In this edition we profile photographer extraordinaire Kayte Deioma to give us some perspective on her experiences as a photographer and the images she enjoys capturing with her lens and keen eye.She reminds us that, “a good shot is very subjective and depends more on the use than on the photo itself.”
Interview:
Q.Take me back to some of your personal roots of how you got into photography and most importantly why?
I started shooting and developing photos as a hobby back in high school, but I didn't own an SLR until I moved to Germany to study for a year in college. Some people feel that seeing the world through a camera detracts from being in the moment, but I always felt that my camera gave me, as a shy person, an excuse to connect with people in a way I might not otherwise do.
Q. What drew you to photography?
Unlike in a movie, or even in real life, where images are flowing past you in a constant stream, a still photo captures a moment so you can examine it and savor it and return to it. I enjoy creating images that allow others a glimpse of what I was experiencing in that moment, whether it is the late afternoon light on a whitewashed wall covered in bougainvillea, or the delight in a child's eyes at a glimpse of Santa. Q. Are there any particular images that you like to especially shoot?
I am drawn to capture images that reflect culture and traditions at home and around the world. From colorful festivals to solemn ceremonies and thoughtful lessons between teacher and student, the transmission of culture tells us a lot about who we are in the universe and capturing and sharing those moments from culture to culture helps to break down barriers between people. Q. What in your portfolio are you most proud of? Is there anything in your portfolio that upon first glance you felt so-so about and now have a new perspective?
Overall, I am most proud of my Passing on the Traditions collection of cultural photos as a body of work. But there are also individual photos from different destinations that I feel succeed in communicating a sense of place or a moment in time. I did some of my best work in Cambodia and in Brazil but most of it hasn’t been processed and captioned yet.
Sometimes it does take some distance to appreciate a particular photo. If a photo doesn't turn out exactly as I intended, on first glance I may overlook the unintended beauty of an image. Sometimes when I go back through the outtakes of a particular assignment looking for something, I wonder why I dismissed some of those shots the first time around.
Q. Explain the subtle nuances of shooting different kinds of people, meaning the multi-cultural aspect of photography and how you approach that?
Having photographed people of over 35 different cultures around Los Angeles, the obvious lesson is that there's no one approach that works with everyone. However, having a clear respect and appreciation for the cultures I'm photographing, as well as being open and honest about my ignorance and willingness to learn, usually facilitates the process. Sometimes a lot of relationship building has to take place before the cameras come out. I've made some good friends from many cultures along the way.
Q. What ingredients have to be present for a good shot?
"A good shot" is very subjective and depends more on the use than on the photo itself. When I edit through the photos from a shoot, I sort images into folders for different markets. Although composition, lighting and choosing the proper camera settings are key elements of good photos, sometimes a shot that breaks all the rules is the best one to tell a particular story. Ultimately the most important factor is whether the shot conveys the message you want to convey or captures the moment you want to reveal.
Q. . How does your specific expertise align with the kind of clients that PhotoEdit has?
I think the cultural diversity of the real people in my photos is particularly suited to PhotoEdit clients. Although I sometimes work with models for particular assignments, most of my stock photos are of real people in real situations. One of these days I'm also going to get around to sending in all the photos of mailboxes, police officers, train stations and internet cafes I've been shooting around the world as language icons.
Q. Are there any special themes or issues that you would like to photograph more of?
I would like to be doing more "cause"-related photos on assignment, and other commitments have kept me from spending as much time as I would like shooting the depth of cultural traditions around LA. In addition to shooting in LA and around the world, I write about Los Angeles Travel for About.com and about the rest of the world for other publications. When I'm not shooting or writing, I'm singing.
For more information on this photographer, check out her portfolio at www.kaytedeioma.com.
A sample of Kayte's (KMD) images in our catalog. Click on the image to see a larger version on our website or view her entire PhotoEdit collection here.
