Don’t miss this photography exhibition in Singapore!

Dr Michael J. Gerson has spent more than five decades paying close attention to how people move, look and connect. A New York-based family psychologist who travels the world with his camera, Gerson combines a clinical understanding of human behaviour with an eye for unposed, everyday moments. His photography exhibition in Singapore, Shades of Life, now showing at Artitude Galeria at Dempsey, until 8 December, brings together portraits captured everywhere from New York and London to Tanzania, Eswatini and Georgia. Here, Michael Gerson shares how psychology shapes his photography, what he looks for in a portrait, and why non-verbal language reveals more than words ever could.

Inside this photography exhibition in Singapore: a Q&A with Dr Michael Gerson

Your photography spans so many countries. How did you end up travelling so much, and does it connect to your psychology work?

As a practicing psychologist, I enjoy observing, learning about and working with people – with human emotion and interaction. Traveling to different countries provides an opportunity for me to observe people, learn even more, and interact with people from many different cultures. In my role as a psychologist, I observe emotions and human interaction – I use these same skills when I’m in different countries photographing people.

Give us an overview of your career and how photography fits into it.

As a full-time practicing psychologist, I spend the vast majority of my time working with families, children and couples – helping them deal with and overcome the hurdles they face in life. Traveling internationally and applying the skills of a psychologist to photography allows me to capture genuine expressions of emotion that are very similar all over the world. Photography is a non-verbal language; people’s feelings and attitudes are expressed through signals like facial expressions, body positioning and hand gestures. This language allows me to compare thoughts and feelings – and take photographs that interpret non-verbal messages.

What were you most looking forward to experiencing at this photography exhibition in Singapore?

During my visit to Singapore, I hoped to learn about the people – how they behave and interact with me and with each other. I found a level of thoughtfulness and sensitivity that was unusual. People were extremely polite and observant of what those around them were doing, making sure not to be disruptive but to be helpful. For example, when I would shoot a photo, people would wait for me to finish before walking in front of where I was shooting. This was unusual – people in other countries simply keep walking, oblivious to what I may be trying to do.

What does a typical working day look like for you?

My day consists of meetings with couples, families or individuals. I listen carefully and observe the non-verbal aspects of their communication, and I try to help people become more effective in their relationships and their daily lives – at home or at work. After my workday as a psychologist, I’ll relax by organising and editing my photos. I do a lot of post-processing to make my photos look vivid and lifelike, and to convey the emotion expressed by the subjects.

What’s the secret to a good portrait? And do you prefer portraits or landscapes?

I enjoy what I refer to as “candid people portraits”. I’ll shoot people when they’re unaware of the camera and unaware of me – when they’re doing what is natural and realistic to them. When I do shoot portraits, I’ll engage with the subject, strike up a conversation and make them feel as comfortable as possible. This brings out relaxed, natural expressions. I try to get them to forget about the camera.

Tell us about the equipment you use.

These days, I shoot strictly digital, using Sony full-frame mirrorless cameras. I’ll shoot many frames per second – this allows me to capture the moment and the expressions of people that convey a realistic, important and telling message.

If you could photograph any well-known person in history, who would it be?

I would have liked to photograph President John F. Kennedy. For example, I would have liked photographing him and his family when they were playing their famous touch football games. I would have enjoyed photographing this active, energetic man while he was engaging in a fun, competitive and informal, non-posed activity.

What’s your prediction for the next big thing in photography?

Artificial intelligence is already having a tremendous influence on photography. Replacing skies, adding or subtracting people, inventing specific photographic scenes – these are all part of this new landscape.

What are some of your favourite places to shoot?

I enjoy shooting in cities, on busy streets – people hustling by, lots of traffic, both vehicular and foot traffic. I enjoy photographing people in iconic areas – for example, people playing on the lawn in front of the Eiffel Tower, crowding into the Vatican, or trying to move quickly through Times Square or Grand Central Station.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not taking photos? Any hobbies?

I enjoy golf and play quite a bit with my friends. I also greatly enjoy spending time with my eight grandchildren.

What are you looking forward to most for the rest of this year?

Even though I’ve just returned from visits to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Singapore, I’m already thinking about new places I want to travel to and photograph.

Michael Gerson’s Shades of Life photography exhibition in Singapore

This exhibition of Michael Gerson’s photos is on at Artitude Galeria, open daily from 10am to 9pm. Limited-edition prints (50x70cm and 50x100cm, $450 and $750) are available to purchase, with all proceeds from this photography exhibition donated to charity.

Artitude Galeria
Block 9 Dempsey Road, #01-11
6592 9210 | info@artitudegaleria.com
artitudegaleria.com

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