The ebb and flow of the perfect photograph, with Dylan H Brown

 

Dylan H Brown spent 6 years in the newspaper industry, finally turning his focus towards his photography. He shoots mainly travel and landscape photography, scouring the world for the best moments and the best images. His focus, he says, is the "under-represented, undiscovered people and places of the world."

He is a member of PhotoShelter, the leader in portfolio websites, photo sales, marketing and archiving tools for photographers.
 

 

Hi Dylan. Tell us a little about you and your photography 
 

Instead of just pointing my camera, I like to be involved. I like being part of the experience. I think as an artist, it's important to collaborate; to really get involved with the subject. It's the ebb and flow that really gets the creative juices going and at just the right moment, the perfect photograph.

 

Why photography? What does the medium mean to you? 
 

I've always been rather pragmatic, so photography for me has been just a tool. A tool that I had a natural knack for. Black and white film just clicked with me. And from there, I just continued shooting. If I could paint, I probably would be a painter, but I use the tools that I can, and a camera has given me the freedom to express so much to the world that I otherwise wouldn't be able to.

 

You've travelled the world in pursuit of your photography. Where's the most memorable place and most memorable shoot? 

I toured through India and I spent some time in the tea district of Munnar. I was exploring on a motorbike and came across a group of women wrapping up their day. I had a bag full of sweets and chips and shared it with everyone. The mood quickly became joyous and I had my camera slung in clear sight. As the women became more relaxed and started teasing one another, I began snapping photos. It slowly turned into a great portrait session and I couldn't have asked for bigger smiles.

 

 

 

 

As a travel photographer, and someone who loves street photography, I think it's really important to go light. Know the lenses you love to shoot with, prioritize those, and leave behind the extras. But, I must say pancake lenses are huge! They are a more non-descript and invasive than big zooms. I always have a 35 or 50 pancake (manual focus) in my kit.

 

 

 

My philosophy is always be respectful. If you meet someone that doesn't want their photo taken, be kind, be communicative, explain yourself, but just don't take their photo and walk away. Create a relationship. Some of my most memorable moments are when I sat down, with my camera in my lap, and just had a conversation, never even taking a photo.

 

 

I'm working on a personal project called "Impermanence". It's a fashion, implied and nude series, juxtaposing human beauty in big desert landscapes. It's a real dive into directing and I love it. My third and final part of the series will take place deep in a subterranean canyon near Escalante, Utah.