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bts-weverse-trans · 3 years

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201126 Weverse Magazine ‘BE’ Comeback Interview - Jin

Jin: “It feels like my memories of ARMY were all a dream” BTS BE comeback interview 2020.11.26

Jin is calm and quiet throughout the whole interview. But while his words start out sounding like those in an everyday conversation, they soon begin to tell the story of a protagonist in the intricate drama that is BTS.

I’m guessing you came up with the lyrics because of COVID-19. Jin: It was around two to three months ago that I wrote the lyrics for the song, when it seemed like COVID-19 wasn’t getting any better. I want to put on another concert, and, like I said, it feels like my memories of ARMY were all a dream: Ah, they always used to be there with us, and then they disappeared like a memory—was all that a dream? Will we ever meet again? Those kinds of thoughts.

It sounds like you had a hard time getting used to this new situation. Jin: Yes. That used to be a part of our life for years, so it felt like a part of my life disappeared. When we had a busy schedule to deal with, sometimes I thought maybe it would be fun to have no job, but when that work was no longer there, no matter what I did, even if I poured myself into it, it all became meaningless very quickly. I felt insecure when I had nothing to do, since I’m so used to being busy, and feeling insecure made me think more about the things I like, and what I should do to make myself happier, besides work.

Why did you choose gems? Jin: Well … I have a sort of free, do-whatever-I-want personality, and at the time, I was really intrigued by gems, so that’s what I chose. This year, with the pandemic, I had more time to think about what I want and the things I want to do, and to try some new things, like playing piano, playing games, not playing games, meeting different people. But still, I can’t tell what I really like. I don’t think I ever thought much about myself, other than the work part. The best answer I found was doing whatever I’m interested in at the moment; is being the truest to myself. I’m more of a feeler than a thinker. Some might say I should have a plan for my future, but I don’t have any. (laughs) I thought that I really just do as I please.

So what does it mean to do as you please? Jin: Like I said, I’m someone who literally lives only in the present, so I tend to forget about the past, and I don’t stress over the future. I know I won’t forget important moments or times I spent with other people, but I’ve forgotten all the bad things that happened in the past and the hard times I had, and I’m really satisfied with my life now and happy to be working hard. How can anyone feel happy over and over again from something that happened in the past, no matter how good it was? You can be happier finding 10,000 won on the ground now than earning 100 times that in the past. I think I’m living true to my feelings by living in the now rather than thinking about the future or the past.

That sounds more like self-discipline. (laughs) Jin: It’s the same as not crossing at a red light if you don’t want to get hurt. I can keep myself happy living in the present as long as I’m not doing anything I shouldn’t be doing. Some might feel a bit frustrated, but they might also be the kind of people who cross at a red light. (laughs)

The song “Dis-ease” captures each of the BTS members’ thoughts on work. Is it especially difficult for you, in particular, to separate work from your personal life? Your life is influenced by your work. Jin: To me, work makes a lot of things happen in my life. Naturally there are times I feel stressed because of work, but the work I do makes me happy and has led to some spectacular experiences. Sometimes it’s interesting, other times it might be exhausting. I think I feel an entire spectrum of emotions thanks to my work. I lead my life the way I do because of my work, so to speak.

What was the demo version like? Jin: When V first made it and gave it to me, it didn’t have the rap part yet. There were no lines for the rap but it sounded really unique. Only the instrumental was there for that part and it felt like it was time for thinking by myself. Of course, I like the full version with the rap, too, but still, I liked how there was space that made you think. It’s been a long time since I got that feeling from listening to one of the demos. The first one was “Spring Day,” and the second was “Blue & Grey.”

It sounds like you found the song right when you needed some time to think. Jin: Yes. Before our debut, I had a clear goal: to debut. I chased after that one goal. After we debuted, I was chasing after a number one hit, and after we got number one I was chasing after major awards. And after that there were a lot of other awards, like from Billboard, and performances to put on, but it wasn’t a goal in the sense that it was my goal to debut. I’m just happy to be working. Every moment is wonderful and has become like my whole life. That wasn’t how I felt when I was a trainee because I had a serious goal then. But now, my goal is to live without overthinking anything. Maybe it’s not really a goal but a kind of defense mechanism.

A defense mechanism? Jin: As you get thinking, you might somehow undermine yourself. So, as long as I don’t think too hard, I can work hard right now. Maybe that’s why I called it a defense mechanism: If I stop and think about it, I might have too many ways to put myself down.

But if you imagine someone else were to have accomplished the same things you have, wouldn’t they think they deserve to feel proud? Jin: That’s true, but I’m also one of seven members of BTS. Thinking about what I’ve done as an individual feels like a burden to me. Up until we finished working on Map of the Soul: 7, I wasn’t burdened but felt, “Okay, we all did a good job. I’m happy with this.” But after getting “Dynamite” to the top of the Billboard Top 100 and starting down this new road, I started to wonder if I deserve any of this.

