PRISMA Issue 18 by PRISMA Photography Magazine

EditorialArticle

AbstractAutomotives: Ataleofcar photography by:HermioneHampton

INSIDE THIS ISSUE OF PRISMA

Editor-In-Chief: Louise Anderbjörk & Tristan Sharman

On the Coast at Bejuco: Flor unveils the hidden gem of a Mexican beach visited only by locals, sharing how the most beautiful environments are ones where nothing comes between you and nature

Reflection in a Light Sensitive World: Dr Pogus Caesar from Birmingham describes the merits of following your intuition in place of striving for technical perfection, and how this has paid off in his own work.

In Search of the Beautiful: Grace introduces us to the old concept of ‘The Beautiful’, how in everything there is beauty for the photographer to capture, whilst sharing how she has found The Beautiful in Chicago.

Rediscovering Home in Australia: The author of @onlylandscapes on Instagram recounts how they rediscovered the beauty of their home region allowing them to appreciate adventures in their backyard.

Reminiscing Rajasthan: Travelling in India is a trip like no other, says Josh Though difficult to navigate, the photos and the experiences which accompany them are well worth the effort acclimatising to the country.

Exploring Vienna: Carla takes us on an architectural tour of Vienna, sharing the unique architectural makeup of the city, emphasising overlooked details and providing fresh perspectives

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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:FlorTanitPerezNajar

Photo:GraceBergmann

Photo:JoshClarke

Photo:PogusCeasar

Photo:@onlylandscapes

Photo:CarlaClenci

Photo: Carla Clenci

PRISMA

Issue 18 - 31 August 2024

ABSTRACT AUTOMOTIVES

EditorialEditor: Alexandra Godfrey

HERMIONE HAMPTON

Some say that those who can’t take pictures, take pictures of flowers; and when they get bored of flowers, they take pictures of cars. The reason, apparently, is that both are inherently visually pleasing subjects of which it is easy to make decent images. I cannot verify the case for flowers – although, let’s be honest, we all had a flower phase at some point – but I can say that the statement could not be more inaccurate when it comes to cars. On the contrary, automotive photography can present opportunities for new material and fresh challenges, something I discovered a few years ago on my first visit to my local village’s Classic Car Show. I quickly fell in love with the niche and car shows became some of my favourite places to bring my camera Of course, the cars are stunning; but just because they are beautiful does not mean that any photo of them will be beautiful. To me, the very notion completely takes away the importance of the photographer’s role in making images and, in this environment, it could not be less true. These shows are littered with objects that will do nothing but distract from the image: crowds, food stalls, marquees, barriers, and, naturally, other cars In most cases, therefore, shots of the whole car are ruled out – a beautiful car with a busy background will rarely produce a good picture. Instead, I focus on individual details of the vehicles: think wing mirrors, steering wheels, bonnets, backseats. Although these photos omit a full view and turn out more abstract, they exude no less beauty This sort of photo is hardly original, but being unable to capture the entirety of a scene forces you to think more creatively about composition to tell a story. The adage ‘less is more’ is your best friend. However, there are other challenges. Reflective surfaces like chrome and high-gloss paintwork can be detrimental. Unwanted reflections of gaggles of people or public toilets, for instance, are best eliminated; so, it pays to really consider the composition and be patient before taking the shot. However, it can be used to your advantage. Catching the sun on shiny materials or reflections of clouds can work wonders. Or deliberately incorporating a picture of yourself can produce some very compelling images – why try to hide the photographer who took the picture! What also makes car shows delightful places to shoot is the atmosphere I am often used to being discreet, people can often become uneasy in front of a lens, and many are averse to having their picture taken entirely.

Here, though, everyone is perfectly comfortable with cameras and even expect photographers to capture them. Car enthusiasts tend to be astoundingly friendly, curiously asking about your work, happily pointing out any features of the vehicle that may be of interest, and eagerly asking to have a portrait taken inside their vehicle Photos can come out better in this environment: any people in the shots appear more natural and the images themselves seem far less rushed, as you can work openly without worrying if someone may notice. If you’ve never been to a car show before, I highly recommend it, especially if you work a lot with clients I have personally found increasing respite in them since starting paid work in the past year Although I loved the jobs, I often fell into the trap of viewing photography as primarily the act of producing pictures, rather than the act of making them. With automotive photography, I am not obliged to deliver the photos to anyone, I allow myself once again to engage in the process of creating an image completely It is an opportunity to take my time to compose and experiment; and be a part of the action, rather than go unnoticed in the background More than anything, I think it is a fantastic opportunity for anyone to fully embrace their role as a photographer – not merely a picture machine, but a human being who truly crafts an image.

