National Geographic’s new series Photographer aims to flip the spotlight onto the lives, careers, and inspirations of some of the world’s most passionate and creative photographers. The series follows seven diverse and groundbreaking photographers, filmmakers, and artists: Campbell Addy, Cristina Mittermeier, Paul Nicklen, Muhammed Muheisen, Anand Varma, Dan Winters and Krystle Wright.

The Knockturnal spoke with Elena Gaby, a producer on the show at the premiere. Gaby explained that a takeaway she hopes the audience gets from the show is the inspiration to act with boldness and authenticity.

“If you want to make art that’s meaningful, you can relentlessly pursue [your ideas] without worrying what others are going to think.”

The diversity of the photographers featured means that there’s a story on the show that will connect with everyone.

“We were really looking for people who were at the top of their game, doing something totally unique, and also making sure we were representing a really wide range of photography with a really wide range of different people.”

The premiere, held at the Directors Guild Theater on March 14th, featured an exclusive screening of Campbell Addy’s episode. Campbell Addy is a queer British-Ghanaian photographer who is best known for his high-fashion work photographing Naomi Cambell, Beyonce, Lizzo, Meghan Markle, and more. Photographer’s episode expertly conveyed the contrast between Addy’s glitzy and atmospheric rise in stature through the media world and his humble upbringing by his Jehovah’s Witness family in a poor community in South London. Addy’s identity, family, journey through homelessness, and complex relationship with religion all manifest beautifully and heartbreakingly in his photos, videos, and art pieces. Throughout the episode, Addy’s unwavering passion for the creative release of photography leaps through the screen.

National Geographic’s Photographer is an inspiring must watch for aspiring artists, creatives, and adventure seekers. The series premieres on National Geographic on March 18 and on Disney + and Hulu on March 19.

NEWS RELEASE
BROCK UNIVERSITY
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When the total solar eclipse takes place over North America on April 8, many people will naturally reach for their phones or cameras to capture the moment.
Brock Associate Professor of Visual Arts Amy Friend, an internationally recognized photographer, is offering tips on documenting the rare phenomenon safely while also encouraging the public to consider different ways of experiencing what for many will be a once-in-a-lifetime event. 

The chair of visual arts at Brock first points to taking safety precautions for viewing and documenting the eclipse, which can be found on Brock’s Eclipse on the Escarpment web page. Friend says it’s crucial to have a proper solar filter on any camera, including on a smartphone. 

“Solar filters for traditional cameras and cell phones are available online from several retailers, but consumer research is key to ensuring the purchase of an international standard filter (full-aperture and off-axis) with regulated qualities, making it safe for photographing the eclipse,” she says.

According to the award-winning photographer, practice is also key. Practise beforehand by photographing the everyday sun, without looking directly at it, Friend 
says. Taking photos of the sky on a sunny day will help determine appropriate aperture and shutter speed for such bright light. She also suggests getting comfortable with outdoor night photography.

“During totality, when the sun is fully blocked by the moon, turning the sky dark, the camera will need adjusted shutter speeds and aperture settings to take a successful photo,” Friend says.She recommends experimenting with the high dynamic ange (HDR) setting on cameras, which 
captures high-contrast photos. With this setting, many photos of the eclipse could be put together to create one image.

“The visual effect of this is very interesting as the second-to-second variations in the sun flare created by the eclipse combine creating a beautiful image capturing unique details,” Friend says. 

For those looking to get creative, there are other ways to view the solar eclipse, including pinhole projectors or building boxes that filter the sunlight and create a projection of the sunlight onto a nearby surface.

“Using this approach, the person would be looking at the projection instead of the eclipse itself,” Friend says. “What they would see is a darkening circle in the form of a crescent, which is the moon starting to cover the sun.”

While many people will want to capture a photo of the eclipse themselves, photographers throughout history have cautioned against photographing the celestial phenomenon, as it is difficult for the average person to achieve a great photo. 

“We know what it will look like, and yet we still want to photograph it. But we don’t want to miss an incredible experience in the process,” Friend says.

Through her research into the role of photography as proof of experience, however, Friend says the desire to personally capture the moment is very natural.

“There is also the excitement of going online and sharing your photo — the ‘after’ of the experience — that can be quite engaging and stirs up response and dialogue, simultaneously amplifying the experience and documenting it in popular culture,” she says.

Friend is fascinated by historic images of people experiencing celestial events in group settings as a visual time capsule into the culture and technology of the time. 

“I think there is something quite beautiful about that moment, where we all just stop and view something rare and spectacular in the sky together,” she says. “The sun and moon have paused life for a moment.”

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