My New Mantra
I have cracked an easy to remember mantra for news paper imaging.
C.I.A.
Easy to remember, but more importantly, not just a set of convenient letters, it is a set of the right terms that coincidently make up a very recogniseable label to remember.
C
C is for Control, which may mean Communication, Connection or finding a Composition depending on whether you have to deal with a person, random element or an inanimate object. This is where you formulate the image idea, determine how many pepople will be in it and any props that will be used. This often means putting down your camera and dealing with the elements of the image.
With people, up front honesty is the key. Tell them you are there for them, not just you. It is hugely important that you control the space, but without being pushy or aggressive, lacking empathy or being intrusive.
After explaining what I was looking to produce, moving in close did not put the subject off. Sigma 30mm f1.4
I
I is for Interaction, Intensity or Interest. No stunned mulletts, no limply hanging arms, no lack-lustre poses. Get the subject doing something, even if it is just crossing their arms and looking purposeful. Apart from a lack of a smile, nothing says lost-disintrested-confused more than limp arms and an expressionless face.
The easiest way of course is to observe a person doing what they do, otherwise, making them look like they are doing something is the answer.
Using the interaction between two characters created a dynamic better than the sum of the parts. Using natural poses also helps. A silent camera is a boon here. After a minute or two, both subjects ignored me, so I got video and stills without intrusion.
A
A is for Angle or Action. The first is to get the actual shooting angle, depth of field and lens perspective right, then work the composition. Choose your light direction, decide on light controls if needed, then fill the frame with the above (the “I”) and shoot it as the situation demands. Angles is especailly helpful to me, to remind me to work this. It is amazing how much difference a few degrees makes. The number one no-no, is a wall of people. Avoid flat walls of people, god they look amateurish.
Looking for a Vogue magazine vibe at a school fashion parade preview, shooting slightly up added a remote and regal feel to suit the designers stated intention.
The second is what happpens if control is limited to cpturing the Action.
In an image like this “C” stands for control through reactive composition and the right settings, “I” is for timing the best point of intensity and A is for Angle and Action together.
C.I.A.
Easy to remember and flexible.