Every photographer’s goal is to get published on the cover page of some famous magazine, and when it is a photography based magazine the pleasure is enormous. I am honored to share with you the front cover and my interview for Better Photography Magazine. The image on the cover page features a friend of mine, professional scuba diving instructor and one of my favourite photo models Mark Andrew Tilley. During our scuba dive on the Cayman Islands he was making air circles underwater which looks fantastic and unreal on the picture.
Ever curious and passionate love affair with the camera will never cease. And so be it as Better Photography, India’s first magazine completely devoted to the art and science of photography presents an expansive imagery like no other can. It is also the best-selling photography magazine in India and South Asia.
THE ACTION EXPERT
Chandni Gajria gets candid with extreme sports photographer Predrag Vuckovic about his love for action and adventure.
• Hailing from Serbia, Predrag’s interest also lies in bodybuilding and fitness. He is the founder of a fitness club called Extreme Gym in Serbia.
• Predrag is an official Red Bull photographer.
How do you sum up a lifetime of adventure, thrill and excitement in just six pages? When action photographer Predrag Vuckovic confirmed an interview with the magazine, I was excited and at the same time very nervous. I had first met him when he had visited India last year to photograph kitesurfing in Mandwa, Maharashtra. Predrag’s images are full of vigour and excitement, and I was expecting our interview to be on the same lines. I was not disappointed. Inside a quiet Italian café, our conversation began.
GROWING UP WITH PHOTOGRAPHY
A young Predrag was introduced to photography thanks to his elder brother, a hobbyist photographer. He immediately took to it, enjoying the process of making images. Predrag’s career began almost 22 years ago when he photographed his biker friends and sent the images to a local newspaper. The editor the paper happened to like one of the images and it was featured in the Serbian publication. “I was paid one Euro for that image,” he said. Money was not a concern for him then. He was more excited about his friends getting published in the newspaper. In later years, Predrag went on to become a BMX rider. As he grew older, his interest in extreme sports also expanded. He started experimenting in sports like skateboarding and snowboarding. “I was mainly addicted to the adrenaline rush these sports gave me. Even when I did photograph the sports, I did not think of making it my full-time profession,” he said.
ADVENTURE WITH CAUTION
He began his career in 1989, and has slowly stopped participating in many sports. “I am growing older,” he smiled. But Predrag diligently keeps a track of the latest news in sports and trains himself for any sport that he photographs. “To be a good extreme sports photographer, one has to hone a certain set of skills apart from making great images.” Compared to his contemporaries, Predrag likes to think that he is always better positioned in terms of the vantage point he can reach. “Simply because of my background in having practised some of these sports, I can push myself to get the perfect shot,” he added. Good planning and knowing how the surroundings will change, where the athlete will stand, or dive from are major factors on which the athlete’s and Predrag’s own safety depends on. “I never direct an athlete, because, in most cases, they are already putting their lives in danger. By imparting advice, or telling them how I want to make a particular shot, I may alter their routine and this may make the athlete uncomfortable.”
THE SILENT WORLD
Having been scuba diving for over 20 years and being a scuba diving instructor, Predrag feels more passionately towards underwater sports. On the surface, everything he shoots is action packed and fast. But it is quite the opposite underwater. “The water is quiet, there is silence and I find myself at peace here,” he said. Although Predrag refrains from seeing other photographer’s works, he does find his inspiration from Alexander Mustard, who not only is an underwater photographer from UK, but also a marine biologist.
A PART OF HISTORY
As the conversation continued, Predrag spoke about some of the craziest adventures he has been on. He remembered a time where he made images of BASE jumper Valery Rozov as he jumped into the active volcano Mutnovsky in Russia. The project was very tasking and took 11 days to complete! On the other hand, one project he feels he was fortunate to be a part of was The Red Bull Stratos project. Predrag was part of a three photographer team who documented Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner’s record breaking sky-dive from space. On 14 October 2012, Baumgartner became the first person to break the sound barrier without vehicular power in his descent, by skydiving an estimated 39km. “Training was the biggest issue for this project as we had to pre-empt the jump and know exactly where we were to photograph from,” he recalled. For a year, the team practised on how they would make pictures while the jump was executed. Two test jumps were also done. While the first jump was from 21km, the second jump took place from 29km.
“This project was everything one could ask for. When I look back and realised the pictures I created made for a very important part of history… the feeling I get is unexplainable. Needless to say, no other assignment I ever do is ever going to come close to this project.”
As the interview came to an end, I wondered if Predrag enjoyed the quieter moments, considering that he is constantly in a fast-paced routine. “I am really just happy to sit at home. Or I might head to the Cave Islands… with no phone. Just be underwater and amongst the silence.”
TIPS BY PREDRAG
• While photographing any dangerous sport, research it thoroughly. Know what it involves and try to train as much as possible. You will need to be a sportsman first.
• No matter how much you try to be lightweight while traveling, you will need to carry back-ups for your camera, battery and lenses, especially when the weather conditions are extreme.
GADGETS AND GEAR
• Predrag’s kit includes two cameras NIKON D4 at all times and sometimes D600 or D800 depending of the situations, with a range of fisheye, prime and telephoto lenses. He also uses a range of flash units. When shooting underwater he uses SUBAL underwater housings for NIKON D4, D800 and D600.
• He carries several gear backups with him and is always prepared for any situation.
ABOUT BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY MAGAZINE
Better Photography is one of South Asia’s most respected photography guides and is India’s No.1 photography magazine. It is the first Indian magazine to be completely devoted to the art and science of photography. Catering primarily to amateurs, hobbyists, and serious enthusiasts, the magazine has a keen following amongst professionals as well. It delves into product tests, provides expert advice, tutorials and techniques, and conducts some of India’s most prominent photography contests.
The Editor of Better Photography, strongly believes that photography is as much a spiritual journey, besides being a creative pursuit. According to him, photography is not just about patience and contemplation… the act of making a photograph is also a labour of love.