Photo:HermioneHampton

Photo: Hermione Hampton

ON THE COAST AT BEJUCO

PhotographyEditor:Kailee Parsons

FLOR TANIT PEREZ NAJAR

Ever since I was young, the coast has been what I call my home Although I have lived in other cities here and there – and since 2014, I have been living in Berlin – I spent the first twelve years of my life in a port city Maybe that is why the ocean is very important to me. With its unique beauty, it attracts, calms, and fascinates me all at the same time. The coasts of Mexico are immense, with kilometers of coastline on both the Pacific and Atlantic sides of the country In the west, in the municipality of Lázaro Cárdenas on the Michoacan coast, you can find a small beach called Los Llanitos del Bejuco My parents have known this place for years; and finally, in 2022, they brought me there. We arrived around 6pm, the perfect time to catch the golden hour. When I stepped out of the car, I was immediately astounded by Mexico’s natural beauty on display. The rock formations are what make this beach a magical place, where nature meets you right in the face from where you’re standing on the shore; where the breeze hits your face and the birds fly when the waves crash against the rocks. And I, with one eye through the viewfinder of my camera, tried to capture it all. This is not a place you will find on the tourist guides or on the Instagram page of your favorite influencer. Only locals come here It is not a famous tourist destination, it is a small beach where families come to eat, swim, enjoy the sea breeze, and watch the sunset Because there is no sunset more beautiful than the one where you can see the sun go down by the sea, like the one you see in the Mexican Pacific.

Photo:FlorTanitPerezNajar

Photo: Flor Tanit Perez Najar

IN SEARCH OF THE BEAUTIFUL

PhotographyEditor:Kailee Parsons

GRACE BERGMANN

In my early years of learning to capture better images, I remember reading about an old photography concept referred to as “The Beautiful” The shortened definition is that there is one singular force acting as the source of all the beauty in the world. Everything in the world contains this force in varying quantities, meaning that every individual subject has a certain amount of The Beautiful in it. The responsibility of capturing The Beautiful in these things falls onto the shoulders of the photographer, who must find it in every plant, animal, human or inanimate object, no matter how much or little beauty it contains. Despite the possibility that this concept may have deviated today from its original meaning, the essence remains the same. It is all about reminding the photographer to look for, discover and encapsulate the beauty of whatever is around them The longer I have continued down my photography journey, the more variations of The Beautiful I have perceived It is easy to capture in what is typically perceived as beautiful: flowers – don’t we all start with macro shots of them?! –and sunsets, models and artwork… But where finding The Beautiful is most rewarding, is in the fresh and unexpected. Now, living in Chicago, I can once again find The Beautiful in the new I see the beauty of a shining new skyscraper next to weathered 100-year-old building, the beauty of newspapers in the wind, cigarette smoke, and brutalist buildings with spray paint. All are little scenes upon which humans have left their mark, as a sign of life. As evidence of The Beautiful in life.

Photo:GraceBergmann

TheBeautiful intheWindyCity

Photo: Grace Bergmann

REMINISCING RAJASTHAN

PhotographyEditor:Maggie Zhu

JOSH CLARKE

Love it or hate it, India is one of the trickiest places in the world to travel in At almost every turn, there’s a curveball, a mind-blowing degree of chaos, and an unnerving level of discomfort; but at the same time, incredible beauty and individuality – it’s a living juxtaposition. From a photographer's perspective, it is also one of the most challenging places to shoot, as eyes are always on you! It takes some time to get used to it, if ever! But, sure enough, you become acclimatised Once you take a step back, a deep breath, and some time to comprehend it all, you see a staggering country. Absolutely crazy, but staggering. The food, scarily addictive; the wildlife and nature, eye-wateringly pretty: the architecture, an encapsulation of pure mastery; the culture, hectic, controversial, and immense; the history, fascinating but scary; and finally, the people, wholesome and passionate. Shot during a trip in September 2023, these photos aim to encapsulate the simplicity, beauty, and joy of life in Rajasthan, a northwestern state on the border with Pakistan. Although chaotic, there is tranquillity to be found The vibrant colours, diverse textures, and captivating people of this region are what contribute to its unparalleled uniqueness – an experience unlike any other Photography for me has never just been about the image itself, it's about the experience that comes with it. Where you've been, what you went through, who you were with and what emotions you felt. A photograph always comes with a story, capturing the moments leading up to and following that single instance in time

