Readers’ Showcase: Steven James Martin
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Oranges on sale at Kalaw train station, Burma (Myanmar), January 2014. Photo by Steven James Martin
DPR reader Steven James Martin took up photography while living in Asia. Originally from the UK, Martin suddenly found himself within easy traveling distance of locations some photographers can only dream of visiting, like Vietnam, Thailand and Myanmar. His colorful portfolio reflects a love of travel – see some of his images here and find out more about him in our Q+A.
See more of Steven James Martin’s work at his website, and keep up with him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Interested in having your work featured in an upcoming Readers’ Showcase? Let us know! Include your DPR user name a link to your online portfolio.
Readers’ Showcase: Steven James Martin
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Fisherman on Inle Lake at sunset, Burma (Myanmar), January 2014. Photo by Steven James Martin
Tell us a bit about you and what your history with photography is.
My interest in photography really began in 2006, when I bought a Nikon D40 while working in Japan as an English teacher. I lived in Japan and South Korea for three years, which gave me the opportunity to visit some fantastic places in Asia, including Thailand, Vietnam, Burma (Myanmar), India, Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia. I’ve also visited many photogenic countries in Europe – Italy, Portugal and Greece in particular – as well as Morocco and the USA. For me photography has always been linked to travel, and exploring new places, landscapes and cultures. In 2015 I started selling my images through the premium stock photography agency Offset.
Readers’ Showcase: Steven James Martin
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Buddha at sunrise, Borobodur, Java, Indonesia, August 2015. Photo by Steven James Martin
What do you shoot with now?
I shoot with a Nikon D5100, predominantly with an 18-55mm lens and a 50mm F1.8 lens for portraits. I often receive comments expressing surprise that I only use an entry-level DSLR and kit lens. However I really don’t think much more than that is needed, particularly if you’re shooting travel rather than sports or wildlife – I’d go out on a limb and say the image quality of most DSLRs on the market today is fairly comparable. I’m considering adding a wide-angle lens to my lineup, but overall I think it’s the photographer that captures the moment and makes the image, rather than the gear.
Readers’ Showcase: Steven James Martin
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Indian sadhu (holy man), Varanasi, India, November 2014. Photo by Steven James Martin
Many of the photos in your portfolio come from trips to Southern and Southeastern Asia. What draws you to that region?
I lived in Asia for three years, during which I really developed an affinity for the region, and since then I’ve kept going back. There’s something about the warm and welcoming people, the amazing food and the beautiful lush scenery and beaches that make it a really rewarding and photogenic area of the world to visit.
Readers’ Showcase: Steven James Martin
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Adraga Beach, Portugal, September 2013. Photo by Steven James Martin
Where haven’t you been that you’d like to go?
I’m keen to visit Laos and southern Vietnam – that might be my next trip to Asia. But before then I’d love to visit a whole host of other places on different continents – Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan in Central Asia, Iran in the Middle East, Ethiopia and Namibia in Africa, and Peru, Bolivia and Argentina in South America are all on my list of places to go, given the time and money!
Readers’ Showcase: Steven James Martin
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Balloons at sunrise over Bagan, Burma (Myanmar), January 2014. Photo by Steven James Martin
Do you have any tips for photographers traveling to far-off places?
Travel light! Lugging heavy equipment round all day can make you tired and irritable, and less likely to concentrate on what you’re experiencing. Bring plenty of batteries and SD cards, some lens cleaning cloths and other useful, lightweight accessories. Do some research before you go, but be open to new experiences and changes to your itinerary. Be prepared for the unexpected! And don’t be afraid to interact with locals – a few words and a smile can break down barriers very quickly, and people who are initially hesitant can become happy to be photographed.
Readers’ Showcase: Steven James Martin
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Children playing on abandoned fishing boat, Kuta, Lombok, Indonesia, August 2015. Photo by Steven James Martin
What resources have been most useful to you as you’ve learned photography?
One of the things that makes photography so compelling as a hobby for me is that it combines art and creative vision with gear and technology. On the artistic side, Steve McCurry is the professional photographer who has probably influenced me the most. I love his work, and studying the work of the masters can really help you to learn a lot of lessons about the use of lines, shapes, light and colour. Another influence is David duChemin, who talks a lot about vision in photography. I was pleased to be featured on one of his Vision is Better YouTube episodes.
On the tech side, I enjoy listening to photography podcasts such as This Week In Photo, Martin Bailey’s Photography Podcast and Tips from the Top Floor, and various YouTube channels.
Readers’ Showcase: Steven James Martin
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Ceiling detail, St Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, July 2014. Photo by Steven James Martin
Are there any photographic projects you’d like to, or are planning to tackle?
I tend to become really lax at shooting when I’m not travelling, which is a shame as there’s plenty of inspiration at home if you’re willing to look for it. I really enjoy portraiture, so I’m thinking of doing some UK-based portrait work, which would involve learning to use external flashes – something I haven’t had any experience with yet.
Readers’ Showcase: Steven James Martin
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Buddhist monk, Nyaungshwe, Burma (Myanmar), January 2014. Photo by Steven James Martin
What’s been the best advice you’ve been given as a photographer?
A lot of photography is about observing things around you, and those observational skills can only develop if you slow down and be patient. Cartier-Bresson said something about finding an interesting background and then waiting for an interesting foreground element to present itself, and I think that’s very true. Also, pay attention to the time of day: wait for the best light either early or late in the day, as it makes a massive difference. And finally, invest in Adobe Lightroom! Not only as a place to do some post-processing tweaks, but also as an excellent way to rate and catalogue your images.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)