At the Foot of the Throne: UCSD’s Deka Turns Hip-Hop Stars into Iconic Images

The supergroup Mount Westmore — together with hip-hop legends Snoop Dogg, Ice Dice, E-40 and Too Brief — carried out Thursday at San Diego’s Pechanga Area. So did UC San Diego’s Rishi Deka.

He didn’t sing or rap, however his artistry is on show through The Related Press and Shutterstock.

Deka was on the foot of the stage taking images.

A postdoctoral scholar in radiation oncology at UCSD, Deka was launched to Occasions of San Diego readers in April 2020 after we posted a few of his haunting and transferring summary photographs.

How did Deka, 34, earn a prized taking pictures spot at Pechanga (the previous San Diego Sports activities Area)?

He explains in his newest Q&A, edited for size:

Occasions of San Diego: How did you get to {photograph} Mount Westmore?

Rishi Deka: I really feel that there was a confluence of things that led me to {photograph} Mount Westmore. First, I acquired a press award for my protection of Black Lives Matter, and I photographed BLM co-founder Alicia Garza when she spoke in La Jolla. Her look was the primary set of my visible documentary work that was utilized by Related Press.

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Second, I’ve intensive expertise taking pictures a myriad of African American, Black British and Jamaican entertainers. This contains Cynthia Erivo, John Legend, Tiger Woods, Laurence Fishburne, George Benson, Herbie Hancock, Frequent, Pharrell, Slash, Smokey Robinson, Questlove and Black Considered The Roots, Busta Rhymes, Chris Brown, Wiz Khalifa, J. Cole, Jaden Smith, Stephen Marley and Shaggy.

Extra lately, I shot Jamie Foxx and Snoop Dogg final October, which gave me a direct reference to Mount Westmore. Third, I at present examine quite a few well being disparities and outcomes in racial/ethnic minorities which features a publication in JAMA on the effectiveness of a remedy possibility (energetic surveillance) in African People with low-risk prostate most cancers.

Fourth, I’ve printed gothic poems in various retailers together with Occasions of San Diego and Poetry Quarterly. I posted a video on my web site reciting a lately printed poem “Cry of The Wolf,” which I really feel resonated with the group. 

Why do you want Mount Westmore?

First, Snoop Dogg, Ice Dice, E-40 and Too Brief generally sing about socioeconomics, id and underrepresented communities. All of those themes are very distinguished in my very own visible documentary work. Moreover, a few of their lyrics revolve round having enjoyable!

In my view, we solely have one life to stay, so it’s essential to have as a lot enjoyable as attainable!

Second, I just like the group’s vogue model which includes black/white outfits accessorized with sun shades, hats and different eclectic gadgets. Whereas my model is extra excessive with black metallic and hardcore punk influences, we do share some vogue similarities that might not be as apparent upon a cursory look!

Third, I like that Mount Westmore contains group members from Southern California (Snoop Dogg and Ice Dice) and Northern California (E-40 and Too Brief). A real testomony to West Coast hip hop!

Though I stay in San Diego, I used to be born in Mountain View and went to undergrad at UC Berkeley. I used to be truly in Berkeley final November to cowl a information story on Folks’s Park – one of many pictures ended up getting printed in Invisible Folks, a nonprofit group that educates the general public about homelessness. 

Did you’ve got any interactions with Mount Westmore?

My interactions with their staff had been restricted to e mail. I’ve solely lately been capable of meet entertainers in-person. This began with Snoop Dogg and Jamie Foxx final October, David Spade this previous March, and Dennis Quaid this previous Might.

I’m the primary accepted photographer to take Mount Westmore’s live performance pictures for each Related Press (primarily based in New York) and Shutterstock Editorial (primarily based in London). Thus, I needed to concentrate on responding to those questions and taking highly effective images that can have vital world attain as a substitute of assembly the whole group in-person.

I really feel it’s higher to concentrate on just a few issues and strike scorching as a substitute of too many issues and strike chilly! Nonetheless, I do plan on assembly extra celebrities I work with sooner or later both earlier than or after reveals as you will get some very unique pictures by way of that avenue!

What was the shoot like? Any technical challenges to beat?

The shoot was sick! First, I might advocate bringing a number of lenses to get a wide range of views. For instance, in the course of the first half of the shoot, Mount Westmore was sitting in golden thrones behind the stage, which required the usage of my telephoto lens; in the course of the second half, every member of the group moved to the entrance of the stage to carry out a solo music, which required the usage of my wide-angle lens.

Second, it’s important to have the essential technical elements of pictures down similar to shutter velocity, ISO and aperture. After that, the technical problem is crystal-clear focus, which I make use of by way of handbook focus. Third, the principle problem in leisure pictures is to verify the nonetheless body you create conveys visceral emotions. With the intention to do this, I prefer to go for distinctive angles with riveting lighting that underscores robust feelings. One thing that basically stands out in a sea of pictures! 

Any recommendation on find out how to {photograph} hip hop stars/celebrities?

I really feel that I’m able to {photograph} hip hop stars/celebrities because of two distinct but interconnected elements. First, my visible documentary work encompasses areas similar to socioeconomics, id and underrepresented communities.

This contains BLM, financial inequality, environmental sustainability and neurodiversity such because the autism rights motion. I really feel that every one this work actually connects with a plethora of individuals.

Over the previous two years, I’ve crafted some very distinct summary psychedelic artwork which has caught the eye of many editors world wide. Thus, my recommendation is to create one thing novel, one thing avant-garde! It doesn’t even must be in media/artwork as I’ve additionally carried out so in drugs/science.

Suppose outdoors the field and don’t be scared to do/strive new issues. There’s no level being cookie-cutter! Don’t count on something, however with time the world could reply appropriately again!