PSA-PJ IDG Group 02 General

 

When I joined the Photographic Society of America (PSA) in 1998, thanks to my brother Mr Brij M, Sapru and his wife Dr. Krishna Sapru, I also sought membership of its both Study Groups of Photojournalism and Human Interest. I did so because in those days my main interest in photography used to capture the element of human interest.

Thereafter began a series of my participation in world-wide exhibitions and in many exhibitions my PJ images bagged awards and appreciation for their high journalistic content. Then in 2003 I was assigned to author a book on photojournalism in Hindi language for the students of journalism in Hindi speaking states of India.

Later on, around 2015, I found myself motivated towards bird photography and did it with ease and pleasure. I was doing it , am still doing it in 2021, despite some health issues. It was in April 2021 that the Administrator of the PJ Study group of PSA sent an email to the members of the group that as he has been elevated in PSA, he will join the new position in October but the new group will commence in May,’21. To keep the group functional, the PJ Division of the PSA sought volunteers. A few days later I received a proposal from new Director of PJ Study Groups asking me if I shall volunteer to be the Administrator of the Group. I agreed for General PJ Group as I do not have much experience for Sports photography, the other group. The PSA has new PJ groups with new software.

It was in the last week of April ’21 that I got all the basic instructions and guidance from the new Director and the Webmaster to run the Study Group. I was a little hesitant in doing it because I am not much familiar with such softwares . Anyway I am getting good support and have started my work. Hope it will be a good experience and my fellow members will enjoy it.

Interestingly, the members of the group include two women. I am keen to see the women perspective in photojournalism. In our country I have neither seen many women photojournalists nor are their many women having photography as a hobby. But at present their number is gradually increasing and its very encouraging.

Avail of the Photographic Opportunity “Now”

 

By Subhash Sapru

 

The ace photographer Heneri Cartier-Bresson, popularly known as “The King of Now” had once said, “In photography, you’ve got to be quick, quick, quick, quick. Like an animal and a prey”. This golden advise of the legendary photographer is very inspiring and will continue to inspire not only the photojournalists, but also those who take interest in other branches of photography.

By ignoring a right moment or delaying an opportunity, one may miss the decisive moment of taking a stunning or awe-inspiring photograph, may that be of nature, photojournalism or any other category. Although most of us are aware of this vital aspect of photography yet at times it may become a little difficult to follow this advise and converge all our faculties  to capture the fleeting reality. Hence, one may miss the best photograph.

There is no doubt that the success achieved in quickly availing of the fleeting moment may result in such a photograph that would touch one’s heart. But while remembering the word “now” and being quick, there is a world of caution. One need not jostle or be nervous while taking the photograph at an opportune time. The excitement which one experiences while pressing the shutter at a decisive moment should not make one so nervous that it would result in camera shake or confuse in fixing the correct exposure.

The golden advice of being quick also implies for taking photographs during vagaries of a seasons. There are several areas in the world, which do not receive snow fall and most of the inhabitants  of such areas visit  snow bound areas as tourists to enjoy the nature’s wonder.

For years I have kept waiting to visit the nearby hill station, Shimla, when the snow would fall so that I take photographs of the different kind. Although I have been to this hill station, situated at a distance of about 115 kilometer from my place, several times yet never could I coincide my visit with snow fall thus missing photographs of snow covered areas. As it does not snow at my place, Chandigarh in India, the desire to visit this near by hill station and areas beyond it during snow fall kept growing stronger over the years.

It was during the winter of 2008 that the hill station of Shimla and areas beyond it received a massive snow fall in the first fortnight of February. It kept snowing intermittently for about six days. The golden advise of Heneri Cartier-Bresson to be quick and act like an animal and prey kept me alert for taking photographs of snow bound areas and I decided not to miss the opportunity this time. The snow fall was so intense that  it broke its record of last 15 years. As a result of it,  normal life was paralyzed, many roads were blocked, drinking water had frozen in pipes and so were frozen many water falls and brooks in the hills. When finally it stopped snowing, I tried to be amongst the first few to reach beyond the popular hill station of Shimla and capture some frozen moments before these melt and shatter my hopes for some unusual photographs.

