Kirill Samursky: how to photograph people

National Geographic magazine is unthinkable without people. Portraits and photographs of everyday life from different parts of the world are an integral part of the history of the magazine, its essence. Articles on history, archeology, biology - none can do without a good portrait. And of course, the portrait of an Afghan girl by Steve McCurry will take the first place in terms of recognition.

What is the secret of a good shot, especially a portrait? Surprisingly, but in the same, what is the secret of any good deed - courage, curiosity, perseverance, intelligence. Taking a picture of a stranger is a “crime” in itself, it is actually an invasion of a very personal space, so you need to be very careful in this regard.

(Total 15 photos)

Source: nat-geo.ru

What secrets does a National Geographic photographer have to take a great picture? The magazine has a rule: the person in the picture should not look at the camera, thereby achieving the effect of presence. You have probably noticed that staged shots are always less spectacular than non-staged ones. When a person is alone with himself - this is where the “psychological” effect of the picture is obtained. But what about all the other pictures where people look at the camera, you ask. Posing in the frame is possible if it is conditional. The same picture of McCurry shows a downtrodden, war-terrified girl, more like a cornered animal. Agree that the picture is different from portraits on vacation? A nature photographer and a portrait photographer are essentially the same thing.

Tip 1: For city shoots, dress casually. It is best to wear what the vast majority of citizens wear. Sometimes it can be a national costume, do not be shy - and you will be invisible.

1. Udaipur, India. The author of the article Kirill Samursky on the street in traditional Indian clothes. Photographer - Grigory Kubatyan.

Tip 2: In order to shoot an interesting person, it is not necessary to walk around the city in circles. It is enough to stand in one place. Sometimes you can wait more than one hour. The main thing is that the place is lively, then the character you are interested in will appear sooner or later.

2. Oslo, Norway. Guard of the royal palace on vacation. The basis of the picture is the rhythm of the legs. Photographer - Kirill Samursky, National Geographic Russia.

Tip 3: Don't take a big bag and a lot of equipment with you. It is enough to take one lens. But its choice is up to you: what do you want to photograph - genre or portrait. Then the choice of two lenses - wide angle and long focus.

3. Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. A young couple plays on the observation deck above the city. Photographer - Kirill Samursky, National Geographic Russia.

Tip 4: Not everyone likes to act in films, especially in Eastern countries. To appease disgruntled or “bribe” children, carry inexpensive souvenirs with you, best of all from your home country or city - this will help to establish not only personal, but also intercultural contact. Always carry small change with you, because this is the best incentive, especially in poor countries. You can pay off with money, but let them not pose for you: the photos will be without a soul.

4. Jodhpur, India. Tying a turban. Photographer - Kirill Samursky, National Geographic Russia.

Tip 5: Even if you're shooting for the best magazine in the world, it's worth pretending to be a dumb tourist. As the press, you can be handed over to the local police. The tourist does not raise suspicions. True, as long as it is not located near a secret facility or state border. In any such case, you need to have with you a paper confirming your authority to be in such places.

5. Damascus, Syria. Police officer. Before the war, the Syrian police were quite loyal to taking pictures. Photographer - Kirill Samursky, National Geographic Russia.

Tip 6: In countries where they don't like to be photographed, it's best to do it hand-held, without looking through the viewfinder while walking by. The most beloved expression in Morocco is “No photo!”: learn to shoot without attracting attention. But be especially on the alert in countries with strict religious principles, they can be beaten there.

6. India. Despite the abolition of estates, social stratification is felt very strongly here. Photographer - Kirill Samursky, National Geographic Russia.

Tip 7: Color accents are good in a portrait. Bright clothes can distract from the face itself or the expression of the eyes. Or vice versa, leaving one eye, as is done in Islamic countries, one can achieve the expression of any feeling. Not without reason, in the East, women can drive men crazy with just their eyes. It is absolutely not necessary to shoot the whole person, sometimes you can only remove accessories, because they can tell about a person and his life no less than eyes.

7. India. A ring on a woman's toe is a sign that she is married. Photographer - Kirill Samursky, National Geographic Russia.

Tip 8: When working in remote cities and villages, you should not immediately run to take pictures. At first, you yourself will become an attraction, someone will want to take a picture with you, someone will just touch it. Wait until they get used to you and do not pose, and emotions do not become "everyday".

8. India. Village children are happy to pose with school notebooks, even if there are not very good marks. Photographer - Kirill Samursky, National Geographic Russia.

Tip 9: Do not forget that you are not shooting fashion or advertising, but life itself, and therefore dirt and poverty are normal here. Try to convey life as it is - and then your photo can play a big role in the lives of the people displayed in your picture. They will find out about them, help will come there, they will bring light or build a road, who knows?

9. Johpur, India. A dot on the forehead - tilak - is one of the signs of belonging to Hinduism. Photographer - Kirill Samursky, National Geographic Russia.

Tip 10: Remember that any photo can be restored with a special program. Even if an evil cop (or any other citizen) forces you to erase the image, obey. It is important not to shoot on an “exposed” USB flash drive before data recovery, so have enough cards in reserve with you.

10. Tangier, Morocco In Morocco, they do not like to be photographed even for money. Photographer - Kirill Samursky, National Geographic Russia.

Tip 11: Shoot a lot of people, of all professions and ages. Very often, after returning with annoyance, you realize that the “portrait of the country” is incomplete.

11. Syria. Compulsory elementary school uniform. Photographer - Kirill Samursky, National Geographic Russia.

Tip 12: Not always portraits in the photo can be living people. If the plot is known, then you can use it in photography.

12. Chiang Mai, Thailand. Afghan portraits by photographer Steve McCurry are one of the favorite subjects to copy around the world. Photographer - Kirill Samursky, National Geographic Russia.

Advice 13: In the portrait of a working person, it is important to show not so much the face itself as his way of life, his daily life.

13. Hanoi, Vietnam. A street barber is sleeping while waiting for a client. On the wall is a helmet from a motor scooter, the most popular transport in Vietnam. Photographer - Kirill Samursky, National Geographic Russia.

Tip 14: Cloudy weather is the perfect time to photograph people. But early morning is also not bad: the light does not blind people and the contrast is minimal.

14. Sahara desert near Merzouga, Morocco. Camel driver. Photographer - Kirill Samursky, National Geographic Russia.

Tip 15: It's not always clear in a photo the first time. It doesn't mean that you shot badly, it means that there are more cultural differences than it might seem.

15. Bali, Indonesia. Residents of a small village in the north of the island are cutting basalt slabs for the construction of temples. The father breaks stones with a sledgehammer, the son holds the chisel. Photographer - Kirill Samursky, National Geographic Russia.

Tip 16: Be kind and smart. Even in the most terrible and hopeless moments, remember that you are a person. If there is a choice between help and a good shot, choose the first one. Good shots are sure to be repeated.