The audience was made up largely of young, enthusiastic, eager-to-learn photographers. Speaking to them was Steve Raymer, who after working for more than two decades as a staff photographer for National Geographic, has attained a kind of a hero status among those listening to him.
But rather than talking about f-stops or ISO speeds, Raymer began to impart life lessons which, he says, are even more important than technical know-how.
“Be mindful of how you spend your early 20s because that time hugely imprints upon you for the rest of your life,” he says. “That is another way of saying to make sure something happens to you in your 20s and don’t just float through them.”
Raymer was in Dubai last weekend for the third annual ING Creative Festival. He was one of 22 professionals from 15 countries, who not only came to speak about their chosen field in the creative industry, but also host hands-on sessions at which they could pass on their practical and invaluable knowledge.
Raymer led two Shoot Like National Geographic workshops and gave a talk about his fascinating life and career. He showed several images, taking the audience across continents and generations, and accompanied them with some pearls of wisdom.
“Much of the audience here are young professionals either interested in photography or already photographers,” he says. “The common thread is that they are young, well educated and keenly interested in the state of visual journalism today.”
It makes sense, then, that Raymer would talk to an audience in their 20s about the importance of using their time wisely.
When he was that age, in the late 1960s and early 1970s, he was a young officer in the United States armed forces fighting in the Vietnam War. Upon being hired by National Geographic, he was sent back to photograph the closing stages of the conflict.
This had a massive impact on his life and several of his biggest projects throughout his career centred on South East Asia.
During our conversation, he takes twists and turns, telling stories of being medically evacuated from Cambodia in 1974, documenting the minority Muslim population in Thailand in the 1990s, and returning several times to Vietnam to teach.
With an uncanny memory for dates and impressive attention to detail, Raymer is a storyteller first and photographer second. This, it seems, is the real secret to his success.
“The first thing is to have something to say,” he says. “The camera is just a means of doing that.”
While there are, of course, several tools of the photographic trade he relies upon, as well as an almost innate sense of the qualities of light, Raymer says the primary prerequisite for the job is a way of thinking.
“What editors are looking for is a distinctive way of seeing the world; they are looking for people with ideas and passion,” he says, recalling that at the time he was hired for National Geographic, he had never taken a colour photograph before.
Nowadays, he tells his students he could shoot a National Geographic assignment with his phone, provided he has the right vantage point.
“I am the first one to say that taking the picture is probably the easiest part of the job,” he says. “The hard part is getting yourself in the right place at the right time, where there is a moment and something intimate that others can’t see.
“You need to always remember the audience. You are showing people – at close range – something that they will never see with their own eyes. That is what makes a good photo.”
During the workshops, Raymer spent about an hour introducing the main lessons for becoming a successful photojournalist – being persistent and adding meaning and context to stories – and then sent the participants out into Alserkal Avenue, where the festival took place. They were armed with their cameras and tasked with finding a “moment” to photograph.
Here Raymer uses the words of master photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson, who famously published a book in 1952 called The Decisive Moment, and encourages his students to think about what he was talking about in this book.
After shooting their images, the students came back into the workshop and worked with Raymer to review their results.
"I treated it as if I was the editor at National Geographic," he says. "We were looking for images that can be used for publication and website."
This kind of hands-on training for aspiring young talent can have a life-changing effect – and is part of the reason for the success of this small, well-organised festival.
But it is not only a one-way street. Raymer says teaching is something that gives him great pleasure.
“If you stay in this business long enough, you are going to have friends who will be killed,” he says.
“I am not just talking about doing combat or conflict stories, but doing aerial shots, too. In the 1980s, I had three colleagues killed over four years in helicopter crashes.
“My best friend, Gordon Gahan, survived the war in Vietnam, but was killed in a crash on the Virgin Islands shooting tourism. You never know when your number is up.
“So, in that respect, I am really lucky. I’m 71, I have had just about every imaginable disease and every bone in my major extremities broken on assignment.
