Christian Mayberry, also known as The Roktographer, is a master of portrait photography and is passionate about delving into human emotions through his photographic work. 

I had the pleasure of interviewing him about his work and analyzing his image “Scarlet Elegance”. We discussed the techniques he used to capture the photo and why it works.. 

1. Foreground interest

For this image, Christian planned a strong visual strategy that included foreground elements in the image composition. “After exploring the surroundings, I found the perfect vantage point through the leaves. This creates a frame that invites the viewer to peek into a timeless moment,” he says. 

Christian worked with a maximum aperture of f/2 so he could shoot through the leaves and blend the blurred shapes into the shot, adding some colour and interest without dominating the main subject of the image. “With my assistant skilfully managing the light to the right, there was a harmonious collaboration. This resulted in the creation of a captivating image that weaved a narrative,” he explains.

2. Splash of colour

By choosing this color and style of clothing, Christian aimed to show the natural environment in a different context. “The choice of dress color ultimately depends on the mood and the aesthetics you want from the photo shoot but, here, it fits perfectly,” he says. The red dress stands out against the green background and draws the viewer’s attention towards the subject. “A red dress can add vibrancy and visual appeal to photoshoots,” Christian says. “The color red often conveys emotions such as passion and energy, making it a popular choice for creating striking and memorable images.”

3. Telling a story

For this shoot, Christian had a clear vision in mind, “I wanted to evoke the enchanting essence of a storybook, akin to a princess anticipating the arrival of her prince.” To achieve this, it was essential to create a narrative layer in this frame, so the location, styling, composition, and lighting were all key factors in building a fairytale atmosphere. 

“The scene unfolds like a clandestine glimpse through distant trees, capturing a suspended moment where time is standing still – a spellbinding preview into a world where someone is about to be whisked away to faraway lands.”

4. Skilful posing

Capturing the perfect shot of a model requires more than just photography skills. It’s about creating a comfortable and welcoming environment that allows the subject’s energy to shine through. “You have to forge a warm and professional connection with the model by initiating casual conversation before the shoot,” Christian explains. 

“You also have to display some authentic curiosity in their concepts and preferences, providing positive reinforcement throughout the session to instill confidence,” he adds. “Cultivating a relaxed and collaborative ambience not only helps ease the model but also coaxes their innate expressions out, resulting in a more authentic and compelling photo session.”

Tech details

Camera: Nikon D850

Lens: Nikkor 200mm F2G ED VRII

Aperture: f/2

Shutter speed: 1/800 sec 

ISO: 64

Christian Mayberry

Based in Orlando, Florida, Christian Mayberry is a professional music and portrait photographer who has become renowned for his evocative images.  With over 15 years of experience, Christian has established himself as a versatile photographer and his portfolio spans a wide range of genres, including fashion, portrait, commercial and concert photography. His work is characterized by his creativity, attention to detail and an ability to capture the essence of his subjects.

Do you feel stagnant in your work? As someone who has transitioned to shooting professionally, I have found that growth within my own work has continually become more difficult. Doing this exercise helps me every time; it doesn’t matter your skill level, and it applies to all genres of photography.

In the small niche of YouTube landscape photographers, reviewing their photos from the year has become a tradition, and this year is no different. However, I wanted to approach it with more intention than just reminiscing. This past year, I personally challenged myself to shoot outside my comfort zones, try new things, and find images in moments when I might not have even taken my camera out previously.

Reviewing your work, no matter your skill level, is always a really good practice. This goes a step further. Instead of reviewing recent images, pull up images you took a few years ago and really compare where your work is now to where it was not that long ago. Have things changed? Do you want them to change? Are they changing in the direction you want them to go?

Using my work as an example, the images above were taken early on in my landscape journey. Most of these are from 2017 to 2019 and generally represent the images I thought were some of my best from that time period.

Notice the levels of saturation, detail, and the attempt at perfecting every pixel to curate an almost dreamlike feel. The large pano of Kirkjufell is highly edited with light painting, fake shadows and dynamics, resizing of Kirkjufell, and more. You can see a full breakdown of that edit right here to see just how far I pushed it. I really enjoyed this style of editing back then. I didn’t have the privilege to spend a lot of time in many places and found myself shooting photos only a few weeks out of the year – specifically when I was able to travel outside of Florida. Thus, the majority of my photography time was spent behind a computer, seeing how far I could push an edit.