But you experienced a lot of big things before. What made you think that way this time? Jin: I was waiting for the chart position to come out all day, and then right before bed, Namjoon sent a message to our group chat. That’s when I realized we were number one! I was really happy, but something felt different. Maybe it was because we couldn’t see our fans. After “Dynamite,” we got even more love from even more people, and even when I was walking down the street, people would say things like, “I’m a big fan of yours,” or, “Thank you for introducing Korea to the world.” Then I started to think, “Do I deserve all this congratulations and love? That’s not me—I’m not that kind of person.” I got over it a bit, but even until a few days ago, the pressure was so intense that I couldn’t get any work done.

If you had had the fans there with you, maybe you would have felt less pressure or worry. Maybe it makes what you’re doing now seem incomplete compared to the past. Jin: We did so much and we worked so hard, but the result doesn’t hit you the same way, does it? The—excitement, maybe?—isn’t quite there. There’s a big difference between performing for people and performing for the camera. The performance itself is hard, too, of course. I have to keep at it for months once we start. But when we perform for people, I feel alive.

Had you been able to perform “Dynamite” on stage for your fans, you probably would have felt more love and more confident taking first place. Jin: I want to look and do my best in front of the fans no matter what. It’s a lot more fun when our fans are there, right in front of us. I’m not thinking about anything else in another sense, when they’re there with us. For people who don’t perform like we do, when they have fun, they don’t think about much else, and just focus on what they’re doing. I think we’re the same way when our fans are around. I don’t have to think about anything else, because my fans are all right in front of me. I just have fun and forget about everything else.

Hopefully you’ll feel like everything is back to normal once you can see your fans again. Jin: At first I thought I’ll probably cry tears of joy. But would I? I don’t really think so. At first I really thought I would, but now I think it might feel like going back home. It depends on who you ask, but I don’t think most people would cry just because they came back to their hometown after being away. I think that’s how I’ll feel: like I’m back where I should be.

Talking to you, it seems like the sense of being loved by your fans must be important to you, emotionally. Jin: You’re right. Getting love from the fans was my source of happiness—what can I compare this to? Like a kid who’s always showered with love by their parents, but then the parents are suddenly gone on a business trip for like, ten months. It’s kind of like that. I was always trying to make our fans smile, make them feel good, by acting cute, but now my parents have been away on their business trip for, ten months, and I’m trying to be cute over a video call. That’s what it feels like. So please, wrap up your business trip as soon as possible, and hurry up and come home so I can show you how cute I am again! And, to COVID-19: Please get lost. (laughs)

Trans © Weverse

#bangtan #jin #weverse #weverse magazine #comeback interview #201126 #2020 #be album

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fyeah-bangtan7 · 3 years

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Jin: “It feels like my memories of ARMY were all a dream”

#bangtan #jin #m:weverse magazine #o:interview #201126

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you-tiful · 3 years

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ENTIRE ENTERVIEW TO JINx WEVERSE MAGAZINE

Jin: “It feels like my memories of ARMY were all a dream”

BTS Be comeback interview

2020.11.26

You worked on the lyrics for “Stay.” Jin: The song opens with the words, “Was it a dream?” and I came up with the theme. We used to see our fans and it was great, but now that’s something we can’t do anymore. I thought it all felt like a dream. I wanted to say, “We used to be so happy together, but now I feel like your very existence was a dream.” I came up with the intro and then talked about it with RM. He really helped me a lot. I’m guessing you came up with the lyrics because of COVID-19. Jin: It was around two to three months ago that I wrote the lyrics for the song, when it seemed like COVID-19 wasn’t getting any better. I want to put on another concert, and, like I said, it feels like my memories of ARMY were all a dream: Ah, they always used to be there with us, and then they disappeared like a memory—was all that a dream? Will we ever meet again? Those kinds of thoughts. It sounds like you had a hard time getting used to this new situation. Jin: Yes. That used to be a part of our life for years, so it felt like a part of my life disappeared. When we had a busy schedule to deal with, sometimes I thought maybe it would be fun to have no job, but when that work was no longer there, no matter what I did, even if I poured myself into it, it all became meaningless very quickly. I felt insecure when I had nothing to do, since I’m so used to being busy, and feeling insecure made me think more about the things I like, and what I should do to make myself happier, besides work.

