SAZ MEDIA CLUB ISSUE 1 by SAZMEDIA

SAZ MEDIA

ISSUE 1

PORTRAITS

Studio portraits with Sara Auty

Portrait inspiration

Your vision

STREET

Street with James Wise

Street inspiration

Knowledge, competitions and stuff

PORTRAITS SARA AUTY I’VE BEEN A PHOTOGRAPHER FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS AND I’M STILL NOT BORED. THERES SO MUCH VARIETY TO THE SUBJECT/JOB. I’VE GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO PHOTOGRAPHING EVENTS OVER TIME BUT SINCE HAVING A CHILD OF MY OWN, CHILD PORTRAITURE BECAME A REALLY CAPTIVATING SUBJECT FOR ME. I LOVE INTERACTING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE AND IT SEEMED A NATURAL PATH FOR ME TO TAKE. SAZ MEDIA HAS NOW BECOME A WORKING STUDIO, SO EXPECT SOME EVEN MORE AMAZING WORKSHOPS BASED THERE ONCE RESTRICTIONS EASE. PHOTOGRAPHY HAS ALWAYS BEEN A FASCINATION OF MINE. I LOVE CAPTURING A MOMENT IN TIME, A MEMORY, A PIECE OF ART. WHEN I WAS YOUNGER I HAD A BIG CHUNKY CAMERA THAT USED FILM, MEANING IT WASN’T DIGITAL. SO I WOULD TAKE PICTURES ON HOLIDAY OR AT FAMILY GATHERINGS AND WAIT TO GET THE FILM DEVELOPED. LOOKING BACK AT IMAGES WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY FELT REALLY

SPECIAL AND I REMEMBER FEELING PROUD OF WHAT I HAD ACHIEVED. PHOTOGRAPHY MAKES ME NOTICE THINGS MORE, MOSTLY IF SOMETHING IS STRAIGHT (HAHA) BUT WITH PORTRAITURE I LOOK FOR FACIAL EXPRESSIONS OR MOVEMENT THAT CAPTURES PERSONALITY. I TAKE MY TIME TO GET TO KNOW PEOPLE I AM PHOTOGRAPHING, I MAKE GENERAL CONVERSTAION WITH THEM WHICH ALSO PUTS THEM AT EASE WHILST I SET-UP FOR THE PHOTO. I GET THEM TO RELAX AND OFTEN LAUGH. THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC I’VE HAD SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO CREATE PORTRAITS FOR FAMILIES AND YOUNG PEOPLE, EVEN BABIES. I REALLY STARTED TO GET MY CREATIVE JUICES FLOWING AND PLANS TOGETHER FOR SOME EPIC PORTRAITS WHEN IT WAS ANOUNCED THAT FOR JANUARY 2021 I WOULD HAVE TO CLOSE THE STUDIO AND ITS BEEN CLOSED EVER SINCE. HOWEVER ITS NOT STOPPED ME FROM

PHOTOGRAPHING. THERE ARE SOME REALLY CREATIVE TECHNIQUES YOU CAN TRY AT HOME TO CREATE A STUDIO LOOK, SIMPLY USING A BEDSHEET OR BLANKET AND SOME HOUSE HOLD ITEMS. HERE’S SOME INSPIRATION FOR HOME! !

