TAKE TEN: Shamiel Albertyn

Hailing from Cape Town, Shamiel Albertyn made the move effortlessly from photography to videography, travelling across the world for shoots. We chatted to him about the differences between the two, some tips for photographers wanting to make the switch, and his important involvement in Shoot4Purpose. (Image: Jasmine Albertyn)

Which came for you first videography or photography, and which do you prefer?

Photography came first but I think if you combine it with videography, it equals cinematography. They complement each other because you need a photographic eye to be a good videographer, especially for the type of filming I do, which is documentaries. It adds that cinematic creative look and feel.

Do you have any advice for anyone wanting to make the jump from photography to videography?

The jump from photography to videography can be very exciting but can include a few challenges. I have found it to be a natural transition between the two. In photography you capture a single moment but with videography you have motion involved, and this is something you need to understand – the basics of movement.

Videography for me is telling a story in motion, you need to think in sequence. How you are telling your story requires a lot of planning, including your quality of sound and lighting. There is a lot of production involved.

What makes for a good atmosphere on-set?

On my set with the people that I lead or people that are looking for direction from me. I believe in effective communication, respect, professionalism and creating a good environment that is fun and full of humour – it brings out our best and adds creativity. It is about being supportive, letting the creative flow to get the outcome we want.

What is the one thing you did/learnt that immediately improved your photography/videography?

Passion, keep doing what you love. Try different things, see what works and what doesn’t work. Because every story I film is different, from wildlife to human driven stories. It is about the narrative, understanding the story and having a vision of the outcome.

The one thing I believe makes my work different through all these years is that I don’t think out of the box – I just threw the box away. I allow my creative passion to lead, especially with my Fujifilm gear.

All of this has led me to my new passion and creation – conscious photography, it is part of my soul.

Do you have a favourite Fujifilm camera and lens?

My favourite Fujifilm camera lens is my Fujinon XF50-140mmF2.8. I love the sharpness and stability of the lens, especially for portraits and environmental photography.

My favourite camera at this point in time is my Fujifilm X-H1. It is a camera that is special, given to me by my very good friend, the late John Castello. John was a very good environmental photographer and he also pushed the Fujifilm brand before it became what it is today.

I do have other good lenses and would also love to upgrade to the Fujifilm X-H2S.

Can you tell us more about your involvement with Shoot4Purpose?

I am one of the co-founders and mentors of Shoot4Purpose – giving our time back to empower women with the skills to capture their strength, resilience and journey through street photography. We have a partnership and collaboration with Fujifilm South Africa for which I need to give a big thank you.

What is on your photography bucket list?

My bucket list for wildlife and nature is to revisit Antarctica and to go to the Amazon jungle, the Serengeti in Tanzania, and the Congo to photograph the gorillas. In South Africa there are also all the beautiful coastlines, mountains and game reserves.

For architectural photography it would be most of Europe including Italy, Spain, France, etc.

Find more of Shamiel’s work here:

Instagram: @shamielalbertyn
Instagram: @shamielb_w
Facebook: Shamiel Albertyn