Would you say that’s been incorporated into your work on BE? Just from looking at the album photos, we can see each of you expressing your own thoughts through your room designs. Jin: Mine was the jewel room. They asked me what kind of concept I wanted for my room. I thought about what I wanted to do, and I wanted to go with gems. I was imagining myself lying down with gems all around me, but V, who was the visual director, thought I was joking at first. (laughs) “You were supposed to decorate the room, what do you mean gems?” But still, that’s the image I had in mind, so we went with that concept, except it wasn’t full of gems like I imagined. But I really stand out in the picture, so I’m satisfied with the result. Why did you choose gems? Jin: Well … I have a sort of free, do-whatever-I-want personality, and at the time, I was really intrigued by gems, so that’s what I chose. This year, with the pandemic, I had more time to think about what I want and the things I want to do, and to try some new things, like playing piano, playing games, not playing games, meeting different people. But still, I can’t tell what I really like. I don’t think I ever thought much about myself, other than the work part. The best answer I found was doing whatever I’m interested in at the moment; is being the truest to myself. I’m more of a feeler than a thinker. Some might say I should have a plan for my future, but I don’t have any. (laughs) I thought that I really just do as I please. So what does it mean to do as you please? Jin: Like I said, I’m someone who literally lives only in the present, so I tend to forget about the past, and I don’t stress over the future. I know I won’t forget important moments or times I spent with other people, but I’ve forgotten all the bad things that happened in the past and the hard times I had, and I’m really satisfied with my life now and happy to be working hard. How can anyone feel happy over and over again from something that happened in the past, no matter how good it was? You can be happier finding 10,000 won on the ground now than earning 100 times that in the past. I think I’m living true to my feelings by living in the now rather than thinking about the future or the past.

Even though you say you do whatever you’d like, aren’t there things you still need to be careful about, being a part of BTS? Jin: There are things that should be followed as a rule, such as not crossing on a red light, for example. Because if you do, there might be an accident. So those things, I set aside as things I shouldn’t do, so I never really thought of wanting to do them. That sounds more like self-discipline. (laughs) Jin: It’s the same as not crossing at a red light if you don’t want to get hurt. I can keep myself happy living in the present as long as I’m not doing anything I shouldn’t be doing. Some might feel a bit frustrated, but they might also be the kind of people who cross at a red light. (laughs) The song “Dis-ease” captures each of the BTS members’ thoughts on work. Is it especially difficult for you, in particular, to separate work from your personal life? Your life is influenced by your work. Jin: To me, work makes a lot of things happen in my life. Naturally there are times I feel stressed because of work, but the work I do makes me happy and has led to some spectacular experiences. Sometimes it’s interesting, other times it might be exhausting. I think I feel an entire spectrum of emotions thanks to my work. I lead my life the way I do because of my work, so to speak.

Just as you did, the other members also expressed on BE their feelings of what they’ve been through. Other than “Stay,” what other songs did you relate to? Jin: I didn’t really think about which songs I relate to, but I can tell you which song I like the most: “Blue & Grey,” by V. I liked that song from the very first time I listened to it, so I listened to the demo over and over again. What was the demo version like? Jin: When V first made it and gave it to me, it didn’t have the rap part yet. There were no lines for the rap but it sounded really unique. Only the instrumental was there for that part and it felt like it was time for thinking by myself. Of course, I like the full version with the rap, too, but still, I liked how there was space that made you think. It’s been a long time since I got that feeling from listening to one of the demos. The first one was “Spring Day,” and the second was “Blue & Grey.” It sounds like you found the song right when you needed some time to think. Jin: Yes. Before our debut, I had a clear goal: to debut. I chased after that one goal. After we debuted, I was chasing after a number one hit, and after we got number one I was chasing after major awards. And after that there were a lot of other awards, like from Billboard, and performances to put on, but it wasn’t a goal in the sense that it was my goal to debut. I’m just happy to be working. Every moment is wonderful and has become like my whole life. That wasn’t how I felt when I was a trainee because I had a serious goal then. But now, my goal is to live without overthinking anything. Maybe it’s not really a goal but a kind of defense mechanism.

A defense mechanism? Jin:

As you get thinking, you might somehow undermine yourself. So, as long as I don’t think too hard, I can work hard right now. Maybe that’s why I called it a defense mechanism: If I stop and think about it, I might have too many ways to put myself down.

But if you imagine someone else were to have accomplished the same things you have, wouldn’t they think they deserve to feel proud? Jin:

That’s true, but I’m also one of seven members of BTS. Thinking about what I’ve done as an individual feels like a burden to me. Up until we finished working on Map of the Soul: 7, I wasn’t burdened but felt, “Okay, we all did a good job. I’m happy with this.” But after getting “Dynamite” to the top of the Billboard Top 100 and starting down this new road, I started to wonder if I deserve any of this.

But you experienced a lot of big things before. What made you think that way this time? Jin:

I was waiting for the chart position to come out all day, and then right before bed, Namjoon sent a message to our group chat. That’s when I realized we were number one! I was really happy, but something felt different. Maybe it was because we couldn’t see our fans. After “Dynamite,” we got even more love from even more people, and even when I was walking down the street, people would say things like, “I’m a big fan of yours,” or, “Thank you for introducing Korea to the world.” Then I started to think, “Do I deserve all this congratulations and love? That’s not me—I’m not that kind of person.” I got over it a bit, but even until a few days ago, the pressure was so intense that I couldn’t get any work done.

