Marina Koriakyn: A soul catcher

Marina Koryakin 

Marina was born in Ukraine and lives now in Israel. She has a family with two children, and works full time in the demanding medical field. 

I discovered Marina on FB and became immediately enchanted by the way her captures just hypnotised me. They tell stories, enigmatic ones, taking me on a journey.

I try to capture what I feel and not what I see

"Lost in Tokyo'' series

As far as I remember, I always loved to observe people. I enjoyed imagining what their life would be and made lots of scenarios in my head. Three years ago, I opened a FB account and built up a circle of friends who were photographers. Their work inspired me.

There is something about some of the next shots that (hoping that Marina won't mind), I put together because of the immediate impact created by their existential nature.

"Hope"

I never had a camera because photography did not really interest me. One day, I started to take pictures with my phone and after a while I decided to buy a camera and took a beginners course.As I don't have much technical knowledge about photography, I chose the easy way and used a digital camera.

"Somewhere" 

"Be"

"Be what you want to be"

My passion is about street and documentary photography  

"Gypsy life"

"Gypsy life 2"

The beauty of street photography is the unexpected.Every time I go out wandering the streets, I try to capture what I feel and not what I see.

"Past"

"Take me to church"

When do I know it's the right time to press the shutter? When my pulse goes up!My camera is set to B&W so that my mind does not get distracted by the colour factor.Later, on my computer, I convert them to colour and then, depending on my mood, decide which version to keep. :)

"Beach stories"

"From the dying sea series"

So what about inspiring artists? Many that I really admire and learn from. Garry Winogrand, Joel Meyerowitz, Robert Frank and Henri Cartier-Bresson to name a few. But I also learn as much as from so many talented friends I follow on social medias.  

"Apocalypse"

"In the storm"

"Memory"

Karlo Flores, the accidental photographer

Karlo Flores

At Black and White Street

His Facebook

I discovered Karlo on Facebook and was struck by the way he captured unique moments. It's the angles, perspectives and composition he uses and how he integrates animal life into his street photography that touched me.

I developed my passion for photography by accident.

It all began when I borrowed my friend's point-and-shoot camera out of curiosity. I was fascinated how this beautiful device had the power to capture one single moment with superb sharpness and quality, especially when compared to my crappy camera phone.

I started taking photos of things that interested me and posted them on my Facebook page. I was always excited about how people reacted to my photos and praised them. The positive feedback I got from my friends only motivated me to do more.

I started to believe that I had an eye for photography. My learning process was all about trying new ideas, venturing into new perspectives and learning what works for me and my audience.

Curiosity was my best teacher.

I experimented a lot in compositions and techniques. My artistic pursuits led me into street photography and I devote most of my time to it. I don't remember exactly how I became infatuated with this genre, but I get a rush of excitement searching out that special moment. There is always this feeling of inner-tranquility that comes with wandering around a city and taking shots of strangers. I just love the thrill of hunting and capturing the marvels of daily life - even the most subtle moments that most people fail to notice.

I always allow my state of mind to be the source of my vision and creativity.

In street photography I always find the right ingredients. I hunt for images that are evocative, meditative and, most importantly, reflect my thoughts and feelings. I always allow my state of mind to be the source of my vision and creativity. 

Black and white or colour photography? It really depends on my mood and my creative vision. I experiment with both styles. However, I often choose to convert colour images to black and white when multiple colours would be a distraction from the photographer's central message, or if the composition of patterns and shadows further add to the mood and drama of the image.

I chose digital over film as it is more convenient for me. In fact, I haven't used a film camera since I was a kid and never used one for artistic purposes. However I have a deep admiration for film photographers as their medium requires a great amount of discipline. I also believe that film photographers are more contemplative - they probably meditate on their composition before clicking the shutter!

Embrace the beauty of imperfection.

To all aspiring street photographers, I have two pieces of advice :

Do it for the passion of the art rather than any potential fame it may bring. Passion is more rewarding. Perfection is the enemy of creativity and success.

