Getting the picture (part two)

Last month, we introduced you to photographer Dmitri Markine, who we interviewed recently to seek his professional insights on taking great photos in Africa. In addition to his main job as one of Canada’s leading wedding photographers, Dmitri has travelled extensively through East Africa, creating beautiful shots of the region’s people, wildlife and landscapes. We conclude our feature this month with the second half of our interview with Dmitri, and we thank him for taking the time to inspire us.

Do Africa’s unique features present particular opportunities or challenges for a photographer?

Finding the best light is always a challenge for a photographer. Very rarely do I use an external flash source and I always try to use the sun to my advantage. Ideally, sunrise and sunset are the best time for photography and I tend to take more pictures during that period. If the sun is really harsh, I attempt to either take photographs of people in the shade or position myself so that it does not bother me as much. At times it involves a lot of waiting while I frame the scene and wait for a subject to walk into it.

© Dmitri Markine

Is there a particular story you seek to tell through your photography in Africa?

I am always attempting to photograph real lives of people and the wildlife. Africa is an amazing place that you won’t be able to fully discover in a lifetime and I am just happy to explore it and perhaps help others to see how amazing our world is. Many people live their lives in a very basic environment and do not have the luxuries we have, such as computers, cars or even proper food and water, yet they seem so genuinely happy!

Your images have an intriguing otherworldly quality. How important are post-production techniques in achieving that feel?

I consider myself more of an artist than a photographer. I just found that a camera is the best medium to express myself. I consider editing as an important part of photography. Photographers used dark rooms as their “Photoshop” 60-80 years ago and could do some amazing things. Now with the digital, many photographers have found themselves unable to learn complex editing software such as Adobe Photoshop. I was lucky to start learning Photoshop in the 90s and I use it along with Adobe Lightroom to enhance my photographs. I am a firm believer, though, in taking a good photograph and only then to use the editing on it. I don’t think it is possible to make an image great if it wasn’t any good in a first place.

© Dmitri Markine

People commonly think that without expensive, advanced equipment, taking truly extraordinary photos is beyond their reach. Is that so?

Good quality equipment can make it easier for you to capture images, but it will not make you a great photographer. I personally found that since many people can’t really use DSLRs properly, their images don’t come out as well as they would if shooting with a point-and-shoot camera, which already have all the auto settings built-in to take beautiful photographs that don’t need any external editing. I use Canon s100 point-and-shoot camera for photographs of my family while on vacation and road trips with great success.  And with some editing, those photographs can rival images from my professional equipment which costs 20 times more! My first ever Africa trip to Kenya was with an old Canon 10D camera from 2003, along with some really basic cheap lenses. I was able to take images good enough to be featured in magazines, receive dozens of awards and sold to a private galleries and businesses.
  
Dmitri’s photographs are available to buy as framed canvas prints – contact him at info@dmitrimarkine.com or on +1(416)841-3066. Further information about his international wedding photography service can be found at www.dmitrimarkine.com.

Future bright for Kenya and its tourist industry

The smooth and peaceful resolution of the recent presidential election in Kenya has been strongly welcomed both by the Kenyan people and the international community – and comes as a welcome shot of optimism for the country’s tourism trade.

Following the disputed outcome of last month’s election, the Supreme Court in Nairobi has upheld the result, meaning that Uhuru Kenyatta will be sworn into office as President on 9 April. The peaceful acceptance of this decision and the acknowledgement that the election process has been free and fair have attracted sweeping praise of Kenya’s handling of the process. There has been no repeat of the unrest which surrounded the 2007 election, prompting quiet celebration about the country’s developing democratic maturity.

The news has positive implications for tourism in Kenya. Clearly, a secure and progressive political climate creates the right conditions for sustaining a stable tourist industry, and to promote confidence throughout the international community about choosing Kenya as a holiday destination.

But further to this, the choice of incoming president can be regarded as a particular source of optimism for those of us involved in tourism. Kenyatta has previously worked as Chairman of the Kenya Tourist Board, so is closely attuned to the needs of the sector. He has also expressed a keen awareness of the need to protect Kenya’s natural environment, including its threatened wildlife.

In this new chapter for Kenya, we are hopeful that we can continue to grow as a progressive and maturing nation – and also to look forward to a system of governance which safeguards our phenomenal natural assets and cements Kenya's place as one of the world’s most attractive and welcoming places to visit.