How did you move away from all that pressure? Jin: I just moved on. Like with COVID-19, we all have to wait and stay put until everything gets better. And actually, after “Dynamite” made number one, we got really busy, so I was able to think less about other things and basically avoid them that way, all those questions about life. I think that’s how I endured. If you had had the fans there with you, maybe you would have felt less pressure or worry. Maybe it makes what you’re doing now seem incomplete compared to the past. Jin: We did so much and we worked so hard, but the result doesn’t hit you the same way, does it? The—excitement, maybe?—isn’t quite there. There’s a big difference between performing for people and performing for the camera. The performance itself is hard, too, of course. I have to keep at it for months once we start. But when we perform for people, I feel alive. Had you been able to perform “Dynamite” on stage for your fans, you probably would have felt more love and more confident taking first place. Jin: I want to look and do my best in front of the fans no matter what. It’s a lot more fun when our fans are there, right in front of us. I’m not thinking about anything else in another sense, when they’re there with us. For people who don’t perform like we do, when they have fun, they don’t think about much else, and just focus on what they’re doing. I think we’re the same way when our fans are around. I don’t have to think about anything else, because my fans are all right in front of me. I just have fun and forget about everything else. Hopefully you’ll feel like everything is back to normal once you can see your fans again. Jin: At first I thought I’ll probably cry tears of joy. But would I? I don’t really think so. At first I really thought I would, but now I think it might feel like going back home. It depends on who you ask, but I don’t think most people would cry just because they came back to their hometown after being away. I think that’s how I’ll feel: like I’m back where I should be.

@you-tiful

Looking for active mutuals on Twitter: (@Hoseok4Grammys)

#bts #bts updates #jin bts #jin #kim seokjin #bts news #bts enterview #jin wallpaper #kim seokin layaouts #kim seokjin enterview #life goes on #be album #be bts #bts be album #bangtan sonyeondan

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worldstreetphotography · 7 years

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Interview: Soumyendra Saha

This month’s featured artist is soumyendra. A street photographer from Asia!

Be sure to follow soumyendra and support his work!

Full name.

Soumyendra Saha

City and country where you live.

Kolkata, India

How you started with street photography?

It was people that brought me to street photography. I had an old DSLR lying in the cupboard without too many photos taken and also a lot of spare time after I had quit my cubicle job. This was about 4 years ago. At that time I was reading about a protagonist in a famous Bengali novel, more or less in my state, roaming central Kolkata quite aimlessly. So on an urge I picked up the camera and decided to cover the area by which the novel was named too, Chowringhee, with the storyline revolving in my head. That was it. When I looked at the photos on my computer I knew I had to do this more seriously. They were so different and every frame had a story, an atmosphere, that was more powerful than what I experienced when I took the photo. I was hooked.

Interesting story! When you look at those photos now do you feel the same way? How different was it compared to now?

Yes, that aspect of street photography stays the same even when I shoot now though to a lesser extent. Now I have learnt how geometry, light, mood, line of sight affect a photo and pre-visualize the end result more. What I am trying to say is what you see is not entirely what you photograph. Also the charm of SP is there I believe. Shooting an interesting moment with people and expecting something more on the photograph. The sum of parts (light, geometry etc. that I mentioned above) is always more. The rendered reality is missing from what you see when you shoot or you just see a glimpse, not the whole. The photograph is the whole picture. Maybe too deep stuff :)

Why street photography?

Like any form of art, street photography is a creative pursuit. It gives a new dimension to life.

What and/or who inspires you?

Kolkata, the city and its people. I have the option of traveling to many cities in India and cover life there. I have tried that on a few occasions too but one walk in Kolkata and I know what I was missing.

How often do you go out to capture moments?

I was very regular the first 2 years. I used to go out everyday, almost. That is when I was furiously pushing the boundaries of creativity and vision on the street. Now I am less frequent. I go out about twice a week.

So, this means you are no longer pushing the boundaries of creativity? What made you reduce your intensity from 7 days a week to 2?

Well, I haven’t stopped. I am still going out, only less. For me while telling an interesting story somewhere the story-teller comes into the picture. How I visualize is nothing but a reflection of who I am. Within that framework my narrative takes shape. Coming to boundaries of creativity… personally I am constantly evolving. I feel I need to finish a lot from my reading and listening and watching list before I go out again with more psychological material and some more maturity that will reflect in my photographs. Right now I think I am repeating too much. So that is the primary reason I have brought the frequency down.

Do you feel somehow you have exhausted the possibilities with photography? Maybe you are also interested in other mediums or forms of art?

Did you guess the other medium thing? Anyway, the other reason why I have brought the frequency down is because I have taken up Classical Indian flute lessons. That is taking up some time. So I am adding music to the fray. Hope it will have an effect on my photography though that is not all I want. It was on my bucket list for a long time before street photography.

What do you look for when you go out on the streets?

