Photography tutor Hugo Felix remembers the magic of the darkroom and the joy of travel photography.
‘View from the Window at Le Gras’ is said to be the oldest surviving photograph and was captured around 1826. In 2022, 54,400 photos are taken every second. That’s 4.7billion photos taken every day.
So, with almost everybody on the planet armed with a smartphone and camera, why is there a need for professional photographers? Why the global fascination with taking photos? What is it about photography that we cannot get enough of?
Photography always was, and always will be, an art form. Photojournalists have shaken the world to its core and artists have made us question what our eyes can see. Photography is a powerful medium that has been stirring the senses since its inception.
Image courtesy Hugo Felix.
Magic
When Hugo Felix was a child, he would follow his grandfather into his attic darkroom and watch as the image would emerge in the chemical baths. He was entranced by the “magic” of the photograph appearing before his eyes.
As a teenager he got his hands on a camera and enrolled in a photography course and that was it, he would never look back. His lifelong love affair with photography had begun.
As Hugo grew older, he was certain that photography was his path, but it is a competitive business and without an established portfolio and a solid reputation, it can be difficult to break through.
Then Hugo heard about microstock photography and immediately saw the earning potential. Microstock photography is a modern approach to selling stock photographs. The idea is that agencies will sell images for lower prices but in greater volumes.
Image courtesy Hugo Felix.
Hugo worked hard and his graft paid off. He managed to set up his own studio and arm himself with more equipment. Although he enjoys studio work, Hugo found the most rewarding bonus of making a living in this photography, was the travel. Today Hugo has moved into wedding photography and as soon as he has the “courage to hold a baby” he will progress to newborns.
There are many avenues that can be explored through the lens and Hugo loves to play around with long and short exposures creating star trails or capturing a drop of water in mid-air. It's these technical elements that fascinate Hugo which has led him to studio photography. But Hugo will always be drawn to travel photography. Travel is “the only thing you buy that makes you richer”.
Image courtesy Hugo Felix.
Hugo describes a feeling that only photographers can understand. It’s that “feeling of joy that invades you as you watch the image appearing on your camera’s LCD” There may have been hours and weeks of planning, framing, finding the right light and settings and then click, the moment of truth. Hugo’s camera speaks for him as he claims, “it can’t be explained by words.”
But what is clear is that the magic of his grandfather’s darkroom will always be with him.
Image courtesy Hugo Felix.
Fail better
A piece of advice Hugo would pass on to a new photographer, is that you must have thick skin and be objective. “Having the capacity to look at your work and realize what you could have done better is vital” When he analyses his own work, he becomes motivated by his own mistakes and learns how to improve.
He also claims that it is vital to “make a checklist” Hugo has learned the hard way that no matter how diligent you are with charging up your gear, it is always possible to show up for a shoot with your batteries still charging at home.
The final nugget that Hugo wants his students to take away from him is to have no fear. Don’t be afraid to try and don’t be afraid to fail. As Samuel Beckett famously said “Try Again. Fail Again. Fail Better.”
Ask for feedback and look at ways you can improve and “when you finish, repeat the process”
Image courtesy Hugo Felix.
Hugo Felix is a studio, portrait and landscape photographer. His work has been featured in many exhibitions and photographic magazines. He has a large catalogue in Micro Stock Photography and has over 30,000 images available on 10 different sites. Hugo has been teaching photography for a number of years and enjoys sharing his passion and knowledge with students. You can see and follow Hugo's work and portfolio on his website or Instagram page.
To find out how you can become a photographer, visit our courses page.