Scott News

I’m not sure if this is good or bad for Ollie, but he just loves it. I made this movie with iMovie 09 in about 1/2 an hour.

I was asked to photograph a collaboration of NICA and NIDA students today. The idea was that NIDA students designed and made costumes for NICA students to wear, spelling out “N-I-C-A” as well as “N-I-D-A”.

My biggest restriction was time. I had an hour and a half. All went pretty well. I will post the finished photos once everything has been given the ok.

Here are a couple of pics that we did afterwards for posterity.

I have decided to make a sequel post to the earlier post, Making The Jump To Professional Photography. I decided to call it the very aptly name of Making The Jump To Professional Photography. Part II—taking photos is the easy part.

Anybody can take a good photo. Being professional—well I suppose that is what it is all about. Taking photos day in day out. But it is not only taking photos. That is just a small part of it. A very small part. There is much much more to it all.

You are being paid, therefore obliged to take photos. Here in lies the main difference. You are feeling like crap? You still have to take photos. You do not feel like talking to anybody? You still have to take photos. Your client really does not like the photos you have taken? And you want to throw it all in? You still have to take photos. The wind is a perfect 23 knot Southerly, perfect for kite surfing, and you have to go out and take photos.

You have a portrait shoot booked. You are about to set up, and suddenly one of your lights will not work. Suck it up and figure out something quick. And do this without breaking a sweat. Without letting on to the client that all has gone to shit.

As well, you have to take images that the client wants. Not necessarily what you would do. Or what you would like. Never the less, what the client wants. For my last shoot, the client head honcho said that my images were “rather pedestrian”. Well I like it. Actually, it is one of my all time favourites. So there.

Furthermore, your client is relying on these shots. They are going to be for their brochure/magazine/website. Your photos have to be good. But perhaps, and more importantly, you have to turn up on time. You have to complete the shoot in time. And, you have to have the finished images ready before the deadline. Not every body can do this. And if the images are outstanding, even better. I think that this point is a little underestimated.

Now you are shooting. You get that little bit extra from your model. Something that other photographers just do not get. Something that sets your images apart from other photographers images. Whether it is capturing the mood. The story, or the subject.

So every time you take a photo, you again try and out do your previous photo. Technique. Lighting. Story. Pizzaz.

Your client is happy with the photos. Good. But they have not paid you yet. How many times do you have to write letters, send emails, and make telephone calls? The client demands that you complete the shoot in half the time. Demands that they have the edited photos that evening because they are on a deadline. You are understanding and comply. You work your butt off. And you would like to be paid.

Yeah well, I have learnt that for this particular client, no more photos unless I am paid up front. I have not worked for this client since.

So I put it to you: sure you would love to be paid to take photographs. But think a little more about what is actually required to be a professional photographer. Is this really for you?

I was asked to come and photograph two of the NICA students that have been invited to perform their act at the Moscow Circus Competition.

Not too long ago I was going through some old photos that I had taken and re-discovered some black and white images that were taken with my Minolta Dimage 7Hi.

Image from dpreview.

I remember that this little camera could take RAW images too. Not bad for something that was around in 2002. From what I recall, this camera has a relatively large sensor. This coupled with not too many — 5 megapixels — is a recipe for awesomeness.

It is a bummer that the 4AA batteries do not last very long. But that is excusable when you can sync the flash at *any* shutter speed. Off camera!! Without! buying any expensive flash triggers. It does not matter that it only goes down to F/9, when you can set the shutter at 1/2000th of a second. And still sync the flash. Total awesomeness now.

I wanted to give the Black and White in camera settings another go. I must say, I am pretty excited.