Nina Weinberg Doran

This interview between Tim Thayer and Nina Weinberg Doran was conducted via email in the month of February, 2008.

TT: How do you approach the people you are photographing? Do you talk to them first?

NWD: It can go one of two ways..... Generally I'm out.. I'm walking.. I'm in a car... something or someone attracts my eye... I get out.. I walk... sometimes I stand and watch.. in the market.. on a street..... and try to be less visible so as I'm not too distracting.. or noticed to offset the nuances. The moment I'm trying to capture....

Sometimes people are aware of me.. clearly.. I'm talking.. I'm mingling.. but at the same time my eyes are diverting.. and I shoot things as they go by...

Most often I see something and I gain a spot to shoot unnoticed... However when and if possible.. which is most times.. I engage the person after... sometimes it's for a long time.. to sit and talk.. to have been invited into homes.. yards... to laugh...

Last year in morocco.. i was driving in the desert... there was a nomadic family... immediately I had the car stopped.. out I went.... first standing a bit back.. shooting.. then ever so slowly coming closer.. they didn't seem to mind.... I began to talk to them .. English was not really understood.. but I used my eyes.. my hand gestures as I touched my heart.. I showed intent..... they could see I was curious.. I walked through their whole set up of tents and woolen blankets.. all the while I'm shooting as I go.. it doesn't take long once I'm with someone.. they get used to me shooting that they soon forget and I can get the image I really want...

In Guatemala...I saw a truck whipping around the bend.. the kind where the top was filled with blankets and vegetables...and then back was filled with women, men and children... they were huddled to stay warm.. I could see they would be stopping soon.. I followed.. when they all got out, there I was with camera shooting.. they lined up in front of an agricultural bank where I learned they get a stipend from there once a month.. they had to wait two hours.. and in line I waited with them.. befriending one family.. who later made me acceptable to the rest.. I shot.. I mingled.. I taught their daughter to look through my camera.. to focus to shoot... I will never forget them or the images..

I have sat in river beds in Jamaica with subjects.. I have been in the ghetto with kids.. under stress... I have seen an elderly woman in the street in the country.. and I get out and approach.....

I think the key is showing intent.. heart..eyes tell the story...........if someone really abjects.. and makes a clear gesture with their hand not to.. I won't.. unless for documentary reasons I think its important.. otherwise respect is key.... but for the most part.. I have been lucky.. despite countries where the camera is not appreciated...I have managed to win the hearts of many.. and /or have found ways to shoot so as not to be seen or to offend..

I often go back and return images .... and I have images of just that.. them with my photos..

TT: What is the balance in being out there, talking and engaging with people, versus creating a photo? Is photography an excuse to see people - a reason to go out in the world and get closer to people you may not otherwise talk with?

NWD: That's a great question...I love people.. and I love images... but when I set off with my camera.. I'm after capturing images.... after all I am an engaging type of personality... so for me.. talking with folks comes easy.. I think in fact my friendly nature has enabled my photography in many instances.. allowed me entré, if you will, to those others might not have access... But even talking to people.. spending time.. doesn't make for an interesting or captivating image...

Images are a fine mix for me.. it has to be compelling.. something has to strike me.. hit me in the gut.. almost where I have to shoot.. I cant be held back or stopped.. my heart is pumping faster.. my adrenalin off the charts... I see something.. might be a fraction of a second.. a minute.. a scenario.. I know there is something there that speaks to me. that touches me.. and I need to start shooting.. in that situation. I can't speak.. engage.. I'm taken over completely.. almost to the point of hearing nothing else..... so the balance is way tipped in that moment to the photography....

But sometimes before I shoot.. or after I shoot.. I spend time with the folks I've been shooting.. it might just be for a few moments.. or it can be for quite some time.. it really just depends.. I think when there is an anecdote.. a memory of the person.. the situation that accompanies the image it makes it even more meaningful for me. it's not just a stolen image.......

