Find your photographic voice
JOBURG – Photographers weigh in on what it takes to become a top-class photographer.
Two of the Barclays L’Atelier competition 2016 top 10 finalists gave City Buzz the lowdown on taking an award-winning photograph.
Nourhan Refaat from Egypt and local, Thandiwe Msebanzi, are two women who have worked hard to get their photography noticed by the art community and as two of finalists, they have some tips for finding your unique style.
Msebenzi, who attended the University of Cape Town (UCT) to study fine arts, explained that through learning the theory of art she found the importance in the narrative and concept of the photo.
“It’s the theory that really builds up the photo. Some people’s concept is to go out and shoot the everyday lives of others, but my concept is creating a dialogue through the message conveyed in a photo,” the UCT graduate said.
Refaat, the grand prize winner of the competition, emphasises practise. “You have to practise a lot and try many things. You have to try street photography, landscapes, portrait photography,” said Refaat, who prefers stage photography.
Through her years of experience in the arts and photography, she learned that it is important to explore all types of photography until you are able to define your own approach and take control of your own style.
Refaat continued, “Many people say that they want to do a certain type of photography and I tell them that you have to experiment. Sometimes you see a beautiful photo and you want to recreate it, but sometimes it’s not your path because you are not skilled at taking that kind of picture. Maybe another style is for you.”
Pursuing any career can have its challenges, but with these fine tips – from two fine arts artists – for finding the perfect angle and your voice as a photographer, you’re sure to excel.