Looking at a few of my favorite images from this past year, you can see a large change in my work. This isn’t to say I don’t take images that contain saturation, large dynamics, or sunstars. I still take those, typically with less editing involved. I can’t include everything here, but I did try to pick out the images I personally loved the most from this year. The beauty is there is no right or wrong. Maybe there are people reading this who prefer the first set of images over the second, and that’s totally okay.

The most important question is, do I enjoy them? I remember years ago capturing a big beautiful scene with perfect conditions and a lot of technical editing was the hit of dopamine I strived for. Those big grand scenes are what I woke up to capture. Yet this year, I remember sitting in foggy conditions with subdued light, feeling the same things. Finding patterns in a scene that took me a long time to navigate, getting them back on a computer and thinking, “Wow, I actually found something in that chaos.”

The exercise here is more about reflecting on yourself and your work. What images stick out the most to you this year? Maybe it would be productive to keep working towards the images that mean the most to you. Maybe you have a set of images that you know are quality, but they aren’t necessarily instilling any positive emotions; pay attention to these feelings. I can’t tell you what or how you need to experience this process, but I hope these questions cause you to introspectively look within yourself as an artist to promote progress and growth.

An elephant with a smattering of sand in Singapore, a diver taking a deep breath in calm seas in Egypt and a child celebrating Christmas are among this year’s Sony World Photography Awards national and regional winners.

The winning photographs were unveiled by the World Photography Organisation on Tuesday, and showcased the photographers’ “unique styles and approaches to the medium,” according to a press statement.

More than 395,000 images from scores of countries and territories were entered into the Sony World Photography Awards 2024, with topics including nature, landscape, architecture, portraiture and sports.

The winning national and regional images were taken by photographers based in 54 countries, organizers said.

Photographers were judged anonymously by a panel of judges.

The national and regional awards initiative was set up 11 years ago to support photographers of all abilities and showcase their achievements, organizers added.

Winners to the Sony World Photography Awards student, youth, open and professional competitions will be announced April 18, and will go on display with the national and regional award winners as part of an exhibition that opens at Somerset House in London from April 19 to May 6.

Scroll through the gallery above to see a selection of images from the Sony World Photography Awards national and regional winners.

The essence of what makes a photograph compelling often eludes easy explanation, captivating the viewer in ways that are felt more than they are understood. This enigmatic quality of photography is what draws both creators and viewers into a deeper exploration of visual storytelling, marking its importance in the realm of art and expression.

Coming to you from The Photographic Eye, this intriguing video explores the nuanced artistry behind captivating photographs, focusing on the work of renowned photographer Erwin Olf. Olf’s photography, characterized by meticulously constructed sets and a profound control over lighting, evokes a sense of precision and intentionality that is rarely seen in other forms of photography. The video delves into the elements that make Olf’s work stand out—such as the unique lighting that, while controlled, never overpowers the image, and the expressive poses that convey deep emotion. This analysis serves as a valuable lesson, illustrating the importance of every detail in crafting an image that resonates on a deeper level with its audience.

Additionally, the discussion on the emotional impact of photography, as compared to the energetic dynamism of other photographers, highlights the diversity in artistic approaches within the field. Olf’s work, with its painting-like quality and the deliberate construction of each scene, showcases how photographers can manipulate atmosphere and narrative to draw viewers into a moment. The video emphasizes that beyond the technical aspects of photography, it is the story and emotion conveyed through an image that truly captivates the viewer. This perspective is essential for anyone looking to elevate their work from mere captures to compelling stories. Check out the video above for the full rundown.

When Sarjo Baldeh was 20, she was given a Canon T6 as a birthday present. She was thrilled to have her own camera after spending her teenage years practising with borrowed equipment.

“Cameras are expensive in my country and are often imported from abroad, so you have to save for years to be able to buy your own,” says Baldeh.

Nearly three years later, she was one of the few African female photographers at the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Ivory Coast.

