At home in the great outdoors

In February our readers began experimenting with light as an element in photography and gave us some of the most beautiful images.

Many of the readers' photos that were published in February were taken in an outdoor setting.

Deputy Picture Editor Sankha Kar said: "It is always better to take a picture outdoors as it gives the feel of the country and its environment. If you have indoor shots then it would not be important where it was taken."

However, many problems come up with outdoor photography as it produces a harsh light — it lacks the mid-tone feel — and that is why it is best to take photographs during sunrise or sunset.

But this was not the case with Gulf News readers.

Kar said: "Our readers who had their photos printed in February overcame these difficulties and used natural light to their advantage to capture shadows and create depth."

Kar also noticed that readers are concentrating more on taking photographs locally and have become experts at portrait shots.

Kar said: "There were quite a few locally-generated photographs, which is something we always encourage."

He added: "We have received some remarkable portrait pictures from our readers — many of them related to people going about their daily life and work."

Kar had to make the tough decision of choosing the three best photographs published during February.

Photography is all about playing with light. When the available light is insufficient, the most easily available alternative source is the camera's flash.

Nowadays, almost all cameras come equipped with a built-in flash. Some people may find such flash units small, lacking in power or bounce facility, and so on. The main problem with these flashes is that they are fitted directly on top of the camera and can neither create any angular shadow nor indicate the texture of the subject's dimension. All they can do is create a bad shadow when the background is too close. Yet, these built-in camera flashes are now standard in almost all cameras and offer basic manoeuvring.

However, if cleverly used, these flashes can boost the quality of a picture. One can create drama in pictures taken with these flashes, provided imaginative use is made of some special features like the ‘Rear Curtain sync' — particularly during sunset or while capturing any moving object.

In normal setting, the flash fires at the beginning of the exposure, while in Rear Curtain mode the flash fires at the end. For this, you have to use a longer exposure (slow shutter speed).

The moment you click the shutter, light starts coming in through the aperture and the moving objects or lights start creating a trail or streaks, just like panning. And just before the aperture closes, the flash will fire to freeze your main subject absolutely sharp and still. If you take a picture of a moving car at night employing the Rear Curtain mode, you will get a crisp shot of the car, with a nice light trail behind.

Built-in flash units are very good for a fill-in effect. They can add life to the high shadow parts of the picture taken in harsh daylight.

William Shakespeare once said: "For there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so."

Lysander Jugo
Picture published: February 24

PROFILE: Lysander Jugo, a 34-year-old Dubai resident, is from the province of Rizal in the Philippines.

The senior AutoCAD operator started taking photographs three years ago.

He used to go to the suburban areas of Dubai and take photos of ordinary people.

He said: "Although I was only using a point and shoot camera, it amazed me how I can show one's emotions in just a click."

As time passed Jugo's passion for photography grew and he decided to enrol in a photography course in Dubai to improve his techniques.

Jugo said: "After adopting all the necessary knowledge I immediately challenged myself to take photos of ordinary people and making them extraordinary by showing their emotions through my lens."

Jugo was always most comfortable with taking photos of people whom he could instantly create an invisible bond with.

REASON FOR WINNING:

Deputy Picture Editor Sankha Kar said: "This is a very well taken portrait. It is not just a face — it shows the character of the person. The expression is too good. The other portraits that Jugo took are equally good."

Farhad Valiyakath
Picture published: February 29

PROFILE: Ever since Farhad Valiyakath was a child he was fascinated by photography.

His curiosity got the best of him as he clicked away on his old film camera when he attended school.

Valiyakath, a 26-year-old Indian national, said: "It was my Bangalore years in college that helped me to take this spark to the next level."

Valiyakath's passion has always been to reflect and represent his society and culture through his photographs.

He said: "I love seeing life in wide angles and my pictures showcase the world I live in, the people I see and those traditions I have grown up with."

He added: "My aim is to get all those vanishing cultural traits and our heredity through my camera lens."

REASON FOR WINNING:

Deputy Picture Editor Sankha Kar said: "Farhad took the picture with whatever light was available in the room. It is a superb candid shot and it also tells a story just by looking at the photograph."

Philip Page
Picture published: February 6

PROFILE: Philip Page, a 37-year-old manager for a logistics company, has lived in the UAE for a little more than six years.

He was always interested in photography and finally bought a camera three years ago.

Page, a British national, said: "The architecture in Dubai and the ability to travel to different parts of the world brought about an interest in taking photographs with a proper camera."

Page started taking photographs during his trips to Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Mauritius and ended up concentrating on the architecture when he was in Dubai.

He also likes to experiment with different photographic techniques.

He said: "The long shutter speed made people and traffic in photographs disappear and people liked the results. This led me to trying out street photography and learning to create my own style in black and white images."

REASON FOR WINNING:

Deputy Picture Editor Sankha Kar said: "A photo taken from a different angle always attracts a viewer's eye. It is a well composed picture with the foreground almost juxtaposing the clouds in the sky."