Oct
I am often asked “How many photos does it take to capture a “good” one?” As though the more photos you take increases your chances of capturing something iconic. Some would argue that in a way the more photos you take the more experience you gain, the more technically competent you become, and the more creative you push yourself.
I would agree that by taking more photos you are honing your craft and therefore working harder to capture something special. However, I don’t believe that the above question is asking how you develop your creative side to capture an award-winning image. I understand it as a statement about a monkey and a typewriter. This is of course the old theory that if you take enough monkeys and typewriters and set them to work, eventually one of them will produce the complete works of Shakespeare.
In the run up to the Siena International Photography Awards I thought it would be interesting to show the images surrounding my award-winning photo.
I am often ‘in the moment’ when photographing so it is only afterwards that I understand how I arrive at the final image.
I always favour photos that when I look at them there is no formula. There is no algorithm to construct what I am seeing whether that is the raw emotion of a person or the aesthetic “balance” of the picture.
The photo was taken in Liberia for the peace organisation “International Alert”. I was awarded “Photographer of the year” in 2019 by Siena International Photography Awards. Whilst the award ceremony has been cancelled this year, winners will be announced on the 24 October 2020. Good luck to all the shortlisted photographers.
Siena International Photography Awards
