Whether it’s an iconic skyline or some cool local architecture, photographing a cityscape can be a great way to create interesting compositions without having to trek into the wilderness. Getting successful cityscape shots requires a bit of preparation, gear knowledge, and location scouting. In this beginner’s guide to photographing a cityscape, I’ll detail all the decisions you need to make in order to take better photos of cities.
Photography Life
For most of my time as a photographer, I’ve been on a strict budget, from my days as a student to my current attempts to save for a house and car. I’m sure I’ve spent more than necessary along the way – but I’ve also learned how to navigate the landscape of gear on today’s market and save whenever possible. This detailed guide covers all my tips to spend less money on camera equipment, which is as much of an art as a science.
Photography Life
Generally, one wouldn’t view the picture below as a promising start.
But it actually is. The blackness of the room heralds control of the space. Wonderful. The peace and calm of utter lack of environment. One’s own photographic sensory deprivation tank. Turning a location into deep space, where, as has been famously noted, no one can hear you scream. Like the way I was, in my head. I recall my line of interior discourse going along the lines of, “Ok, it’s dark, whaddaya gonna do now?”
When you get to a desperate tipping point such as the above on assignment, it’s instructive to remember, “You said yes.” But that’s the point. It was a terrific opportunity to explore, and create. You always say yes, as it’s in the photographer’s nature to explore the boundaries, where success and potential failure are close neighbors.
I did have the keys to the kingdom with me. New technology! The Profoto Connect Pro, hot-shoed to the camera, making me feel somewhat Leonard Bernstein-esque, baton in hand, conducting a symphony of lights. (For a while, solving the problems, moving the lights, failing along the way, correcting, correcting, correcting….it was less like a majestic symphony and much more akin to a funeral dirge.)
But, eventually we got here.
In the above, there is out there on the floor, a peacock, clamped to a c-stand. We eventually decided there was no room for the feathers, attractive as they may be. That’s what we did for two days. Move the pieces. The entire set was a jigsaw puzzle, involving the talent, the furniture, and the lights. Placing one element often meant moving another. A process. A game of checkers, played against oneself.
The story, in brief, is told below, in a fun, BTS video.
Huge thank you to the amazing crew and talent!
Flawless production, styling, hair, makeup, as well as Andrew, Casey, and Hannah on the set. Lots of photo knowledge, pushing the equation forward.
Lynn DelMastro – Executive Producer, Andrew Tomasino – Crew Chief, Casey Mathewson – 1st Assistant, Hannah Mitchell – 2nd Assistant, Samantha Brown – Lead Wardrobe Stylist, Sophia Phillips – Wardrobe Assistant, Michelle Coursey – Lead Make-Up Artist, Jayme Jennings – Assistant Make-Up Artist, Olivia Boucher – Assistant Make-up Artist, Hide Suzuki – Lead Hair Stylist, Ubu Nagano – Assistant Hair Stylist.
And the video storytellers supreme….
Melanie Mclean Brooks – Director / Flying Giant Productions, Ryan Brooks – DP / Flying Giant Productions, Heather Ender – Producer / High Grove Productions, John Henri Cohn – B-Camera, Ruben Hernandez – Assistant Camera, Ray Suthinithet – Sound, Al Roberts – Gaffer.
And to the wondrous, expressive, larcenous talent!
June Nichols, our grande dame of the house and the party. Nik Pjeternikaj – the light-fingered diplomat, and his nefarious consort Laeticia De Valer. The lovely uninvited guest, doing her best imitation of elegant but tipsy – Marisa Roper. The devoted butler, Parker Smith – but is he really? The sumptuously beautiful Jarry Lee, fending off the relentlessly smarmy movie producer, Charles Sammann, he of the, “My movie’s gonna make you a star!” ilk.
Sincere thanks to the Profoto team for being a wonderful partner in creating this content. It was great to get into the field with a camera and work with all these creatives, expressing and showcasing their unique abilities. Check out the Profoto website for the full interview.
More tk! I will use upcoming blogs as a series to talk about the lights and problem-solving on location. The Connect Pro rocks. A great lighting system just got better.
The post Profoto Connect Pro! The Keys to the Kingdom! appeared first on Joe McNally Photography.
Whenever I set out to photograph wildlife, and especially birds, I make sure to arrive before sunrise – or choose to stay until after sunset. There are two reasons why I do so. First, being early to start and late to leave gives me access to the flattering light of golden hour. Second, it makes shooting against the sun possible.
Photography Life
July is traditionally the season of travel and summer breaks – perhaps the time when the greatest number of photographs are taken. I usually photograph wildlife, but today I took my camera up into the mountains to photograph my family on one of our Alpine climbs. This year, the beginning of July also brings some interesting news in the photography world, which you can check out below.
Photography Life