PORTRAIT INSPIRATION YOU NEED LIGHT TO TAKE A PHOTOGRAPH. HOW WE USE LIGHT DETERMINES HOW OUR PHOTO LOOKS. THE LIGHT IN SOMEONES EYES GIVES AWAY WHERE THE SOURCE OF LIGHT COMES FROM THIS IS CALLED THE CATCHLIGHT. IN THIS IMAGE CAN YOU SEE WHERE THE CATCHLIGHT IS? THAT’S RIGHT! ITS THE TOP LEFT HAND CORNER. THIS COLOURFUL PORTRAIT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED BY USING BLUE AND RED TRANSPARENT PLASTIC PLACED OVER THE LIGHT SOURCES AND YOU CAN ALSO ACHIEVE A SIMILAR EFFECT BY PLACING THE PLASTIC OVER THE LENS OF YOUR CAMERA. CHALLENGE 1. USING THE COLOURED OVERLAYS IN YOUR PHOTOBOX OR ANY TRANSPARENT COLOURED PLASTIC YOU MAY FIND. TRY TO CAPTURE YOUR OWN COLOURED LIGHT PORTRAIT LIKE THIS ONE. SEND US YOUR IMAGE TO INFO@SAZMEDIA.CO.UK OR USE #SAZMEDIACLUB ON INSTAGRAM TO BE FEATURED IN THE NEXT ISSUE.

IMAGE TAKEN BY ZACHARY GALL

MEET ZACHARY GALL. ZACHARY ATTENDS SAZ MEDIA CLUB WHERE HE HAS LEARNT ABOUT DIFFERENT MEDIUMS WITHIN PHOTOGRAPHY. IN THE PICTURE ABOVE YOU CAN SEE HOW HE IS CREATING THE PHOTO OF LEAH ON THE OPPOSITE PAGE. HE HAS STUCK 2 DIFFERENT COLOURED TRANSPARENT PLASTICS TO HIS CAMERA LENS. THIS WORKS ON A PHONE OR ANY CAMERA TOO, SO WHY NOT GET CREATIVE AND TRY PLACING THE PLASTIC IN DIFFERENT WAYS. ZACHARY WHAT DOES PHOTOGRAPHY MEAN TO YOU? ‘FOR ME PHOTOGRAPHY MEANS I CAN SHOW PEOPLE WHAT CATCHES MY EYE, I CAN SHOW PEOPLE HOW I VIEW THINGS AROUND ME. PHOTOGRAPHY HAS CHANGED HOW I SEE EVERYDAY THINGS, I CONSIDER THINGS DIFFERENTLY NOW.’ WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS TO BEING A PART OF A PHOTOGRAPHY CLUB? ‘FOR ME THE BENEFITS ARE THAT YOU CAN RECIEVE CRITIQUE FROM PEOPLE IN THE GROUP, THEY CAN GIVE YOU FEEDBACK ON YOUR PHOTOS AND THAT HELPS TO IMPROVE MY WORK.’

OUTDOOR PORTRAITS GETTING OUTDOORS TO TAKE PORTRAITS CAN REALLY BRING YOUR IMAGE TO LIFE. WITH SO MANY BACKDROPS, NATURAL AND MANMADE ELEMENTS TO CHOOSE FROM YOU CAN REALLY GET CREATIVE. A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THIS IS THE TOP PICTURE ON THE OPPOSITE PAGE, WHICH WAS TAKEN BY COURTNEY, SHE USED THE URBAN BIKE RACK TO FRAME LUKE IN THIS PLEASING SYMETRICAL COMPOSITION. THE BIKE RACK ALMOST ZOOMS YOU IN TO THE PORTRAIT. BOTH IMAGES ARE TAKEN ON A SUNNY DAY BUT CAN YOU TELL WHICH ONE ALSO HAD CLOUDS? THATS RIGHT, THE BOTTOM IMAGE. THE LIGHT IS SOFTER AND THERE AREN’T HARSH HIGHLIGHTS LIKE THERE ARE IN THE TOP IMAGE. CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF THE BEST DAY TO PHOTOGRAPH PORTRAITS OUTDOORS IS NOT A REALLY BRIGHT SUNNY DAY BUT A DAY WITH CLOUDS. CLOUDS CREATE A MORE FLATTERING LIGHT. YOUR SUBJECTS ARE LESS LIKELY TO SQUINT AND YOUR HIGHLIGHTS ARE LESS LIKELY TO BE BLOWN OUT. NEXT TIME YOU’RE OUTDOORS WITH YOUR PHONE OR YOUR CAMERA WITH FRIENDS OR FAMILY TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT. LOOK WHERE THE LIGHT SOURCE IS COMING FROM, LEFT, RIGHT OR PERHAPS THE SUN LOW IN THE SKY AND YOUR ABLE TO BLOCK IT OUT WITH YOUR SUBJECT, CREATING A SILOHUETTE. ONCE YOU HAVE TAKEN SOME AWESOME PORTRAITS, UPLOAD TO INSTAGRAM AND TAG US @SAZMEDIA_ OR USE #SAZMEDIACLUB AND IF YOU LIKE ASK FOR ‘CC’ WHICH IS SHORT FOR CONSTRUCTIVE CRITISCM MEANING WE WILL GIVE YOU FEEDBACK TO HELP YOU DEVELOP YOUR WORK.

