Beyond the Frame 28/

“Make more photos of fewer things.” A reminder that photography should be dynamic; a ballet of observation, movement and timing.

“Make more photos of fewer things.”

This is a phrase shared with students at the Bangkok Photo School. We printed it in a bold typeface at the top of Cue Cards handed out in class.

Chinese Opera

Backstage at a Chinese Opera. 1/125, f/1.2, ISO200, 50mm

It’s become my mantra, a reminder to “work the scene” and to “keep photographing, even after the magic has gone”.

I don’t recall where I first learned these phrases. I wrote them in the margins of The Passionate Photographer, a book by Steve Simon, which might be the most heavily annotated book in my library. Many highlighted sections are accompanied by my handwritten exclamations of agreement, “This!” “YES!”

It’s not a complicated or challenging suggestion. Spend more time photographing fewer things. Yet we tend to do the opposite when we start out. We frame, adjust exposure, make a photo, maybe two, we’re done. What’s next? It requires conscious effort to remain, to keep the camera ready, patiently noticing subtle changes in the action, learning to anticipate gestures and subtle shifts in the light.

Backstage at a travelling Chinese Opera, performers spend a long time applying their traditional make-up. The only light is from naked bulbs, harsh at the source, rapidly fading into darkness.

Backstage at a Chinese Opera. 1/125, f/2.8, ISO1600, 50mm

It’s the perfect place to practice the art of “working the scene”. It’s relatively tranquil before the curtain rises. Each performer is applying their own make-up, peering intently into a well-travelled mirror, positioning lights to illuminate their faces.

I don’t know the precise ratio but I’d guess that I usually make one usable image for every 15–20 clicks of the shutter. It might be a lot lower than that, especially now that I don’t have to load a new film after 36 exposures. And that’s fine by me. I know I’m in good company.

Buddhist Monks — Martine Franck

In an interview with the Guardian (which I’m alarmed to see I bookmarked nearly 18 years ago), Martine Franck said, “I don’t look at my photographs very often, but this picture always makes me happy. It was just such a perfect moment.”

Buddhist Monks. Martine Franck, Bouddha, Nepal, 1996

“I was there for an hour, just sitting quietly in a corner, observing. I never imagined for a second that the bird would perch on the monk’s head. That’s the wonder of photography - you try and capture the surprises.

I was in the right place at the right time, with the right lens on. If I’d had a zoom lens on, I wouldn’t have had time to set it at the correct distance. In fact, I had two Leicas, a 35mm and a 50mm, both already adjusted for the light, and the 35mm did the job.”