Four photographers, four levels of expertise, four image-capturing weapons, four themes. Enough ammunition we believe for the perfect shootout. Only one brief leads them into battle — complete creative control.
Armed with their weapons of choice, our photographers are passionate about their art. Meet the expert with his professional kit, photography newbie with her iPhone 4S, the recreational snapper with her point-and-shoot and the gifted amateur with his DSLR. Each of them had to capture images of the iconic Burj Khalifa, a befitting picture of food, a representation of loneliness and a photo that relates to motoring.
When they got back from their photographic adventures, GN Focus Editor Keith J. Fernandez and Gulf News Picture Editor Devadasan K P scrutinised the images to discuss them and share feedback and suggest ways of improving your pictures, whatever be the subject or composition.
BURJ KHALIFA
The Expert
Keith: I’ve tried to take similar photographs many times and they have never looked like this, so clearly the photographer has done everything right. I love the feel of day and night just by the reflection. We have seen the skyline millions of times, but this is a very interesting way of treating it.
Deva: There are many images of the Burj Khalifa, but this one has been treated very differently. You have the sun, the colours, the details in the water and the entire skyline. A little more detail could have been added as the tip of the building is lost. I don’t think I would change anything.
The Recreational Clicker
Keith: I wouldn’t know this is the Burj Khalifa, although the photo would work for an architectural magazine, where the reader would be drawn to the detail and the perspective. I like the monochrome feel and this image would work on a black and white page. It’s a beautiful picture, but there’s no sense of place.
Deva: Clicking the Burj Khalifa offers a lot of options, but it’s very difficult to tell this is the Burj Khalifa. The image should have been shot a little further away to get the length of the building.
The Gifted Amateur
image. It talks about vision, human achievement and dreams. I’ve never seen the Burj Khalifa shot like this. Although you lose the interesting bits of architecture that are evened out by the curvature of the eye, this gives you the size of the scale. I can’t think of improving anything in this image, maybe a little more detail. The sections of the building appear to be at one level and end up looking like a wedding cake rather than the tower.
Deva: I like the thought that went into this image, as the photographer wanted to show the tower through the human eye. You can’t expect to get a straight picture and I like this image, but if the photographer had to cut the aperture he would have saved a little detail.
The Newbie
Keith: I love this image because it gives me a sense of old Dubai. Something new treated as old is an interesting contrast that is also quite appealing. The tinge of gold gives you a city-of-gold reference. I don’t like the empty space, perhaps a different composition would have helped as the focus is on the Dusit Hotel. The negative space is a problem, otherwise the photographer has got the composition totally right. Very well done indeed.
Deva: This is a very nice picture as it shows the length of the tower. It has been treated very well though the empty space could be filled or the image could have been reframed.
FOOD
The Expert
Keith: Food can look a bit flat in photographs, which is why food stylists have a job. I’m sure at some point the salmon and grilled veggies looked more appealing, though the beans are still fresh. We’ve got here a straightforward picture that does the job, shows what you’re getting. Does it make me want to dig in? I’m afraid not.
Deva: This picture looks good to me and the colours work a great deal. It is a very straightforward shot. Other alternatives would have been trying to capture the image from different angles.
The Recreational Clicker
Keith: This is the only shot here that brings in the human element, demonstrating our complex relationship with food. Many of our eating ideas are set when we are children, so the image works on that level, too. I love the girl’s expression and the echo on the dress, but I’d frame the shot better as the hair blends into the background.
Deva: I like this picture. It has a tight composition with the child waiting to grab a bite. This is probably an arranged shot, but still works well.
The Gifted Amateur
Keith: I’ve seen many similar images before, so although an excellent photograph, this does not stand out on its own. Cherries in a glass look great; this is the classic advertising shot, but I’d like a little more context to use it in print.
Deva: This is a creative shot and looks very professional. The photographer has done a brilliant job. There isn’t much to make this image better.