It is mostly a story I am looking for. I believe as street photographers our main purpose is storytelling. Something interesting that makes me think or feel. It can be people, one person, many people, a crowd or even an object/s lying on the street. Anything is a good subject as long as the frame tells a story, it is candidate. I also keep an eye open to capture the essence of the city, Kolkata.

Always seeking for a story to tell with your photos, do you ever feel trapped in the sense of what you are looking for? Meaning, some people prefer just to wander around with no preconceptions in their head.

When my father handed me my first camera, a medium format Praktica, way back in school, he didn’t teach me anything. He just said – a picture is worth a thousand words. That is all he ever said regarding photography to me. That was my first and most important lesson till date. So I will always be a story-teller first, look for something interesting first, then the environment, the city, all else. It is not a preconception. I am open to anything interesting. “Interesting” is the keyword. I prefer to pre-visualize on seeing something or noticing something interesting and then capture the moment as I want. It is different from shooting without any purpose in mind and seeing what good comes out. That is wasting shutter count for me.

By seeing your portfolio and based on your answer, I could have expected to see a series/collection of photos exclusively made in Kolkata. Are you even considering making a visual project about your city? Please explain.

Yes, I love Kolkata and its people. I also wish to keep a cultural angle to my photographs but documenting Kolkata is not on my agenda. I am a street photographer. It is all about my mind, my feelings, that I want to express as the backdrop to my story first. Then the city. Just the city is not a story for me.

Do you interact with your subjects?

I never interact with people before the shot. If I am noticed before I take a shot, I avoid eye contact and stay as unaffected and still as possible. Afterwards, I generally start with a smile if I am noticed and chat, discuss, explain, even have tea with people depending on the situation and mood. In Kolkata suspicion gets the best of most people on seeing someone taking photos. So, most of the time I have to explain why I am taking photos, that I am not a photojournalist and the artistic intent behind them. It can be tough to photograph on Indian streets, staying discreet and get away with candid shots. You have to be fit, agile in mind and body and street-smart too. A smile always helps after the shot.

For what I have heard, India is the friendliest of places for street photography, as people actually seem to be looking forward to be in the frame. This can be the actual opposite of maybe the majority of places in the world. Have you been in another country and actually see a difference between shooting in India and elsewhere? Tell us your experience.

It is tough in the sense of being discreet, un-noticed, not the entire photographing process. You are right about India being a friendly place and I too get people asking to take their photos and posing in frame. But that is not what I am there to do. It is candid, unposed documentary I am interested in! Life, as it happens, unchanged by the camera. So to that extent friendliness comes in the way “before” the shot most often. Of course a part of me goes out on the streets for what happens after the shot –the chat-ups, the anecdotes, the questions, the laughter, the smiles, the kids! That said, there are many street photographers in Kolkata now and many folks do get annoyed at the frequent invasion of privacy or suspicious if the photo is going to land in administration hands and their business is in trouble. So as I said, I often need to explain.

You can say 99% of my shooting is in Kolkata. I just need some people and a street, any street. It can be anywhere. I can go up and down a street for a whole year and end up with no shots being similar.

Yes, I was in the Bay Area in US for some years on work and I did go out on few occasions with camera though I knew nothing about street photography then. It was more to shoot buildings and bridges with friends. I did go out alone about 2-3 times. I have seen extremes there. People getting furious and also calling me from across the road to take their photograph. I cannot form a firm opinion out of those few outings. But I think the personal bubble is a bit larger elsewhere than India. So it must be definitely easier to shoot in India.

How do you challenge yourself to improve on photography?

I don’t take street photography as a competitive sport. I believe it is a reflection of your inner self and personality. So to that extent I try to be as natural on the streets as possible and not force or challenge myself. I just let my current state of mind dictate what I see and go with the flow on the street. The only real challenge I put myself in is to walk slow. I am a fast walker and I have seen by walking slowly I have much more to observe and also raise fewer eyebrows.

How would you describe your own style?

I like to think I am a storyteller and not stick to any particular style. So whatever interests me, the idea that I get on the spot I try to refine on that photographically and take a photo that best captures the situation aesthetically. That aesthetic angle can vary a lot and I like to keep it that way and not stick to a particular style. I have seen saturation and contrast vary widely in my final photos but that I would not like to change. I generally attach a final photo “look”, an idea how I want my shots to come out, to my shots when I click and stick to that. It is definitely not documentary. Even if it feels like documentary it is un-posed documentary.

I am guessing that you prefer to stick around when taking photos in a scene until you get the story that you are looking for, supported by strong aesthetic visual elements, meaning, you work the scene. Tell us about your process when approaching a scene.

No I don’t wait for the story. I wait for something interesting to form in my head first while walking. As I mentioned, I generally walk quite fast and keep scanning the front, left and right. When something catches my eye, it is generally an idea, an abstraction, a joke, a mystery, I try to frame it best I can. I don’t believe in a scene. I create the scene using elements near and far or by framing around the interesting person, event or thing, with whatever I can find from the environment and Kolkata streets are jam-packed with shoot-able material.