Always critique your own work and seek to improve but don't chase the perfect shot. Embrace the beauty of imperfection.

The world through the eyes of Alexandre Duarte

Alexandre Duarte

Member of the UdA Collective since 2017

His article

"I always have my camera with me and most of my pictures are taken going and coming back from work."

Alexandre Duarte learned to photography at 14. He had his dark room when he spent his time. Alexandre Duarte is an argentic addict, a lover of full manual cameras and shoots mainly in BW... Add his prodigious talent to capture incredible instants of life, and of course, I asked him the permission to write an article. His warmful yes! made my day.

Due to the fool number of my "friends" on my Facebook Big Brother, it took till 2016 to see one of his post and to feel immediately this famous wow! factor on one of his favorite "Urban Soul" series.

His street-life captures are incredible and I always ask myself how much time he spends to wait for the good one. I see him like a treasure hunter, waiting and waiting full of hope to bring back at home the diamond.

Modest, not a word about his great career, his success, exhibitions and prices, Alexandre Duarte is a warmful photographer who worked a lot for this article. He let me choose the photographs what is a true honor I deeply appreciate.

Merci Alex pour ta confiance, ton affection et ton enthousiasme. I say you a huge bravo for your precious testimonial work. 

Light and Shadow" series

From Urban Souls series

My passion for photography started in Prague in the late 70’s with my good friend Miguel who was taking a photography course in London. I was 14 years old. Both our parents were posted as diplomats there. We were using Praktica cameras with Zeiss lenses which were excellent and really cheap as you can imagine behind the Iron Curtain. The cameras were obviously full manual so it was a great way to learn how to handle a camera. The scenery was exceptional, specially for night photography with the streets deserted.

I also had a lab at home (only BW) which was a great way to learn and spend my time as there was nothing else to do… The main problem was getting decent films. So each time we went to Germany I used to buy meters of Ilford rolls. So I can say I’m a self taught person. Two years ago I started to take a course that I did not finish. I was looking to learn something that would help me in artistic terms. My mistake. It was a course to teach people to become professional studio and wedding photographers. I did learn one thing though: how to use a flash.

Then something happened to me. Something like a writers block. Digital appeared and I did not adapt to it. Later on I went through a divorce and lost all my material, negatives, the Praktica and lenses and lost my interest.

Some 20 years later, in 2013, I was posted to Astana - Kazakhstan without my new family. Yes I followed my fathers footsteps and I am a Portuguese diplomat. It is a beautiful and inspiring country, so I started taking pictures with my iPhone and posting them on FB. Surprisingly people liked the photos. Not only people liked them as my passion and inspiration were back! A few months later I bought my first Fuji camera. Now I use an X-E3 and a few months ago managed to get my old Zeiss lenses back 😊

From Urban reflections series

Since then I never stopped taking pictures. Now I am back in Europe (currently in Brussels) and I always have my camera with me and most of my pictures are taken going and coming back from work.

Now about my photography, the difficult part, I mostly do BW but lately I have been enjoying some colour. I think I do mostly street-photography but I do not like to stick to a specific style. I had some experts (not artists) saying that I needed to be more conceptual and then do a project. Well I cannot do that as I think it preconditions somewhat your creativity. I like to experiment. I like a series I did which I consider “conceptual" street called Urban Souls.

I try to capture moments emphasising light and composition. The way I see the world around me. Some people say it is about loneliness, some people say it is about light and shapes, some people say it is about a poetic way of being. I just think it is in my eyes. The way I see it - that particular day, and I hope you enjoy it…

Chris' note :
This photograph touches me of course. But in my wheelchair, I never was alone. I observed the normal life with a tender smile and people of all races, religions and levels came to help me before we talked after one of my jokes. The children, after their surprise and their direct questions, the parents blushed, sat on my knees and kissed me with a warm tenderness. 

From Urban Souls series

"Lost in thoughts"

"Cubes"

" I exist"

From the Urban Souls series