          The picturesque Shimla, located at an altitude of 2130 metres, used to be the Summer Capital of India during the days of the British rule. Now it is the Capital of Himachal Pradesh State of India and is a popular hill station. My target was to cross Shimla and go upto next prominent hill station, Narkanda provided I get the National Highway-22, which is also known as Hindustan-Tibet road, open to traffic.

With the news channels breaking the news that snow fall has finally stopped in that area and my late night inquiries revealed that the National Highway-22, which leads to the hill station of Shimla and areas beyond it, has been reopened up to Shimla, I quickly left my place to avail of this photographic opportunity before the snow melts.

With the curiosity to avail of the opportunity to take photographs on this massive snow fall being always on my mind, I left for Shimla by road before the day could break and on reaching there, I sought the help of a local person, who had experience in driving in snow bound areas so that I may concentrate more on photography. As we crossed Shimla, there were a number of tourists at the next hill station “Kufri”. Although the snow had been removed from the road to pave the way for the vehicles, the road still being slippery, I found some vehicles skidding thus jamming traffic. Therefore, fearing accidents which could make vehicles skid deep in gorges thus proving fatal, most of the tourists opted to return their vehicles. But turning back was also not easy due to snow which had been pushed on both sides of the road while making passage for vehicles and a thin layer of hardened snow  on the road was making it more difficult for inexperienced drivers.

Generally, a drive on the Hindustan-Tibet road treats one to a spectacular bird’s eye view of apple orchards and valleys as the road turns from one spur to another, but during this winter the massive snow fall had made the area look like a white desert. There was snow and snow all around. On hills, in valleys, on house tops, in terraced fields and there were vehicles abandoned on road side and buried under the snow. I could see a white sheet of snow all around and machines of the Government engaged in cleaning roads and making way for vehicles. A few stretches of this strategic highway still had a thin layer of hardened snow and those maintaining the National Highway had put coarse sand on it to avoid skidding of vehicles. At a spot, a young boy walked deep into the thick layer of snow on a roadside thus enabling me to fathom the thickness of snow on ground.

As the day was sunny, the bright sun had made the snow start melting slowly thus making roads more slippery. Whenever I had to take a photograph, I had to step out of the car gently and  walk cautiously and slowly so that I may not slip. On one side of the highway there were hills and on the other valley. As about one to two feet deep snow was on both sides of the road, it had become more narrow. Whenever I had to come out of the car to take a  photograph, we would have to first move the car in the middle of the road to make space for opening the door. And while taking photographs, it is advisable not to walk in snow on sides of the road  as in such a situation one does not know what lies buried under the  snow, a pit or a stone.

There were areas where the machines were still busy cleaning the National Highway. The biting cold had made most of the people to remain inside their homes, but at Narkanda I could see some people either basking in Sun or walking on roads despite the biting cold. As the snow had started melting due to sunny day, the droplets falling from roof tops had made formations similar to stalactites. I also saw frozen water falls and brooks.

Apart from availing of this photographic opportunity, this visit also helped me in learning the skill of driving on slippery roads. Drive slowly, carefully and apply brakes, if required, very gently.

By the same evening we reached Narkanda, which is situated at an altitude of 2780 meters. The road being very slippery at a spot, our car skidded and for a moment my heart missed a beat. The gentleman, who was driving the car, did not apply brake as he felt that would  have made skidding faster. Instead, he quickly moved the steering wheel  to let  the car go towards the hills and the snow accumulated  by cleaning the road acted as a cushion.

Had he not acted quickly to divert the car towards the hills, it might have skidded on the other side hundreds of feet down in the valley. And had I not pounced upon the opportunity like “an animal and prey”, I would have missed such a life time opportunity.

