Scott News

This popped up on one of my RSS feeds. Cool! From here:

There is no mistaking where they’re from when the mullet-haired, check-shirted BMX bandit Scott Hone takes to the stage. Watching him mock bullfight with piano-accordionist Svetlana Bunic and pile nine performers on to his moving bike, it seems so odd to read that he used to be an orange juice salesman and taught high school maths.

And it is even more of a surprise when such a chunky chap reappears in a tutu, balancing and rolling sparkling balls on his arms with a completely unexpected grace. He’s found his niche with Circus Oz.

- Photo by Seth Golub

Photographing children is certainly exciting. You never know what they are going to do. You can prepare, but generally, you just have to go with it.

To see more images, please visit HONEphotography.com

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?

This is my entry for the Mactalk Photography Competition

The theme for the competition is “Eerie.” I have been thinking long and hard about what I might enter for over 3 weeks now. Then one night when I was lying in bed I looked up and saw the little witch that I bought from a little shop in Chinatown in San Frascisco. I thought, hmm, this could be interesting. That’s when I envisaged the Witch flying on her broomstick in front of the full moon.

Last night I decided that I was going to take the picture. I needed some sort of light coloured round thing to act as the moon. I would be able to blur it with a f/1.8. I could hang the moon and Witch on string (but I used small gauge fencing wire because I could not find the string) off brooms — but I needed assistance.

I thought about it and came up with this setup.

Mum and Sarah were very gracious with helping me on a cold Melbourne night. Dad came out to help but forgot to close the door so all the cats got out. Sar was worried about Otto running onto the road and went to get him, when a big dog from across the road got out and it’s owners could not get it back in.

Sar started freaking out about the dog thinking that it would eat Otto. I went out and the dog was a gorgeous Siberian Husky that just wanted to play. It’s owners finally grabbed the puppy, and Sar eventually got Otto back inside then went to bed.

In post production I faded the colours, added some blue highlights, and lowered the colour temp. I also did some minor photoshopping out of the string from the top of the Witch’s Hat.

Needless to say that I am extremely happy with the photo.

I have finally made the jump to professional photography and it is going really well.

This is one of my all time favourite pictures that came out of the Little Devils shoot.

I have a few all time favourites that came from Stui’s shoot. I really like this one.

This photo, I can just stare at for hours.

[edit ... My website has since changed, and as such, the link no longer works. I can't remember what image it was linked to...]

[edit II -- the second part to this post can be found here]