My Default Blog
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
I put my words which I always answer to whoever asks me how I became a photographer or how to become a professional photographer. If you are interetsed in, please read the following Blogs.
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
First of all, if you are getting serious about becoming a snowboarding photographer, I recommend you to move to a mountain. Try to put yourself in a snowboarding community. In winter I think it's not hard to find some good riders in a park, though, you might want to step out there and go in trees or extreme locations and to find out who is making the sickest line or who is the most stylish in air. If you are bumped into any kind of situation like some good riders are doing crazy shi*t in front of you, ask their name and take a photo no matter what. I think that's the first step you have to be into. I like shooting 1/2 pipe but I don't like shooting in a contest. I have been stoked on so many riders in a 1/2 pipe thou, they have more stoked me on when they are riding in back country.
It all depends 'course. If you are stoked on someone's riding, take a photo.
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Nowadays camera technology is so advanced. If you want to skip learning photography skills, go ahead. I have met so many photographers who don't even know how to use a light meter and fully use the AUTO shi*t. They still take excellent photos. I use Auto too but I use it 'cause it is a part of my skills too. I hope you understand the difference. Professional photographers don't depend on lucks, we always mean to capture something we expect already, not something like magically going to turn out good or happen. So, if you want to become a professional photographer, learn skills and tricks from school or pros or books. Get information as much as you can. Either way you have to prove it yourself. Test, test again and sort out tips what you learned, otherwise you don't learn anything.
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
I think photography is all about knowledge and experience. More skills are better, more tricks are more helpful and more experience are more confidence but you still have to be out there and shoot by your own eyes. No matter what category or field you are in, you should at least know the basics of aperture, shutter speed and film speed (ISO) before using AUTO. If you are able to tell the difference of lights, it will be very helpful to capture a beautiful photographs. My master said "Remember, the sun is only one. Think about reflection and shadow".
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
I never wanted to be a photographer before I met a Japanese pro photographer back in 1990. I had been hoping or dreaming to become an artist like a graphic designer or an illustrator since I was a little but just hoping by no clue. Around the same time I gave up going to an expensive school to become an artist, I asked this pro photographer how I would be able to become an artist. He said " drawing, painting or designing could be very similar to photography as well. If you want to use photography skills to express your art, photography could be one of your choice". Then he told me that there were many photography studios in Tokyo so I looked for a studio and started working at a rental photography studio in Tokyo instead of going school. That's where I learned skills of photography. I didn't go to school.
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
The customers were there all professional photographers who mainly shoot photos of products of major brands like Nikon, Sony, Panasonic and etc. Also they use the studio to shoot models for major magazines too. I was very lucky to help their lighting and process of commercial photography. I also served as an apprenticeship under different type of pro photographers and developed my creativity at the same time. I have been shooting professionally since '94. I started with commercial photography regularly so as snowboarding photography in winter. I lived in Tokyo until '98 but I ended up moving to Whistler and got more myself involved in snowboard photography. The skills I learned from the studio are probably different from school stuff but I still use them fully and very helpful.
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Canon EOS-1D MarkII N, EF300mm F2.8, EF200mm F2.8, EF70-200mm F4.0, EF85mm F1.8, EF50mm F1.4, EF28mm F1.8, EF15mm F2.8 Fisheye, EF14mm F2.8, Hasselblad 500C/M, 60mm F3.5, 120mm F4.0 plus two flashes, light meter, tripod, monopod and Mac G5.
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Canon EOS-1Ds MarkII, EF600mm F4.0, TS-E45mm F2.8, EF35mm F1.8, Hasselblad 905SWC and 30mm F3.5 Fisheye
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