“But I am still here and I think if you are still alive, you have some obligation to pass on the knowledge and skills you have.”
artslife@thenational.ae
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Three ways to get a gratitude glow
By committing to at least one of these daily, you can bring more gratitude into your life, says Ong.
- During your morning skincare routine, name five things you are thankful for about yourself.
- As you finish your skincare routine, look yourself in the eye and speak an affirmation, such as: “I am grateful for every part of me, including my ability to take care of my skin.”
- In the evening, take some deep breaths, notice how your skin feels, and listen for what your skin is grateful for.
The specs
Engine: 5.0-litre supercharged V8
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Power: 575bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: Dh554,000
On sale: now
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
The specs
Engine: 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 540hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 600Nm at 2,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Kerb weight: 1580kg
Price: From Dh750k
On sale: via special order
Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
The biog
Hobbies: Salsa dancing “It's in my blood” and listening to music in different languages
Favourite place to travel to: “Thailand, as it's gorgeous, food is delicious, their massages are to die for!”
Favourite food: “I'm a vegetarian, so I can't get enough of salad.”
Favourite film: “I love watching documentaries, and am fascinated by nature, animals, human anatomy. I love watching to learn!”
Best spot in the UAE: “I fell in love with Fujairah and anywhere outside the big cities, where I can get some peace and get a break from the busy lifestyle”
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If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
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What you as a drone operator need to know
A permit and licence is required to fly a drone legally in Dubai.
Sanad Academy is the United Arab Emirate’s first RPA (Remotely Piloted Aircraft) training and certification specialists endorsed by the Dubai Civil Aviation authority.
It is responsible to train, test and certify drone operators and drones in UAE with DCAA Endorsement.
“We are teaching people how to fly in accordance with the laws of the UAE,” said Ahmad Al Hamadi, a trainer at Sanad.
“We can show how the aircraft work and how they are operated. They are relatively easy to use, but they need responsible pilots.
“Pilots have to be mature. They are given a map of where they can and can’t fly in the UAE and we make these points clear in the lectures we give.
“You cannot fly a drone without registration under any circumstances.”
Larger drones are harder to fly, and have a different response to location control. There are no brakes in the air, so the larger drones have more power.
The Sanad Academy has a designated area to fly off the Al Ain Road near Skydive Dubai to show pilots how to fly responsibly.
“As UAS technology becomes mainstream, it is important to build wider awareness on how to integrate it into commerce and our personal lives,” said Major General Abdulla Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief, Dubai Police.
“Operators must undergo proper training and certification to ensure safety and compliance.
“Dubai’s airspace will undoubtedly experience increased traffic as UAS innovations become commonplace, the Forum allows commercial users to learn of best practice applications to implement UAS safely and legally, while benefitting a whole range of industries.”
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League quarter-final (first-leg score):
Juventus (1) v Ajax (1), Tuesday, 11pm UAE
Match will be shown on BeIN Sports
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
BOSH!'s pantry essentials
Nutritional yeast
This is Firth's pick and an ingredient he says, "gives you an instant cheesy flavour". He advises making your own cream cheese with it or simply using it to whip up a mac and cheese or wholesome lasagne. It's available in organic and specialist grocery stores across the UAE.
Seeds
"We've got a big jar of mixed seeds in our kitchen," Theasby explains. "That's what you use to make a bolognese or pie or salad: just grab a handful of seeds and sprinkle them over the top. It's a really good way to make sure you're getting your omegas."
Umami flavours
"I could say soya sauce, but I'll say all umami-makers and have them in the same batch," says Firth. He suggests having items such as Marmite, balsamic vinegar and other general, dark, umami-tasting products in your cupboard "to make your bolognese a little bit more 'umptious'".
Onions and garlic
"If you've got them, you can cook basically anything from that base," says Theasby. "These ingredients are so prevalent in every world cuisine and if you've got them in your cupboard, then you know you've got the foundation of a really nice meal."
Your grain of choice
Whether rice, quinoa, pasta or buckwheat, Firth advises always having a stock of your favourite grains in the cupboard. "That you, you have an instant meal and all you have to do is just chuck a bit of veg in."
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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