GoPro ABSA Cape Epic 2012
GoPro kindly issued me with a handful of HD2 cameras and sent me on my way to provide them with footage of what I do.
Here’s the first of many videos. Enjoy
Patience vs. Persistence
One of my key lessons in life that will always challenge me is the challenge of patience.
I am that person who once I have that idea of what I want to do, I want to do it now.
Working with more experienced photographers has opened my eyes (eventually) to realise that you can’t expect to have everything at once. You can’t just slot into a clients mind and assume they will always use you for their photographic requirements.
This does not mean that you won’t get the business, its just about biding your time and most importantly believing in the quality of your work.
As I mature as a photographer I see that there is a balance between persistence and patience.
Being eager, keen, enthusiastic yet cool and calm, confident in your approach, believing that the rates you charge are fair and setting your intent to build a long-term relationship with that client.
Now hurry up and get busy…
Fit for a Princess
So there we are, in Cape Town, on the tarmac outside Execujet awaiting the arrival of a private jet belonging to the Principality of Monaco. Passengers including Her Serene Highness Charlene, an attention-hungry wife of a local member of parliament and key members of the Giving Organisation, a rather impressive fund-raising organisation literally feeding ten key South African charities. But lets go back a day or two..
I get the call requesting me to take on the job. Negotiations done and now to prepare for this whirlwind day. Think about it. How often do you get the opportunity to photograph famous people? Yes, I’ve done Lance Armstrong and Ewan McGregor, Helen Zille too, but a princess, not yet. You know the day is going to be crammed into a tricky schedule with commitments she might not be able to all ‘do’. There will be a lot of media, security, fans, charity folk, kids everywhere, etc.
The key ingredients to make a success of a shoot like this?
Preparation
Nail down every variable in the itinerary you request from your client.
Ask as many questions as you see fit. Don’t hold back, take charge.
Your client needs to know that you are confident and are asking these questions to give them the best results possible. Do some research on the subject/s and the locations you will be working in.
If possible I always do a recce of the venue at the same time of day I will be shooting to work out angles and backdrops. No time for this though on this shoot.
I plan to carry two cameras on my favourite Black Rapid harness allowing to shoot long and wide, alternating cameras rather than having to change lenses. No time! You have no control on whats going to happen next. No second chances and no opportunity to ask the Princess to stand somewhere for you or to look at the camera. I love this kind of shooting! Literally predicting every move she’s going to make before she makes it. This is what makes a documentary-style photographer a great photographer. Practise, practise and as I am carry on practising…
Thanks to Tracy Burrows for this shot (above) of me getting ready, watching every move, allowing me to get this image below
I carried spare lenses on my THINKTANK speed belt (50mm 1.2 and a Tokina fish-eye) in case there was a need or opportunity to experiment a little. No time though. My 1D mark 3 carried the 16-35mm with a Speedlite 580EXII flash on the ready and my Canon 1D Mark 4 carrying my trusted 70-200mm lens.
The day went well with 150 quality and relevant images delivered to client and what looks like the start of a fruitful long term relationship. What more can a photographer ask for…
Raining Rugby
Sometimes I feel I complicate things slightly for the sake of perceived convenience.
For example, I choose to use my motorcycle to get me and my photographic gear to Newlands this last Saturday. This in theory will help me park closer to the stadium and assist me in getting out quickly in amongst the traffic after the semi-final.
Even the rain on the way in wasn’t a big bother.
The curve ball comes when you haven’t thought about where to leave your helmet, etc and carrying a ‘little’ extra gear in your tank bag in case you may just need it.
The scenario plays out with my four hands delicately balancing gear while trying to pass through the early inebriated finding my way to the photographers room around a rainy kilometre from where I had to park.
Not the end of the world and I am happy with the result, photographed on behalf of Gallo Images.
It truly helps to have the right rain-gear.
I find thinktank makes the best rain covers called hydrophobia for 70-200 and 300-600mm lenses.
All their bags come with rain covers as standard and the work perfectly, including a strap that prevents you from losing the covers.
First Ascent makes the best human rain gear I know. Dry-lite jacket and dry-lite pants always packed in one of my bags
Please enjoy the lo-res images below:
How do you know?
It is often that I am asked ‘what do you like or enjoy photographing’.
So how do we know what we like photographing?
My answer is rather simple in that you don’t know until you have tried.
I encourage all photographers to experiment with every subject matter they can lay their lens on.
From cars to cakes, bicycles to nudes, still-life to extreme sports, fields of gold to heaps of coal.
Try it, once you have tried it you will know!
You will also learn from each different experience. By shooting weddings or fashion you will learn detail. Shooting adventure sports you will learn shooting on the go. Shooting dancing you will learn timing. Through any experience you will learn more about you, your equipment and the world around you.
