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Lezima Gomes
Doha
Photographs are memories meant to last a lifetime and the recently held Katara Photography Festival celebrated just that as it brought together the work of various artistic minds.
Among the avid photographers who showcased their collection, was Andrea Buenafe from the Philippines, who has been living in Qatar since 2012. Buenafe is an avid art lover and remembers precisely how her journey as a photographer began."I became a photographer by accident. My job required me to visit Souq Waqif in February 2013 and when I went in I couldn't find my way out, so I wandered every alley and started taking pictures using my mobile camera. I uploaded them on Instagram and was surprised to get likes from strangers. If I hadn't got lost in Souq Waqif, I am unsure I would have discovered this passion," she recounted.
With passion ignited, Buenafe found herself returning to Souq Waqif every afternoon and experimenting with different angles with her iPhone 4. After a few months, her brother, an established photographer, encouraged her to switch to a proper camera. She bought a Canon EOS M, which is a mirrorless camera."It was really handy. I could put it in my purse and snap any time. But it wasn't giving me the quality of night pictures that I wanted. Then I finally got a second-hand full-frame Canon 5D Mark II. I didn't like it at first because it was heavy. But I love it now and use the camera till date. I even got a floral strap to make it look pretty," she said with a smile.
In the beginning, Buenafe would go out every afternoon catching sunset and exploring new buildings. She got herself acquainted with the basics of camera settings by watching YouTube tutorials. She said,"I would usually go out to practice then show my brother the results. He would pinpoint the areas I needed to work on, and then I would try to fix the flaws the next time. I've attended a couple of introductory trainings including SeeMyDoha mobile photography workshop".
Over time, Buenafe got into the photography scene in Qatar. She has participated and won Instagram contests for her photographs as well as Fanar's QND contests. She was selected by the tourism authorities of Thailand to be part of Women's Journey 2015 where they selected female photographers, one each from 35 countries.
She dedicates time to really appreciating her surroundings and looking for beauty in life."It has become my aim to share with people how I see the world. I like capturing real moments and not staged: architecture accented by clouds, or birds, and beautiful natural light. I love connecting lines all in one frame. My favourite is the Museum of Islamic Art."
The theme of the Katara Photography Festival was 'Excitement'. Buenafe exhibited 20 images ranging from colourful night life in Doha to happy faces, bright cloudy skies and more. She said,"For someone who just got lost in Souq Waqif one day, to see her photos in a gallery along with other great photographers, it is truly an honour to be included in the prestigious Katara Photography Festival."
Speaking about the overwhelming response she received for her photographs at the exhibition, she said,"People I know who are not on Instagram were thrilled to see that I could take such photos. I went to the exhibition one day to observe people looking at my works. I felt flattered that most of them took time to see them one by one. It's overwhelming that whenever I introduce myself as the photographer, they seem delighted and praise my work."
When asked if she draws inspiration from any professional, she is quick to narrate a story about late photographer Vivian Dorothy Maier who was an American street photographer. Maier worked for about 40 years as a nanny, mostly in Chicago's North Shore, pursuing photography during her spare time. She took more than 150,000 photographs during her lifetime, primarily of the people and architecture of New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles, although she also travelled and photographed worldwide. Her photographs were discovered and published only around 2007, just two years before her death.
She also admires the works of Steve McCurry, the famous National Geographic photographer who clicked the iconic Afghan girl and Dirk Bakker's perfect architecture shots."I love my photographer brother and friends who always inspire me to take more pictures. Each photographer has his/her own unique eye. I get inspiration from every unique perspective."
Speaking about her life here in Doha, she said that she loved the place from the minute she got here."I had a good impression of Doha since my first job was with a tour company. I got to see the best views now the monochromatic neutral colours of the city in the morning transform into fancy and colourful night lamps in the evening. And now that I'm working with a premier information guide, I get to discover newer local scenes. My job plays an important role in improving my craft," she said.
"Doha and its outskirts are great inspirations for art from the intricate buildings to the colourful dhows and the ripple patterns of the desert. These inspirations combined with the support of organisations like Katara, motivate people to create more art."
Describing her love for photography she said that it is like a surprise gift for me from the Creator."It saved me from being homesick and gained me friends and a lot of other surprises. And because of that, I have to keep my skill shining by continuously showing people that life is beautiful. Amidst the chaos, the world is not ugly. You just have to see through it. I look forward in exploring more places, capturing more happy faces."
Advice to budding photographers?"Before you take the picture, appreciate your subject, appreciate your surroundings. Include only the best things in your frame and make it lasting," she said.