Baldeh accompanied the Gambia national team to the football tournament, her biggest assignment yet. At pitchside during all their matches in Yamoussoukro, the Ivory Coast capital, and Bouaké, she posted photos on her social media, often giving live updates during the games.

But Baldeh herself captured plenty of attention. In bright colours with a pale-pink headscarf, she stood out during matches.

“Some of the photos of the Scorpions [the Gambia team nickname] that you see on social media were taken by this young woman – Thumbs up to Sarjo!!,” posted African Hub on X. Africa Archives also highlighted her talent.

Baldeh grew up in Lamin, a village in west Gambia, with her father, a police officer, and her mother who is a firefighter. She was introduced to photography in her early teens, on a summer programme run by Starfish International, a non-profit organisation empowering girls in the Gambia. It was pure chance that she was put into the media class, she says, while her classmates learned skills such as sewing. Starfish loaned her a camera, which she used to practise, mainly capturing daily chores.

After getting her own camera, and with encouragement from her Starfish mentor, she tried wedding photography, first with friends and family, then on paid jobs.

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“I am usually online looking at the work of other photographers and checking out their social media pages. I particularly love the way sports photographers capture the movement of footballers, so I started doing research about it because there is not much information about sports photography in the Gambia,” she says.

“There is nothing like a photography school in the Gambia and I didn’t want to sit down and do nothing with my life. I wanted to make a change.”

Baldeh taught herself how to shoot sports events by watching YouTube tutorials and asking for help from established sports photographers on social media. One, based in the US, whom Baldeh contacted through Instagram, taught her “how to shoot, what to shoot, how to position my light, and how to position my camera”.

Her first job on an overseas sports event was at a match between the Gambia and South Sudan during the Afcon qualification in Senegal in 2022.

In 2022, she was approached by Real de Banjul, a top-flight Gambian team, to join them on a freelance basis. The following year, Fortune FC, another Gambian team, offered her a full-time position.

But it was this year’s Afcon that brought her wider attention in Africa. She arrived in Ivory Coast last month with the Gambia national team – the only female photographer in the team’s group of four. She rented a professional camera and lenses, and her travel was sponsored by Fortune FC, while the Gambia’s ministry of youth and sports covered her accommodation.

At least four other young female photographers attended Afcon, including Weam Mostafa Elsayed from Egypt, iLa Yeboah from Ghana, Justina Aniefiok from Nigeria and Khady Sy from Mauritania. Baldeh was attending the games as a freelancer – the Gambia’s national team has a male official photographer.

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Baldeh had to leave Ivory Coast when the Gambian team lost the last of their group games to Cameroon.

“When Gambia went out [of the tournament], I had to leave as well,” she says. “But it was a unique experience for me, it’s a very male dominated job. My pictures went viral because I do live updating,” she says.

“When I came to Afcon I realised that in order to be in same position as male photographers I have to double up my hard work, because they’re taller than me, bigger than me, fitter than me, especially when we have to take squad pictures of the boys – it’s always a push and pull situation [to take the best spot],” she says.

“It’s not like male photographers are better than female. I want people to recognise me as a photographer who is as good as male ones. I want Gambia to see how passionate I am. I’d like to take my sports photography to the next level. I want to be part of the national team photographers.”

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Baldeh says that a highlight of Afcon was getting to take pictures of Victor Osimhen, the Nigerian who was named African men’s player of the year in 2023. She had to travel for three hours from Yamoussoukro to Abidjan, where Nigeria played Ivory Coast.

“Being able to meet him in person during Afcon was amazing. Taking photos of him was a dream come true for me,” she says of her favourite player.

Baldeh’s biggest wish is to go to the 2026 World Cup in Canada, the US and Mexico.

“If I find sponsors to go, I will be the first Gambian to cover a World Cup as a sports photographer. Gambia has never qualified for a World Cup before.”

“Shaolin Monks Training” by Steve McCurry
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Cavalier Galleries is celebrating renowned photojournalist Steve McCurry with concurrent exhibitions in their New York and Greenwich locations. One of the greatest visual storytellers of his generation, McCurry’s powerful portraits and documentary photography help us understand more about different cultures around the world.

