Peter Stewart is a travel and fine art photographer. He takes photos of Asian landscapes, streets, and cultures. He’s from Australia but resides in Hong Kong, which is the perfect place to report from Asia. His work has been featured in top magazines like National Geographic, Huffington Post, GEO Magazine, and Travel + Leisure. In his free time from being in front of the lens, Peter enjoys discovering photography cultures and cultural hotspots worldwide — from Tokyo’s electric streets to offbeat art districts, such as National Casino New Zealand, where inspiration and creativity converge in strange new blends.
Content
- 1 What are You Trying to Capture with Your Photography?
- 2 How Do You Know if Your Images are Visually Interesting?
- 3 What Time of the Day do You Prefer to Shoot?
- 4 Do You Focus Only on the Subject or Also the Background
- 5 What Mistake Do You See Photographers Doing Often?
- 6 What is the Most Important Lesson that Has Improved Your Photography?
What are You Trying to Capture with Your Photography?
Over the years, I think I’ve matured and found my niche. Initially, my desire was to travel and showcase destinations in the best possible way. I often focus on myself first, but I hope others see me with wonder and awe. Simply put, I wanted to inspire more people to travel and witness some awesome sights. Today, I focus on themes with an abstract twist. I aim to reveal what’s in plain view but often overlooked by the untrained eye.
How Do You Know if Your Images are Visually Interesting?
Often, I photograph a location without a clear visual hook or a subject to draw the eye in. These are the cases where you must ask yourself, does this draw my attention? With minimalist subjects, I use shadow and geometry to generate visual appeal. I am known for my chaotic imagery. There’s no clear guide for the viewer. I use this to my advantage. I grab the viewer’s attention by playing with color and highlighting small details.
What Time of the Day do You Prefer to Shoot?
Like most photographers, I love shooting landscapes at sunrise or sunset. But in cities, my favorite time is night, when the lights come on and the sky glows softly. Night photography is more calming. You can take your time to slow down and focus. This is different from the fast pace of sunrise.
Looking for a unique subject? I don’t mind shooting well-known spots, but I always search for places to bring my ideas to life. My images “Fragments of Hanoi” and the Taxiland series show how I use everyday scenes to create something new from my sketched vision.
Do You Focus Only on the Subject or Also the Background
I think paying attention to what’s going on in the background of your frame is very important. People often focus too much on their main subject. They overlook things like someone walking in the background or a lamppost in the corner. I always try to clear distractions from the background before I take the shot. On the flip side, looking at what’s between you and your subject also pays off. There may be interesting foreground elements that you can use to add an extra layer to your scene. I often notice this with portrait photographers. They focus on the background and add a layer between themselves and their model. For example, the camera can be placed between the leaves of a tree branch.
What Mistake Do You See Photographers Doing Often?
Not taking the time to slow down and focus. I often visit busy tourist spots. Many people are there for a quick selfie. But I also see that many photographers rush through, too. They don’t take the time to put down the camera and take it all in. Look around (put the camera away), and note what you want to shoot and where you need to stand. Slow down and remember to enjoy the scene with your own eyes first.
What is the Most Important Lesson that Has Improved Your Photography?
With photography, it’s a continual learning experience. Something I shot a year ago might not be as good as I hit it now. The learning curve will never stop; it gets slowly easier. The biggest lesson I learned was to shift my focus. Instead of the technical side of photography, I needed to explore the artistic side too. In my first years of shooting, I watched many tutorials. I learned about post-processing and camera settings for hours on end. All useful knowledge, sure, but it doesn’t teach you to become a better photographer. Look into the great artists of photography, painting, and filmmaking. You’ll find out a lot more.