for the love of DC photography
I’ve shot the occasional DC Rollergirl photo, so I know a good one when I see it. The falling of the light on the skater’s face and upper body, whether naturally occurring or cleverly set up is what really makes this beautiful image from Pablo Benavente. The subtle rendition of the cluttered surroundings balances perfectly with the skater’s focused expression and the smooth skin tones of her arms, shoulders and back.
Another great example from Pablo Benavente of the benefits of always having your camera with you, for those unique moments that you can’t believe you’re actually seeing. Pablo told me via email that he was visiting the Folklife Festival on the Mall when he noticed these tourists “playing with the Port-A-Potties. I mean, I’ve seen people posing with the monuments, buildings, etc., but it’s the first time I’ve seen someone posing with the Potties!” The framing adds another level to the shot: “leaving the photographer out of the frame makes the photo more interesting.”
In Artist Spotlight, we occasionally ask photographers to tell us in their own words about their work and how they challenge themselves. Today’s Spotlight is by Pablo Benavente.
– “These people come here to take our jobs, man.”
That’s what the guy on the street said to my coworker. Perhaps he thought that I was just another Latino that didn’t speak English, or perhaps he didn’t care.
Like many of you, I started in photography by taking photos of monuments, the zoo, parades, and sometimes friends and family. I shot using different styles, settings, reflections, sunsets, moon rises, filters, etc. As I learned and practiced, I started getting offers to do professional gigs like weddings, events which I still do. But inevitably, when you’ve tried many things, there’s a point at which you ask yourself: “Now what?”