When Davina Tan moved to New York from Malaysia two years ago, she decided to take the opportunity to grow her photography skills. “I didn’t want to be sitting at home,” she says, “so this got me out and about in the city.”
She was drawn to New York’s classic American architecture because it was so different from what she was used to back home. “We have a lot of modern spaces in Malaysia,” she says. “So it’s the really charming, vintage, rustic interior spaces of the New York buildings that catches my eye. It’s interesting because it’s new to me.”
Davina’s beautiful photos of shops and restaurants in New York, Malaysia, and beyond have attracted more than 75,000 followers on Instagram. Today, she’s here as a special guest to share four useful tips with photography loving Local Guides.
**1. Scope out the space.**Davina does lots of research ahead of time. To find beautiful places, she first browses other people’s images online. Then, she might drop in to get a sense of the interior before finally returning at just the right time (see below) to take her photos.
2. Take photos when places aren’t busy. If you scroll through Davina’s feed, you’ll notice something about her interiors: They’re mostly empty. “If there are people in an image, sometimes it can be distracting,” she says. “The viewer doesn’t know where to look, and you can’t really see the space.”
For restaurants and cafes, Davina recommends going around 11 a.m. on weekdays, or between 2 and 5 p.m. “That way, I can have the whole place to myself,” she says. Retail stores are another matter, since their busy moments are less predictable. “I never go on weekends,” says Davina. “Otherwise, I just have to try my luck.”
3. Always use natural light, even indoors. This is Davina’s one cardinal rule. “I don’t rely onindoor lighting and I never use flash,” she says. She times her visits accordingly.4. Create clean lines. Davina has a background in design, and she says it’s a big influence on her photographic eye. “I like straight lines,” she says, “clear horizontal and vertical lines.” They help the viewer see what you want them to focus on.
Getting the lines exactly right can take a bit of time and sometimes several tries. “I put a lot of time and energy into making sure I get it perfect,” says Davina.
