Today we publish a new section, one of the novelties that I recently announced, it is ‘Gurus’, a section whose central axis will be the interviews that we will organize with a series of professional photographers of different nationalities and different styles and schools. You think that observation is the best way to learn, but also to talk with professional photographers, with people already established in this profession, experienced photographers, gurus who have made many mistakes from which they have already learned valuable lessons. out with.
Since not everyone has the opportunity to interact with a professional photographer in our daily lives, from the photographer’s blog, we plan to offer you every month a new professional photographer that we will interview.
- Our first guest for the “Gurus” section is called Ban Hup Teh.
- Or Banhup for friends.
- A career pediatrician.
- In 2010 and at the age of 50 she decided to retire from her profession and become a professional photographer.
- Currently.
- In addition to working as a photographer and collaborating with various magazines.
- He spends his time organizing photo workshops and safaris.
- Originally from Malaysia.
- Ban Hup practices continuously and travels to regions like Bali.
- Myanmar.
- Vietnam and Cambodia.
- Without further ado.
- I leave you with the interview.
Publisher: Banhup, thank you for accepting this interview. Let’s start at the beginning, do you still have memories of your serious dedication to photography?Have you ever used a normal camera? Tell us that . . .
Banhup: I am delighted to be the first photographer interviewed on the blog and to be able to share my ideas and opinions with your community of readers.
My beginnings in photography were very modest; I started out as a parent who just wanted to document family events and events, vacations, birthdays and things like that, like everyone else. I started at the time of reels or movies with a Canon analog SLR camera. Then I made the leap to a compact Fujifilm Digital, a high-end (it cost me a lot at the time), and from that moment I remained in automatic mode, leaving the task of modifying and correcting the final photo in the development store. .
One day, my eldest daughter got infatuated with my Fuji compact digital camera, so I gave it to her and decided to buy another one. At the time, DSLRs were starting to become affordable, so I bought a Nikon D50. I kept learning new things, every day.
Editor: When did you start your dedication to photography seriously?Just like?
Banhup: A month after having the Nikon D50, I thought if I wanted to make serious progress in photography, I had to get a good camera and good lenses, some high-end, more advanced. Later I discovered how wrong I was, that what really mattered was not the camera but the composition, conceptualization and technique.
I quickly bought the Nikon D200 and months later switched to the Nikon D2x, buy after purchase, until I finally focused on the Nikon D3, which is the one I’m currently using.
My serious dedication began when my friends and acquaintances started asking me for advice and copying my workflow, every day they asked me for advice and while I was helping, I was learning, until I ended up posting my own eBook in post-production feeds. , which had a decent sales figure.
Editorial: How are you inspired?Where do your ideas come from?
Banhup: From the inside. Mainly I take photography of trips and safaris, and it is natural light that inspires me, I only photograph in natural light conditions, without artificial light bulbs, so every time daylight turns in my favor and illuminates my subject well, I get an impressive stream of inspiration.
I am also inspired by the photographs and works of other photographers on the Internet, not only professionals but also amateurs who sometimes produce jobs as good as the most professional photographers.
Editorial: Your blog shows a special dedication to portraits What’s behind this love of portraiture?
Banhup: I’ve already experimented with several photographic subjects but I have to admit that the best thing I do is portraits, it’s my way of exploring humanity on a small scale, each person is so different from the other that you never end up finding two people who react equally to the same situation, so I also dedicate myself to travel photography , because I like meeting new people and interacting with them.
Editor: Do you think each photo should have its own message?Or are you one of those who prefer to leave the message open, handing it over to the imagination of the person who will see the photo?
Banhup: The second. I think it would be an insult to the intelligence of the person looking at the photo if I had to tell him what it has to do with each photo, it’s more interesting to let the imagination run wild and appreciate each other’s photo in his own way.
Editor: Do you know the ongoing debate between old-school purists and current Adobe Photoshop fans Do you think it’s possible to become a successful professional photographer without having to resort to software for post-production, editing and retouching?
Banhup: Of course, it is possible as long as the customer is satisfied with the result you offer.
Editor: If you had to choose between your goals and have only one, which one would you choose?
Banhup: This one’s hard. Currently, my glasses include
Since my thing is daylight travel and portrait photography, I guess I’ll limit myself to 24mm f/1. 4.
Editor: Would you like to share with readers of the photographer’s blog the photo tricks you use?
Banhup: For travel photography communication with locals is very important, I always try to relate closely to subjects, and if language interferes with communication, I use the language of gestures and signs, or ask the guide for help. A common trick I use constantly is to show about the first photos, which usually makes him happy, and if at first he resisted photography, the most “collaborative” encounter.
Editorial: Finally . . . what would you say to those readers who dream of one day becoming professional photographers?
Banhup: First of all, let me introduce you to my definition of professional photographer: someone who makes money from photography, something different from a photographer who takes very good photos. [Editor’s Note: Banhup agrees here with one of my approaches that I recently published on the blog that defines what a professional photographer is and what an amateur photographer is]. That said, those who want to dedicate themselves to photography in a professional way must first know their tools (camera, lenses, etc. ), secondly to advertise and make themselves known effectively, and third and above all know how to please. to the customer. Anyone who wants to progress in this world will have to accept criticism, positive or negative, and admit and accept their mistakes in the course of learning. You must also challenge yourself all the time and keep trying. This is the formula.
Editor: Interesting advice Banhup. Je couldn’t agree more. Thank you for your time.
Banhup: A pleasure
I leave you with a small photo gallery of our guru, a very inspiring selection of photos?
If you want to see more, do not hesitate to visit banhup’s full gallery on Flickr, visit its website or contact it on Facebook.