WHAT'S YOUR BIGGEST PHOTOGRAPHY
ACHIEVEMENT?
It’s hard to isolate a single achievement, but
awards wise, I’m very proud of taking home a
Gold in the Commercial category at the NZIPP Iris
Awards in 2013, and subsequently becoming a
Fellow of the Institute (now known as a Master with
two bars).
TELL US ABOUT YOUR POWDER HOUNDS SHOT...
I photographed this during an introduction to ski
touring course run by the West Coast Alpine Club.
I was volunteering to help the instructor, and also
photographing for the club’s usage and my own
interest/portfolio. This combination of being active in
the outdoors, volunteering, and photographing is a
significant thread of my photography outside of my
commercial work.
I enjoy photographing the activities that I love to
participate in, and it’s nice to work without the
pressure and constraint of a commercial brief
(although I do really enjoy that also).
This shot came about while the course participants
were having some “free experimentation” time to get
accustomed to their equipment in a small bowl below
Cheeseman Skifield.
The subject is Troy, who was actually another
volunteer helping out. I spotted him lower down the
hill with Max and Kingston, his dogs, and noticed
that I was close to the edge of the shadow being
cast by the ridge. I moved over to the boundary
of the shadow to place the sun close to the rim of
the ridge and asked Troy to ascend so that he’d
end up between me and the sun. I exposed for
the sky, focused on the ridge top, and captured
a series of frames as he approached and passed
the sun, hoping for a dynamic and strong silhouette
composition.
As it happened, the position of the dogs was the
deciding factor in which frame was the most
appealing, so I selected this one rather than one
where he was directly in front of the sun which I’d
imagined would work best.
DID YOU PLAN TO SHOOT THIS IN B&W OR
WAS IT CONVERTED LATER FROM COLOUR?
Silhouettes always lend themselves to B&W
conversion, and I tend to operate with my camera
monitor displaying monochrome all the time as I find it
helps me focus on composition more so this shot was
always likely to end up a black and white image.
That said, it was really when I tried it with a few
different conversions and saw the interesting cloud
really pop with a “red filter” profile that I was really sure
that this was the best way to present the photograph.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT THIS SHOT, IS THERE
ANYTHING YOU WOULD CHANGE?
I really enjoy a simple, graphic photograph and this
one is particularly satisfying because I pre-visualised
something and was able to construct something very
close to, and perhaps even better than, what I had in
my head.
As I said above, I think the position of the dogs is a key
element here so if I could improve one thing it would
be having the second dog separated from Troy’s
outline and in a more dynamic pose like the first dog
is, and perhaps both dogs right on the horizon of the
ridge so that their legs are visible.ANY TIPS FOR OUR READERS ON MAKING
PHOTOGRAPHY A CAREER?
Photography is a wonderful art and can make a very
rewarding career, but it isn’t an easy way to make a
living, especially starting out. I would say value your
work, persevere, and seek mentorship.
Black and white image making is wonderful and
rewarding, but it almost certainly won’t pay the bills!
But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it. Shoot with
your camera displaying black and white previews
and it will improve your overall photography, as well
as your black and white images, of course.HOW DID YOU DISCOVER EXCIO?
I won an Excio subscription through the Federated
Mountain Clubs photography competition, I think it
was actually with this image! To be honest though, I’m
still working out exactly what Excio is and how to drive
the platform but I find the concept quite interesting
and look forward to learning and experimenting
more.WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE?
I’m currently developing a new personal project
involving photography and video, outdoor recreation,
and mental health. I’m seeking funding to get it off
the ground at present and assembling a team to help
produce it. So hopefully I’ll be very busy with that in
the near future!WHERE CAN WE FIND YOU ONLINE?
http://www.facebook.com/KatabaticCreativehttp://www.instagram.com/jaseblairhttp://www.katabatic.co.nzalbums.excio.io/profile/Jase