Q&A with The Raven Brothers
Here in the ETG office, we are excited to interview The Raven Brothers about their new quirky photography exhibition that is touring India at the moment.
by Emily Kemble, ETG content writer.
Firstly, I would like to ask you both, do you prefer writing about your travels or photographing them?
Chris: In many ways, writing and photography are connected, so I enjoy them both. There is a natural flow between the two.
Simon: When we're on a journey for a new book or short story, photography is vital for making notes. It enables us to examine in greater detail what was around us at the time. It also makes capturing those iconic moments more possible, because the cameras are never far away from our reach.
As a keen photographer myself, I really want to ask you both how you got into travel photography?
Chris: Ever since the day my parents bought me a camera for my eleventh birthday, I have been photographing street life, landscape and architecture. I moved to London in my early twenties, and found myself on a photography course at the London College of Fashion. I soon realized fashion wasn't for me. Six month after my graduation, I left London and set off on my first trip. Backpacking around the world opened my eyes to the beauty of travel photography.
Simon: We have been travelling and taking photographs together for over two decades. Before that, I was working as a digital media producer and journalist in London. A growing passion for adventure and writing enabled me to break free from office life, and be creative with our very own special projects.
Next, I want to know how did you select a main theme for your photo exhibition?
Simon: Quite simply, the theme for the exhibition No Rush materialized when we noticed many of our favourite photographs portray a person in a relaxed mood. Not fast-paced with erratic movements or chaos. A moment of calm.
Chris: The world is a busy place. Let's slow down a little. We hope the exhibition will inspire people to knock down a gear, and know it's ok to sit for a while without concern and simply exist.
Who's idea was it to display your photography in one frame and use India as the exhibition wall?
Simon: The idea of the photographs hanging on a white wall seemed a little boring. Using locations in India as the walls for the exhibition sounded fun and unique. The one frame idea was born out of a necessity to keep the gallery light to carry. It needed to be a moveable exhibition, that either of us could transport, together or alone. We chose a chunky frame, so that the people we met could hold onto it when photographing them. As many of our prints would be photographed outside in bright sunlight, we opted for no glass.
Chris: Changing the prints around is tricky, particularly in the street. Si has led the way in mastering the art of working on the pavement. People are often kind, and treat the photographs with great care.
How do you determine how many photos to include in an exhibition?
Chris: Over many months, we finally picked 50 of our best prints. It was extremely difficult to choose. The number of prints in the exhibition was never planned, and the theme No Rush only struck us after we had finally agreed on the photographs that were going to be displayed. We knew as soon as they were together our gallery had come to life. Si had already booked his trip to India. There was no doubt incredible India, with its colourful vibe, was the right choice of country to use as a backdrop for our work.
How do you strike a balance between capturing candid moments and respecting people's privacy?
Simon: It is of course a tricky balance. You want to catch people at their most natural. Not everyone wants to be photographed, especially if they are hot, stressed, or at work.
Chris: To seek out people who are clearly feeling good is the secret to capturing a good portrait. A smile, normal thoughtful human interaction and kindness can go a long way.
What are some strategies for engaging and interacting with visitors to a photography exhibition?
Simon: We have launched our exhibition online, but in the real world the visitors to our exhibition so far have been random people in the street. It's incredibly thrilling to be approached by smiling strangers curious to see a fine art print balanced on the bumper of an Ambassador taxi. People appreciate art, from the labourer in the street waiting to start work, to the professor on his way home from university. To discuss the prints and reveal to these people face-to-face where it was taken and hear their thoughts, is hugely rewarding.
So what will happen next? Do you envisage the exhibition coming to London for example?
Chris: We have absolutely no idea where this is going. The feedback and interest we have received so far has been hugely promising. Si will continue to tour around India until February 2024, with a colourful host of locations on the munu from Rajasthan to Varanasi. In the new year we plan to take the exhibition on the road in Morocco. What happens after that is unwritten.
Simon: Yes, I agree. We are on the no plan, plan. Watch this space!
