The love of exploration and coincidence led the Lebanese photographer, based in Dubai, Nicholas Tohme, to the world of photography. His story began in this field after working for many years in the field of «DJ» and music composition.

Tohme taught himself through YouTube and filming in nature and then passed on to humans, taking care to convey their feelings through the lens. This passion in the world of the image did not make him give up his first love, which is the composition of music, Vbat combines the two worlds, and harmonizes between them to reflect the passion and creativity inside.

In his interview with Emirates Today on the sidelines of his recent participation in the "Visual Storytellers" initiative organized by Canon in Dubai, Tohme said that the current generation lives in the picture era, touching on his story with the lens from the beginning. He said: «I went to the world of the picture, and it was not my will, before 2015 I had nothing to do with the camera except the mobile phone lens, but in September of that year I lost my father, and my life and my work were centered on music, and I could not get out of the shock And return to my work and my life through music, note that music is usually my first savior in such cases ».

First camera

The Lebanese photographer added: «I started by chance working on Photoshop, and adjust to the pictures, and no longer satisfy the amendment to the photos that I did not take, I began to take pictures myself and adjust them, and when I bought the first camera I was not aware of the characteristics of the camera, but I bought the most expensive "To be distinctive, I started my journey with self-training through YouTube."

He pointed out that self-education took him six months, as he worked to learn the method of self-portraits, and not that conducted by the camera automatically, and the environment through which the pictures are published by social media, and many of them knew through his own page through «Instagram».

That page gave Foods the opportunity to work with Canon and to present the first lecture on photography through the dream he had created in six months. .

He explained that the first was characterized by breaking barriers with the public, the first 20 minutes were of prestige and awe. He stressed during the lecture that he does not put himself compared to the veterans, as he is still exploring this world.

Tohme relied at the beginning of photography on Photoshop to modify the colors of the pictures he takes, because he thought that 50% of the image is made in the camera, and 50% in the correction, while today has a completely different view, he loves to manipulate light, and believes that dealing with the camera Yumi increases the photographer's experience in capturing the light he wants, and strengthens his relationship with the image. He pointed out that he does not use the «flash» lighting in the camera, because it gives the subject a light source different from nature, except in cases that require use.

Innovation concept

Tohme deals with his subjects differently. Often some come to him and have no preconceived notion of how he wants his images, and thus innovates the concept from beginning to end, especially since what he offers is a special identity of photography. He pointed out that at the outset he began to photograph nature, as well as places during his trips, because he did not choose to communicate with people, but after a while took a picture of his fiancée spontaneously in the frame that he was taking, which changed his view on portraying people.

He stressed that he always seeks to capture the feelings of the girl he depicts, so he sits approximately 45 minutes with the model or girl, so that he can show her feeling in the picture.

One of the rules he sets for himself in photography is to commit to a specific timing. Between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., the camera does not come out of the house, does not take any pictures, nor does it take pictures when the sun is vertical, because of the lighting.

Music

As for his relationship with music, he is still conservative despite his work in photography. The world of music and image together, noting that it takes a lot of his life, and it requires considerable energy.

As for his participation in «visual storytellers» considered that this initiative opened a new world, it is an addition to him and everyone who works in the world of photography, and a wonderful experience gives him the motivation to do better.

social communication

Nicholas Tohme has benefited from social media, which he sees as a key driver of our lives. Instagram does not deny his work.

He added that technology affects human life, and every year there are many options in high-tech, rather than help, make one get used to the most machines.

2015

The year that Tohme's journey began with the picture, reaching "visual storytellers."

Nicholas Tohme:

I seek to capture feelings and not just faces.