📸 Photo series #34: Capturing moments forever

Street photographer: Hersley-Ven Casero

🔥 Big announcement is about to come 🔥

Today we are thrilled to announce a new feature in the StoryDrops newsletter. Based on your feedback in the previous survey it appears that most of you are interested in saving photos from the amazing photo projects we share here.

So, from now on we’ll let you build your own inspirational personal photo collection by saving the photos you like.

What this will let you do :

• Revisit cherished photos from previous series, providing an elevated source of inspiration for future photography outings.

• Seamlessly share your saved photos with others, fostering a community where you can view, appreciate, and draw inspiration from each other's curated collections.

• Build and organize a tailored collection of photos, categorized by preferred styles, themes, and admired photographers, offering a personalized and efficient way to navigate through your creative inspirations.

Enough talking, now time to enjoy the amazing work of Hersley-Ven Casero a photographer from the Philippines who takes great pride capturing moments of everyday life with a humorous touch.

Make yourself comfortable with a good coffee and enjoy the photos! ☕️

Catch A Moment by Hersley-Ven Casero

⏱️ Reading time: 6 min

‘Catch A Moment’ is a life-long street photography series in which I aim to catch split-second snapshots of elements aligning in humorous or uncanny ways in everyday life. As I continue on my photographic journey, I find myself becoming increasingly aware of the transience of human beings, particularly in the context of wherever they may be, or whatever they may be doing, at any given time. I am fascinated by the fact that every time I click the shutter in front of a stranger moving and interacting within their environment, I have captured a little piece of the absolute randomness of life, a snapshot of an otherwise unremarkable moment in history, that is timely, comical, tricky to the eye or just plain beautiful. It really is an incredible feeling when suddenly, out from the mundane, the Universe delivers a fleeting and uncanny moment of magic and click, it’s not lost forever, but a recorded and tangible piece of art.

Written and shot by Hersley-Ven Casero.

Who’s behind the lens?

Describe yourself as a photographer and where you are based

I am a multidisciplinary visual artist, and street and documentary photographer born and based in Dumaguete City, Philippines. Growing up in a small rural village in the Visayas region, my interest in photography began during college, where I was given the chance to hold and use a simple point and shoot digital camera and asked to document the university's events. It was during this time that I was lucky enough for my creative enthusiasm to be noticed by LA Times photographer Luis Sinco, who generously organised some sponsored equipment for me, and offered me his invaluable mentorship. Upon graduating, I did a stint as an Art & Photography course teacher at Foundation University, and also conducted – along with my mentor, and Magnum photographer Eli Reed – a series of South Pacific Photography Workshops.

Now, as a full-time artist, when I'm not in the studio, I make a daily habit and meditation out of walking the streets with a camera in hand. From time-to-time my photographs are featured in local newspapers, as well as national and international publications and exhibitions, and have been fortunate enough to win a few photography contests, too. In 2021, my first documentary and street photography book was published, entitled 'All in Good Time', and last year, VOGUE Philippines featured an article about my life and photographic work so far.

Your favorite camera and lens

My favourite camera has always been whichever camera I had at hand. I've been fascinated by the camera as a tool to create instantaneous art by recording the wonder of the world that exists around us and I have had fun with cameras that have been sponsored to me, second-hand cameras given to me by friends, mobile phone cameras, cameras that I have been lucky enough to win in photography contests. At the moment, I have in my toolkit a Fujifilm XT30 and XE4, and a Ricoh GR3 and 3X, as well as my iPhone.

After all, the best camera lenses are your eyes!

Your favorite places to shoot

Firstly, my home city is my favourite place in the whole world to shoot. I have had the privilege of experiencing travel to a variety of cultures around the world in recent years, which have all been incredibly fascinating to observe, record and immerse in, in their own unique way. But coming home always feels kind of special, to photowalk around Dumaguete again after being away, and coming back to it with a new perspective.

According to you, what makes a good picture

For me, a good picture is one that is authentic, original, respectful, truthful, creative, and maybe even a little inspiring.

Your favorite photographers and where you get inspired.

The list is a very long one, as I am inspired daily and abundantly by my community, my peers, the online photography community, veteran photographers making big waves around the world like the Magnum photographers and enthusiastic photographers just starting out. I think we can all learn from and inspire each other.

Portfolio and/or social media links

Instagram : @hersleyvencasero

Website : hersleycasero.com

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🚨 Disclaimer: All saved photos remain the property of the photographer, all reproduction or commercial use without authorization of the artist is a violation to his/her rights. Credits will always be given to the photographer.