From February 8 to March 9, 2024, more than 30 of his photographs from the 1980s to today will go on view at the gallery’s location in New York’s Chelsea neighborhood. A separate, pendant exhibition will also go up simultaneously in Greenwich, Connecticut. With a vast archive to pull from, the gallery directors were spoiled for choice and met with McCurry’s team to carefully select images that would explore the depth and breadth of his work. The result is a powerful show that takes us from Cuba and the Philippines to Myanmar, Pakistan, and Tibet.

“We selected photographs spanning the past 40 years of his career, from his iconic image of the Afghan Girl (1984) to a breathtaking photograph of Namibian shepherd boys from 2023,” shares Ron Cavalier, president at Cavalier Galleries. “Visitors to the exhibition will be greeted by McCurry’s 1994 photo of Monks Praying at Golden Rock in Myanmar, which is also the cover image of his new book, Devotion: Love and Spirituality. The centerpiece of the exhibition is a wall of eight portraits, selected from countries around the world and showcasing McCurry’s stirring ability to capture both personal narrative and the somehow universal landscape of our diverse, collective humanity.”

Through McCurry’s powerful work, which is rich with color and rife with emotion, we learn a bit more about the world. From Shaolin monks in training to Afghan women shopping for shoes, these small glimpses of life help bring us together. And they hopefully also help us realize that we aren’t so different from one another.

“I look for that unguarded moment, where the essential soul is peeking out, and try to convey some part of what it is like to be that person, or in a broader sense, to relate their life to the human experience as a whole,” McCurry tells My Modern Met. “We humans connect to one another via eye contact—there is a real power in that shared moment of attention when you catch a glimpse of what it must be like to be in their shoes. I think this is one of the most powerful things about photography: to relate that sensation.”

Steve McCurry runs from February 8, 2024, to March 9, 2024, at Cavalier Galleries in New York City (530 W 24th Street) and Greenwich, Connecticut (175 Greenwich Avenue). On Thursday, February 22, there will also be an artist reception and signing of McCurry’s new book, Devotion: Love and Spirituality, at the New York location.

The career of acclaimed photojournalist Steve McCurry is being celebrated by Cavalier Galleries.

“Afghan Girl, Peshawar,” Steve McCurry

“Afghan Women at Shoe Store,” Steve McCurry

The gallery will hold concurrent solo exhibitions at its locations in New York City and Greenwich.

“Candy Factory Worker,” Steve McCurry

“Procession of Nuns,” Steve McCurry

In late February 2024, McCurry will also be present at the New York location for a reception and book signing.

“Himba Shepherds Take Their Goats to Graze,” Steve McCurry

“Woman Enters Monolithic Church,” Steve McCurry

Steve McCurry: Website | Facebook | Instagram
Cavalier Galleries: Website | Facebook | Instagram

All images ©  Steve McCurry. My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Cavalier Galleries.

Related Articles:

Steve McCurry’s New Book Features Over 100 Unseen Photographs

Steve McCurry Shares His Philosophy on What Makes a Good Portrait

Interview: Steve McCurry Captures Human Connection to Animals Around the World

Legendary Photographer Steve McCurry on His Illustrious Career and New Book [Podcast]

Maybe the box isn’t magic. But, the fishing box I converted to carrying all the support items as a wedding photographer made me seem like a magician to my wedding clients. More magic always led to more referrals.

From fishing tackle box to magic box

I tried many different containers over the years. I started small and found that I kept needing more and more space. At each wedding, whenever I was asked for something that I didn’t already have, I made sure it was there at the next event. The box I ended up with turned out to be, as Goldilocks said, “Just right.” Mine was about 8 x 17 inches and 9 inches deep.

Magic box contents

Over the years, the contents of the box grew, from the basics to more advanced items. It got to a point when anything was needed by almost anyone at the wedding, the call went out to, “Check with the wedding photographer, I’ll bet that he has it!”

