Making Not Taking: Stick ‘Em Up
Jordan Szoke wins Parts Canada Superbike race in Mirabel.
You want to energize your photography but are unsure of how to do it? That is the goal of the Making Not Taking series, to inspire you to think of photographing your subject in a creative way.
Easy answer: spend lots of money on expensive gear you don’t really need.
Right answer: Flex Your Head!
If you notice that you make 99% of your photographs while standing with your feet at shoulder width, holding your camera the way your manual said you “are supposed to”. You shoot straight ahead, as if with blinders on. You never take your camera out of that Green Box mode. You get the point…
Photography requires a bit of give and take. I’m not saying that if you give a little effort you will take a better photo. Maybe I am, that sounds kind of good…
If you want to make a better photo than the guy who is standing 2 feet to your right, it will require some thought and some effort. You may have to get your knee dirty. Climb those boulders, crawl through the dirt, stand in the rain. Play like you are a kid again!
In the above photograph, I wanted to make something a bit different. Motorcycle racer Jordan Szoke had just won the round 1 of the Canadian Superbike Championships in Mirabel Quebec, and was about to be given his trophy. We have all seen the same shot hundreds of times of athletes accepting the trophies, hoisting it in the air and celebrating. Classic jube…yawn!
The wall behind the podium was about 9 feet tall, and seeing as it was an outdoors event, there was nothing behind it. I attached my 5dMkII and a 15mm fisheye to my monopod and stood behind the podium. A stranger with a camera was more than happy to help by signaling when Szoke approached the podium, and let me know when to trigger the camera, which was fired using a Pocket Wizard.
For more shots from the race, please visit http://www.timsnowphotography.com/superbike
In coming Making Not Taking I will give more examples of how, with a bit of planning and a bit of creativity, you can work to improve your photography!
Nice snaps timmy. well done.
Photography used to be about waiting and patience. It has fast become about taking the chance and tempting luck. Great shot!