stupid gear!

I recently shot a mixed martial arts competition at the Superdome. Shooting sports is not my bag. Out of 300 I think I may have gotten 10 decent pictures. It's nice to have all the action playing out in front of you and to only have to worry about catching that "decisive moment" but that is quite a challenge. No flash allowed, shooting at 1600 iso (my camera is not a low light camera), and stuck in one spot (on your knees at that) makes for getting "the shot" a tough job. Of course not as tough of a job as the fighters have. I wanted to get into the locker room and shoot portraits of the fighters after their fights but that was pushing it. Everyone wanted "action" shots.


It's times like these when I truly realize the limitations of my camera and lenses. I am by no means set up to shoot sports. No f2.8 zoom lenses here, and no super fast focusing, super frame shooting camera either. My set up is for portraits and that's what I like to do the most.

I shot a portrait of my friend Whitney who is self publishing an art photography book. I also took him around a little bit and showed him how I approach lighting. You can see the portrait of him that will go into the book in the "portrait" section of my website. Here's an outtake of us walking around. I wasn't so concerned at the time with composition. I was really just showing him how I balance light between strobe and ambient. But turns out I kinda like the pic anyway.

Finally, I got my RZ67 working again so I'll be shooting film again!!!! Hells Yeah! Big, medium format film! I'll Also be shooting all sorts of polaroids because I am... you know, the hipster photographer (see previous post). I only put 5 rolls through the camera before it pooped out on me. Turns out the screws in the, um, cocking lever were loose which kept the shutter from being properly... cocked. Now if I can only find someone who can fix my large format lens!!! It, um, cocks just fine but there's an issue with the shutter prematurely closing... ha ha.

ll