Winner Interview . Challenge No 24
Dear followers,
We have discussed with @hutancahaya, the winner of our 24th classic challenge.
@streetphoto_bw: Hi Her Basuki, please tell us about yourself so we can know you better.
@hutancahaya: I live in Jakarta… I have no formal background in photography. I start it as a hobby around 2001 and using nikon fm 10,fm 2 or any gears that I could borrow from friends to explore & learn and since then photography change the way I see the world… I like movies esp. from the directors I admire: akira kurosawa, kubrick, gondry, nolan, inarritu, yi mou, kim ki duk, almodovar etc… I love music & books too… I like Coltrane, Sigur Ros, Hiromi Uehara… Some of my favorite authors are Haruki Murakami, Pramoedya Ananta Toer…
@streetphoto_bw: What about iPhone/mobile photography? What do you think about it? Do you also shoot with your mobile?
@hutancahaya: I think it make photography easier & much more fun. I’m using iphone since last february, now I’m shooting mostly with it. I use my analog camera only if I want to shoot something ‘serious’ like when I go hiking to shoot landscapes. But I think it’s not the tool that’s important; it’s the passion; perspective in which our images differ from anyone else.
@streetphoto_bw: What about street photography? Your profile has various styles. What is that attracts you on the street?
@hutancahaya: Because I like human interest and on the street is where ‘real people’ are… We can’t control the light, their gesture, the background, moment and so on… So it’s true what the master (Bresson) said about decisive moment. I cant explain it in words but I can feel it and may be I don’t wanna stick to one style/genre. I think in photography we shouldn’t get satisfied easily. We should keep moving on so that the creativity continues evolving in ourselves.
@streetphoto_bw: Talking from Bresson, Who are your favorite street photographers? What is it that makes a street photo good?
@hutancahaya: Bresson,Vivian Maier,Diane Arbus…Steve McCurry & James Nachtwey if they both could be included. What makes a street photo good?… I think the technical thing (compo etc) is a must but I’d rather choose the feel/the soul that one could capture in his/her works is far more important. Iguess a good street photo is the one that could capture (human) emotion and furthermore portraying social critic.
@streetphoto_bw: What about IG? Did IG help you to progress or find your style?
@hutancahaya: I have to admit that I’m kind of addict with it since I’m using iphone. Yes it does help but the tricky part is the ig’ square format. For example when I’m using the streetmate app which doesn’t provide the square/6×6 format. I have to be more careful/precise previsualizing the composition so later on before I’m uploading it. It’s still good but I guess it’s just technical thing. Until now I still continue to search what my ‘style’ is.
@streetphoto_bw: And final question is about our group. What do you think of us? Are there any suggestions?
@hutancahaya: It’s a great group for streetphoto/bw lovers but but IMHO I think the admins should pick variety of bw tones. I havent found the ‘vintage tone’ among the selected photos, like the vscocam edit style.
@streetphoto_bw: If you mean low contrast, we are not deliberately disqualifying them. Even our first winner had very low contrast if I remember right. Well we are 11 in total and we are always at least 7 who votes each week. It must be a coincidence.
@hutancahaya: I see yes, I guess it is.
@streetphoto_bw: Finally please give us the names of your favourite Instagramers.
@hutancahaya: koci, gabrielleassaf, kbasta, cryingjune, winmina, komeda/slow_walking, janke, jubeijubay, bythebrush… Do all of the admins have formal background in photography?
@streetphoto_bw: Not at all. We are just passionates.
Interview performed by @latibod.