While early in my career I was drawn to the natural landscape in black and white, I have swung full circle visually focusing my energy on street photography, the human within the landscape, and artist portraits.

Taking my camera on the street makes my soul smile. I love the quote, “you have to be lost to find the places that can’t be found.” Wandering, looking, and discovering with a camera is one of the most rewarding creative pursuits there is. Going with the agenda to just create with no preconceived requirements, for me, is the essence of street photography. Learning how to disappear has become my new quest.

MOVEMENT AND MOTION

I love movement and motion within the frame. I almost always carry both a 3-stop and a 5-stop neutral density filter to allow slow shutter speeds in full sunlight.

ALWAYS LOOK FOR WHAT IS NOT IN FRONT OF YOU

Don’t forget to look over your shoulder when you are working because it just might just be more interesting than what you are photographing! On one of my first visits to the Louvre, I had a student with me ask if I would take their portrait in front of the Mona Lisa. It was the first Sunday of the month when all National Museums are free and I believe almost everyone visiting Paris had decided to not only go to the Louvre, but also all go at the same time to see the Mona Lisa.

Bob Hughes has a great quote about the painting: “People came not to look at it, but to say that they’d see it,” and all of the individuals in the room were of the latter type. The room was crushed with people and we slowly made our way towards the front viewing railing.

When we finally made it to the front of the gallery I took the student’s portrait with the Mona Lisa over their shoulder. As I turned to escape the mass of people that was making the pilgrimage, I saw the photograph, the room from Mona’s point of view.

WHAT’S IN MY BAG

When shooting on the street I love to put on the miles, and going as light as possible allows me to go longer and photograph more. My current go-to camera for the street is a Sony a6500 at the ready on my BLACKRAPID strap, with the Sony 24mm f1.8.

In my camera bag, I always have a Sony 10-18mm f4, Thinktank camera rain cover and a few extra batteries for a full day of shooting.

If I know I am going to be shooting underground (in the Metro), I also carry a Sigma 16mm f1.4.

Size and weight are the major factor here. I have photographed the streets of Paris for the last 7 years and it is amazing how a camera just a little larger attracts attention and I am no longer able to be invisible and be the fly on the wall. When photographing on the street I always try to see and capture those moments where the camera’s presence hasn’t changed the moment.

ABOUT CHRISTOPHER

Christopher Broughton is a world-traveling photographer focusing on street photography, the human within the landscape, and artist portraits.

Find out more on his website https://www.christopherbroughton.com and be sure to follow him on Instagram @chris_broughton, and Facebook @christopherbroughtonphotography.

The post BLACKRAPID Guest Post by Christopher Broughton | Christopher Broughton Photography appeared first on BLACKRAPID.

I once showed my portfolio to one of my favorite photographers in NYC. He flipped through the pages of my images saying “this is cool, he’s cool, she’s cool… this isn’t cool.” He asked me why I had a few of those images my book and if I thought they were “cool.” They weren’t. I realized that I was putting things in my portfolio that I thought other people wanted to see instead of focusing on what I liked.

That moment was one of the biggest lessons for me. Be interested in your work and your work will be interesting. You will never find your authentic voice if you are constantly trying to please others or do what you think they want to see. Shoot what you love and the work will come!

THE LEGEND OF CARLOS SANTANA

I waited anxiously backstage for about 15 minutes before his car arrived. Santana and his entourage finally emerged from the luxury black SUV that pulled up. When he got out of the car, he looked up towards the stage in my direction. The first thing he asked was, “Where’s Rolling Stone?” I was on assignment for RS and we scheduled a quick backstage portrait with Santana just before his set.

I introduced myself and he asked me if I’d “seen Elton John in the drivers seat,” jokingly referring to his personal driver who also happened to be the RocketMan’s doppelgänger. I laughed and then sensing the familiar urge, I quickly began taking candid photos as he proceeded walking towards the stage. I followed him out onto the stage and was able to experience his musical genius firsthand, photographing his set up close and personal at BottleRock’s Firefox Stage on Sunday May 26.

