Way before joining the class, Paul was a clinical psychologist; however, he wrote that his “psychology background and how it impacts the photography” he does “is vague”. Either way, Paul’s new interest has caught the eyes of people and earned him acknowledgment in the photography world. Paul was a finalist in several street photography events, including Winner of the Miami Street Photography Festival in 2020, as well as 3rd place in Lens Culture Street in 2020, and today we gladly are sharing his works with you. More info: paulkessel.com | Instagram First of all, Paul shared that he compares photography to sport. We asked him to explain how this comparison affects the way he takes photos.“The sports analogy is strictly in my head. I played competitive golf at a high level for many years and I feel that street photography is a substitute for my engagement in golf (all pre-Trump!). The analogy includes rarely but occasionally getting into a zone where shots flow without effort, analyzing conditions and setting the camera appropriately, many mediocre or ‘OK’ shots and every now and then something more exceptional, and much more, including competition in contests,” wrote Paul. Paul responded: “I am by no means a Zen Buddhist, but I often feel that the photos find me if I can remain open-minded and alert enough to let it happen. At times, I run into an interesting scene or interaction. Other times, I find a good spot., imagine it as a stage, and wait for the actors to enter. This is what all street photographers do. I always use a wide-angle prime lens. For a long time, it was a 35mm lens until I switched to 28mm. I hope to see gestures, expressions, or anything a bit out of the ordinary in ordinary everyday situations.” I was offered quite a few opportunities after winning Miami. However, it was at the height of the pandemic, and I turned them down. I also found it interesting that I received loads of negative criticism about the photo that won. It affected my career in two ways; a boost in confidence and a tendency to reject my own photos much more because they were merely adequate.” “I hope that people take the time to linger on some of my better photos and that there is sufficient room or mystery so that if they do linger, they can create their own story about the photo. I rarely attempt to convey a message,” wrote Paul. Follow Bored Panda on Google News! Follow us on Flipboard.com/@boredpanda! Please use high-res photos without watermarks Ooops! Your image is too large, maximum file size is 8 MB.