***

 

The dominant eye !

 

During one of my talks on similarities and differences  between  the human eye and the camera delivered to students of photography some years ago, two questions  emerged. When I took to bird photography,  these appeared  more relevant and over the years their explanation got richer in content. Therefore, I avail this opportunity to share these questions and their explanation with birders as well as photo-enthusiasts.

I assume many of us are aware that both the eye and the camera have a lens, an aperture, both receive light and have a system  to see that light as an image. Sounds interesting, but there is a need to look beyond it to satisfy the inquisitive minds.

The first question is,  do we have a dominant eye  and the second , while composing photos why we focus on eye, may it be a human eye or that of a bird or an animal.

Experts  say that about 70 per cent of us have right eye as the dominant eye and rest of the population either have the other eye as the dominant  eye or none of their eyes is dominant. Here the dominant eye means the eye with which we prefer to see  or say  with which we feel comfortable to see through the view finder of the camera. In other words, it enables us to provide a greater input to our brain. Therefore, it is essential for photographers and shooters to be aware of their dominant eye, if any, and they must use it appropriately.

If we focus our subject  with the dominant eye and with the other keep watching the activities around the subject, it will enable us to be  aware of the possible distractions around. Also, there will be no need to keep an eye closed all the time which may be inconvenient and tiring. Some shooters and experienced photographers emphasise  the need to shoot with both eyes open as that splits vision. While we see through the view finder with one eye, we keep watching around with the other. Its a bit difficult, but can be practiced. Shooting with both eyes open is not like getting a binocular equipped with a camera because in that case vision of both eyes will be controlled  for space around. The other eye should not see through any optical devise. One may shoot with one eye or with both eyes open, it is necessary to be conscious of our dominant eye.

The camera manufacturers have designed camera bodies keeping in mind two aspects. One, most people have right eye as the dominant eye and secondly majority  of us are right hander. Its the reason that  camera bodies have most of the buttons to their right side.

Second question, ever  wondered  why we focus on eye or why every photo-enthusiast is advised  to ensure that the eye is  prominently highlighted in an image. I remember, initially I too was advised by some of the experienced bird photographers to focus on eye of the bird and ensure that the eye has catch-light, but it was left up to me to understand why ? To me  that was a half backed serving.

I know a few bird photographers who would delete those photographs that do not show  eye of the bird as a significant  part of the body or the eye is without  a catch-light. They  are right in doing so, but why we should focus on the eye ?

The focus system of cameras is designed in such a way that it acts successfully if focused on contrast. The eye, for instance the  Iris and the sclera provide good contrast to let the camera focus without hunting.  While considering the significance of sharp eyes in a photograph, over the years some camera manufacturers  have added a unique feature of AF Face Detection and even AF for Animal Eye. With a view to quickly facilitate the existing users of a few camera models, a manufacturer had introduced a firmware upgrade for Animal Eye AF. It can’t be termed as a marketing gimmick, because sharp eye holds the key to a good photograph. Another camera manufacturer brought out two new models of its digital camera with similar features and the experts say these have the capability to detect and track even the eye of a dragon fly. This is a technological revolution as its not easy to detect eye on faces of animals having different shapes.

The eyes aptly reflect emotions and personality of the subject. Its like silence speaks louder than words. Apart from this, the eye’s location is such that  if we focus on it, we get such a depth of field which makes  both nose and  ears look sharp. In case of birds, the area around the eye would get good sharpness. Also, the colour and shape of the eye, especially of birds help  in their identification, say a male or female. Here a word of caution. Although sharpness of an image depends on several factors, yet emphasis should be to get sharp eye preferably with glitter.

Although its important for every photographer to understand his gear, it takes months to understand a camera, its equally important to be considerate about the factor of dominant  eye, may it be of the photographer or that of a bird or animal in an image. Remember, camera manuals do tell us how to adjust the dioptre at the view finder, but they leave it to the user to think of the dominant eye.