Amateur Photographer - UK (2019-11-23)

10 23 November 2019 I http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk I subscribe 0330 333 1113

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED IN THIS COLUMN ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHER MAGA ZINE OR TI MEDIA LIMITED

Japan’s greatest street photographer has

some sage advice to help everyone be

more creative, says Geoff Harris

Viewpoint

Geof f Harris

T

here comes a stage in every

serious photographer’s career

when they start to think about

how they can become a more

creative and original photographer. Based

on my own experiences, and also from

teaching beginners, I think there are a lot

of similarities with learning to play an

instrument – let’s say the guitar.

Depending on how fast you learn and

how hard you practise, basic chords and

scales can be picked up in a year or two,

and with these fundamentals under your

belt, you can start to play along to famous

songs (one recalls the long-suffering

guitar shop banning punters from playing

Smoke on the Water). In photography too,

newbies fi rst fi gure out the exposure

triangle and the basics of focusing and

composition before trying to emulate the

kind of creative effects favoured by

established photographers – long-

exposure water in landscapes being a

great example.

Honing your creativity

But what about when you feel able to play

these ‘riffs’ and want to try some new

techniques to make your images stand

out, or bring more of yourself into the

creative process, rather than just doing a

fair-to-middling impersonation of Joe

Cornish? There are no easy short-cuts but

I’ve been inspired recently by the writings

of Daido Moriyama, Japan’s greatest

street photographer.

Now 81, he’s been shooting since the

1950s and has some really interesting

and fresh advice. ‘Whenever I photograph

shopping streets, I walk the street twice

• I go up, then back down again. The light
  will always fall in a particular way when
  you go up the street and then the
  opposite way when you’re going in the
  other direction.’
  Remembering to turn and look at what
  is behind you as you shoot is another
  Moriyama gem, as is taking lots of
  pictures of regular journeys you make in
  your everyday life in order to sharpen your
  eye and sensitivity to light. Giving your

subject your total, undivided attention is

also key; he talks about having a ‘desire’

for capturing your subject, as you would

for somebody you fancy.

Images that stand out

Of course, there’s no point trying to be

more creative and just ending up as a

Moriyama impersonator, but the guy has

some fascinating ideas which can benefi t

all photographers. His latest book, How I

Take Photographs, is on sale now, and for

£14.99 it’s very reasonably priced if you

need a quick shot of creativity. With

everybody and their dog now taking

photos, making images that really stand

out has become the big challenge, and

books like this can really help.

Do you have something you’d like to get off your chest?Send us your thoughts in around

500 words to the address on page 20 and win a year’s digital subscription to AP, worth £79.

Geoff Harris is Deputy Editor of Amateur Photographer.

© GETT Y IMAGES

CONTENT FOR NEXT WEEK’S ISSUE MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Keeping your gear great

How to keep your kit in top condition, to

save you missed shots and pricey repairs

Street photos and the law

Damien Demolder shares his experience

and tips for taking street photos, safely

APOY Round 7 results

Your stunning images from Round 7

of APOY: Whatever the weather

Fancy a brand new camera

or lens for Christmas? Don’t

miss our pick of the best

Best kit

of 2019

In next week’s issue

On sale Tuesday 26 November

Excellent advice from the Japanese master

of street photography Daido Moriyama

‘Remembering to turn

and look at what is

behind you is another

Moriyama gem’

© ANDREW SYDENHAM