Read Online The Moment It Clicks: Photography Secrets From One of the World's Top Shooters by Joe Mcnally - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Joe Mcnally
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In a black hole, most likely. The green grass looks like the dark side of the moon and your environment is, well, gone. (Holy mudhead, Mackerel, more Science High! It’s…gone!)
Okay, okay, most people reading this book won’t remember
Firesign Theatre
. And of course, if you were a Firesign fan, you’re lucky to remember anything. ‘Nuff said.
But I digress.
You can extend your sunset working life dramatically by putting your subject next to a body of water. The water remains almost the value of the sky exposure and stays right with you till the sky is almost gone.
Better to Ask for Forgiveness
Some people think photographers get direction from some mystical, Oz-like, all-knowing editor: “Use the force, Luke.” Given such divine direction, brilliant, jaw-dropping photos effortlessly proceed.
It’s a bunch of bullpucky.
“As a photographer, it’s better to ask for forgiveness than for permission.”
Got a call in the middle of the afternoon, New York time, to go to Los Angeles and shoot World Series hero Orel Hershiser—the next day. I flew that night. I wasn’t gonna turn down an assignment like that. “What kind of picture are you lookin’ for?” I ask.
Exact quote, I swear: “Well, I just thought you’d have him in a studio on a pile of dirt with some light coming down on him. You know, because he’s a pitcher.”
Hmmmm….
Hershiser got the nickname “Bulldog” from Tommy Lasorda. It was all I had going in terms of an idea. I called an animal talent agency and rented the bulldog from the Jake and the Fatman series. He was so ugly, he was cute. His trainer brought him to Dodger Stadium. Orel loved it. I put them on the pitcher’s mound, faces close together. We smeared bacon grease on Hershiser’s cheek—the dog went nuts, and the hero of the World Series had a ball.
Sometimes you receive inspiration and direction, divine or editorial. Most of the time, baby, you’re on your own.
When you rent from an animal agency, it gets very pricey, very quick. A dog, like this bulldog, goes for around $1,000 (in L.A. anyway, where this was taken). The average range is about $500 to as much as $8,000. I know the $8,000 is right because as of the writing of this book, I’m renting an elephant. Her rate (in New York) was $8,000, and the kicker was, I couldn’t use her because she was already booked. I kid you not (I wish I could get $8,000 a day). Because she wasn’t available, I found an elephant in L.A. (named Suzie) that was only $6,000 a day, plus overtime. I kid you not.
How to Get This Type of Shot
The shot here was taken on the pitcher’s mound at Dodger Stadium at around 3:00 p.m. To get the solid blue sky behind him, I underexposed the sky by two stops, and lit Orel and the dog with a strobe and an Octabank softbox to the left of my camera.
Orel Hershiser
People Will Think You’re Crazy
While I was in the planning stages to shoot Michelle Pfeiffer with the National Gem Collection, I pretty much had the run of the Smithsonian. I got into a lot of back hallways and storage areas, looking for pieces of pictures.
I saw these life masks in a hallway, forgotten, gathering dust. Loved ‘em immediately. The people at the Smith rolled their eyes, but were gracious.
It didn’t stop there. I needed them moved and my instructions were explicit. Handle them from the base. Don’t dust them!
“Michelle’s living, breathing Hollywood glamour. The diamond’s a still life. Both are beautiful and both need to be lit differently, just all at once.”
They looked at me like I was nuts. But the dust gave them character and patina, and the feel of an artifact. They were ancient and crypt-like, and made a good frame for Michelle’s flawless skin. Okay, so I saw
Raiders of the Lost Ark
way too many times.
Diamonds are cut on a bias for reflectance and brilliance. They need hard light to shine. Michelle made it clear there was to be no hard light near
Okay, okay, most people reading this book won’t remember
Firesign Theatre
. And of course, if you were a Firesign fan, you’re lucky to remember anything. ‘Nuff said.
But I digress.
You can extend your sunset working life dramatically by putting your subject next to a body of water. The water remains almost the value of the sky exposure and stays right with you till the sky is almost gone.
Better to Ask for Forgiveness
Some people think photographers get direction from some mystical, Oz-like, all-knowing editor: “Use the force, Luke.” Given such divine direction, brilliant, jaw-dropping photos effortlessly proceed.
It’s a bunch of bullpucky.
“As a photographer, it’s better to ask for forgiveness than for permission.”
Got a call in the middle of the afternoon, New York time, to go to Los Angeles and shoot World Series hero Orel Hershiser—the next day. I flew that night. I wasn’t gonna turn down an assignment like that. “What kind of picture are you lookin’ for?” I ask.
Exact quote, I swear: “Well, I just thought you’d have him in a studio on a pile of dirt with some light coming down on him. You know, because he’s a pitcher.”
Hmmmm….
Hershiser got the nickname “Bulldog” from Tommy Lasorda. It was all I had going in terms of an idea. I called an animal talent agency and rented the bulldog from the Jake and the Fatman series. He was so ugly, he was cute. His trainer brought him to Dodger Stadium. Orel loved it. I put them on the pitcher’s mound, faces close together. We smeared bacon grease on Hershiser’s cheek—the dog went nuts, and the hero of the World Series had a ball.
Sometimes you receive inspiration and direction, divine or editorial. Most of the time, baby, you’re on your own.
When you rent from an animal agency, it gets very pricey, very quick. A dog, like this bulldog, goes for around $1,000 (in L.A. anyway, where this was taken). The average range is about $500 to as much as $8,000. I know the $8,000 is right because as of the writing of this book, I’m renting an elephant. Her rate (in New York) was $8,000, and the kicker was, I couldn’t use her because she was already booked. I kid you not (I wish I could get $8,000 a day). Because she wasn’t available, I found an elephant in L.A. (named Suzie) that was only $6,000 a day, plus overtime. I kid you not.
How to Get This Type of Shot
The shot here was taken on the pitcher’s mound at Dodger Stadium at around 3:00 p.m. To get the solid blue sky behind him, I underexposed the sky by two stops, and lit Orel and the dog with a strobe and an Octabank softbox to the left of my camera.
Orel Hershiser
People Will Think You’re Crazy
While I was in the planning stages to shoot Michelle Pfeiffer with the National Gem Collection, I pretty much had the run of the Smithsonian. I got into a lot of back hallways and storage areas, looking for pieces of pictures.
I saw these life masks in a hallway, forgotten, gathering dust. Loved ‘em immediately. The people at the Smith rolled their eyes, but were gracious.
It didn’t stop there. I needed them moved and my instructions were explicit. Handle them from the base. Don’t dust them!
“Michelle’s living, breathing Hollywood glamour. The diamond’s a still life. Both are beautiful and both need to be lit differently, just all at once.”
They looked at me like I was nuts. But the dust gave them character and patina, and the feel of an artifact. They were ancient and crypt-like, and made a good frame for Michelle’s flawless skin. Okay, so I saw
Raiders of the Lost Ark
way too many times.
Diamonds are cut on a bias for reflectance and brilliance. They need hard light to shine. Michelle made it clear there was to be no hard light near
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