What is photography for you?

Photography is constant self-discovery and self-expression for me, like peeling of an onion. The core is always elusive and I have to keep removing the outer layer and the process itself is the joy.

What is your personal definition of street photography?

Street Photography is like re-inventing our entire existence. I am sure many street photographers will concur that more than any other genre street photography re-defines the person you are, the environment you live in, that is your perception of it, and your relation to it. Candid street photography may seem like a very objective subject think, when executed, but it is a very personal way of living for me. Each passing day, I see more and more, I attach more meaning and feeling to what I see. Is that not improving the way I live? It is a way of life for me.

I enjoyed very much your description and what it makes you feel. This could be a good answer for those who do not find any motivation at shooting their own environment/neighborhood. In this sense, is it more interesting for you to discover new places photographically speaking or to rediscover Kolkata each time you go out? Does it matter at all to you?

The lure of new places is definitely there but I think I can re-generate interest in the same place effortlessly by looking at it from a different perspective, sometimes by just thinking about different things while I shoot. Besides there is so much happening on Kolkata streets, one can never be in one which is void of material for street photography. Kolkata is absolute heaven for street photography. I am in the right place.

Through photography, what have you learned about yourself in the last year?

This is a very thought-provoking question. I have learned that I need to be more patient, optimistic and to find happiness in the small things in life. Extending or drawing a parallel to photography, you have to more patient, optimistic even if you are not shooting anything worthwhile and lastly there are great photographs in very ordinary subjects and objects.

What are your future goals with photography?

No plans or ambitions for street photography. I would like it to evolve naturally and keep it as a hobby and outlet of self-expression. As for photography I have a few documentary opportunities around the corner. So I am looking forward to exploring that area. But I hope my street work is not impacted by that.

Awesome about the documentary opportunities! Why would you think your street work would be affected by it?

Thanks. I am not sure, just apprehensive. Practically speaking, it should not, but I am quite fluid in my creative process. I am not sure if this makes sense. When I go out on the street, I become open to stimuli - visual , audible, olfactory, (sometimes taste – I am a sucker for street food) that gets me into a creative mode and mood. A somewhat rigid container, documentary photography, if I put my photography in, might give it a different shape.

If you could have a conversation with ANY photographer for an hour, which photographer would you choose and why?

Probably Jeff Mermelstien. I think it is hard to learn how one takes photos from another person. But there is a lot about the attitude to photography and life that one can learn from someone like Jeff. He is a towering figure and one of the humblest persons at the same time. I think an hour with him will give me an insight into this prized trait of his personality.

If you could go back in time, what piece of advice would you give yourself to take some shortcuts here and there based on your experience?

I would have been more disciplined, in the sense taken lesser shots and seen more. When I started out I remember shooting any and every thing I thought would be interesting, obviously my interpretation was not on target. I would have returned with anything like 400 to 500 images from a day’s walk. Not now though. Now I try to shoot in a roll, that is 36 exposures. So I would have slowed down the process a lot, walked more slowly, observed more, not try to shoot things on the fly. Though I feel that gives a certain edge, an energy to one’s shots, I feel giving more thought and waiting far outweighs the transient highs and gives more depth. I feel that way one matures more quickly as a photographer and the camera life is also extended :).

Great advice! Although, don’t you think this can actually block you from taking photos? You might find yourself not taking photos just for the sake of slowing down and waiting for something “better” to happen.

I would rather take meaningful photos, photos with impact, wow-photos, than just shoot anything for the sake of shooting. Returning home without a single shot is better than a bunch of photos that go to Recycle Bin.

What gear do you use? Philosophy: Digital or analog?

I shoot digital and mainly with a Canon entry-level APS-C camera. I have tried many other mirror-less premium compact cameras in between but fell back to the trusted Canon, I think, mainly for the optical viewfinder or that camera is now an invisible tool after continuous use. I am used to the controls so much by now. It does not come in between me and the photograph anymore unlike other new cameras but I will have to make the switch someday to a mirror-less. I generally shoot at 28mm full-frame equivalent but recently got a 35mm lens (EF-S 24mm pancake) which is too good. Now I walk around mainly with this one. So any gear is good as long as you constantly use it and sleep with it too. Yes, it works! I slept with it fiddling with the controls on quite a few occasions.

B&W or color? Why?

Color mostly but, I think I think in B/W or so many people have remarked. Almost all my photos look good or even better in B/W. I also have the color settings on my camera in B/W and shoot RAW. So even though I don’t check the photos on the LCD too much, when I do for the histogram, it is B/W. On edit too I see the B/W version first, then see if it is good in color too. I believe B/W is the soul of a photo. This is a personal process choice I have made which may not have too much rationale to it but I like it that way.

