ARTICLES

Being a publication I enjoy reading - I was delighted to be asked to contribute to the January 2019 edition of Outdoor Photography Magazine. The brief was quite open, and so I chose to explore something which might not normally feature, whilst also allowing the opportunity to publish on of my favourite images - taken whilst working in Pakistan in 2011.

‘Lie of the Land’ Article - Slice of Life

As part of a humanitarian aid team in Pakistan, photography wasn't always Graham Niven's first priority, but his camera always by his side, ready to document the world unfolding around him.

I have never liked to define my style or approach to photography too much, largely because it feels quite limiting to do so. Though I do not profess to be a master of any particular genre - I enjoy capturing an eclectic mix of adventure, landscape, night, nature, wildlife, travel and documentary photography, with everything else in-between, relishing the challenges and freedom of expression that come with them. My journey in photography has been quite organic and the subjects have often been incidental to my experiences in life.

I work in humanitarian/development aid, and although for now more sedentary and based in Scotland - I have been fortunate to travel to some fascinating, less visited and beautiful places. My camera has always been with me; a tool for observation and documenting during fieldwork, but also for capturing a slice of life, visions of landscapes and environments which reflect rich variety and diversity. One of those places was Pakistan in the aftermath of severe flooding of the Indus River in 2011. I was there working with an organisation Action Against Hunger - to improve water and sanitation facilities and awareness. I moved around a lot, from the fertile plains in the south of the Indus Delta, to the mountains in the far northwest bordering Afghanistan.

I was not there to photograph primarily, but did need to document things like damaged water and sanitation infrastructure as part of needs assessments. However as a passionate photographer and with a curious mind, I allowed my intrigue and enthusiasm to indulge where possible and appropriate. This was normally in the form of very ad-hoc, candid, handheld, documentary style. Rarely visiting the same place twice, I couldn’t take the time to plan and compose a scene, wait for the right weather and/or light etc, so, much was captured from a moving vehicle, whilst on foot in communities, or from inside secure compounds. There were many challenges and frustrations to capturing a good image and many times when I was urging to take a photo but just couldn’t because of time, cultural sensitivities, safety and security. However, it was often because of these details, not despite them, that the few I did capture were more satisfying, more real, and more raw.

The above image ‘Indus Dawn’ was taken from the front seat of a moving car, captured in the early morning on the roads in Sindh province. The light was always quite ethereal at this time with much moisture and smoke in the air, and people were active to take advantage of the more agreeable temperatures. This sight made me scramble for my camera and settings to capture a scene full of intrigue, but at the same time, of daily routine. When exploring the image back on a screen, I found black and white to reveal a depth of tones and textures, layers of transient life, movement and stillness.

On the back of some Photography Award recognition, I was recently interviewed for a feature in i-on lifestyle Magazine:

How has travel influenced your life? Much of my travel and photography has been through my work in humanitarian/development aid, which has given me a great deal of perspective. To travel for pleasure is a great privilege; not just to have the means to do so, but also the freedom.

What’s the appeal? Largely, it’s wonder and curiosity that leads you around the next corner. I’ve been fortunate to visit a variety of places, often remote and wild, to meet and connect with some incredible people and their lives. I’ve seen extraordinary landscapes and amazing natural wonders.

How did you get into travel photography? My camera’s always been with me; it’s not just a tool for observation and documenting during fieldwork, but also for capturing a glimpse of life in places very different to those we know.

Where is your favourite place in Scotland to photograph? The more I see, the luckier I feel to call Scotland home. It might rain now and then, but this gives us the lush greenery. We enjoy extraordinary light and landscapes, and the opportunity for adventure is never far away. There are some pretty excellent people here too. As for a favourite photo spot, Loch Garten is special to me; it seems more serene with each visit.