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It has been 3 years now since I first started shooting pictures and clips in board sports. I’m proud and relieved to see that I have progressed fairly well during that time, thanks to a lot of hard feedback, encouragements, inspiration and hard work. Nevertheless, I have never considered myself as a professional photographer. When can one call himself “professional” at something? Honestly, I just enjoy shooting very much, and I’m happy to do so during my days off work. And eventually sometimes I would get a little cash for it! DAYUM!!! Still, this doesn’t make me feel as if I’m a professional, maybe partly because as I’m happy to realize that I’m still progressing a lot and there is still a long way to go.
This winter I had the pleasure to Meet Carl, one of the owners and managers of Vallerret Gloves. Their products are specialised and focused on a photographer’s need. It’s nice and refreshing to have a brand that appreciates the work done behind the lens and wishes to provide them with adequate equipment. We got talking, and Carl offered me the great opportunity to join their ambassador team and thus promote their products, which I happily and gratefully accepted.
I’m still not considering myself as a professional, but this new deal got me to think of a way to promote their products, while encouraging other photographers with insights and good tips. This article is to take it or leave it. I don’t believe that there’s “a best way” of doing things, as at the end of the day it is just a matter of style and habits… but feel free to embrace some of my thoughts or experience-based inputs.
Haaaaaa this is such an intense, yet boring subject. Let’s talk technical equipment! Especially when someone first starts shooting in the winter sports industry (including myself), you tend to worry about having the right equipment. As a result you often buy way too many gadgets, which you will never really need, but which will fill up your backpack.
My process is simple: what’s my plan? What will I be shooting and for what purpose? These questions will narrow down my need and will help me choose the right equipment: I don’t need 4K, but I do need to switch from filming to shooting pictures rapidly (as I like to do a little of both), all content will be mainly used for web so I do not require crazy resolutions…
As you gain experience, you come to realize that it’s often not the equipment that will make the shot better, but rather the angle you choose, the rider you shoot with and the way you will finally edit your picture. You don’t believe me? Give the same camera to two people and you will quickly see how the result will be different according to their style.
When it comes to backpacks, I’m quite a minimalist. I managed to limit my shooting equipment to a small camera (GH5), a few lenses and sometimes I take out my gimbal. I’m grateful to be good at post-production, which helps me to add some flares and delete some lazy people standing in my shot. Therefor, my backpack is small, super light and crazy practical (you should check it out sometimes). As I’m not the most talented snowboarder, having a light backpack saved my shooting/riding day quite a few times. Also, having this small amount of equipment encourages me to easily get into my shooting mood. As a result I take way more pictures than I would if I had the burden of carrying a big, heavy backpack.
Now let’s talk about the gloves situation. I admit, I never really felt the need for specific gloves. I usually take off my gloves to take pictures until I can’t feel my fingers, or I just leave them on and hope I get the right button pressed at the right time. Now, my gloves upgraded to real “photographer winter gloves” and honestly my life changed with it
The women model gloves I got from Vallerret allow me to pull off the top part of the index finger and thumb. This frees my fingers from the gloves, giving me full sensibility and mobility to the camera while keeping the rest of my hand covered and warm. The removable fingertips work with magnets, this way, the fabric doesn’t hang or just flips back over your fingers while shooting. The gloves are comfortable and warm, the technique is simple and reliable… I’m happy to say that this is a great gear addition, which makes my photography experience easier and more fluent.
To begin with, you will seek inspiration and start shooting with conventional angles. Some fish eye shots of rails and some long lens for the kickers or backcountry. Once you get comfortable with those, you might look into finding something different. I started off wrong, with a background in design, my approach to boardsports shootings was inappropriate at first but then helped me easily getting out of my comfort zone to try out new and wired angles.
Thanks to the rotating screen of the GH5, which I love, I got to explore some edgy angles, sometimes at the cost of almost getting hit by a snowboard in the face.
As much as I like to complain about not seeing any credits for the photographer on a picture, I also think we shouldn’t forget that it’s a team-work to get a great shot. Often, after getting to know the rider better, you get used to each other’s style of riding and shooting, and it gets easier to know what angle you should get or which position will look best.
The first few times or hours shooting with someone you need to get to know each other and conversation is key to get the best result quickly. Or do it like me and hope the rider doesn’t land his trick first try.
As much as I like to complain about not seeing any credits for the photographer on a picture, I also think we shouldn’t forget that it’s a team-work to get a great shot. Often, after getting to know the rider better, you get used to each other’s style of riding and shooting, and it gets easier to know what angle you should get or which position will look best.
The first few times or hours shooting with someone you need to get to know each other and conversation is key to get the best result quickly. Or do it like me and hope the rider doesn’t land his trick first try.
The shoot is done, I’m finally back home with a red wine or a beer depending on how successful the shooting was. I usually select the shots immediately to be imported in Lightroom and there I find some pre-set filters that I have prepared and modified over the past few years. This allows me to follow one visual style and to stay true to my Instagram feed
Now it’s time to present your piece of art to the world. Get on Instagram and social, prostitute your images out and tag all the possible locations, brands, and people you can on your picture, while adding all the hashtags you could think of (never mind if they are relevant or not) and hope it attracts some attention. Maybe even beg some friends and riders to share it at this point, social media prostitution will make your success.
So ride on, and happy shooting.
Nicki
Original Article published on Reverse mag: http://www.reverse-magazine.com/2018/04/tribute-people-behind-shots/
NICKI ANTOGNINI a traveller, mountain dweller and snow sports and adventure photographer. “I believe that every shoot is about the coalition between the rider and the photographer and communicating the interesting story of that unique individual.”
Founder of Reverse mag: http://www.reverse-magazine.com/
Follow Nicki on instagram: @nicki_antognini/
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