IMAGES TAKEN BY PARTICIPANTS AT SAZ MEDIA CLUB

YOUR VISION THIS SECTION IS FOR YOU TO SHARE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY AND THOUGHTS. WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN EXPLORING, TESTING, UNDERSTANDING THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHY? MEET LEAH WILD WHO HAS ATTENDED SAZ MEDIA CLUB SINCE OUR VERY FIRST WORKSHOP IN 2018. LEAH WHAT DOES PHOTOGRAPY MEAN TO YOU? ‘PHOTOGRAPHY MEANS EXPRESSION AND ESCAPISM. I FIND IT DIFFICULT SOMETIMES TO EXPLAIN MY FEELINGS USING WORDS OR SHOW MY INTERNAL UNIVERSE THROUGH DESCRIPTIONS, SO BY USING PHOTOGRAPHY I CAN FREELY EXPRESS MYSELF AND HOW I AM FEELING.’ ‘BEFORE VENTURING INTO PHOTOGRAPHY MOST ORDINARY THINGS WOULD JUST SEEM MUNDANE AND BORING BUT PHOTOGRAPHY HAS PULLED OPEN THAT DUSTY CURTAIN AND PRESENTED TO ME THAT ALL THINGS ARE EXTRAORDINARY.’ HAS PHOTOGRAPHY HELPED YOU THROUGH THE PANDEMIC IN ANYWAY? ‘MOST DEFINITELY, I HAVE BEEN EXPERIMENTING WITH EDITING AND MAKING REALISTIC ASPECTS OF THE BODY LOOK SURREAL, LIKE FANTASY. I LIKE THE WONDER OF OPPORTUNITIES. I FIND IT HAS CALMED ME AND BEEN A RELAXING AND FULFILLING EXPEREINCE BUT I HOPE I CAN SEE MY FREINDS AS SAZ MEDIA AGAIN SOON.

LEAH YOUV’E BEEN A PART OF SAZ MEDIA CLUB SINCE THE BEGINING, WHATS BEEN THE BENEFIT? ‘THE EXPANSE ON CREATIVITY, FINDING PEOPLE WITH THE SAME INTERESTS AS YOU AND SEEING DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHY. LEARNING NEW SKILLS AND MAKING FRIENDS, HONESTLY BEING ABLE TO CREATE A BODY OF WORK AND ENJOY THE COMPANY OF TALENTED PEOPLE. I’VE LEARNED SO MUCH AND I DON’T KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO IF IDIDN’T HAVE THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE IN MY LIFE. WANT TO BE FEATURED IN OUR NEXT ISSUE? GET IN TOUCH EMAIL, SARA AT INFO@SAZMEDIA.CO.UK OR REACH US ON INSTAGRAM @SAZMEDIA_