What about post processing/developing?

I have mentioned about the edit process a bit in the earlier question. As for processing, my Canon gives too much yellowish white balance on Auto. So I adjust the white balance in Lightroom using the dropper tool or see if Auto works. Then edit in Photoshop for some basic brightness and contrast adjustments and that is it. Oh, I also apply the lens profile corrections, if available in Lightroom, for the lens in use. That takes care of the fringing and aberrations.

The selected picture (first picture on top).

I have an ongoing series in my mind when I go out to shoot. It is metamorphosis. It is about nonverbal communication between humans and events and forms and what not. It is a series on free communication in the world, likenesses, being Roman when in Rome, copycat, mimicking in love etc etc. It is a gateway to ideas of sorts. It is a short-circuit in our brains that forces us to think along non-conventional lines.

So I was launching on the day’s walk when I saw this cockerel roaming around some canister on sale and noticed the similarity of colors and position of colors. I took a few quick shots but was not happy with the composition. So I waited for about 5 minutes for the cockerel to get into a position where I have a real story. And soon enough it was positioned at a canister gateway of sorts and I had a clear dialogue forming. But the cockerel was looking away and in a dark area. I decided I need to light its hood up so popped the on-camera flash and took a few quick ones as it turned towards me. This had the clearest view of its hood and the similarity and story well-formed. Like it was encountering its past life or something. I saw many possibilities for interpretation only on this composition. This again is a key factor I try to keep in my “metamorphosis” series – much room for interpretation. After a short circuit the fuse should not blow, there should be many possibilities and the current must flow. So this was chosen on edit.

Street Photographers on tumblr you truly admire.

tatsuo-suzuki

shinnoguchiphotography

ryosuke-takamura

mankichi44

dirtyharrry

What are some other projects you are currently working on?

There is a paid documentary project in the pipeline on cancer and its anthropological, socio-economic effects in Kolkata that I shall be working on very soon. Besides that I have two very long term documentary projects I have in mind – “Religion” and “Politics”. These are so vast in scope that I need to work out a plan on them. I shall be posting photos from the last two projects as and when I take them on social media. Regarding the cancer project I need to check copyright rules as those shall be taken mostly in hospitals and cancer wards across the city and privacy concerns shall be there but I am sure some photos I can definitely publish online. All of these are in planning stage. So I cannot say “Work in Progress” and share something.

How similar or different do you think street photography is from documentary photography, especially now that you are thinking about these new projects, do you think your street skills can give you a hand in your documentary projects?

I think they are very different. Different as in painting and newshour on TV. I haven’t yet tested the waters there but I think in documentary one cannot take too many liberties, has to stick to the main story you are documenting. Street photography is more about the photographer than anything else. Across 10 images the personality will come across. In documentary his style will come across but maybe not the person behind the camera. Also you have to keep in mind a broader audience as there is an underlying cause with human interest. In street photography, I don’t really care if anyone sees my photographs. It is mainly for myself.

About skills giving hand, oh yes, street photography is top of the pyramid, the toughest of all genres I believe. You give a good street photographer a bad camera he will come out with a gem. So yes, technical skills, attitude, vision from street will definitely help documentary.

Where can we find you?

Currently I am posting regularly on FB, Flickr and Instagram.

My website which has my curated work – www.soumyendrasaha.com

Also on:

Flickr - https://www.flickr.com/photos/soumyendra/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/soumyendra.saha

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/soumyendras/

Tumblr – soumyendra.tumblr.com

E-mail – [email protected]

Phone – (+91)-9163609323

Any advice from your personal experience?

I shall share some tips which I found work for me:

Walk on an empty stomach. If your blood flows to your belly to digest, your brain is deprived and stops creating.

Walk more, walk everyday, walk slowly.

Forget about the camera. How it looks, how much you paid for it, how new or old is it, what people think about it and you (with it). All of this will damage your photography.

Stick to one camera.

Keep an empty mind. Leave your worries at home and think and feel like a child on the streets.

Smile.

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just-some-other-reviews · 7 years

Photo

This drama is, at the same time, the best drama for a cat lover (like myself, I love my cats, they’re cute [don’t misunderstand me, they’re not kitten that I keep only because they’re cute and will end up giving away, they’re senior cats with tones of problems]) or the worst drama a cat lover lover could watch, but it’s quite realistic and those who already had a cat might identify themselves to the male lead.

Imaginary Cat is a romantic comedy. Jong-Hyun is a webtoon wirter that try to make himself a place in this world, and, while waiting to be published, is working part-time in a library to pay for his rent. One rainy day, years ago, he found Bok Sil, a stray cat, and brought it home. Since then, she became his muse and he adores her. The love of cats will bring Jong-Hyun to encounter Na-Woo, a young woman, who, years ago, lost her cat and can’t keep herself from seeing her Haru in Bok Sil.

