Archive for July, 2009
Role Reversal – A mountain biking and portrait shoot with renowned adventure photographer Michael Clark
Last week my good friend and fellow adventure sports photographer Michael Clark was in town for the Outdoor Retailer Show here in Salt Lake City. He commented on how great the Salt Lake area was for adventure sports photography due to its proximity to a wide variety of shooting locations, and expressed an interest in shooting mountain biking while in town for the show. Knowing I was an avid mountain biker myself and extremely familiar with the area, he invited me out on a shoot as his model. We ended up shooting on the ubber-classic Wasatch Crest trail at the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon. As someone who spends his time making a living behind the camera, it was a great reminder of what’s it is like to be a model or athlete on the other side of the lens.
The following morning I asked Michael if he could shoot a couple portraits of me using his killer high-contrast B&W technique shot on white seamless. Having virtually no photos of myself I thought they might come in handy for self promotion. And who better to capture your personality than a close friend?
© Michael Clark
Both experiences got me thinking about an often overlooked role of a professional photographer — directing models/athletes and other professionals involved in a shoot while on location. It is an essential skill that has a huge impact on the final outcome on any given project. A photographer must be able to effectively communicate with everyone involved to get them to do what it is you need to get the shot. One must also make the environment fun and welcoming. Below are a few tips I have found effective over the years:
- Be specific – describe in detail what it is you are after and what it is you want your models/athlete to do. Give direction on body position, facial expressions and the general mood you are after.
- Observe – this is specific to action sports but watching the athletes you are photographing will give you an understanding of their abilities and specialties.
- Talk to your subjects – this is more specific to lifestyle and portraits but conversing with your models will help them get their mind off of being photographed. It will help them to loosen up, relax and forget there is a camera on them.
- Be open – although having a clear vision for a shoot is critical, remaining open and ready for unexpected moments can yield results that surpass what you pre-visualized
- Keep the environment professional but fun. Nobody likes being around people who are difficult and hard to work with.
- Be patient – Michael reminded me of this one. I am not at all comfortable being in front of the camera, and it took awhile for me to loosen up and get comfortable with being photographed. The portrait above was one of the last frames Michael took.
If you are not familiar with Michael’s work check out his website at www.michaelclarkphoto.com. In addition to outstanding work he produces a quarterly newsletter that is top-notch. It is full of information and stories that appeal to both creatives and anyone interested in photography. You can check out the back issues here. You can also subscribe by e-mailing Michael at mjcphoto@comcast.net. Tell him I sent you.
How Do You Know If You Don’t Try?
Fear is a funny thing. It has the power to hold us back, keeping us in a place that is safe, comfortable and free from risk. It holds us captive like a ball and chain, tied to routine and old, stagnant ways.
Two years ago I would have never considered shooting mid-day under harsh light during the peak of summer. It just wouldn’t have happened. As someone who built a career on shooting naturally lit adventure sports, I was comfortable and accustomed to shooting golden light during the sweetest times of day – sunrise and sunset. Mid-day sun was like the plague, and I avoided it at all costs.
I guess this is exactly why I decided to get out of my comfort zone and schedule a mountain biking shoot in the middle of the afternoon in mid-July. I wanted to face my fears and expand my horizons. After all, how could I ever know what was possible without even trying? As it turns out, with enough wattage and the right light modifiers mid-day sun can be quite cool.
Photography, life or otherwise–you don’t know unless you try. Break the chains and try new things. You might just surprise yourself. You’ve got little to lose but a tremendous amount to gain.
Social Media
It’s been a long time coming but I have finally jumped on the social media bandwagon. Yup. Some of you might have noticed the recent links added to the sidebar of the blog. My intent with each one is to offer something a little different. So . . .
Facebook. If you haven’t done so already check out the new Mike Tittel Photography Facebook Page and become a fan. My goal is to offer something more to the greater photographic community and those interested in my work. On my page you will see more of my latest work, get updates on the happenings at MTP and be able to interact in ways not possible elsewhere. Comments, dialogue and questions are welcome and encouraged. Check it out.
Twitter. The concept “What’s are you doing?” is brilliant, and I think has the potential to give greater insight into the workings of a professional photographer . . . behind the scenes, if you will. Not only how I work but also what I am doing, where I am at, and other random news, thoughts or observations. Of course, I am a working photographer and not a professional “Tweeter”. There will be times when I am off the grid or focused on certain projects but I will do my best to keep “tweets” relevant and frequent when possible. Follow me at www.twitter.com/miketittel.
Finally, LinkedIn. If you are a potential client and interested in hiring me I would encourage you to check out some of the recent recommendations on my LinkedIn profile. If we have worked together and you are interested in joining my network send me an invite. I’d love to hear from you.
The Anatomy of a Road Biking Shoot
It’s no secret. I am huge fan of personal work and portfolio development (examples here, here and here. This week I carved out some additional time to work on another idea I have had floating around in my pea-sized brain and wanted to dig a little deeper than I have in the past into how I work. *DISCLAIMER* I am not at all trying to take credit for the ideas or techniques described in this post. Rather I wanted to share my own discoveries and methods of working.
