#yourstory

Your Story: Jonathan Lee

In our Your Story feature, we ask our members about what inspires their photography, the processes they use to make images, and the stories behind their pictures.

Q. What’s the story behind this photo?

A.While changing lenses on a hill in South Georgia, this king penguin chick took an interest to me and waddled over. I must look like a penguin parent because it then started to chirp, beat its wings, and open its mouth as if waiting to be fed. Just as my wide-angle lens snapped on, it mustered up the courage to start pecking me, and I captured this shot just that was happening.

Q. How was this image made?

A.Shot with a 14-24mm lens, I kept the focus on the eyes with a wide aperture, and got a sense of motion as well. I think it is a pretty fun image.

Q. What do you think about when you’re photographing?

A.I try put as much of myself into my images as possible, whether it is how I am feeling, or a story I am trying to tell - this can be related to subject, or the place. I think context is everything - visual clues which get the viewer thinking, and immerses them in what I am seeing, and more importantly, what I am feeling.


Q. Why do you take pictures?

A.Pictures freeze a moment in time, and if done right, that means everything that was going on in that one frame which I am actually not able to process on the spot: emotions, thoughts, observations, reflections. It buys more time with special moments. This serves as a visual diary for myself, but also allows me to share all of those things with someone else. 


Q. What do you like to take pictures of and why?

A.Wildlife. It’s both a lifelong passion, but also an incredible challenge. Strong wildlife images don’t come easy - it’s the product of research, planning, skill, and luck, and there’s nothing more rewarding for me.


Q. What do you want to say with your images?

A.I try to show how interconnected we all are in the natural world - this is life on earth, we share it with other incredible beings, and we are all in it together.


Q. Are you a self-taught photographer? If not, how did you learn to make photographs?

A.Yes, I’ve been very fortunate to have had many wonderful influences in the world of photography from my father, and from my friends.


See more photographs by Jonathan Lee on Your Shot.

Want your photo considered? Use #YourStory on your images that have an interesting story.

Your Story: Prasad Ambati

In our Your Story feature, we ask our members about what inspires their photography, the processes they use to make images, and the stories behind their pictures.

Q. What’s the story behind this photo?

A.This is a photo taken at under construction metro tunnel in Shanghai. The size of the tunnel was so huge that when I was walking inside it reminded me of the book and movie I saw before, “Journey to the Center of the Earth.” I made some shots with that theme in mind. The idea about how the final presentation of the shot would be, came up when I was at the location and how my feelings were.

Q. What do you think about when you’re photographing?

A.When I go out to take photos, I usually go with a blank mind, and see what I feel about the place or action or event and take a shot. And while taking the shot few things comes to my mind like where my subject is and where to place my subject in the frame, what’s the background. It became a habit to check background when I am shooting as a busy background always distracts the viewer from my subject.


Q. What was the first photo you took? Or the first photo you took that was meaningful to you?

A.The first photos I took were all personal memories. After I started learning about photography, a photo I took of the flying lanterns is the one that’s close to my heart as the moment was magical. I was there in the same moment a year ago before taking the photo and I was completely lost in that magic that I didn’t take any pictures. The next year I managed to capture them. It was also the first picture where I got an Editor’s Favorite on Your Shot.

Q. How would you describe your photographic style?

A.I actually try to take a completely different shot to my previous shot always, so I am not sure if I have a photographic style. I usually don’t like to take the same pic again, and always want to shoot something different from my previous shots.


Q. Have you been inspired by any photographers in the Your Shot community?

A.There are many photographers I noticed in Your Shot when I joined the community, but two really stand out. The first would be Ivan Lesica . I’m always in awe of how he photograph his surroundings. Second would be Paula Kajzar as I love the way she sees a scene and captures it. So natural and spontaneous. 


See more photographs by Prasad Ambati on Your Shot.

Want your photo considered? Use #YourStory on your images that have an interesting story.

Your Story: Albina Kosenko

In our Your Story feature, we ask our members about what inspires their photography, the processes they use to make images, and the stories behind their pictures.

Q. What’s the story behind this photo?

A.A friend of mine was expecting a baby and I wanted to capture that intimate moment for my friend and her husband.

Q. How was this image made?

A.We were in a small room, and I had a 50 mm lens, but wanted to make a wider shot. That’s when I turned to the mirror on the wall. The mirror had some angles that caught light and reflections - that is what actually resulted in that dreamy look.

Q. Why do you take pictures?

A.I enjoy the moment of creation. Besides, photography helps me convey values I believe in: love, freedom, beauty.

Q. What was the first photo you took? Or the first photo you took that was meaningful to you?

A. My first photo was probably in my childhood, my dad had a film camera and he must have asked me to take a photo of him and mom. I do not remember that well though.

My first meaningful photo was 3 years ago, it was this one. I made it during studies at a photo school, and around this time it stroke me that a beautiful photo is not necessarily a photo of something beautiful, but a photo that is meaningful and conveys an idea. I am still fond of this shot, to me it’s a story of how hectic our life is and how rarely we take a moment to enjoy what we have.

Q. How would you describe your photographic style?

A.I can’t put a name on it, not sure such a style has a name. I’m fond of “true” stories. I like it when a true moment, emotion or state of mind is conveyed through a photo.

Q. What do you want to say with your images?

A.There’s no single message. But if I were to name one thing that I believe in (and it is often my topic) - it is the importance of love in our life. Love to your other significant one, to your kids, to yourself (this one is so often forgotten and overlooked). Treasure what you have.

Q. Have you been inspired by any photographers in the Your Shot community?

A.I really love what Your Shot Photographer Tatiana Vasilyeva is doing. She has some great shots that make me stop and think, like this image. Isn’t that what true art is supposed to do? Tatyana’s shots have powerful composition and great light. Another thing that fascinates me in Tanya’s work is that she does almost no editing. All editing is on her phone. That style resonates with my ideas of the “true” moment.

Q. Whose photography has influenced you the most?

A.Saul Leiter,Annie Leibovitz’s early works for Rolling Stone, Elliott Erwitt’s humor, and Paolo Roversi’s color.

See more photographs by Albina Kosenko on Your Shot.

Want your photo considered? Use #YourStory on your images that have an interesting story.

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