STORYTELLER

Other than for identity, illustration, and advertising purposes, the other use of photographs is to tell a story (by depicting emotions). Storytelling through the use of pictures is usually employed in articles ordinarily found in lifestyle magazine section, in novels, adverts as well as in blogs; I must say this is one area I really enjoy shooting. The idea is to enact a scenario in order to capture the best images that can complement a particular article or story. However, shooting this kind of scenario is not a walk in the park. Just like filming a movie where it requires the whole crew, especially the D.O.P and the Director to think and act as one in order to bring the script to life, a photographer and the writer should work the same way, to capture the few photos and at times a single frame that will clearly depict the story. Such images will illustrate varied story types; from fashion stories, to stories on family matters, health, personal growth or even relationships like, love and surbsurvience; a stupid love story.

Juliet reacts to Betty and Ian's cosiness in an enacted scenario I shot for her story-blog

 Camera - SONY SLT-A57

 Focal Length - 18mm
 Shutter Speed - 1/60 sec
 Aperture - f/5.0 

 ISO/Film - 320
 Category - Editorial 
 Uploaded - April 17th 2013  
 Taken - March 26th 2013

 Location - USIU Nairobi, Kenya
 Copyright - Stephen Mukhongi

SHAPES & PATTERNS

Shapes and patterns are part of special and physical attributes that make good pictures. If we take a good look around us, we will notice that everything has a unique shape and is arranged in a distinct form. As a photographer, one just needs to be keen in their surroundings in order to point out these features. Example, buildings, roads and highways, artworks such as sculptors, home appliances, furniture, plants and animals and even human beings will from time to time form different shapes and patterns. People will either deliberately or at times unconsciously create such attractive outlines and designs from their actions; while standing like in a military parade, when sitting for instance in a church service or during their movements example, a group of athletes running a marathon. When any of these is captured in a unique way, it creates exciting images. For more dramatic effect, combine shapes and patterns with other special attributes like color and size.  

Students keenly following a presentation by Roland during a Journalism club event

             Camera - NIKON D3100

            Focal Length - 46mm
            Shutter Speed - 1/60 sec
            Aperture - f/5.3 

            ISO/Film - 3200
            Category - Event 
            Uploaded - April 16th 2013  
            Taken - February 15th 2013

            Location - USIU Nairobi, Kenya
            Copyright - Stephen Mukhongi

POINT OF VIEW

A picture just like a normal TV screen is usually perceived in two-dimension (2-D) by the viewer. This means that whatever a photographer decides to capture should fit into this reality. However, illustrating reality through 2D can be very boring to say the least; a description of such an illustration is the kind of one-sided drawings we used to do back in kindergarten. To make interesting images, it is important to avoid the usual and predictable point of view; subject facing camera type of shots. It is okay and advisable to be creative and think in three-dimensions (3D) as long as the final result will fit to our 2D perspective. At times I borrow ideas from videography, where using a still camera I would try out varied camera angles such as aerial or worm view, capture connecting shots like over the shoulder and occasionally I would even cross the dreaded line of axis commonly referred to as the 180 degree rule to capture my subject(s) from the reverse side. I can say most of the time I am impressed by the results. Just go on and give it a try!  

My friends Lucy (left) and Beatrice (right) strolling to a shoot location unawares of the happenings behind them

 
Camera - NIKON D3100

 Focal Length - 18mm
 Shutter Speed - 1/40 sec
 Aperture - f/3.5 

 ISO/Film - 800
 Category - Editorial 
 Uploaded - April 12th 2013  
 Taken - March 27th 2013

 Location - USIU Nairobi, Kenya
 Copyright - Stephen Mukhongi

A PHOTO A DAY..

If you ask any photographer about their 'secret' to success, the most likely response would be practice... and lots of it! I personally cannot agree more, just like other professionals’ for example, professional sports men and women who put in years and years of practice in order to perfect their performances, a photographer should do the same if not more. A photo a day will normally go a long way in honing one's skills. You don't necessarily need to have a professional camera to achieve this; a small digital camera (point and shoot) or even a phone imbedded camera like the type in our smart phones can still do. The idea is to constantly keep practicing photography basics as well as trying out new techniques. Don't hesitate to click away whenever a photo opportunity presents itself, regardless your surroundings. I used to take photos of about anything in-front of me, from billboards, sunsets, and moonlights, to artworks... even utensil! That was before I lost my phone to a pickpocket in a matatu *curses* but during photo assignments or projects, I have the habit of capturing interesting subjects especially in between the breaks.

