When he was young, he told himself that one day he will become a photographer.
Tamer Radwan, an Egyptian experienced photographer, started professional photography 30 years ago. His fell in love with the camera, when he used his dad’s old camera when he was just a child.
Tamer started participating in online competitions in 2007 using a point-and-shoot digital camera.
At first, he was shooting all types of photography. But later he found out the area that he loves, in which he can grow with; and that is landscape and architecture photography. So he began taking photographs of landscaping, portrait and street photography.
How His Photography Career Developed
In 2012 he started to get to be known between photographers and media sections, from that point, his professional career developed quickly, he has joined several professional educational institutions and federations.
Tamer’s photos were published on the National Geographic website, and as well as the official newspapers.
In 2014, he established Tommy Lens Photography in Cairo for photography services, and in 2017 he established a branch in the Emirates under the same title, and in 2018 the title was changed to TLB Group and its founder, Tamer Radwan.
Tamer Participated in many international exhibitions including the Dubai Life International Exhibition for Photography, as well as the International Exhibition Exposure in Sharjah.
In 2019, he turned to architectural and abstract photography and we leave many links for you to enjoy his artwork.
Tamer's Advice From Experience
In this podcast, as an experienced photographer, Tamer gives us some advice, from the experience he has had in photography, and especially architecture photography, all those years.
- Taking the right picture needs time
From his experience in architectural photography, Tamer learned that he can’t decide to go and shoot something out of the blue. He has to visit that location 3-4 times, in order to study it well; see all the different corners, angles, elements, sun reflection, and perspectives, and then he can finally decide from where to shoot.
In that way, he won’t be losing time, or shutter speed, or card memory.
He doesn’t shoot randomly; the photos he takes he considers to be part of his portfolio.
While shooting, his mind also wonders on how he’s going to edit the pictures afterwards.
- Get customers and build your business
“In our field it’s not easy to do that because there is a lot of competition”.
But, as a photographer for almost 3 decades now, Tamer has recurrent clients, who always come back with new projects.
In Egypt it’s hard to take pictures, due to the conserved culture and strict rules. Photographers need to get permission from authorities, to be able to shoot buildings, and some of the historical landmarks
Since Egypt is a country rich with culture, history, and beautiful architecture, Tamer and other photographers, have raised the issue to the minister, and they will hopefully get an approval to shoot anything and anywhere, and show the world the beauty of Egypt.
It’s not easy to meet people,,,now it’s easy through promoting your work on social media
Exhibit Your Work and The Importance of Your Signature
- Ways to exhibit your work
Exhibitions are a great way to show the world your own value; how u worked and developed, and your own style of art.
To pick the right exhibition, you need to search and to know which photography exhibition is best to portray your work.
Also in those exhibitions, you get inspired by your competitors, and they would get inspired by yours; through colors, angles, perspectives, prints…
These days, outdoor branding is becoming less expensive, due to the outbreak of digital media.
Even though it’s not always easy to meet new people, the internet made it easier; through promoting your work on social media, whether it’s on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or any creative sharing platform. People will definitely react and reach out.
“If you need to be known in the market, you need to be showing yourself.”
- Your Signature
Tamer always puts his name as a signature under his photos, since it’s his own credit for himself.
He advices not to put logos or watermarks in the middle of the picture, because it’ll ruin the photo and the quality, especially when you print in different material. Instead, put it only on the side corners.
Also, when you use any shiny finishing, like gloss lamination, it will hurt the photo and the people due to the reflection it creates. Thus the best finishing to use is the matte finishing.
Tamer is now writing a book, that takes the readers on his photography journey every decade, of the past 30 years.
For more on Tamer’s work, listen to the podcast https://open.spotify.com/episode/0LPZxLd4vMCWI5lBricoTl
Photo by Aslı Gönen on Scopio
Written by Angela Zoghbi
Content Creator
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