After seeing my image, Santana described to Rolling Stone: “It’s kind of the same thing I did when I was at Woodstock. I was praying, ‘Keep me in tune and in time. I can do the rest’.” Such a beautiful description of an intimate, pre-show ritual he’s been doing for the past 50 years.

For me, capturing iconic moments like these are what make being a photographer so rewarding.

WHAT’S IN MY BAG

• Canon 5DMK4

• Canon 16-35mm

• Canon 24-70mm

• Canon 70-200

• Canon 85mm

• Canon 50mm

• Profoto A1

• Profoto Air Remote

• and of course my BLACKRAPID strap

ABOUT KOURY

Koury Angelo is an award-winning Rock & Roll and celebrity portrait photographer based in Los Angeles, California. After graduating from The University of Texas at Austin, he moved to Paris, France, where he received his European Masters from Speos Institute of Photography. Koury began his professional career in New York City, where he assisted many of the leading photographers in the industry.

Currently, Koury is making his mark as one of the top photographers in the music and entertainment world, and his work has been featured on the covers of Billboard, People, The Hollywood Reporter and more. His other clients include Apple, Rolling Stone, Red Bull, Netflix, Hilton, AMEX, Spotify, Converse, Adidas, Bacardi, Bud Light, Calvin Klein, Chevy and Facebook, to name a few.

Find out more about Koury on his website https://www.kouryangelo.com/ and be sure to follow him on Instagram @kouryangelo, and Facebook @kouryangelophotography.

The post BLACKRAPID Guest Post by Koury Angelo | Koury Angelo Photography appeared first on BLACKRAPID.

I had the amazing privilege of sitting down with my grandmother not too long ago. I had always heard the stories but wanted to hear them myself and write them down. We started from the day she was born in 1922, in Pillaro, Ecuador. A time so different… where people walked everywhere or road donkeys, you grew your own food and lived off the land. She grew up in a very abusive home and was taken out of school when she was in 4th grade. She married the first guy she met at 17 and at 18 had her first child. She knew she needed to make something of herself and had a driving desire to do whatever she could to get ahead in her life. Her aunt gave her a small loan so that she could buy little products and food to sell on the street. She would sell what she could by day and sleep on the streets by night. She said she would save everything, only using what she needed to stay alive. She eventually saved enough to purchase a little cart so she could sell more and have better shelter, always saving and only purchasing the necessities, she then bought a small shop with a room and kitchen, then she bought some land, then a home to use as a rental property, then more land, always saving everything she could then reinvesting.

SHE WOULD SAY, “IT WAS LIKE GOD HIMSELF WAS PUTTING MONEY IN MY HANDS.”

She ended up taking in all of her 7 siblings, her father, her aunt, uncle and kids… she taught them all how to work and make a life for themselves. She came from absolutely nothing and ended up being the wealthiest family in their town. Still to this day my families name is well honored in their town. My Grandmother was a fighter…. a warrior. Her work ethic, her determination to make a life for herself and her family is what makes her the most powerful, honorable, courageous and hard working woman I know.

THEN COMES MY MOTHER, THE ONE WHO WAS RAISED BY A WARRIOR.

Warriors make Warriors you know. At 20 my mother came to the U.S., not knowing a word of English and alone. With the same determination that had been instilled in her from birth, she fought hard to build a life for herself in the US. Through a series of fortunate and unfortunate events she ended up at a church in The Bronx, NY – where she met my dad and the Lord. That day God took her and RAN! Before they had children they needed a way to make money. So, my mom had the idea to gut an old school bus, paint it blue and turn it into a store on wheels. They went all over New York City selling Ecuadorian sweaters and different arts and crafts! To this day she lives a life of entrepreneurship – just like her mother.

SOMEDAY, I HOPE TO BE HALF THE WOMAN SHE IS.

I am so proud to be part of this lineage of Warrior Women and even more proud to be able to pass such an amazing legacy on to my daughters.

Always remember, life will bring you trials, temptations, hardships – it’s inevitable. The fight through it, the extra strength that God gives you, the tenacity it takes to push through is what makes warriors. Warriors aren’t born – they are made!

You my friend, are a warrior – fight!