Edibles

• Breath mints
• Mint gum
• Crackers

Hair care

• Multiple brushes
• Mirror
• Hair spray
• Bobbie pins (multiple colors)
• Hair clips
• Scrunchies
• Scissors
• Electric razor

Repair materials

• Safety pins (multiple sizes)
• Static Guard Spray
• Lint brush/Sticky sheets
• Small clamps
• Shoelaces
• Earring backs
• Sewing kit/tape measure
• Tape

Personal care

• Tampax and pads
• Tooth brush and tooth paste
• Hemorrhoid ointment
• Deodorant
• Baby powder
• Razor
• Tissues
• Wipes
• Q-tips/Cotton swabs
• Red Cross toothache medication
• Refilit tooth filling material

Protection

• Sunscreen
• First aid kit
• Band aids in different sizes
• Cleansing wipes
• Gauze pads

Make-up

• Hand cream
• Eye shadow
• Personal skin toners/blush
• Make-up Brushes
• Lip Gloss
• Clear nail polish
• Mascara
• Nail file/Emory board

How to source your magic box/wedding photographer kit

Head to the sporting good department for your tackle box. A tool box might work as well depending upon what is in your kit.

To fill it go to the larger drug stores you can find personal sizes of LOTS of stuff. There is usually a section with travel items at $1 – $3. The Dollar Store can be a good spot as well. Not shown in this kit, but I also carried a couple of tuxedo shirts and spare black shoes. You know, just in case there was a shortage when the tux delivery was made. There was more, but you get the idea.

I found the more I could be of service and “Johnny-on-the-spot,” the smoother the wedding went and the more referrals I received from clients and wedding planners.

Yours in Creative Photography, Bob

The World Photography Organisation and Sony established the National & Regional Awards program as a way to support local photography communities from all over the world. This year, 395,000 images were submitted from over 220 countries and territories, resulting in an impressive number of winning images. 

The Sony World Photography Awards have a wide range of photography categories, and in the build-up to announcing the overall winners, some of the category winners are released sooner. The National and Regional Winners were selected from a wide range of regions that showcase the best photography of today.

Winning images are selected from around the globe, resulting in extremely diverse approaches and subject matter, celebrating geographical and cultural differences. Among the winning images are a cornucopia of wildlife, documentary, landscape, and portrait images, each showing a unique insight into new worlds. 

The winners from the National and Regional Awards are listed below:

Bangladesh – Mahdin Shafiq Omi

Cambodia – Davuth Van 

Egypt – Karim Osama 

Germany – Natalie Strohmaier 

India – Mitul Kajaria 

Indonesia – Dhiky Aditya 

Japan – Kenichiro Hagiwara

Republic of Korea – Lee Jongkee

Kuwait – Mohammed Mirza 

Malaysia – Lim Chien Ting 

Myanmar – Kyaw Htet 

Nepal – Bibek Kunwar 

Nigeria – Onyekachi Iloh 

Pakistan – Muhammad Saddique Inam 

Philippines – Reginald James Lorico 

Poland – Barbara Szydlowska

Qatar – Abdulla AL-Mushaifri 

Saudi Arabia – Yasser Alomari 

Singapore – Ju Shen Lee 

South Africa – Lourens Durand 

Sri Lanka – Wasiri Gajaman 

Taiwan – Chia Jung Chou 

Thailand – Thanayu Jongwattanasilkul 

Turkey – Okan Yilmaz 

United Arab Emirates – Vinaya Mohan 

United States – Pascal Fouquet 

Vietnam – Tran Tuan Viet

The Award is split further into European Regional Awards and Latin America Regional Awards. The winners of these are: 

Czech Republic – Tomáš Havrda 

Latvia – Viktors Rimarevs

Slovenia – Ana Skobe 

Bulgaria – Vladimir Karamazov 

Argentina – Marcos Azulay 

All of the award winners will receive a selection of Sony Imaging equipment such as the best Sony camera and Sony lenses, and all winning images will be included in the Sony World Photography Awards exhibition and book.

The overall winners for the Student, Youth, Open, and Professional competitions of the Sony World Photography Awards 2024 will be announced on 18 April 2024. Winners will be placed on display as part of the exhibition at Somerset House in London from April 19 – May 6 2024.

You can check out the Awards website for more information about upcoming announcements and for the full list of winners.

See also our earlier story Next generation of photographers shortlisted in student and youth Sony World Photo Awards 2024

Celebrity photographer Manny Hernandez has a new book out – CBS Miami