I tried to keep the drama without spoiler. I identified two parts in which I think the spoilers are way too revealing. If you want to avoid the first one, the one about the ending, skip the end of the sentence. If you want to avoid the second one about the plot twists, skip the end of the paragraph.

The plot is quite usual for those who are used to this type of drama. I mean, the progression follows the one of the usual “animal plot”. What I mean is that it looks like a Hollywood movie with (generally) a dog. You know, the animal brings two people together, they fall in love and (SPOILER) the animal ends up dying, leaving its owner and his lover to bound over their memories. I have to admit that I was glad that the story wasn’t turning around Haru and Bok Sil resemblance. It was always in the background, since it was a bit like the “main” story, but most the drama was focused on the protagonists’ life, but especially on Bok Sil and Jong-Hyun interactions. Most of the time, it was a really heartwarming drama, quite cute and also pretty realistic and reliable. It’s probably because the fact that it looked so realistic that it was quite a sad drama, also. I mean, most of it is really light, the idea of having a cat talking is absolutely awesome, since - you know - you can easily say that it was well-done and the screenwriter (or the webtoon writer, I don’t know how the webtoon was wrote) really captured everyday thoughts that might cross our cat’s mind, but near the end to drama becomes quite heavy and emotional. The drama is really short (8 episodes) so it doesn’t have a lot of length. I have to admit that it’s one of the rare drama, lately, that I carefully watched the whole episode without skipping any part. The story is well-done and really interesting, even though there’s not a lot of plot twist. (SPOILER) I’ll briefly discuss about a plot twists. At some point, it’s revealed that Bok Sil is, in fact, Haru. This small portion of the drama was something that made me really upset because Na-Woo was really lacking insight. I know, she wanted her cat back, but she wasn’t even sure yet, what’s more, it’s ridiculous to want to have your cat back after someone else bounded with her for over seven years and you only briefly had it. But the most upsetting was how she reclaimed the cat, while knowing Seung-Ho was deeply attached to Bok-Sil. I mean, she had hanged around him long enough to realize that Bok Sil was his emotional support and was really important to him. I have to admit that the handling of this situation didn’t please me and I thought it was the major flaw in the story line (you know, I need to find one, at least).

The characters of the drama are pretty average. The male lead, Jong-Hyun, is the usual genius artists who went through a lot and, by consequence, was unable to success. Through the drama, he follows the usual development for this type of character. There was nothing surprising when it came to this character. The female lead, Na-Woo, is, also, quite typical. I mean she’s the cheerful female lead hurt by her past, who passed most of her childhood being extremely sick which makes her a bit weaker than a normal female character and overprotected by those around her. She’s quite annoying because she’s always trying to help the male lead, even though he doesn’t want any help from her and finds her too forceful. The character that’s truly interesting in this drama is the cat because the second male lead is barely in the drama and the second female lead is like in-existing. I mean a talking animal is often seen, but, so far, I have seen more often dogs being portrayed that way than cats. Also, Bok-Sil is absolutely lovable being her independent and really clingy self. Her reflections are also quite unique because she’s not causing a mess and doesn’t act in a way that she disturbs the male lead intentionally.

I’ll conclude here. The plot would be worth a 8/10. The characters would be a 3/5 since there was evolution, even though it wasn’t that appearing until the final episode. The tearjerker factor would be a 3/5 or 4/5, prepare tissues for the ending. After finishing the drama, you might want to hug your cat while crying... Those precious balls of fur...

I just want to say a little something before really ending this review. The tearjerker factor is really subjective in the case of this drama because of my personal history (can we say that in English...? I’m not sure). I was really affected by the emotional tension near the end because I went through a similar situation. I grew up always having a cat. When I was born my parents already had an old cat (like he was older than ten already by then, but we couldn’t say really what was his age ‘cause my family found him during the winter and he was a stray cat), so I basically grew up with him. Like I was really stupid back then, I dressed him up and everything. Well, that’s not what is important. Eventually he died (duh, he’s a cat), but his death was really similar to the one of Bok-Sil. You know he just stopped to eat and everything (like any cat dying...) and was even to the point that he kind of turned blind (Not joking, he stumbled in the stairs when he was outside), so we had to put him to sleep ‘cause he was just too sick and the vet’ was like “Oh, we could see if he has cancer or some shit like that”, but my parents thought that the old man was already, at least, seventeen so we should let him leave. So like the whole situation described in the drama really echoed with me and remembered me of my old cat that I truly loved (I mean, from my birth to around my seventh birthday he was always with me, the cat anatomy (like whiskers, etc.) was among my first words and everything) and I’m quite a sensitive person when it comes to matter of death. So, yah, the tearjerker factor might be wrong for most people, but I think I explained my choice well-enough.

#Imaginary cat #korean drama #kdrama #k-drama #review #yoo seung-ho #yoo seung ho #yoo seungho #cho hyejung #cho hye jung #cho hye-jung

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