-Nicole

After being in the photography industry for over 2 decades, Nicole Elliott has become an award-winning Professional Photographer, Speaker and Designer; who’s work and writing has been nationally recognized and published. Her heart to encourage, equip and empower the next generation of photographers is the foundational principle of her business and her photography courses. This last year she has been working with BLACKRAPID on the design and development of a brand new camera strap for women. The Nicole Elliott by BLACKRAPID – Live the moment in Comfort and Style!

You can follow Nicole on Instagram @nicoleelliott.inspire, on Facebook NicoleElliott.Inspire and find out more about her on her website Studio Elliott. Get your own Nicole Elliott by BLACKRAPID camera strap at www.blackrapid.com/Nicole-Elliott-Strap-by-BLACKRAPID.

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I started Shotkit back in 2014 to scratch my own itch of wanting to know what my favourite photographers carried in their camera bags.

EVERYONE KNOWS THAT A GOOD CAMERA DOESN’T MAKE A GOOD PHOTOGRAPHER,

but most of us in the photography industry are passionate about the camera gear we use, and we’re all a little curious about the gear used by our peers!

OVER THE YEARS, SHOTKIT HAS MORPHED INTO A POPULAR RESOURCE FOR ALL THINGS PHOTOGRAPHY AND GEAR RELATED,

but the goal of the site is still to provide an accessible place for both beginners and pros to have a snoop inside the camera bags of photographers.

After receiving so many submissions from photographers around the world, I’ve been given a unique insight into the most popular photography gear in use by professionals today… and of course, BLACKRAPID is a name that keeps popping up.

IT’S INTERESTING TO SEE DIFFERENT TRENDS EMERGE IN THE INDUSTRY,

particularly how mirrorless cameras are disrupting the throne that’s been held for so many years by the trusty DSLR.

Whatever your stance is on using a camera with an EVF vs a traditional OVF, the future of cameras which rely on cumbersome mirrors to capture images is looking admittedly bleak.

Personally, I made the switch to mirrorless cameras for my wedding photography work earlier this year and have been enjoying the experience… although I must say there are still times when I miss my DSLR.

AS FOR SHOTKIT, I’LL CONTINUE TO PUBLISH IN-DEPTH REVIEWS ON THE LATEST CAMERA GEAR

to help both beginners and professional photographers who need advice about their next purchases… not to mention of course those of us with a dose of the dreaded G.A.S.!

I definitely don’t condone buying gear for the sake of it, or amassing a whole arsenal of camera accessories that hardly gets used. I’ve taken a rather minimalist approach to my wedding photography, in a hope to encourage creativity through limitation, often using just one camera body and one lens for an entire day.

That said, I still think it’s worthwhile to invest in new gear from time to time if it helps with your motivation and creativity, and let’s face it, we do all like new toys after all

FROM PHOTOGRAPHERS SHOWING OFF THEIR BEST WORK AND FAVOURITE PHOTOGRAPHY GADGETS AND GIZMOS, TO GEAR REVIEWS, BUSINESS ADVICE AND CREATIVE INSPIRATION, THERE’S SOMETHING ON SHOTKIT FOR EVERYONE.

If you’re reading this and thinking that you’d like to have your work featured on Shotkit, then come on over and get involved! Whether you own one camera or ten, I’d love to have you on-board.

Mark Condon is a photographer and founder of ShotKit, the popular blog that gives readers an inside look inside the camera bags of some of the most highly regarded photographers around the world.

Find out more about him on his website ShotKit.com, and be sure to follow him on Instagram @shotkit and his Facebook page, ShotKit.

The post BLACKRAPID Guest Post by Mark Condon | Peek inside the Camera Bags of the World’s Best Photographers appeared first on BLACKRAPID.

#LiveTheMoment in Comfort and Style!

INTRODUCING A BRAND-NEW CAMERA STRAP DESIGNED BY WOMEN FOR WOMEN – THE NICOLE ELLIOTT BY BLACKRAPID.