I turned my half-full glass of apple juice into a subject. I captured this during a break while on an assignment.

 Camera - SONY SLT-A57

 Focal Length - 50mm
 Shutter Speed - 1/50 sec
 Aperture - f/5.6 

 ISO/Film - 800
 Category - Abstract 
 Uploaded - April 4th 2013  
 Taken - January 29th 2013

 Location - Panafric Hotel Nairobi, Kenya
 Copyright - Stephen Mukhongi

POSE!

When it comes to showing my subject how to pose, as a photographer I can only do so much. Unfortunately, most subjects expect the person behind the camera to always issue all the directions on how they should strike a pose. The most a photographer can do is to give technical direction; matters composition, background, ambiance, and more especially lighting. I will normally tell my subject where, but not necessarily exactly how to pose. In many professional fashion shoots for instance, that work will be done by the Art Director, who acts as a bridge between the photographer and the subject. An effective Art Director according to me must have good understanding on the fundamentals of photography, be familiar with various posing techniques as well as possessing a creative mind. It is good for the subject to practice their poses beforehand and find their 'best side' since in the end it is entirely up to them to strike that killer pose, and up to the photographer to capture it, in the best way possible.

My friend Momo strikes a pose during an impromptu shoot, one of many that I have done with her. With no formal training on how to pose, she's really good at it.. watch out world!

   Camera - NIKON D3100

   Focal Length - 24mm
   Shutter Speed - 1/40 sec
   Aperture - f/4.0 

   ISO/Film - 800
   Category - Fashion 
   Uploaded - April 5th 2013  
   Taken - March 27th 2013

   Location - USIU Nairobi, Kenya
   Copyright - Stephen Mukhongi

FOCUS: MANUAL VS AUTOMATIC

This setting allows a photographer to select what part of the subject will appear clearly and which areas are thrown out of focus/blurred. The setting was originally not included in early analogue cameras and only comes with the present-day semi-automatic and full-automatic (point and shoot) kind of cameras. Manual/automatic focus is normally embedded within interchangeable lenses for Pro and Semi-pro cameras and activated by use of a dial on the lenses side, full-auto cameras on the other hand, they have the automatic focus function contained in the camera body. When on auto-focus, the camera inevitably selects and emphasizes part of the subject according to applied settings, when the shutter release button is pressed halfway. This saves a lot of time otherwise lost on trying to focus manually and consequently, the setting is very popular among many photographers including myself. Sometimes however, automatic focus is not suitable; for instance when the subject is too close, the function won't work properly, also when going for the ’artistic’ shots where you want to pin point specific areas of the subject, automatic focus will generally give you undesired results and in such cases manual focus is more suitable. 

Behind the camera is Safi’ monitoring the viewfinder and in the background is Beatrice giving her speech during a Journalism Club event.

Camera - NIKON D3100

Focal Length - 35mm
Shutter Speed - 1/50 sec
Aperture - f/5 

ISO/Film - 60
Category - Event
Uploaded - April 4th 2013  
Taken - February 15th 2013

Location - USIU Nairobi, Kenya
Copyright - Stephen Mukhongi

PHOTOJOURNALISM

Sitting in one of my photography classes, I remember being introduced to the idea of photojournalism. Since then I really wished to fully understand and experience what it was all about. After doing a number of photo stories as part of my class-work, I became more eager to practice photojournalism firsthand, and especially outside the classroom setting in order to know what it entails in relation to conventional type of photography. My wish came to pass one morning when I received a text message from my good friend Carlos Mureithi "congrats bro.. your photos are in the newspaper!" The said pictures where for a story he did on a matatu tout who never shouts. I was elated to say the least, not only because it was my first ever national publication, but also for the reason that now I had an idea of what photojournalism was all about; creating images to tell real news stories.

Matatu tout Benard Kiogothi during work. Mr Kiogothi, despite being deaf, has been working as a tout for 11 years.

Camera - NIKON COOL-PIX S225

Focal Length - 9.3mm
Shutter Speed - 1/50 sec
Aperture - f/3.9 

ISO/Film -1367
Category - Editorial
Uploaded - April 3rd 2013  
Taken - August 29th 2012

Location - CBD Nairobi, Kenya
Copyright - Stephen Mukhongi /Nation