Ghassan Daghestani is a self-taught photographer who discovered his talent after he moved to the US in 2007. His work is exceptional and reflects the real side of people on the streets of the United States of America. Aside from street photography, Daghestani is also interested in shooting portraiture and events with his Nikon D300 and walk around lens Nikkor 18-200mm 3.5-5.6 VR.
His interest in photography started when he was 13 years old but during that period his passion was not met with a supportive environment. As a result his interest in photography remained dormant until it was rekindled in 2007 when he was visiting the United States with his wife and two children.
“This was a life-changing moment for me and opened new doors that allowed me to explore and connect with others who share the same interest in photography in a fun and easy manner,” he said. “My official journey in photography began when I bought my first DSLR camera (Nikon D300),” he added.
Life & Style sat down for a chat with the photographer about his dreams, equipment and future plans.
Would you give us a brief walk through your workflow?
I use Adobe Lightroom 3.0 to import the photographs into the computer. It’s the primary software that I use to edit and organize my photos. Then I start a backup process, to ensure my work can be retrieved in case of a sudden crash in the system. I also like using
Photoshop CS4 because it has some features that are not available in Lightroom. Moreover, to speed up the workflow I use plug-ins.
Finally, I publish the photos on different online social networking sites and photography websites. If the photos belong to a client, I deliver them directly to him/her.
What are the pros and cons of being a photographer?
Being a photographer is a choice I made and I take immense pleasure and pride from this profession. Due to my passion, I don’t perceive any cons. On the contrary, I believe that the biggest impact photography has had on my life is that it has allowed me to appreciate life and to slow down to savor the little moments in everyday life.
After some consideration, he playfully adds: “The only con I can think of is that whenever I come after a long day of shooting, especially when I’m taking pictures of my family, I realize I was so immersed in taking the pictures that I’m not in any of the pictures.”
What is the one lasting impression you want to leave in your photos?
I want to show feelings; capturing moments in time that represent certain feelings is the one thing that keeps me going. Daily life is full of cinematic moments that happen every single day, and I spot them wherever I go.
Was there a defining moment when you knew that it was time to take pictures professionally or was it a gradual transition?
When anyone sees a beautiful scene, person or something we stop to experience it and enjoy it. If a photograph has the power to make someone stop for more than 10 seconds to experience the same beautiful feelings, regardless of how technically good the photograph is, then that photograph is worth sharing. When I started enjoying photography and found myself completely immersed, I knew it was what I had been looking for and that I had found my calling.
How do you feel about cropping an image?
I try to get the photos framed right on camera as much as possible to take advantage of all the pixels in a particular image. Cropping without a doubt is important if it’s going help enhance the photograph, for instance straightening the horizon line. I feel comfortable cropping especially when I keep some rules in mind that reveal the artistic vision I wanted to present.
What is your favorite photography accessory, other than your camera?
A medium size shoulder bag from LowePro (Classified 160 AW), which I carry with me almost everywhere as I can shoot while I’m carrying it. It holds my camera, in addition to two or three lenses and a flash with its radio triggers, beside some other materials like rain cover, papers and pens etc…
What lighting equipment do you take on a shoot?
I take two flashes along with a large sized umbrella, a softbox, reflectors and light stands. When the natural light is just right I try to take advantage of it or add the flash to the mix to give the photo certain effects, looks and moods.
How important is Photoshop to you?
Photoshop is the darkroom in the digital age. Therefore, using Photoshop is an essential part of my workflow, especially when shooting in raw format, which needs to be processed to present our vision in the best way possible.
What is your most used Photoshop tool, plug-in, action set etc.?
My favorite plug-in that I use on most of my images is the OnOne Perfect Photo Suite 6. It helps speed up the workflow and it works perfectly with Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3.
What are your aspirations for the future?
Any photographer aspires to be part of an organization that has a powerful impact in creating change in the photographic industry. I personally also dream of building my own studio and subsequently inspiring other people to take up photography as a passion and profession.
Daghestani is currently working on enhancing his photography skills in portrait and headshot style in a studio environment and on location using small flashes. At the same time he is working on the way he connects with the person he is photographing to get the best feelings out of every individual. “Not every person is comfortable in front of the camera so it’s our job to make them relaxed to reveal their true emotions,” he said.
