Behind the camera lens: Our senior photographer interviews three of Trinity’s prominent photographer

The number of photos taken worldwide has dramatically increased as a product of our digital age. Aside from the spike in frivolous photos, this rising number also means that there is a substantial increase in the number of people exposed to, and getting interested in photography. The art form is far more accessible nowadays than ten years ago, both because of smartphones and the fall in cost of introductory cameras. With an overwhelming amount of information out there, I felt it appropriate to reach out to three very different Trinity photographers on key questions I would have wanted answered as a novice photographer.​​

What got you into photography and why are you drawn to it as an art form?

Benjamin Jakabec - I started photography when I was 13. I was on a family trip in Budapest, Hungary visiting some relatives. I guess what I really enjoyed at the time was trying to recreate all the angles and perspectives that photographers used. I was still a kid so the idea that you couldn’t just stand and shoot to get a great shot excited me; which meant that I had to run around to get the right angles....I ended up coming home every night with stains on my pants from trying to get low angle shots of statues, monuments, etc... When I got home from the trip I posted the photos online, and one of the photos was soon published in a travel guide. Photography just sort of stuck with me thereafter.

Nathan Chan - I think I’ve always had a fascination with photographs and recorded media: the space for creative expression is infinite in photographs, and their ability to capture moments is not something that words can do. As for what specifically got me into photography, I joined a photography club at the end of elementary school which transformed my interest from observing photographs to creating them myself.

Syndi Li-Walton - I’ve always been interested in film as an art form, and photography just followed naturally. It started off with me and an old cam-corder filming and editing our family events. It was a natural progression for me to go from film to photography – I had the tools on hand and a vague sense of how things should look.

Do you have any recommendations for people looking to get started?

Benjamin Jakabec - Practice. It’s great to know the technical stuff, but at the end of the day, photography is an art form. Creativity is what matters - how you actually get the photo you want will come with time (both technically speaking and in terms of vision). In more specific terms, Kijiji has a great selection of used camera equipment at good prices. Just make sure to know exactly what you want and maybe bring a photography buddy when buying equipment so that they can check if there are any problems, such as lens mold. Did you know that lenses can get moldy? They can. And it’s a nightmare. Also there are a lot of great places to practice in Toronto so you don't have to feel like going abroad is your only option: Queens Park, UofT campus, High Park, Humber Valley Park, the Distillery District, street photography on Queen or Yonge street, the botanical gardens out in Burlington — these are all great places to shoot.

Nathan Chan - First, recognize the level of photography and dedication you’re willing to put into the subject. If you’re okay with sticking to the basics, then a point-and-shoot approach is great. If you want to learn more though, ​​definitely go with a DSLR. Learn what the different shooting modes do (Auto, Av, Tv, M, etc.) and from there, read up on the literature to discover what others have thought are the “ideal” settings for a photograph. After a certain point, you’ll have the knowledge to judge what’s ideal for your style.

Syndi Li-Walton - Use what you have on hand – be it your phone, iPod, or any analogue film you have (Polaroids, instant Kodaks). It’s a great idea to start with analogue. There’s this enormous sense of satisfaction when you see something you’ve captured on film for the first time. It makes you take great care in how and what you photograph, and that’s important in helping progress past this idea of just ‘point-and-click.’

What do you enjoy taking photos of the most and why?

Benjamin Jakabec - My favourite subjects are natural landscapes and wildlife. I guess I haven’t really changed since the days of Budapest in the sense that getting the right perspective is still half the fun for me. I’ll climb a big hill to get the right light, or spend twenty minutes stalking a lizard to get up close. I have branched out over the years, and now I also do street photography, mostly in Asia, as well as some cityscape shots.

Nathan Chan - That’s a really, really, REALLY tough question for me. Portraits, landscapes, macro, objects, creatives, night - I’ve tried them all and enjoyed them all. If forced to choose though, I think it would be street photography. Nothing gets you out there quite the same way as street photography, and the changing environments of street photography test your ability to identify what makes the best photo in very brief periods of time.

Syndi Li- Walton - People. Everything is so versatile with people. A different time, place, or expression, and the whole photo changes. I love taking photos of still objects like landscapes and places, but there’s just much more to play around with when taking photos of people.

Do you have any suggestions for ways to experiment in photography?

Benjamin Jakabec - Take lots of photos - a ridiculous amount. Play around with the settings on your camera, get fresh perspectives, don’t be afraid to get up close - too many beginner shots have ‘dead’ space’ all around their main subjects - and look to other photographers for inspiration. If you cycle all these factors into your working process, then your shot will definitely turn out great and more importantly different; maybe not what you expected either?

Nathan Chan - The beauty of (digital) photography is that you can photograph nearly anything an unlimited number of times. If the photo doesn’t work out the way you wanted the first time, try again. Recompose, reframe, and reshoot. Given enough experience, you’ll quickly find what works well and what doesn’t, and over time, the process becomes much quicker.

Syndi Li-Walton - There was something I tried a few years back with a friend. He took photos of different places in the United States on a film camera, and mailed the camera to me in China. Then I took photos of different faces over the already exposed film to see what would happen. We actually lost the camera before developing the film, but I’m sure they were interesting enough.

What do you get out of photography?

Benjamin Jakabec - I usually only photograph while traveling, so for me its mostly a time capsule. But at the same time its great to share your work with other photographers, friends and people online. At the end of the day I do it for the sense of satisfaction that one feels when you get ‘The Shot.’ This is usually followed by a little victory dance.

Nathan Chan - Photography lets me exercise the creative half of my mind, balancing my interests with the hyper-rational world of sciences (my current field of study). It’s also a very private activity for me, and as a result, it provides an almost meditative-like relief from the busy life of a university student.

Syndi Li-Walton - I like having a final piece; a presentation that I can share with other people. It’s a physical form of creative expression that says something about both about the artist and the subject.