IMAGES BY LEAH WILD

STREET PHOTOGRAPHY JAMES WISE ‘PHOTOGRAPHY TO ME MEANS FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION. YOU CAN TAKE A PICTURE HOW YOU WANT, OF WHAT YOU WANT AND (ALMOST) WHERE EVER YOU WANT. THAT TO ME IS THE BEAUTY OF PHOTOGRAPHY; IT’S SIMPLE AND IT IS LIMITLESS. I GOT INTO PHOTOGRAPHY WHEN I WAS A LOT YOUNGER BECAUSE I USED TO SKATEBOARD; I LOVED THE PHOTOS IN MAGAZINES AND HOW NO TWO IMAGES EVER SEEMED TO BE THE SAME. LATER ON IN LIFE I STARTED TAKING PHOTOS OF OLD SHOP FRONTS AND NOW I AM REALLY INTERESTED IN PORTRAITURE. THE JOURNEY THAT IT HAS TAKEN ME ON THROUGH LIFE IN A SENSE IS MORE VALUABLE TO ME PERSONALLY THAN THE PHOTOS I TAKE.’ HAS PHOTOGRAPHY CHANGED THE WAY YOU SEE THINGS? ‘DEFINITELY. I THINK THAT PHOTOGRAPHY HAS CHANGED MY WORLD-VIEW IN A WAY THAT I SEE THINGS THAT WERE INVISIBLE TO ME BEFORE. I THINK YOU START TO SEE IN PHOTOS WHEN YOU ARE WALKING IN THE STREET AND YOU START TO DEVELOP (NO PUN INTENDED) A SIXTH SENSE FOR A PHOTO OPPORTUNITY. I SOMETIMES THINK ABOUT MY LIFE AS HAVING TWO PARTS: BEFORE I PICKED UP A CAMERA AND AFTER THAT MOMENT!’ HAS PHOTOGRAPHY HELPED YOU THROUGH THE PANDEMIC IN ANY WAY? IN A BIG WAY. IT HAS GIVEN ME A FOCUS THROUGH A VERY CHALLENGING TIME AND HAS HELPED ME TO MAINTAIN A ROUTINE. I DON’T ALWAYS FEEL INSPIRED AND I CAN’T SAY THAT THE PANDEMIC HAS BEEN THE BEST TIME CREATIVELY, BUT THAT’S FINE WITH ME, BECAUSE IT HAS ALLOWED ME TO REFLECT AS A PHOTOGRAPHER AND THINK ABOUT HOW I WANT TO APPROACH THE WORLD WITH A CAMERA AFTER THE PANDEMIC.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS TO BEING PART OF A PHOTOGRAPHY CLUB? I THINK THE BIGGEST THING OF BEING PART OF A PHOTOGRAPHY CLUB IS NOT NECESSARILY THE PHOTO TAKING SIDE, BUT THE EXCHANGE OF IDEAS, SKILLS AND GENERAL KNOWLEDGE THAT YOU JUST WOULDN’T GET FROM, SAY, SOCIAL MEDIA OR FROM MAGAZINES. OBVIOUSLY THINGS LIKE INSTAGRAM AND FACEBOOK ARE AMAZING FOR EXPLORING OTHER PHOTOGRAPHERS’ WORK, BUT MEETING LIKE-MINDED PEOPLE AND SHARING SOMETHING THAT YOU ARE REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT IS A SPECIAL EXPERIENCE. A LOT OF THE TIME I HAVE BEEN TO MEET FELLOW PHOTOGRAPHERS AND I’VE NOT EVEN TAKEN A CAMERA, I JUST WANTED TO TALK CREATIVITY AND EXCHANGE IDEAS.