The Newbie
Keith: I love the geometry — it’s absolutely stunning. I would have preferred it if she’d experimented with the colours a little more, so it was stronger. Nevertheless, it’s a very good picture. In composition, I’d ask for icing in a deeper shade of red, or perhaps a cake with neon-green icing would have worked better. This image would go well with an article on cheesecake.
Deva: The circular designs in the picture are very creative. The image looks very good, but the distance is a bit too much considering the subject is food. Perhaps a little closer shot would have worked much better.
MOTORING
The Expert
Keith: I love the ghostly light on the biker. However, I’m a bit concerned whether it would reproduce properly. You can tell this is Dubai from just looking at it. As an editor, this is a perfect shot because it’s got everything I want — the emotion with the feeling of speed, the context with the skyline and colours that are absolutely stunning. If I must be picky, taking it 20 minutes earlier, at the beginning of the golden hour, would have improved it.
Deva: This is trying to be different; you can see the perspective of vehicles passing by and the skyline. It’s well shot, well thought of and the photographer has carefully exposed it. Yes, shooting a little earlier would have been better as you would be able to capture the details on the buildings.
The Recreational Clicker
Keith: I think this image will reproduce well. I like the contrast of the sky, all those colours work really well. It’s more whimsical than just motoring — it’s more like the bike is waiting for something.
Deva: Here the photographer has tried to capture the mood and atmosphere into the picture, such as the details in the sky. A human element in the picture would have made it much better.
The Gifted Amateur
Keith: The treatment of this image is abstract and it takes you a while to figure out what it is. I love the arty feel. I think it will be a great illustration for a feature. As a work of art, I don’t think I would want to change this picture in any way.
Deva: This is too arty for me. It’s a nice shot and is treated well. This photograph would work well in a series, not as a standalone picture. If the rear view mirror wasn’t visible, you wouldn’t know what it is. When categorised as art — the picture works as it is.
The Newbie
Keith: This is a great bike, but it doesn’t do anything for me as a photograph. What could have made this image better is perhaps more depth and more perspective. This would work well on Facebook with a caption such as, “Oh, I saw a cool bike today.” My advice is to not follow your first reaction, but think carefully. Despite being a cliché, a girl draped on it would make it better to some extent.
Deva: This is a very straight image and gives you the impression that not much thought has gone into it. The photographer should have treated the image differently, maybe by moving a little back to capture where the bike was located.
LONELINESS
The Expert
Keith: This does not say loneliness; he could be sitting on the beach, and having a nice evening. It’s a nice picture though it’s open to a lot of interpretations. I like the strong lines and the strong colours. The overall colours say a lot to me about loneliness rather than the composition.
Deva: The photographer has taken a local approach to the brief. This is a nice shot. It is touching and tells a story. People looking at the photograph can reach several conclusions.
The Recreational Clicker
Keith: I like the faded magnificence of the palace that the man is guarding. It takes you back in time. It is something that we can relate to, we all see these guards and wonder what their lives are like, and the image captures that beautifully. He is surrounded by glamour on all sides, but doesn’t really play any part in it. The sense of isolation is reinforced by the surroundings.
Deva: This picture signifies loneliness very strongly. Composition wise, the image is very interesting as people can relate to it. You see guards all the time and it clearly defines loneliness. The photograph can work as a tight portrait; It doesn’t need to have a background. The limitations of using a point-and-shoot are a bit evident.
The Gifted Amateur
Keith: You always hear people say that a picture can speak a thousand words — this is the image and the photographer has done it. It’s a weathered woman, against a weathered door with a weathered wall; she has seen life. I can spend hours looking at her. I think the greys work perfectly. Would I want to improve this picture? No.
Deva: This is a terrific image; It is a fantastic shot. This picture tells a story. The level of detail is wonderful. I would not change anything about this photograph — it is just perfect.
The Newbie
Keith: It’s completely empty. The idea of an empty space works in theory, though when you shoot it, doesn’t say anything. If the subject in the photo was having a meal alone, it would have worked brilliantly.
Deva: This image seems a bit lost to me. Maybe the photographer should have been a little more patient and waited a bit longer. A tip for such photographs is to wait for the right moment and be sure to capture several pictures till you get the right one.
