry understand the need for professional photographers because they have eyes to differentiate between good, average and bad pictures. All you have to do is show them good quality work and they will understand the difference between an amateur and professional quality. If they can’t judge the difference, it’s better to leave that job.
Work as much as possible; there are no shortcuts to success. The more you shoot, the more you learn and the more you shoot, the better will be your own portfolio. One thing I always believe is to have a mentor who can critically analyze your work, stimulate your mind with new ideas, developments, discussions, keep you grounded and guide you throughout your journey to become a successful photographer.
Sriram Ramanujam sriram@chiiz.com A dreamer by choice, Sriram heads the Chiiz Events and Photo tours team and embodies the company’s vision. After gaining on various experience on various industries including IT, Media, Analytics, Banking and Travel, he may have finally come to terms with his obsession with all things photography.
In your projects, do you work in a previously defined concept or do you prefer creating your idea? Mostly, we work as per the description and the reference artwork given by the agency or art directors but sometimes, when we get the opportunity to think out of the box, we do it. What is your word of advice to photographers who want to be successful in fashion and advertising photography? First, become a good photographer. Pretty in Pink Canon 5D MarkII 57mm F/11 1/200 ISO100
Adonis Canon 5D MarkII 100mm F/4 1/160 ISO50
Beauty of Orient Canon 5D MarkII 70mm F/11 1/160 ISO100
Color Gel Canon 5D MarkII 73mm F/8 1/160 ISO100
Contemplative Hasselblad H4D-31 80mm F/11 1/180 ISO100
Intertwined Hasselblad H4D-31 80mm F/10 1/200 ISO100
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Traditional Chic Canon 5D MarkII 38mm F/5.6 1/125 ISO400
A Dash of Sunshine Canon 5D MarkII 180mm F/10 1/160 ISO100
Dixie Dixon has always been inspired by the allure, magic and unique challenge of creating fashion and advertising photography. As one of the sixteen original Nikon Ambassadors in the United States, Dixie has spent the last decade bringing creative visions to life for brands, ad agencies, fashion/commercial clients as well as educating others about the latest cutting-edge photography techniques and technology. Texas born-and-bred, she has followed her passion around the world, shooting in locations such as Cannes, Toronto, Vancouver, New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Brazil, Ibiza and Barcelona. Most recently, she released her new book “Fashion and Lifestyle Photography”. Dixie’s fresh vision has attracted clients such as Disney, Virgin, Advanced Beauty, Woodland Worldwide, Nikon, Gaylord Hotels, Spencer Fine Jewelry, G-Technology, Profoto, Eprouvage, Magpul, Billy Jealousy, Pipers Perfumery, and Macadamia Professional. Her work has been published in publications such as Rangefinder, PDN, Professional Photographers Magazine, Dapper Magazine, Living Magazine, Beverly Drive Magazine, Nikon World and others. 94 FEATURES
Impala Nikon D810 58mm F/3.2 1/500 ISO200
Bullets Nikon D810 85mm F/4 1/250 ISO320
February Arch Nikon D810 200mm F/4 1/250 ISO160
Farm Life Nikon D5 58mm F/3.2 1/250 ISO63
Elegance Nikon D850 85mm F/3.2 1/640 ISO400
Wild Side Nikon D3X 180mm F/3.2 1/320 ISO200
Serenity Nikon D810 85mm F/2.8 1/400 ISO640
Cowgirl Nikon D810 105mm F/4 1/250 ISO200
Make it on
Introducing Wacom Cintiq 16 First time ever in India. It's easy to get started with your Wacom Cintiq 16. This creative pen display is perfectly equipped to help you begin your journey as an visual artist. It's time to take your creative ideas to the next level.
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