Capturing perfect images – great photography

Posted in DO IT NOW Magazine | Lifestyle | Photography | Publications

Words: Mark Sampson, Thribe Media. Article from the DO IT ONLINE Magazine.

Entertainment

Mark Sampson is a Cape Town-based event and lifestyle photographer.

From Springbok, the Garden Route and Cape Town, he spends most of his gypsy-like existence on the road. He also supplies numerous publications and private companies with photographic, video and written content mainly in the sport, travel and wildlife genres. Here are some of his top images from 2014, with a brief insight as to how they were captured.

Patience

Good photography is very much about patience and timing. This shot took about 45 minutes to capture, as runners are not that keen to pose. It was sheer luck that Miss Cow had some grass hanging from her mouth, with pine trees to help frame the shot.

Specifications: Canon 5D Mk11 + Canon 70 – 200 mm f 2,8 USM lens. Shutter speed 1/1,000 sec at f 2.8; ISO 320.

Location: Merrell Hobbit Trail Run, Hogsback

Composition

Composition and the rule of thirds is always a good guideline to keep in mind. Placing your subject on the corner of the intersection of the line of thirds and in an area of light helps draw the eye of the viewer to them.

Specifications: Canon 7D Mk1 + Canon 70 – 200 mm f 2,8 USM lens. Shutter speed 1/1,000 sec at f 4.5; ISO 100.

Location: Namaqua Quest MTB race, Springbok

Crisp detail

Detailed action shots always add value, especially when nature is involved. In this case, note the higher shutter speed to clearly capture the water droplets.

Specifications: Canon 5D Mk11 + Canon 70 – 200 mm f 2,8 USM lens. Shutter speed 1/2,000 sec at f 4.0; ISO 320.

Location: 2014 Absa Cape Epic, Western Cape

Lighting

Shooting into the sun always adds atmosphere, especially with a backdrop like the Outeniqua Mountains. A flashgun to slightly light the subject completes the capture and stops them from appearing as a silhouette.

Specifications: Canon 7D Mk1 + Rokinon 8 mm f 3,5 lens. Shutter speed 1/200 sec at f 3.5; ISO 100.

Location: Merrell Outeniqua Traverse, George

Eye to Eye

Getting low down and eye-to-eye with your subject helps give a stronger connection with the action.

Again, a slightly higher shutter speed was used to allow for a sharp image.

Specifications: Canon 7D Mk1 + Canon 70 – 200 mm f 2,8 USM lens. Shutter speed 1/1,250 sec at f 7.1; ISO 320.

Location: Gravity Adventure Festival, Kleinmond

Extra subjects

Using other subjects, like this beetle, help create scale, which is enhanced by the low angle to give you an idea of the terrain. Interacting with the runners and directing them towards you certainly helps for a better composition.

Specifications: Canon 7D Mk1 + Rokinon 8 mm f 3,5 lens. Shutter speed 1/250 sec at f 3.5; ISO 125.

Location: Merrell Whale of Trail, De Hoop Nature Reserve

Emotion

Shooting sports events, actually any subject matter, is about capturing the moment and emotion, which are always enhanced by capturing the eyes of the subject. Sometimes standing on an uphill slows the cyclists down just enough to allow you to do this.

Specifications: Canon 5D Mk11 + Canon 16 – 35 mm f 2.8 Mk11 lens. Shutter speed 1/1,250 sec at f 5.6; ISO 100.

Location: 2014 Absa Cape Epic, Western Cape

Unique perspective

As soon as the viewer needs to look at an image carefully to work out what is happening I feel my job is done. In this case, I climbed up a windmill to get a unique perspective, while including the windmill and its shadow in the image.

Specifications: Canon 7D Mk1 + Rokinon 8 mm f 3,5 lens. Shutter speed 1/320 sec at f 3.5; ISO 100.

Location: Namaqua Quest MTB race, Springbok

Timing

Great images are very much about positioning yourself correctly to compose the shot – a little luck is always welcome. Here, the sheep dog noticed me as I took the shot. A little full flash was used to guide the viewer’s eye to that of the dog.

Specifications: Canon 5D Mk11 + Canon 16 – 35 mm f 2.8 Mk11 lens. Shutter speed 1/1,250 sec at f 2.8; ISO 100.

Location: Namaqua Quest MTB race, Springbok

Silhouettes

Low-light shooting, water and a stunning backdrop allowed for this capture. The brightest part of the image, due to some mist in the distance, draws the viewer’s eye to the riders.

Specifications: Canon 7D Mk1 + Canon 16 – 35 mm f 2.8 Mk11 lens. Shutter speed 1/640 sec at f 11.0; ISO 400.

Location: 2014 Absa Cape Epic, Western Cape