EditorialArticle
BehindtheScenesof Graduation
Photography by:LouiseAnderbjörk
INSIDE THIS ISSUE OF PRISMA
Editor-In-Chief: Louise Anderbjörk & Tristan Sharman
Shark Finning Devastation: Meg sheds light on the harmful practice of shark finning. With the industry’s ramifications on shark populations as well as marine ecosystems, it is clear that taking action is imperative
Blue Pearl of Morocco: Daniele recounts his striking visit the the Moroccan city of Chefchaouen, where vibrant blue architecture provided a backdrop for him to discover the authentic life of its inhabitants.
Buddhist Sculptures: Capturing the spirituality of ancient culture through his photography, Anatoliy explains how we in the modern day can benefit from the symbolism of Buddhist sculptures.
Grassroots Sport: Raymond reflects on his series celebrating amateur and part-time sportspeople, his subjects in portraits featuring delightful juxtaposition of the everyday and sporting elements of their lives.
New Zealand’s Birds: Nathaniel shows the beautiful and unique birds he has come to love since moving to New Zealand, shedding light on the predators now dwindling populations of these endangered species.
Photography & Well-Being: For Chris, photography is not about recognition, it is about respite from the stresses of daily life. He shares with us the mental and physical benefits of landscape photography
TheEditorialTeam
Editor-in-Chief-LouiseAnderbjörk
Editor-in-Chief-TristanSharman
EditorialEditor-AlexandraGodfrey
PhotographyEditor-KaileeParsons
PhotographyEditor-MaggieZhu
CopyEditor-HermioneHampton
WebEditor-IainCunningham
MediaManager-LucileBelorgey
ContentManager-AmandaMacEachen
editor@prismamagazinecouk
Photo:MegShea-Graff
Photo:DanielePetrarolo
Photo:RaymondDavies
Photo:AnatoliyAnshin
Photo:NathanielSmith
Photo:ChrisMichael
Photo: Chris Michael
GRADUATION PHOTOGRAPHY
EditorialEditor: Alexandra Godfrey
LOUISE ANDERBJÖRK
Dear readers,
With spring having faded into summer, we have reached a time filled with various celebrations. Having the opportunity to capture these important moments and secure memories for life, is one of the greatest privileges a photographer can have I was lucky enough to be able to do just this for a week straight at the University of St Andrews’ Summer Graduations this June. Graduation photography is truly such a unique and rewarding experience. Whilst there is no denying that you are signing yourself up to long hours, over 25 000 steps average a day, and many caffeinated latenight editing sessions, the happiness you are able to bring with your photos to the graduates and their families at the end makes all the sleep deprivation worth it The key to managing the intensity of graduation weeks – where most days are filled with shoots back-toback from 9-to-5 – is rigorous preparation. It is only through careful planning that you can ensure that the standard 15-minute shoot does not feel rushed for the graduates, whilst equally delivering every photo they expected and more I always prepare by familiarising myself with the locations beforehand It pays to both do your research on the popular university-specific locations and find your own unique locations close by that will make you and your photos stand out from the crowd. However, whilst preparing your base package of locations is crucial to ensure everything goes smoothly, you still need to have the courage to be creative and try something new during a shoot Some of the best photos I got from this graduation season were the compositions I spotted out of the corner of my eye on the go, or the locations that were suggested to me by my clients based on their personal experience. So, it is important to stay creative during your shoots The way to allow yourself to do this is by prior practice and preparation, and knowing your equipment and settings, so that you can trust yourself to step out of your comfort zone under pressure and still get great results. Finally, it is paramount to remember that the more relaxed an environment you as the photographer can create, the more genuine the smiles in your photos will be Make small talk, smile, and get to know your clients – that is how you will make everyone feel at ease so that you can capture those ever-treasured candids and the raw natural emotions. Therefore, once I mentally overcame the intimidation of the sheer number of clients and the immense pressure to do justice to such an important event in your photos, I ultimately found that graduation
photography is one of the best learning opportunities out there. It forces you to trust your ability as a photographer, teaches you a quick eye for composition, and solidifies your knowledge of your equipment. It will also give you a very good insight into the life of professional photography with the amount of post-production work you will have to do The editing backlog can easily stack up during a busy period like this, so the way I try to manage it is by never finishing for the day until every photo I have taken that day has at least been uploaded to my computer, sorted through and organised into ‘Name Ready To Edit’ folders. This means that you will often see me utalizing my 15 minute lunch breaks for a coffee shop date with a hard drive However, doing this means that, come editing week, it is all ready to go. Though, its worth pointing out that the ‘week after’ editing crunch is one of those stages of a graduation season that can easily feel like it will never end; but just trust the process – and the coffee - and you’ll see some amazing results around the corner! Being able to look at the final versions of your images and seeing your own improvements is an incredible feeling which, alongside the excitement of delivering those photos for your graduates to treasure, makes you incredibly excited to do it all over again!