STREET PHOTOGRAPHY INSPIRATION

THE STREETS ARE LESS BUSY AT THE MOMENT WHICH IS A PERFECT TIME FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NEVER TRIED STREET PHOTOGRAPHY TO GET OUT THERE AND GET PRACTISING. TOP TIPS! LOOK FOR LINES SUCH AS LAMP POSTS, WALLS, WINDOWS, PAVEMENT...THEY WILL HELP YOU FRAME YOUR IMAGE. IF THEY LOOK STRAIGHT THEN YOUR IMAGE WILL BE STRAIGHT AND THIS WILL MAKE A MORE PLEASING COMPOSITION. BUILD YOUR IMAGE WITH LAYERS. WHATS IN THE FOREGROUND, MIDDLEGROUND AND BACKGROUND? BUILDING DEPTH INTO YOUR IMAGE WILL MAKE IT REALLY INTERESTING. PEOPLE GOING ABOUT THEIR LIVES CAN MAKE FOR GREAT ACTION SHOTS. KEEP YOUR PHONE OR CAMERA CLOSE TO YOU SO ITS DISCREET, THIS WILL MAKE YOU MORE CONFIDENT IN TAKING THAT SHOT AND PEOPLE AROUND YOU LESS AWARE OF YOUR PRESSENCE SO THEY WILL ACT MORE NATURAL. PLAY WITH ANGLES, GET LOW ON THE GROUND OR HIGH UP. IF YOUR LACKING SOME INTEREST IN YOUR PHOTO GET CLOSER TO YOUR SUBJECT.

KNOWLEDGE HOW A CAMERA WORKS. WHETHER YOU HAVE A MOBILE PHONE, A DISPOSABLE FILM CAMERA OR A DIGITAL CAMERA. ALL CAMERAS OPERATE IN THE SAME WAY. THEY RECIEVE LIGHT THROUGH A LENS, THE SHUTTER OPENS AND CLOSES AND YOUR IMAGE IS PROCESSED. THERE ARE THREE FACTORS THAT CONTROL HOW YOUR IMAGE TURNS OUT. THESE ARE, APERTURE, ISO AND SHUTTER SPEED. THEY ARE ALL ABLE TO BE MANIPULATED TO CONTROL HOW MUCH LIGHT ENTERS THE LENS. DEPENDING ON HOW YOU WANT YOUR IMAGE TO LOOK DEPENDS ON WHICH SETTINGS YOU CHOOSE. SEE THE DIAGRAM BELOW.

SHUTTER SPEED IS THE LENGTH OF TIME LIGHT IS ALLOWED TO HIT THE SENSOR. IT IS MEASURED IN SECONDS. IF YOU WANT TO PHOTOGRAPH A MOVING SUBJECT SUCH AS A PERSON WALKING BY AND YOU WANT THAT PERSON TO BE SHARP AND IN FOCUS THEN YOU WILL NEED A SHUTTER SPEED OF MINIMUM 1/160. WHAT THIS NUMBER MEANS IS THIS IS ONE HUNDREAD AND SIXTIETH OF A SECOND. YOU ARE FREEZING TIME FASTER THAN WE CAN BLINK. IF THE SHUTTER SPEED WAS 1/80 THIS WOULD BE EIGHTIETH OF A SECOND AND WOULD PRODUCE A BLURRY IMAGE. IF THE SHUTTER SPEED WAS 1/250 MEANING TWO HUNDREAD AND FIFTHTH OF A SECOND THE IMAGE WOULD BE VERY SHARP BUT MAY BE DARK DEPENDING ON YOUR LIGHTING. TO COMPENSATE THIS YOU MAY WANT TO INCREASE YOUR ISO OR OPEN YOUR APPERTURE. APERTURE REFERS TO THE SIZE OF THE CIRCULAR HOLE IN THE LENS THAT LETS IN LIGHT. THE BIGGER THE HOLE, THE MORE LIGHT THAT REACHES THE SENSOR. THE SMALLER THE HOLE/APERTURE THE MORE THAT WILL BE IN FOCUS SO THE DARKER THE IMAGE. FOR AN APERTURE OF F2.8 YOU CAN EXPECT TO HAVE A SMALL WINDOW OF SOMTHING IN FOCUS BUT FOR AN APERTURE OF F.11 YOU WILL HAVE LOTS IN FOCUS. F.11 WOULD BE A GREAT APERTURE CHOICE FOR A LANDSCAPE ON A SUNNY DAY. ISO IS THE SENSITIVITY OF THE DIGITAL SENSOR. A LOW ISO SUCH AS 100 MEANS THAT THE CAMERA DOES NOT NEED TO WORK HARD TO PULL LIGHT IN. A HIGH ISO SUCH AS 1500 MEANS THE CAMERA IS REACHING OUT FOR THAT LIGHT AND SUBSEQUENTLY YOU WILL HAVE GRAINY IMAGES - BUT THAT MAY BE THE LOOK YOUR GOING FOR. IF YOU ARE WORKING WITH FLASH OR PLANNING ON USING LIGHTS YOU WILL MORE THAN LIKELY FIND YOU CAN KEEP YOUR ISO LOW AS TO NOT OVER EXPOSE YOUR IMAGE.

