The hyperfocal distance in a friendship

Trip: Seoul. December 2011.

It is easy to imagine that a friendly relationship between a professional photographer and one who intends to be interested in this art would begin somewhat like this…

‘Nice camera there…’

‘Well, it is an SLR with a 18-300 lens kit.’

‘Oh! I have one that I just point and shoot and am able to zoom too. The optical zoom is 10x.’

There will be smiles exchanged as one ceases to feel threatened and the other feels he can be mentored well. The chasm is seemingly unbridgeable in terms of equipment as well photographer’s instinct. The only fact that may probably bind the two is how intelligently both try to understand what the other person is saying. The next part of the conversation may go on these lines…

‘You know, I believe that the camera must always be ready. Almost like saying that when the moment is ready, the camera must click. If it doesn’t, the photographer needs to rephrase his instincts,’ says the amateur.

‘Yes,’ sighs the photographer, immediately getting a sense of being in the presence of a person who knows more than is obvious, ‘even photography has infinite number of rules. But so long as one remains in the zone of focus, all is well.’

“In every frame, I seek the unspoken truth, the fleeting emotion, and the silent narrative. Photography isn’t just about capturing light; it’s about capturing life.” said photographer Jackie Zoller.

‘Zone of focus?’

‘Yes, the hyperfocal distance. When you focus on a subject, one third of the distance closest between subject and camera is in focus and two thirds of the zone that stretches out from and behind the subject is also in focus. Once you understand this, you’ll get clearer and better pictures.’

‘Ah!,’ murmurs the amateur and add, ‘this sounds so much like the essentials of any relationship. Aim to get the greatest range of focus and remain sharp!’

Both smile and know that a new friendship has begun.

However, my friendship with Sunwoong Moon did not start like this. There was no tech banter, no talk of photography, and no philosophy discussed. But before I go any further, let me tell you where and how I met Moon.

Sunwoong Moon, the official photographer for the Samsung event in Seoul, Korea

Moon getting ready to click a group photograph of the Mobilers in Samsung Digital City, Seoul

I was in Seoul to attend the Mobilers Meet in Seoul and was representing India as the Brand Ambassador for Samsung. Sunwoong Moon was the official photographer deputed by Samsung to document every moment of this Meet. I first met Moon in the lobby of Ritz Carlton there and as I too had an interest in photographer, just went up to him and said, ‘Hi! I am from India.’ I remember he told me his name but his name intoned with a Korean-English accent made things terribly difficult until he simply declared that his name is: Moon.

That evening as I sat down to transfer the photographs from my camera to my Tab, I realised that I had forgotten to bring with me the battery charger. Panic! The batteries needed a replacement and the charger was missing. The panic showed clearly on my face even the next morning as I waited in the lobby to be escorted for a visit to the Samsung Digital City in just outside Seoul.

‘Anything serious?’ asked Moon, seeing my worrisome expression.

‘My camera is dead. No batteries and I have no charger,’ I replied with a visibly shaken tone, ‘Even the hotel doesn’t have a spare charger. I may need to go and buy one now.’

Moon gave me a broad smile, opened his huge photographer’s bag, took out two sets of completely charged batteries and offering them, said, ‘Here, take these and return them to me before you leave.’

Relieved, I sat down, reactivated my camera and as there was still some time, we began a long discussion on photography… as friends. Sometimes even an instinctive push towards a person needs an objective catalyst and Moon happily lending me two charged sets of batteries triggered this friendship.

‘Tell me, Moon,’ I asked, ‘What would be the five best shots that an amateur like me can attempt?’

Without any hesitation, he said, ‘Evening shots give you the supremely romantic side of any urban landscape. This is one shot you can always wait for and attempt. Wherever… every place is fine. Of course, if you’re lucky, you’ll be in a position to actually see the setting sun. You’ll see the shadows lengthen. You’ll see the same city in a more subdued light.’

‘You’re not just a photographer, Moon. You’re a poet too.’ Moon just smiled, and continued, as if in a different world altogether, ‘I also love taking pictures of places that are still not complete… or some work is going on. Thus up and coming moments give a different life to pictures.’

‘Right,’ I interjected, ‘what about sign and signboards?’

‘They can be an interesting source of associating incidents while you’re in a city. Yes, signs and signboards are certainly excellent subjects.’

‘And they can be funny too,’ I added.

‘Linking people with the city is also a good idea. What they do. How they do what they do. These pictures can be like the answer to so many questions. Buildings are interesting, but you need to photograph them from unique angles. You will need to step into places, or step out of the usual angles and then take your shot.’

‘Right.’

Sunset from Gungnam, Seoul… reflects the pace of the city as well as its tech face!

Seoul — the skyscrappers as you emerge from a subway!

Seoul – Smoke spot near the Incheon airport. Captures the passion of the Korean to keep their city clean despite their vices!

‘The most important, though,’ and Moon smiled as he said this, ‘is that you remember to photograph your own movements. What you see and notice is what the camera must try to capture. This is the most difficult. I remember I once saw light fall on a few leaves on a tree and I went on and clicked the entire tree. The image in my mind was not the image that I saw on the PC screen later. I was saddened that day.’

This last tip struck me as the most important and I resolved to take a few pictures in Seoul that matched Moon’s tips.

Maple leaves huddled in a corner near Myeondong… the camera captured just what the eyes saw!

One relaxed moment for the placard bearer… Seoul… again, a picture of just what the eyes saw!

My relationship with Moon was, of course, not limited to just the technical banter about photography. We also discussed the various types of food that the country had to offer. The wide range of sea-food popular here and the way it is to be eaten. I remember he demonstrated how to open a prawn and eat it with your hands. He also taught me how to extract the steamed and salted mollusc from its shell… particularly the one where you had to give the fork a mighty twist as everyone around looked at you in panic, ready to catch the flying piece the moment I blundered. These were indeed some of the funnier and lighter moments of my stay in Seoul.

Of course, we did befriend each other on the social networks and I thus I still get to see his latest photographs and learn from them. No wonder I call this long distance relationship the ‘hyperfocal distance in friendship’.