Raymer displays photos

 Vaganova ballerinas and Muslim worshippers lined the walls of Pictura Gallery during Thursday’s “Photographer’s Note” featuring Steve Raymer.

Dozens of people crowded the gallery to listen to the National Geographic photographer and tenured associate professor speak.

As Raymer shared his thoughts on what makes good photographs, intimacy was a recurring theme.

“Life is not looking at the world from a distance of about five feet,” Raymer said. “We’ve got to experience the world through our camera at different vantage points.”

Raymer stressed the importance of planning and anticipation, but also noted that life is full of surprises for photojournalists. 

“We can find good pictures even when we’re frustrated and not in the mood to take pictures,” Raymer said. 

Raymer also stressed the importance of mentors to photographers, citing Henri Cartier-Bresson, W. Eugene Smith and Sebastio Selgado as his own. Raymer said his mentors’ common link is mastery of the photographic moment. 

With the ability to manipulate both film and digital photos, Raymer discussed the crucially of ethics to photojournalism.

“I think our ethical limitations that we put on ourselves have really evolved, and I think that’s a good thing because our credibility is at steak for an evermore skeptical audience,” Raymer said. 

After Raymer’s talk and questions from the audience, attendees wandered the gallery.
“He has really powerful images,” Indianapolis resident Kristin Fuller said. “I think they tell a pretty accurate story.”

Having been to more than 85 countries, Raymer’s photos depict a world with many sides, including a Soviet Army colonel amidst a democracy protest and a photo of veiled Muslim women passing an ad for Britney Spears’ perfume.

“He’s done some amazing things,” Pictura director and owner David Moore said. “It’s been a lot of fun.”

Nashville, Ind., resident Sue Means said Raymer’s work is wonderful.

“If it’s worth doing,” Raymer said, “it’s worth doing right.”