Each month, Bluedot Living will feature a photo essay by Yasmin Namini, a former Chief Consumer Officer at the New York Times, who is now traveling the world taking photographs. At Bluedot, we believe that celebrating the Earth’s most enchanting creatures, cultures, and landscapes will inspire us to help preserve them.
Perfecting my craft is an ongoing endeavor. For me, it’s an artistic journey without an end. It’s practice, practice, practice. You have to get out there, explore the world through your camera lens, and take pictures!
Bluedot Living: When did you start photographing, both amateur and professionally?
Yasmin Namini: It’s tough to pinpoint an exact moment when I began photographing, but as a kid I remember taking photos with my dad’s Polaroid Instant Camera. I just loved that the image was ready within minutes of snapping it. I was in my 20s when I took my first “adult” trip to Italy, armed with a Pentax point and shoot film camera. An image from the Carnival in Venice, taken with that Pentax, remains one of my favorite photos till today. I knew nothing about the Exposure Triangle or lighting. I was just snapping away. Honestly, I still don’t think of myself as a professional photographer. I see myself as an enthusiastic student of the art form. When I compare my work to those of the many photographers I admire, I’m reminded of how much I have yet to learn and explore.
BDL: What was your first camera? And, do you remember your first subject matter/first subject that caught your attention that you knew you had to explore?
YN: When my Pentax died, I bought my first “real” camera, a Canon Rebel G. This was back in the film days of the early ‘90s. I also caught the adventure travel bug around the same time. I booked a trip down the Manú River in Peru, which runs along the eastern slopes of the Andes Mountains into the southern Amazon basin. Our small group had a single wish: to catch a glimpse of the elusive jaguar, a very rare sight at that time. Towards the end of our first full day on the river, as the sun was setting, our canoe captain’s adopted son whispered “ jaguar” and pointed. A gorgeous jaguar was crossing the river. We all grabbed our cameras and started snapping. I remember checking to see how many shots were left on the roll of film in my camera, as there was no time to change the roll. Phew, fifteen! The jaguar crossed the river, looked at us from the river bank, then quickly disappeared into the rainforest. The encounter was exhilarating. It was the highlight of my trip and forever sealed my love for travel and photography, making them an intrinsic part of my life’s journey.
BDL: How did you perfect your craft?
YN: Perfecting my craft is an ongoing endeavor. For me, it’s an artistic journey without an end. Long before the internet, I took in-person classes at the International Center for Photography (ICP) in New York City. In recent years, I’ve taken advantage of the abundance of online resources, from classes to webinars. I’ve attended so many live photography webinars, especially during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. I’m extremely grateful to the many professional photographers who generously shared their technique, insights, wisdom and love of the craft with us. Yet, nothing truly replaces hands-on learning. It’s practice, practice, practice. You have to get out there, explore the world through your camera lens, and take pictures!
BDL: What would you still like to learn?
YN: Photography is a never-ending process of acquiring and refining my skills, as well as finding fresh inspiration. These days, I really enjoy going on photography workshops led by seasoned professional photographers. I have so much to learn from these super-talented women and men. Many pros offer workshops as it’s become a primary source of income for them. It’s an opportunity to learn from the best, explore new places, make new friends, and return home with some amazing photographs.
Yasmin Namini, former Chief Consumer Officer at The New York Times, led their print and digital consumer revenue business. These days, she advises media companies globally on digital transformation, revenue diversification, and direct-to-consumer strategies. Active in the news media world, she frequently speaks at industry events, teaches as an adjunct lecturer, and contributes as a Board Director. Off the clock, Yasmin indulges in her love for exploration and photography, having captured the beauty of all seven continents and over 50 countries. All photographs copyright Yasmin Namini.