The images I envisioned demanded that I shoot the action as it was happening. Somehow having my assistant push me in a wheelchair while I shot with a strobe strapped to the IV hook just didn’t seem to fit. I needed to figure out a way to keep myself and my lighting gear with the action. Enter my Subaru Outback wagon. I could have used a pickup–yes, I know–but I don’t own one, so I did what Mike does best: improvised.
By mounting an Elinchrome head with a beauty dish on a Bogen Superclamp I was able to attach the strobe to the strut on the rear hatch. Voila . . . A light stand and shooting platform that could keep up with the action. And with the Ranger power pack sitting next to me I could easily make adjustments on the fly. Now that I have tested this set-up I could see lots of potential uses on future shoots.
To really put the finishing touches on the photo at the top of the post I did a fair bit of post processing using Adobe Lightroom. I first used the Adjustments Brush to make localized adjustments to exposure, brightness, contrast and clarity. Then to give the image a grungy, desaturated look I simply reduced the overall saturation, warmed up the white balance and really cranked up the overall clarity. It’s a great technique for in-your-face type action.
Below is an additional image from the shoot.
Equipment Used: Nikon D300, 12-24mm Lens, Elinchrome Ranger RX Speed AS Battery Pack, Speed “A” Head with Beauty Dish, Pocket Wizards and Bogen Superclamp.
Resources for Aspiring Photographers
If you have an interest in photography as a career, or if you are just looking for new inspiration, you might find this post helpful. I remember when I started as a photographer being super hungry for any resource or bit of information I could find. Actually, I still am. Professional development is hugely important to me. I receive a lot of e-mails asking for advice, resources and information on where/how I got my start. Hopefully I can answer some of the most frequently asked questions in a later post, but for now I wanted to share some resources/links for those who aspire to work in the industry or have an interest in photography. This list is not intended to be all encompassing rather a list of resources that personally helped or inspired me in my own journey. Dig in!
Recommended Books/Magazines:
- ASMP’s Professional Business Practices in Photography -THE go-to guide for the business of photography. Read this one cover to cover twice.
- Best Business Practices for Photographers by John Harrington – Another essential read on the business of photography
- Tell the World You Don’t Suck by Leslie Burns-Del’Aqua – An excellent, easy read about marketing your work and setting yourself apart by one of the top consultants in the business.
- How to Succeed in Commercial Photography by Selina Maitreya – A great read on the world of commercial photography by another leading consultant.
- Advertising Photography: A Straightforward Guide to a Complex Industry by Lou Lesko – Tons of great insight into the world of high-end advertising assignments.
- VisionMongers by David duChemin – Doesn’t give the nuts and bolts of running a business but is an inspiring read on vision/passion with great “stories” from some well known photographers like Chase Jarvis and Zach Arias.
- How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnige – A classic that everyone in the business world should read at least once.
- Swim with the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive by Harvey Mackay – Another classic full of information for those entering the business world.
- Adobe Photoshop Lightroom: A Professional Photographer’s Workflow by Michael Clark (eBook) – A great book on Lightroom by a personal friend of mine.
- The Moment it Clicks and The Hotshoe Diaries by Joe McNally – Random thoughts and insight from one of the best photographers/teachers ever.
- Pricing Photography: The Complete Guide to Assignment & Stock Prices by Michal Heron and David MacTavish – Provides an overview and understanding of how pricing in the photo industry works.
- Photo District News – Hands down my favorite magazine for professional photographers.
Professional Organizations
- American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) – I would strongly encourage joining as there are a ton of resources available for members.
- Travel and Outdoor Photographers Alliance (TOPA) – An online forum for all things relating to the business side of photography.
Education
- Kelby Training – A ton of great video based lessons on everything from location lighting to digital workflow by some of the industries top instructors. Really valuable instruction in an economical and time-friendly way.
- Strobist – A great resource for learning off camera flash.
- Rocky Mountain School of Photography – Great workshops and career training programs. I attended their Summer Intensive Career Training Program in 1999 and would highly recommend it for anyone interested in photography.
- ASMPproAdvice – An online forum for emerging/student photographers
Miscellaneous
- FotoBiz/FotoQuote Software – The industry standard for pricing photography.
- Borrowlenses.com – A great place to rent gear that you cannot afford or justify buying.
- MacGurus – Although not photo specific these guys are truly gurus when it comes to all things Mac. They understand photographer’s needs and can help you upgrade Mac computers for a fraction of what Apple charges.
Inspiring and Motivational Videos/Blogs
- Zack Arias Video – This is a great video that was originally posted on Scott Kelby’s popular blog. Zach provides a valuable reminder and encouraging charge relevant to those even outside of photo industry.
- Chase Jarvis Photoshelter Talk – A great presentation by Chase in New York that left me feeling inspired and motivated.
- Seth Godin’s Blog – Daily inspiration for all.
If there are resources not listed here that have inspired you or helped you in your own journey please share.
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