Your camera should be an extension of you, not an annoyance to carry. Your camera gear should add to your creative energy – not inhibit it. Taking its cue from the way women have been carrying their babies for centuries, Nicole Elliott by BLACKRAPID takes the pressure points away from your neck and shoulders by “hugging” your shoulder to evenly distribute the weight.  Allowing you to have full mobility and making your camera feel virtually weightless.  Shoot for hours without feeling fatigue, discomfort or pain! The strap is reversible – black on one side, black and white pattern on the other – business and party in one unique design. The shoulder strap has two pockets for lens caps and two zippered pockets for memory cards, batteries and whatever other small accessories you want to keep close.  The strap has a release trigger snap hook that locks in place when hooked to the 1/4″ screw that attaches securely to the bottom of your camera. And the strap adjusts to up to 63” in diameter, ensuring a perfect fit for any body type.

With its innovative functionality, maximum comfort and unique style this strap will change the way you photograph life. The Nicole Elliott by BLACKRAPID – #LiveTheMoment in Comfort and Style!

The Nicole Elliott by BLACKRAPID is now available exclusively at BLACKRAPID.com. Order yours today! https://www.blackrapid.com/Nicole-Elliott-Strap-by-BLACKRAPID

WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT IT

Carrying around heavy camera gear for an all-day wedding, running and jumping with kids during a family photo shoot, going for a hike in the woods, or simply photographing urban lifestyle can take a toll on our bodies. The new Nicole Elliott by BLACKRAPID changes that experience completely by providing a soft, stylish, reversable shoulder pad that curves with your body and distributes the weight of your gear appropriately. No more sore shoulders or necks after a photoshoot FTW! Here’s our favorite features:

• • Ergonomically Correct: Even weight distribution takes the pressure off your neck and shoulders, making your camera feel weightless.
  • Reversible Fabric: Sophisticated pattern on one side and classic black on the other.
  • Comfortable Shoulder Piece: There’s never been a camera strap that literally “hugs” your shoulder evenly to distribute the weight. This takes the pressure points away from your neck and shoulders allowing you to have full mobility and makes your camera feel virtually weightless.
  • 2 Zippered Pockets and 2 Lens Cap Pockets: You know all that stuff that gets lost in the bottom of your camera bag, or stuffed into a random pocket? You’ll never lose your lens caps again with the two integrated lens cap pockets, and the two zippered pockets which are perfect for those memory cards, business cards, or other small items.
  • Easy adjustment: Need it longer? Need it shorter? Just grab the adjustment strap and pull! Done.
  • Durable, Removable, Water Resistant, Washable Fabric: Simply detach the shoulder strap from nylon strap and rings, wash by hand with mild soap, and lay flat to dry.
  • Right- or Left-handed Wear: With its easy reversible front or back adjustment, the Nicole Elliott by BLACKRAPID can be slung from the left or right shoulder.

To top it off, it’s made with our new high-performance materials and hardware, including the ConnectR (CR-3), LockstaR, FastenR (FR-5), and Camera Safety Tether.

We can gush about this beauty all day long, but we’d rather you discover for yourself what you love most about it. With our 30 day money back guarantee, you can order the Nicole Elliott by BLACKRAPID, try it out, and if you decide it’s not for you, return it within 30 days.

THE HEART BEHIND NICOLE ELLIOTT BY BLACKRAPID

Words from the designer, the beautiful heart and soul behind the Nicole Elliott by BLACKRAPID:

“We are mothers, we are daughters, we are wives and friends…

We love deeply and live passionately.

We are surrounded by a world of wonder and amazement, from little laughs and giggles, to the beautiful people that surround us and the everyday moments that steal our hearts.

Life is a journey…. A bunch of little moments that together make up one big beautiful life.

My hope is that the Elliott strap helps you capture the life around you Confidently, Creatively, Passionately…without borders.

Here’s to a beautiful life captured one shot at a time – one moment at a time.

Every moment, #LiveTheMoment. In comfort and style.”

~ Nicole Elliott

The post It’s Here! The camera strap designed by women for women – Nicole Elliott by BLACKRAPID! appeared first on BLACKRAPID.

http://www.jasinboland.com

Subscribe to our podcasts on iTunes! http://bit.ly/1eerqpu

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