When I think of your question.." a reason to go out in the world and get closer to people " that's pretty on target..... I shoot to get closer to myself.. to what moves me.. to what touches me as a human being.. I shoot to get closer and more in touch to others that I might not otherwise... it gives you the time to pause. to reflect.. to put yourself out there...... think in life how often you pass people by.. and how little you probably actually see...... I hope by "seeing" and talking.. and shooting.. I'm bridging some boundaries.. and yes get closer to others.. to mankind in general.... hopefully it makes me a more compassionate human being

TT: When you print in black and white versus color what are your reasons for that - is it about the two dimensional image in front of you - the lighting, the composition or something further back - at the moment you took the photo do you know that one will be black and white and a different scene/person will be printed in color?

NWD: When I shoot I am responding to something innate inside me... it has to be something compelling...I am not thinking.. this will be better in color.. or this one better in black and white... I'm moved by something far deeper than that at the moment.. my brain emotions.. instincts connect on many levels.. its something I actually feel... nothing is a set up.... although there are some times.. when an image is clear that it will look better in bw.. though I don't really make that final decision in advance.. I wait to see my images..

I can tell you that in color composition.. I can see something.. that works.. really well in color.. its something I can see.. not sure how to describe it...but I think color in many ways is a lot harder to do well.... and many don't.. it adds a whole other dimension .

There are images where color takes away.. its just color. not adding anything to the image.. just there. and it actually gets in the way... so after viewing.. I can see that quickly...and I remove it from the dynamic. Sometimes I can be wrong... but there are images that I know.. I will only like in color.. that its part of the composition.....

There are even cases.. where some images look good in both...

So much of this is something beyond words for me.. I can hardly explain it.. because its something I move to.. like the way you might unconsciously tap your hand to a beat.. I see.. I move almost like a hunter... slowly.. pausing.. watching.. waiting. and then pouncing on my shutter..

I shoot in color because there is more information in a digital file in color.. and it gives you that range..option if you will.. something you don't get in film..

I love bw images.. but I honestly believe there are images that really speak louder in color.. and then again images that really speak louder in bw.. so I guess its all up to the final interpretation..

As for "seeing"... I see in color.. I know many photographers say they see in bw.. and shades of grey.... I think over time.. the more I shoot. I see more in bw.. and in general I prefer bw images... but that's funny almost and ironic for a person who shoots and prints quite often in color.... guess I'm fortunate.. I do both.

TT: I realize you probably have answered this question, in some way, in this interview already...but I want to ask why are you a photographer, instead of a painter, or poet, or musician? Have you worked in other mediums in the past?

NWD: Well that's pretty easy for me to answer..... I was exposed to much of the arts as a child.. I tried ballet, gymnastics, piano, classical guitar, ceramics, macramé'....I even kept journals for many years.. writing notes to myself.. but I had no real talent.. or no great passion that took me over with any of it...

I had no trouble writing to communicate emotions.. but to tell a story or something more formal.. words would never come... I loved music.. to dance and sing...even enjoyed playing various instruments for short periods of time... but any really signs of promise or desire to forge ahead.? None.. in fact lessons were always terminated by my dad because I hated to practice and it got too costly on someone not invested.

People always complimented me from early on for my sense of style, how I dressed.. later how my home was decorated.. what I bought... what I took notice of. My great claim to fame.... I don't do any of the formal arts BUT "I have a great eye." I often thought it too bad I didn't have a craft... I even felt jealous of those that seemed to be able to lock themselves away in their own world with their paintbrush or violin...finding some sense of purpose.

Then when I least expected it.. it happened for me.. I never decided to become a photographer. I never attended art school. I was a bit despondent after some serious surgery.. in a rough spot emotionally and I went away to heal.. to find some peace..... camera in hand............ I found myself with a driver for several days meandering back roads in Jamaica...

On one special day.. I took two images that transformed my life.. in fact each of these images won an award putting them in group exhibitions. One in Denver and one in California.

