Photography is more than just taking pictures; it’s about capturing moments that tell a story. Nick Haill has a unique talent for doing just that. Starting from his early days of street photography during his travels, Nick has developed a distinctive style that's both timeless and authentic.
Recently, Nick covered Afro Nation 2024 in Portugal, a vibrant three-day festival celebrating African culture and music. In this edition of "Through My Lens," Deeds Magazine chats with Nick about his passion for photography, and the memorable moments from Afro Nation. Join us as we get a glimpse of the world through his lens.
Deeds Magazine: When did you first discover your passion for photography, and what drew you to this field?
Nick Haill: I've always appreciated photography, but I first started doing it myself during my travels around the world and on various holidays. I tended to be drawn to capturing people and their expressions, so I would take a lot of street photography.
Deeds Magazine: Your photography style can be described as “timeless and authentic.” What elements do you focus on to achieve this?
Nick Haill: As I mentioned, I like to capture people's expressions. I often crop into the image or zoom in when taking photos to really get a snapshot of how they appear to be feeling or expressing themselves. I love clean aesthetics, so I'm drawn to less busy backgrounds and elements that take away from the subject.
Deeds Magazine: You most recently covered Afro Nation 2024. It must have been such an experience. What was the highlight of this event for you, and how did you approach photographing such a large-scale 3-day festival?
Nick Haill: Yes, it was an amazing experience and always nice to be on holiday, albeit a working one. My highlight was probably meeting Diamond Platnumz after his show; I was able to take some great shots of him.
Deeds Magazine: Festivals can have unpredictable weather and lighting. How did you adapt your techniques to deal with these conditions at Afro Nation 2024?
Nick Haill: Being in Portugal during the summer, we were blessed with good weather 90% of the time. The other 10% was cloudy skies, which don't give you very dramatic or interesting lighting. So, for me, I just tried to focus on capturing the subject or scene in the most interesting way possible.
Deeds Magazine: What are the biggest challenges you face while photographing large-scale events?
Nick Hail: Probably getting from stage to stage and not missing out on any artists. As we usually only have three songs to shoot from the pit, if you arrive late you might miss your chance to be in the pit or even miss an iconic moment.
Deeds Magazine: What’s your favorite shot taken at Afro Nation 2024, and what’s the story behind it?
Nick Haill: My favorite shot is probably the image of Uncle Waffles. She was dancing behind the decks with her entourage of dancers, doing all these hand movements. I was able to capture the perfect shot with her hands framing her face. I also love the details of her nail design, her jewelry, the shadow her hands create over her face, and her expression!