What I have learnt along the way is what I prefer to shoot. I feel I can take on most assignments and deliver a quality product and/or service for my client but there are some shoots that I will jump at and some I will do to pay the rent.
My definite preference is for energy and emotion as subject matter.
So when I got the opportunity to photograph the International Ballet Gala rehearsal yesterday I jumped at it.
There is something very special about ballet. I do not know ballet, I cannot comprehend the detail of ballet but I can feel ballet. I can feel the energy and I can sense the emotion of the dancers. Very powerful subject matter. From the time I walked into the (very) grand arena with the classical music trumpeting through the wall of speakers to the finale, I was living, living in the moment, my zone where I belong.
Dance and particularly ballet are one of my preferences to photograph.
I hope that comes through in this small selection of my images shot side-stage, back-stage, front-stage and from the very last top row through a gap in the curtains. Enjoy..
Booked
As my looming deadline sprints towards me like a young child, out of control and inevitably laughing, I find myself compressed into corners of coffee shops in ‘foreign’ towns, a space that allows me the space to focus without distraction and squeeze out the words from the myriad of amazing experiences I have either ridden solo or shared with special people. I felt like sharing a little from my last trip up to Rhodes in the Eastern Cape on the Lesotho border, shared with a small group of good friends:
‘Tyre pressures are inflated up to 1.5 front and 1.8 rear as the roads have dried up and we expect rockier terrain today.
Heading up Naude’s Nek from Rhodes on the R396 initially takes you along the Bell river valley. It is tough to keep your eyes on the road while trying to appreciate the beauty all around whilst inhaling icy, crisp, Drakensberg air. At the bottom of Naude’s Nek you will come across a memorial to the Naude brothers who initially built this pass. Here we stop to have a look around and repair Tom’s windscreen as his bike starts to lose pieces through a few errant detours from his intended route. Coming around a bend on the way up this pass we come head to head with a herd of local cows taking up the whole road. It becomes part frustrating, part entertaining watching these beasts hesitate, turn around, try to climb over one another while you mentally try to encourage them not to fear the parked motorcycles and for them to pass without stampeding over your reliable steed. Eventually one of the larger animals wisens up or plucks up the courage to venture past and as sheep do, the rest follow.’
Shooting for Love
Being asked by your best friend to photograph his wedding when you don’t photograph weddings is a bit like being invited to caddy for Ernie Els at the US Masters.
An honour but rather daunting.
When processing the images after the shoot I realised that my photographic passion lies much closer to my heart than my head as I feel more than calculate my imagery. I appreciate the gift I have to capture the essence, emotion and energy of such a special occasion, long may it last.
Here are a few of my favourites
Songo.GoingPlaces
There is nothing easy about running a charity that actually makes a difference. This is my personal observation after choosing to get closer to the Songo.info charity team a few months ago. There are many people who we don’t get to see behind the scenes that make this organisation work. Yes, this year has started off with a great boost with Team 36ONE Songo-Specialized winning the 2011 ABSA Cape Epic. Great coverage for the charity and selfless pride for both Christoph and Burry aligning themselves to this worthwhile cause. Songo (Fipaza), the man himself had a really tough Epic this year. Suffering from severe de-hydration on Stage 2 (mainly due to technical difficulties and no money to pay for the repairs at the tech zones as well as lack of proper on-course nutrition) Songo for the first time crossed an Epic finish-line with no smile present. He had missed the extended cut-off time for Stage 3 and had to be admitted to intensive care at the race hospital that same day.
Songo continues to do all he can with the support of a team of dedicated individuals to enhance Khayamandi’s (Stellenbosch ‘township’) youth and give them a fighting chance through sport, in particular cycling. There are many individuals who choose not to take the spotlight but believe in this great cause and continue to give all they can, when they can. To this team and to Songo, I salute you and admire your great work!
Please continue as this rolling stone gathers great bundles of moss and makes a significant difference to our youth
The Shallow Side
So one of my best friends is getting married tomorrow and I graciously accepted the role of photographer. Now I am not the most excitable person when it comes to any form of discussion of marriage, but hey lets take up the challenge and make this shoot shit-hot and try some new ‘original’ methods. Although, we do need to bear in mind that the wedding couple have their own set of expectations.. So I went to my mate Pieter at Photo Hire and hired a portable studio-light because we will be shooting the post-service romantic pics at 6pm in the evening in Constantia. Can’t wait to light trees and create moody, romantic portraits. I have for the last two years ogled at colleagues who flaunt their 50mm 1.2 lenses so hired one at the same time to play around a bit. I took it along to the V&A waterfront (wrapped in a towel to stay low-key) and only took two pics. One was this one of the awesome gent who does all the shoe repairs at the bottom of the escalator below Woolies. Amazing with a depth of field set at f1.2 a portrait under fluorescent light can become something a little special.
