Member Moment: Rigers Qarri

Rigers Qarri is a Film Club Member whose work is featured in our Member Show Seasonal Reflections: Fall. His images capture beautiful natural landscapes as well as the smaller details within nature. This week we interviewed Rig to learn more about his relationship with photography and share his photos with the community. 

PL: What got you interested in film photography? 

RQ: I was visiting my hometown for the holidays, and my good friend Martin had bought himself a Pentax K2. The process made me rethink of how I saw photography, and I got my film camera as soon as I returned to the States.

PL: What type of camera do you shoot with and what kind of film do you usually use?

RQ: My main camera is a Canon AE-1 Program, which is super versatile, easy-to-use, and would recommend to anyone thinking of starting with film photography. 

I tend to shoot in a variety of films; usually at the 200-400 ISO mark. I prefer warm midtones for color film, and fine grain for B&W. (Portra, Fomapan)

PL: There are a few black and white images within this collection. What are some qualities that you like about both black and white and color film? 

RQ: In my experience, B&W photography requires giving up some color composition, and focusing more on lighting, patterns, and shapes. This "limitation" often pushes me to explore new creative ways of composing a frame.

PL: Some of your photos capture nature up close. What do you like about this type of photography? Is there anything challenging about it? 

RQ: I think macro photography is great because it allows one to, sort of, peek into another smaller world, where time runs slower. The most challenging thing, I found, is being smart in creating the negative space and bokeh effect, to really make your center subject stand out.

PL: There are a variety of subjects within this collection such as natural landscapes and street scenes. When out photographing, what are some objects or elements within a scene that inspire you to take a photo? 

RQ: When out photographing, I prefer to shoot telephoto-like shots of normal perspectives, to achieve a different level of depth compared to the human eye. I apply the same principles to macro, where it doesn't matter if you're capturing a spider, or a gymnast, I always try to create depth in my photos.

PL: Out of all of these photos, which one is your favorite and why?

RQ: I'd say that I think often about the icy creek photo, I like how you can clearly see the dynamic nature of the creek alongside the ice stalactites. Playing with shutter speed is something I would like to do more in my photography, and that photo is a good reminder to do that.

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