Pulitzer Prize winner shares pointers on photography

Sohaila Ahmed, Staff Reporter

Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Essdras M Suarez has worked as a photojournalist for over two decades. He has received several international accolades for his coverage of headline-creating stories such as the Columbine shooting, the Boston Marathon bombing, the tsunami aftermath and his coverage of the war in Iraq, among many others.

His images have been published in prestigious publications such as National Geographic, Time Magazine, New York Times, Washington Post and many others. He has also received multiple awards for his portraits, food, products, and travel photography.

Essdras M Suarez is one of the 53 celebrated photographers to be witnessed on the Xposure International Photography Festival’s platform this year in Sharjah. With only a few days to go for the region’s leading celebration of world photography, the legendary photojournalist gives readers of Gulf Today newspaper his 10 golden rules for taking professional quality photographs.

1. Have fun. Don’t take yourself too seriously.

Somewhere along the line, we tend to forget we started making photos because we like it. Approach someone with fear and apprehension and you’ll get fear and apprehension back. Approach someone with a smile and most of the time you’ll get a smile in return.

2. Respect your photographic subjects.Try to see the world through their eyes.

As the proverb goes, “Walk a mile in their shoes.” Never assume you are entitled to take a photo. Practise the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you’d have them do unto you.” Always use common sense and don’t push a situation where your safety or those around you are jeopardised because of your actions.

3. Create interesting compositions.

Don’t centre your subject. Adhere by the Rule of Thirds whenever possible. Layer your compositions so the eye of the viewer bounces back and forth within the frame. One of your main goals as a photographer should be to make people spend just a little more time looking at your photos than all the other photos out there.

4. Be mindful of your backgrounds.

Keep these as clean and simple as possible. Avoid objects or other people intruding from behind your subjects. Avoid bright objects in the background and on the edges of your frame unless you have a reason for doing so.

5. Practise all the time.

The action of taking a photo does not occur until you press that button, press that shutter, or tap that screen. Create the habit of following through and create photos all the time. Even when the situation is not so exciting, even when your subjects are boring.

6. Pay attention to the light.

Even when you don’t have a photographic device in hand pay attention to the people around you and their surroundings and how the light hits them. Understand a photo – within the visual spectrum of light – cannot happen without light. Understand the different types of lights and how these affect the subject of your photos. As photographers, we are slaves to light. Our goal should be that of becoming masters of light. This means that regardless of what kind of light is in front of you, you should understand it very well.

7. Understand your photographic device and its limitations.

Every photographic device has a specific set of pros and cons. However, once you understand this, you need to start thinking of these not as limitations but simply as a new set of tools for you to add to your photographic toolbox. 

8. Get closer and fill the frame.

Robert Capa, one of the greatest war photographers, used to say, “If your photos are not good enough you are not close enough.” Make your audience feel as if they are not witness to your photos, but as if they are a part of the photo. Don’t leave empty unused space within your composition unless you meant to do it for a purpose.

9. Create layered compositions that accurately depict our tri-dimensional world.

Firstly, you must remember photography is an imperfect two-dimensional medium we use to document a tri-dimensional world. Whenever possible avoid shooting tri-dimensional objects from a parallel angle as that tends to flatten your composition. Make use of infinity lines to create a sense of depth. Add elements to your foreground to lead the eye of the viewer into the content of your photo. Juxtapose elements within your composition to create interesting visual landscapes within your frame.

10. Get it right in camera so you don’t spend too much time in post-processing.

I know a lot of photo aficionados who tell me after I look at their photographic-device display, “I’ll fix it with Photoshop.” That’s all fine and dandy if that is how you want to spend your time. I, personally, would rather spend my time shooting and not editing in front of a computer.