TAKE TEN: Richard Harper

With a love of photography and bikes, why not combine the two? JHB-based photographer, Richard Harper shares his ten favourite shots with us. (Photo by @sotallrightnow).

Why do you love photography?

Basically, it’s preserving a moment in time – if I don’t have my camera at that moment then that image is gone forever. It’s a field where you’re continuing learning, never stopping, it’s wonderful. I call myself a memory collector.

Tell us a bit more about your photography and what you would like to achieve through this.

I see myself as a curator of history, however big or small my audience is, I hope my body of work lives on. Photography has taken me to some wonderful and interesting places around the world. I have recently started shooting videos (using the Fujifilm X-H2S & 18-120mm) so I would eventually want to achieve the ability of mastering and combining both stills and video.

What made you switch to Fujifilm and when did this happen?

Well, I never switched to Fujifilm, I started with Fujifilm. Back in 2013 I brought my first Fujifilm, the X-T1 with the kit lens, what appealed to the beginner in me was the vintage look and feel of the camera, and I ended up being blown away by the image quality.

Which Fujifilm camera(s) do you use and what’s your favourite lens?

I have recently purchased the X-T5 which is an absolute beast, prior to this I had the X-H1 for many years.

My favourite lens has to be my 16mm 1.4. Combined with the X-T5 it’s perfect: small, light and compact, easy when working in demanding conditions. The lens is wide-angle but I can also get in close to subjects.

What I love most about the X-T5 and 16mm combo is that in my work I need to be unobtrusive in street photography, yet be light and quick when I’m shooting motorcycles or capturing super sharp images of live bands in low light.

What’s on your photography bucket list?

That would be to travel through our country and document a forgotten fringe group of people. Similar to what Roger Ballen did with Platteland.

How do you ensure safety while shooting?

Whether it’s street photography in an African city or documenting the war in Ukraine, you just need to be aware of your surroundings. Advice which has always helped is “if it doesn’t feel right, it isn’t right” – trust your instinct. Of course, whilst shooting my motorcycle pics, just make sure there are no trucks in front of me, as I shoot from my bike.

Find more of Richard’s work here:

Instagram: ridemotostakephotos
Web: ridemotostakephotos.com
Facebook: Richard Harper