Photo:JoshClarke

Photo: Josh Clarke

A LIGHT SENSITIVE WORLD

PhotographyEditor:Maggie Zhu

POGUS CEASAR

As a photographer, one never knows what one may encounter Should one document the moment or cast it aside to become a distant memory? Visiting 1980s New York, I purchased a book by the late Diane Arbus. The conclusion I drew was that I should allow my visual intuition to navigate life and not seek perfection but follow just my instincts. This approach worked marvellously when the purchase of a Canon AP brought newfound freedom 35mm film was wondrous: 36 frames set at 400 ASA produced photographs anywhere between clear and pin-sharp, to rough, grainy and washed-out. This immaculately suited my artistic temperament - to capture moments without worrying about how the end product will turn out. The benefits of this mindset can be seen in my series ‘Schwarz Flaneur’ – exhibited in Ikon Gallery’s ‘Friends in Love and War’ – which, were documented long before the series gained a title to unite them all. I have often referenced my father's extensive book collection, which included copies of National Geographic and Reader's Digest. As a child, I thought they contained the most beautiful and engaging photographs I had ever seen They conveyed an interest in the notion of how someone experiences a city Am I an alien? An inquisitive visitor stumbling through unknown lands? To me, this sentiment conveys how a photographer must confront new environments, reframe the mind and adjust to setbacks. One day your heart will skip a beat, believing the perfect image is laid before your eyes You’ll confidently line up the shot, click the button then reality bites: the camera is out of film!

Photo:PogusCeasar

Photo: PogusCeasar

Photo: Pogus Ceasar

REDISCOVERING AUSTRALIA

PhotographyEditor:Kailee Parsons

@onlylandscapes

From the minute I began travelling in 2014, I wanted to capture every moment “It’s a memory What if I forget this someday?” I would almost always say, at the behest of whoever would be travelling with me. But the moment I came back to my home in Southeast Queensland, the camera would be stowed away until the next overseas adventure. The excitement that carried me through my travels, the proverbial lenses that changed how I viewed the world, would vanish the moment the wheels hit the tarmac on Australian soil Now this wasn’t to say that Australia isn’t beautiful; it most definitely is, I just couldn’t see what everyone else was gushing over. It wasn’t until 2022 that I began to slowly discover this inexplicable beauty of my own backyard, and with each adventure I’d drive further and further away from home only to be met with endlessly evolving landscape and skies so beautiful it practically had me begging for a photographic memory Mountains, beaches, sunrises; I wanted to capture them all – but I had next to no understanding of photography or editing. So, I spent the better part of 2023 learning the basics and fundamentals of landscape photography and eventually I able to do the landscapes the justice they deserved From the rocky shores of the Sunshine Coast and Hastings Point, to the rolling hills of Springbrook National Park on the Gold Coast, I felt truly privileged to be able to witness and capture some of the most awe-inspiring moments of my life. I still have a long way to go in my journey of photography but I am thankful for it because, without a camera, I never would have rediscovered home

Photo:@onlylanscapes

Photo:@onlylandscapes Photo:@onlylandscapes

Photo:

EXPLORING VIENNA

PhotographyEditor:Maggie Zhu

CARLA CLENCI

For many years I have travelled around Vienna as a photographer and I am constantly inspired by the architecture of this fascinating city It offers a unique mixture of historical and modern architecture, all of which I try to capture with my camera so that I can share my special perspective. I prefer to photograph interesting buildings that captivate with their history, atmosphere, or design and construction Vienna is a paradise for architecture lovers, from the magnificent buildings on the Ringstrasse to the elegant Art Nouveau buildings and sleek, modern masterpieces of engineering. Each building tells its own story, and it is important to me to convey these stories visually. My photos more than just images of buildings; they are an expression of my deep admiration for the architecture and the creative minds that produced it I like to experiment with different perspectives and lighting conditions to emphasise the beauty and uniqueness of each building. I like to place great emphasis on details that are often overlooked, but at the same time capture the whole essence and character of a building. Through my work, I want to encourage people to be more aware of their surroundings and to appreciate Vienna's architectural treasures It is a great honour to publish my photos and I hope that you enjoy my pictures as much as I enjoy taking them myself. With my camera as my constant companion, I am constantly discovering new facets of this wonderful city. I look forward to capturing and sharing many more of Vienna's architectural gems.

Photo:CarlaClenci

Paradisefor architecturelovers

Photo: Carla Clenci

PRISMA PHOTO COMPETITION

It is our pleasure to congratulate the winner of PRISMA's August Photo Competition: EveMcDonald "After6weeksoflivingintheoldmedinaofRabat,Isawthesetruckscarryeverythingfromvegetabletogascanistersforkitchens.Yetmy favouriteuseofthetruckhastobeasataxiforelderlywomen.”

Photo: Grace Bergmann

Cover art: Grace Bergmann