Visit Louise’s website for information and bookings: www atlascamera co uk
Photo:LouiseAnderbjörk
Photo: Louise Anderbjörk
SHARK FINNING DEVASTATION
PhotographyEditor:Maggie Zhu
MEG SHEA-GRAFF
The shark finning industry severely threatens shark populations worldwide This brutal practice involves catching sharks, removing their fins, and discarding the often still living sharks back into the ocean Shark fins fetch high prices in the market, making it a lucrative source of income for fishermen in some regions. The fins are primarily used to make shark fin soup, a delicacy in some cultures. Sharks play a crucial role in maintaining the health of marine ecosystems As apex predators, they help regulate the populations of other marine species, ensuring balanced and diverse ocean habitats The drastic decline in shark populations due to finning disrupts these ecosystems, causing significant imbalance in our oceans. 73 million sharks are estimated to be killed annually for their fins, far exceeding shark’s reproductive capabilities, with many species now at risk of extinction, highlighting the urgent need for action Project Hiu, an innovative conservation initiative is combatting the shark finning industry by offering alternative livelihoods such as eco-tourism to local shark fisherman of Indonesia. This amazing project founded by Madison Stewart is providing these fishermen with sustainable income sources, reducing the economic incentives for shark finning, thereby helping to protect sharks Halting finning is crucial, and efforts must focus on education, stronger legislation and conservation initiatives like Project Hiu. By raising awareness and offering sustainable economic alternatives to local communities, we can work towards ending this practice and ensuring a future for sharks and the ocean they inhabit.
Photo:MegShea-Graff
Photo:MegShea-Graff
Photo:MegShea-Graff
Acrucial apexpredator
Photo: Meg Shea-Graff
THE BLUE PEARL OF MOROCCO
PhotographyEditor:Kailee Parsons
DANIELE PETRAROLO
When I started my photography journey, I remember my shyness shooting moments of strangers Coming back from a trip, I would only ever find in my camera roll landscapes or architecture I decided to change my mission and evolve my travel photography into a mix of styles to create memories of places and people found on my path. After that change of mind, one of the most challenging places that I visited was Morocco. Every photographer that has visited this beautiful country knows how difficult it can be to photograph real life moments there: the local men tend to complain, the women escape from the scene, good compositions are a matter of seconds. Despite the beauty of Marrakech and Fez, I recall most distinctly my venture to one of the most stunning places that I had ever been in my life: Chefchaouen The small town is famous for its buildings coloured in an amazing pastel blue, which attract hordes of tourists to invade in the daytime So, I spent a night there, away from the crowds Sunset and the early hours are when the city comes back to a traditional place. I profoundly enjoyed capturing the everyday life of its inhabitants – discovering their traditions, their routines – and breathing in the charming atmosphere. A photo that stayed in my heart is “Cat of Chefchaouen”: I spent several minutes finding the right composition of a cat gazing towards one of the ubiquitous blue doors Just as I pressed the shutter, a woman suddenly came out from that door, complimenting the cat’s white fur with a similar coloured dress – a truly unique moment. That was unexpected and magical. Like Chefchaouen.
Photo:DanielePetrarolo
Photo:DanielePetrarolo
Photo:DanielePetrarolo
Catof Chefchaouen
Photo: Daniele Petrarolo
CELEBRATING GRASSROOT SPORT
PhotographyEditor:Kailee Parsons
RAYMOND DAVIES
As a photographer currently studying at Edinburgh College, I create a main project each year When deciding the subject for this year, I had the idea to amalgamate my two interests of portraiture and sports. After settling on this initial concept, I wanted to give the project a focus beyond being just photographs of people playing sports. I decided to look entirely at amateur and part-time sportspeople It struck me that these people involved at the grassroots level dedicate an enormous amount of their time and energy to their sport while also juggling commitments such as jobs, families and studies. My project became a way to celebrate both these people's dedication to their sport and the other elements that define their lives For each of my shoots, I sought to combine both elements of my subjects’ identities into the images For some, we brought their sporting equipment into a location related to another aspect of their life; for others we switched this, instead bringing elements of their job into their sporting world. I enjoyed working with each of the participants, especially figuring out how they would like to be represented and planning the shoots with them I would like to thank them for giving up their time and taking the slightly uncomfortable step in front of the lens Accompanying this article you will find a selection of my favourite images from the project, featuring a self-portrait capturing my identities as a racing driver and photographer, as well as a surfer/artist, basketballer/teacher and a hillwalker/retiree. You can find the full project and more information on my website at www raymonddaviesphotography com
Photo:RaymondDavies
Photo:RaymondDavies
Photo:RaymondDavies
Photo: Raymond Davies
BUDDHIST SCULPTURES
PhotographyEditor:Maggie Zhu
ANATOLIY ANSHIN
