Shoot photos like a pro
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Date Posted:
March-25-2010 11:56
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Australia’s Jasin Boland is one of the most sought-after still-shot photographers in the world. He’s taken the pictures that become movie posters on billboards and in theatres; the Matrix, Bourne and Mission Impossible trilogies are just some of his many credits. He also serves as a Nikon ambassador and is part of the SanDisk Extreme Team.
Impressive stuff. Now read his five tips on getting the most out of that camera you never use.
1. It’s all about the eyes
“When you’re shooting, concentrate on your subject’s eyes and nine times out of 10 the rest will look after itself. Get to eye level – or even lower – for a cool heroic shot; when I’m shooting, I spend more time on my stomach than standing up. With kids and animals you really need to get low, otherwise it looks like you’re a giant."
2. Be candid
“Don’t over-think at the expense of capturing that really cool, spontaneous action you just watched instead of photographed. Also, don’t just turn your camera on and squeeze the trigger; flip your camera sideways or use the zoom to make your subject pop.”
3. Act like a director
“When you’re shooting people, reassure them that they look fantastic, or move them so they do. Don’t be afraid to direct; good shots demand it.”
4. Learn the light
“It’s the single most important factor in photography. Explore why some light looks great and other light just looks plain lazy. I use my hand as a light meter: holding it out in front of me and looking at my palm, I slowly turn in a circle until I find the least number of shadows and the softest light. Ideally, the best light of the day is first light; it takes a lot of drive to get up early, but the rewards are immense. Last light is also good. If you’re planning ahead, use the first or last light rule.”
5. Have fun and experiment
“I can’t stress enough how important this is. Cameras have souls of happiness; very rarely is a camera raised in anger so go out and have a laugh. See how creative and crazy you and your mates can get – I suspect you may just end up surprising yourself.
“Last, but by no means least, download frequently; you can replace that camera you just dropped overboard, but you will never replace the photos. May the focus be with you.”
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