The path of the photographer…or, in my case, the generalist. A generalist is loosely defined as “a person who offers a wide range of skills and an intelligent combination of knowledge from many different fields”. As a photographer, my level of intelligence can sometimes range from dense as ice to lightning-fast—depending on the day. So a more relevant and reliable analogy might be that of a utility midfielder on a football team. I can’t best play one position, but I can take on any position with a reasonable level of competence.
General skills required during recent travel. I left home for Norway on February 16, to northern Norway, then southern Norway (if that really exists), and then Romania. Go home to do laundry for one night, and then go to New Orleans. Basically, forty consecutive days on the road.
Teach a great workshop with close friend and photographer Tamara Lackey and had a wonderful experience with our extraordinary and adventurous photographers In the Lofoten Islands – where sea eagles rule the sky. shoot with Nikkor 180-400 f4, 1/4000th, zoom at 310mm, eye detection AF auto mode. Great bird, come right to me. Track and trace from an unstable RIB boat.
Bird portrait! Flip the TC on the lens and hit 500mm, ISO 3200.
From the northern islands of Lofoten to Stavanger’s photo in the south of Norway. What a great time working with Andreas and all the staff, especially the photographers who arrived on a cold day! Human portrait! With file large and small lights. For the below, I used a B10XPlus unit and just blasted it from afar into a window that we covered with some impromptu diffuser. I place the lights away from the windows in a situation like this because I feel that when the resulting flickering light finally hits the building, it looks and behaves more like daylight. (Not a scientific observation, just a direct call, as in, it seems fine when I do that.)
Work with Mickey! Micke Johannsen is a Profoto employee with endless knowledge of the system. The folks at our workshop asked us to build a multi-light setup with sage Jaumela. There’s a bit of fun as she shows off her best Catwoman in the old abandoned steel mill look. Lots of light here, but just one Profoto 4′ Octa with a grid.
And then a quick example of flash duration and how it activates flash and blur techniques.
Then to Romania! When I was assigned to the city of Bucharest, I was there for less than 24 hours and found myself at the top Arcul di Triumf, one of the most remarkable monuments in the country. Go there at dawn with Valeriu Valentin, whose duty is to change the flag several times a year.
And a distance from there to Sofia, in Bulgaria, where I photographed the model in a micro-tank to illustrate La Fantanaa water supply company with a bright future vision.
The great thing about this project is that I worked with my close friends at Fast idea production, supported by the creative powers of Ionut Ionescu and Andrei Marinescu. Between them and their production staff, nothing is too big or too small. We simply got the job done in sync, and the assembled team spirit (we shot video simultaneously with stills) was paramount. Great energy and camaraderie surrounds these partnerships.
From the water tank in Sofia back to Bucharest, and as often happens in a commercial, an overnight adventure. Below, taken around 1am, and needed to create daylight. Flirting on the street. Interior key light.
And then NOLA! Music abound, for both the young and the old. Add photos, and share them. Our workshop team, with the support of the wonderful duo Liza Politi and Ari Espaywho runs? Fancy Girl, Street Boy Productionsintroduced to The origin of music, a great musical education effort for young people in New Orleans. It’s great to take pictures of these kids and send them back! Below, the band warms up, and the photo is excellent David Maloney shares a newly created portrait, below, with his subject.
Interesting trip, lots of places. Lots of pings on different skill sets. Track and long lens. Portrait lighting. Wake up on top of buildings at sunrise. Active water tank, with top, bottom and rear flash. Create daylight in the night with flash. Roll with the music scene in Big Easy.
Whatever skills you have in your pocket, you take them wherever the picture is.
More than tk.
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