Traditional Japanese culture has fascinated me since my youth Initially studying it academically in Russia, where I was born and spent the first half of my life, and later in Japan, where I have lived permanently for more than 20 years. However, only recently have I embarked on capturing Japan's nature, history and culture through fine art photography. Buddhist sculptures from ancient temples are main subjects in my work, however, it is not my intention to merely record historical artifacts Rather, I aim to visualise and reconnect with the spirituality of ancient culture, which, although lacking in our daily life, is still accessible if we keep our hearts and minds open. Often covered with cracks and moss, but still beautiful and full of mysterious symbolism, these sculptures silently remind us of what we are increasingly bereft of in the modern world – self-introspection, peace of mind and unity with nature Yet, some are designed to convey simple messages; for example, stone water tubs common in the gardens of Buddhist temples throughout Japan. They feature a square central to their design, surrounded by four characters, one for each identical side Read clockwise from the top, they translate to “I only know that enough is enough,” referring to the central Buddhist concept of controlling one’s desires and the ability to be content with little. Perhaps, in our age of mass consumption, this message can be regarded as a wake-up call. Indeed, many of these ancient sculptures’ symbolism may still impart wisdom to this day. Plus, their impactful visual language full of natural beauty is something from which us photographers can learn a lot
Photo:AnatoliyAnshin
Photo:AnatoliyAnshin
Photo: AnatoliyAnshin
Symbolicanicent culture
Photo: Anatoliy Anshin
NEW ZEALAND BIRDS
PhotographyEditor:Maggie Zhu
NATHANIEL SMITH
Five years ago, I moved from England to New Zealand, a big and scary move with a lot of change One change I have grown to love is the plethora of unique birds which call New Zealand home. Ever since I bought my camera, I have been obsessed with documenting the behaviours of as many of these species as I can. For example, the Kea is not just the only alpine parrot in the world but also one of its smartest birds The Takahē is a flightless swamp hen and the world’s largest living rail The Whio are an ancient species of waterfowl that are one of the only duck species worldwide to live year-round on fast flowing rivers. And that is just to name a few of the many amazing birds that are found here in New Zealand. However, the sanctity of these avian populations faces a perennial threat. Invasive predators such as stoats, ferrets, possums, and rats have caused their numbers to decline Many birds, like the famous kiwi, have either evolved to be weak at flying or entirely lack the ability to fly, making them easy targets. Endeavours to eliminate these predators include widespread deployment of traps, but the saving of these majestic birds necessitates more collective action. Many of the birds that do fly, however, are thriving The Tui, a beautiful songbird, is not only a common back garden sight in New Zealand but also plays a large role in the seed dispersal of many endangered native plants. In the future, I plan to step up my game in the conservation of New Zealand’s birds and document the rife predatory problem. Spreading awareness is the first step!
Photo:NathanielSmith
Photo:NathanielSmith
Photo:NathanielSmith
Tui,thebeautiful songbird
Photo: Nathaniel Smith
PHOTOGRAPHY AND WELL-BEING
PhotographyEditor:Kailee Parsons
CHRIS MICHAEL
As a father, husband, mature student, home educator and carer of two incredible children with complex needs; I find that ‘me time’ is hard to come by Getting out and escaping the day-to-day stresses of life doesn’t happen quite as often as I’d like. With this chaotic lifestyle, I have to take my mental health extremely seriously and that is partly what drew me to landscape photography. Okay, the fact I’m obsessed with technology plays a huge part in this, but ultimately, it’s about doing something creative that takes me away from normality and into a different world where I can de-stress and beat my anxiety To me, landscape photography is much more than just taking photos. It’s an opportunity for me to get out and explore places I’ve never seen (or heard of!) before. I have a rule to never go to the same place twice, so each time I venture out it is to somewhere new From composing the shot to adjusting for exposure, photography enables me to zone out It’s the perfect therapy for me You can stand, admire, daydream all while keeping physically and mentally fit at the same time. Usually motivation is the hardest part, especially when mental health is poor and you’re waking up at stupid o’clock (4:30am) in order to avoid photo-bombed sunrise shots; but when the thought of seeing something new and breath-taking brings a real sense of excitement, the motivation just seems to appear out of nowhere. To me, landscape photography isn’t about Instagram likes and impressing others. It’s not even about going out to get that killer shot. It’s all about me feeling good and capturing just how ‘great’ Great Britain really is
Photo:ChrisMichael
Photo:ChrisMichael
Photo:ChrisMichael
Somewheretostand andadmire
Photo: Chris Michael
PRISMA PHOTO COMPETITION
It is our pleasure to congratulate the winner of PRISMA's July Photo Competition: DanielOlivaresGallego "WhilewatchingtwolemursatSingaporeZoo,theirsymmetryfacingeachotherreallycaughtmyeye.”
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Photo: Chris Michael
Cover art: Meg Shea-Graff