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Nirav Patel is a portrait photographer based in San Francisco, California. In Sanskrit, nirav means quiet—a fitting name for a man drawn to capturing moments of stillness. By molding light, he creates a sense of calm and solitude, regardless of the turbulence and volatility around him.
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Nirav Patel 是一位居于加利福尼亚州旧金山的人像摄影师。在梵语中，Nirav 的意思是安静，这个名字恰好符合一个喜欢捕捉静谧时刻的人。通过形塑光线，无论周遭环境的变动和反覆无常，他都能在照片中营造出一种平和的寂静之感。
VSCO: A lot of your portraits are taken by windows. What about this combination are you drawn to?
Nirav Patel: I’m mainly a natural light photographer, so it’s instinctual for me to start searching for a portrait location based primarily on lighting. When I’m shooting in an indoor environment, a window is typically a good place to start. Once I have the light, then I move to the next phase, which involves modifying the light or environment. Lately I’ve been challenging myself by adding my own light sources, things like old slide projectors or lamps.
VSCO: 你的很多肖像都是在窗边拍摄的。你是如何受到这种构图吸引？
Nirav Patel: 我主要是一个自然光摄影师，我会本能上地基于光源去寻找拍摄的位置。当我在室内环境中拍摄时，窗边通常是一个很好的地点。一旦得到了好的光，我就会进入下一阶段，去进一步调整光线或是周围环境。最近我一直在挑战自己，通过增设自己的光源，像是旧的幻灯片放映机或是灯具。
VSCO: What do you look for when you’re shooting portraits?
Nirav Patel: I typically know what the image will look like before I even take it. When I see the world, I see it in exposures, and that has helped me when shooting with natural light. When I’m walking around a space trying to find the best spots to take a portrait, I always look for light over environment. The backdrop isn’t my main priority.
VSCO: 当在拍摄人像时，你通常试着追求什么？
Nirav Patel: 我通常在拍摄之前就会预先知道照片的样子。当我在看这个世界时，我是以“光”的角度去看的。这种视角帮助了我采取自然光拍摄。当我在一个空间中走动寻找最佳拍摄地点，我总是在环境中寻找最好的光线，背景并不是我主要考虑的东西。
VSCO: How do you build on a theme, while keeping each image unique?
Nirav Patel: I do my best to use new locations or backdrops, as well as modify the lighting in different ways with what’s available (fabrics, blinds, etc). This really helps to change the way the light is represented and can affect the overall feel of an image. I’ll also try using different lenses or shoot through different props, like a piece of glass.
For me, it’s about understanding the technical aspects of making a photograph and then throwing the rules out the window. Not everything works out all the time, but you learn so much from the process. I’ve had to teach myself that I only really fail if I give up before trying. Anything that happens after trying should be seen as a learning experience that leads to the growth and development of my vision. I’m not always happy about the results I achieve, but I do understand that it’s all part of the journey.
VSCO: 你如何基于同一个拍摄主题，同时确保每一次作品的独特性？
Nirav Patel: 我会尽我所能地使用新的位置或背景，以及用不同的方式修饰光线（利用布料、百叶窗等等）。这确实有助于改变灯光的表现方式，并可以影响图像的整体氛围。我也会尝试使用不同的镜头和拍摄道具，比如说一块玻璃。
对我而言，这关乎于先去了解摄影的基础技巧，再将学到的规则抛在脑后。不是所有事情都能如愿进行，但你会从发现意外的过程中学到很多东西。我是一位自学的摄影师，如果在每次尝试之前我就放弃，那我无疑会失败。尝试后发生的任何事情都应该被视为一种学习经历，可以让我成长。我并不总是对我的拍摄成果感到满意，但我确实理解这一切都是旅程的一部分。
VSCO: To capture a quiet mood, what time of day do you prefer to shoot?
Nirav Patel: Most of the shoots I do are inside of Airbnb’s or my own home. I do my best to work with whatever I have, so I try to make the best of lighting throughout the entire day. However, my favorite light would have to be close to and just past sunset (aka golden hour and blue hour). These two times of the day typically give me both dramatic and soft lighting in the best ways.
VSCO: 为了捕捉一个安静的心境，你喜欢在什么时候拍摄？
Nirav Patel: 大部分的拍摄都会在 Airbnb 或是自己家里进行。我会尽可能地利用手边现有的素材，并试着在一天之中充分利用光线。然而，我最喜欢的时刻是接近日落、或是刚刚过日落时（又称为黄金时刻或是蓝色时刻）。一天中的这两个时候通常可以提供给我最具戏剧效果和柔和优美的光线。
VSCO: How do you experiment with adding drama to your portraits?
Nirav Patel: I’ve always been drawn to fog because it has a cinematic quality to it. Most of my work is inspired by movies, so I decided to add my own elements of moviemaking into my photographs. Sometimes I use a smoke machine to add drama. I recently added two continuous light kits to my set up just in case there is nothing interesting happening with the natural light. I have a Lowell ID light, as well an Aputure LS-mini 20d. I’m hoping to also add an Aputure 120d to the set sometime soon for a bit more power and the ability to use Bowen light modifiers for more control. Look at me… talking like I actually know what I’m doing. Don’t let me fool you, I’ve just recently been getting into setup lighting kits and am learning as I go. I enjoy the pace of teaching myself through trial and error.
VSCO: 你会如何在你的照片中增添戏剧效果？
Nirav Patel: 我一直都很喜欢雾，它拥有电影般的质感。我的大多作品都受到电影启发，因此我会在照片中加入许多电影元素。有时候我会使用烟雾机来增加戏剧性。我最近增设了两组电影灯光，以防自然光的呈现效果太无趣。我有一个 Lowell ID 灯、以及 Aputure LS-mini 20d。我希望不久后能再加一个 Adure 120d 来增强我的设备，和 Bowen 柔光罩以获得更完善的功能。不过……别听我这样说，就以为我真的知道我在做什么。我才刚刚进入打灯的领域，我正在学习。我喜欢这样通过错误和反复尝试的学习过程。