THIS IMAGE WAS TAKEN BY LUKE CAMERA - CANON 1300D LENS 18-55MM APERTURE - 11 SHUTTER SPEED - 1/200 ISO - 800

FEATURE IN THIS MAGAZINE! WE NEED YOUR CONTENT! IMAGES TAKEN BY YOU AND ARTICLES ABOUT YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY JOURNEY OR STORIES RELATING TO YOUR EXPEREIENCES. HAVE YOU BEEN INSPIRED BY THIS PORTRAIT AND STREET PHOTOGRAPHY ISSUE? DO YOU HAVE IMAGES THAT YOU HAVE TAKEN THAT TELL A STORY OR THAT YOU ARE PROUD OF AND WOULD LIKE TO SHARE? OR COULD YOU FEATURE IN OUR NEXT MAGAZINE WHICH IS THEMED AROUND SPRING? THINK NATURE AND LANDSCAPES. WE HAVE PUT TOGETHER SOME QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU BUILD YOUR STORY. OR YOU COULD SIMPLY TELL US YOUR STORY IN YOUR OWN STYLE.

1. WHAT WAS THE STORY BEHIND TAKING YOUR FIRST EVER PHOTO? 2. IS PHOTOHGRAPHY FOR YOU A HOBBY OR CAREER PATH AND WHY HAVE YOU MADE THAT CHOICE? 3. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE SUBJECT TO PHOTOGRAPH AND WHY? E.G FOOTBALL, FLOWERS, PEOPLE ETC. 4. WHO OR WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO DEVELOP YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY? 5. WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT PHOTOGRAPHY? 6. IF YOU COULD GO ON A PHOTOGRAPHY TRIP ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD WHERE WOULD YOU GO AND WHY?

COMPETITION! CONNECT WITH US AND YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE ENTERED INTO A PRIZE DRAW TO WIN A YELLOW REFURBISHED AMAZON FIRE, A FABRIC BACKDROP AND A DISPOSABLE CAMERA! SIMPLY SEND IN YOUR IMAGES AND EITHER A BRIEF PARAGRAPH ABOUT YOU, OR INCLUDE YOUR ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS ON THE OPPOSITE PAGE, OR INCLUDE A BIT MORE AND TELL US YOUR STORY ABOUT YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY. THERE ARE 2 WAYS TO ENSURE YOUR IMAGES AND STORY REACH US, THESE ARE: TAG US ON INSTAGRAM IN YOUR POST AND USE #SAZMEDIACLUB PLEASE NOTE IF YOU HAVE A PRIVATE PROFILE WE MAY NOT SEE THIS. SO IT MAY BE BEST TO GO WITH THE SECOND OPTION... SEND AN EMAIL TO INFO@SAZMEDIA.CO.UK WE WILL SEND YOU A MESSAGE (DM) OR EMAIL YOU BACK TO CONFIRM WE HAVE RECIEVED YOUR SUBMISSION. WE WILL NOT SHARE YOUR CONTACT DETAILS WITH ANYONE ELSE. OUR SOCIAL LINKS INSTAGRAM @SAZMEDIACLUB_ FACEBOOK /SAZMEDIA_UK TWITTER @SAZMEDIA_UK FLICKR - SAZ MEDIA YOUTUBE - SAZ MEDIA WWW.SAZMEDIA.CO.UK

Thank you :)