I was lost in another world.. my world of "seeing" ...my world of connecting with a culture.. an environment.. a people..... everything was lost.. I was in an abyss... with my heart so full ....... I looked up at the street sign that named the town. It was "content", and content I was.. happier than ever.. if that were the end for me.. I'd have had the biggest smile on my face..... it is then I knew what I was meant to do... and I'm still journeying on that path.. I have sooo soooo far yet to go.

Me that day when I found my center in photography

TT: I can see your passion for your art - the energy you have when shooting, being lost in the moment. The flip side of that is how have you found the technical aspects photography - from operating a camera to using a computer and printing work?

NWD: What are you trying to kill me??? LOL

The technical aspects came after for me.. when I began with photography I didn't know a thing about aperture, shutter speed, iso.. or various lenses.... I just was thrilled to be able to see, get close to what I wanted.. to move like a snake in and out of environments.. to approach the unapproachable and then finally to be able to compose.. or to wait for that fraction of a second when everything came together to shoot...

But in time that was not enough... I needed to evolve.. and I began to read.. to ask questions, to be pushed and to learn from a mentor and dear friend of mine.... I learned about F-stops and shutter speeds.. when to use what lens..what is a single focal length versus a zoom or telephoto.. when I needed a wide angle etc.... and to find my own rhythm with the technical aspects.... and with each passing week.. month.. year.. I continued to learn more...as I am still doing.. I am far from a technical whiz.

I pay attention to how light falls on subjects.. how light plays such a big role.... I have learned to pay attention to what I include or not include in the framing/cropping of an image.. which I like to do through the lens of my camera..and not afterwards...... ... and like all people that learn things new.. there are mistakes.. and I have faltered... that great image.. that is totally blurred... or that best image that is so underexposed there is no way I can save it.... or when I've been so excited moved too fast.. I had a shallow depth of field when I wanted more depth of field.....

As for post shooting work... the computer..uploading.. editing... color management and printing .. that is a whole other thing unto itself.. I have learned all these things pretty much on my own or with on-line tutorials.. and with a whole lot of trial and error..and wasting of precious money in inks and paper...... I'm not all that proficient in Photoshop.. I know some basics, what I need to know for now...... and while id like to learn more to maximize the full capability and range of my images...I am also thankful.. that I rely primarily on the camera work.. Not on post production.... I don't see myself ever really transforming my images far from the one taken.. I will play with shadows.. highlights.. contrast.. color.. but I don't go far from where I began.... BW conversion was harder initially for me and I am still finding new ways to get where I need to go.. it's much like the darkroom.. there is no one way.. some basics.. the rest is up to interpretation... and to little changes in subtle ways that make the image what you want it to be...to convey.

The actual printing was difficult at first.. finding the right papers.. the right settings.. getting the color management right within the computer settings and to the printer... some images look great on one paper.. but horrible on another.. some look good on both.. just a preference.. some have a warm tone ,some cooler.. I am actually just in the process of sending a printer back.. and changing companies.. so I'm a bit in turmoil with this transition.. but like everything else I think ill be fine once I find my way....

Bottom line.....technical stuff comes harder for me.. I was bad at math and the abstract.... it took me time to think about these things... even though now it's innate how I move these stops and speed.. if I slow down to think about it I can get it confused.. but instinctually I've learned to do it ....... I have a lot more to learn .. I know not a thing about professional lighting.. though I don't see myself doing studio work.. so it isn't so much a subject for me...... but there is so much I've yet to learn.. or to experiment with...

Technical stuff needs to support what I do... I can learn that.... utilize it.. but the image is the key element... with all the technique and all the best pieces of equipment... it's for naught if you haven't the eye to capture the image.......one is basically useless without the other.............. they need to go hand in hand... one hand for me like one side of my brain is stronger than the other.... but I'm working on it, and I'll keep learning and progressing forward as I have from the beginning.. it's all such a great gift

TT: Thanks Nina!