Eso es al menos lo que pensaba cuando un buen amigo me llamó para invitarme a una fiesta en la que se iba a presentar un WRC (World Rally Car) o coche de rally del campeonato del mundo, pero le faltaba la coletilla que aprovechando que iba pues me podía llevar la cámara y de paso hacer unas “fotitos” de la presentación y de los famosos que irían a la fiesta. También este mes tuve que asistir como invitado a la presentación del Porsche Panamera Híbrid y de paso cubrir como fotógrafo y periodista el evento para la revista 9Republic.

Siendo sincero, el tema social es uno de los trabajos que menos me gusta ya que resulta complicado y siempre va cargado de responsabilidad.  Afortunadamente el equipo es mucho menos pesado que cuando vas por ejemplo a un circuito.

En mi caso suelo llevar un cuerpo réflex full frame con el Nikkor 24-70mm f:2.8 y un flash potente y con TTL, normalmente el Nikon SB800 que es algo menos voluminoso que el SB900 y a fin de cuentas los dos son grandes flashes.

Uno de los problemas que se plantea con la iluminación de social son las dichosas sombras producidas por el flash y que tanto odio. La mejor solución que he encontrado es utilizar el flash siempre apuntando hacia arriba y con la capucha blanca que actúa de difusor. Esto no suele fallar y además se consiguen unas fotos menos contrastadas y más naturales. Este sistema es muy efectivo e incluso a veces lo utilizo para compensar con luz de día pues si no la foto puede quedar demasiado «dura»:

Para no complicarme en exceso, en interiores, suelo poner la cámara en modo manual con una velocidad alta (1/320s) y así aislar a los protagonistas, pero ojo esto no es una regla pues a veces interesa utilizar una velocidad más baja como 1/60s para recoger el ambiente. Utilizando una apertura poco cerrada conseguiremos que el consumo de batería no sea excesivo. Por cierto este es el punto débil del equipo en este tipo de fotografías, las dichosas baterías de los flashes.

Para ello he buscado distintas soluciones como ir algo más cargado con muchas pilas y de paso otro flash para ir reemplazando pero aún así el tiempo de carga del flash siempre se te hace eterno cuando llega ese momento en el que tienes al famoso con mala cara esperando a que el dichoso flash se cargue. Pues bien hace tiempo conocí a un colega de social que utilizaba una batería extra a modo de petaca y me demostró que ese tiempo de carga no debe ser superior a uno o dos segundos. Tardé tan solo un día en acudir a mi tienda de fotografía para comprar esa maravilla de la marca Quantum Turbo SC que tan solo quedó empañada por su alto precio (casi 500 euros) pero si soy sincero esa pila es de lo mejorcito que llevo a los trabajos de social. No obstante te aconsejo que mires por la red existen otras alternativas posiblemente tan buenas como la de esa marca pero con unos precios mucho más … contenidos.

Uno de los problemas que suelo tener cuando voy a un evento con famosos es que no suelo conocer a casi nadie pues no me interesa el mundo de la farándula pero dicho esto, es importante hablar con el organizador para que ponga a alguien a tu lado y que de diga a quién hay que hacer fotos en el photocall pues siempre hay quien se cuela y es tiempo y desgaste de baterías inútil. En ocasiones además de fotógrafo hay que hacer alguna entrevista y eso ayuda para luego las poses.

También es importante estar informado acerca de cómo se va a desarrollar el evento y aún así seguro que siempre hay alguna sorpresa que te pilla lejos de tu objetivo pero no importa pues aunque no te lo creas el fotógrafo suele mandar mucho y lo más curioso es que los invitados te obedecen, sobre todo si te ven serio a la hora de dar órdenes.

Es más complicado organizar grupos por ejemplo en un photocall con varios fotógrafos pues todos damos voces para que miren a tu cámara y siempre salen las típicas fotos del despistado que está mirando al cielo o al infinito. Por eso es importante hacer siempre varias fotos del grupo y además sin esperas a que se cargue el flash .

En este caso lo pasé muy bien pues casi todos los famosos eran deportistas y uno en concreto ha sido bicampeón del mundo de rallyes aunque en mi opinión su hijo que también empieza a destacar en el mundo del motor es mucho más simpático. ¿Será por la edad?.

Si me permites, para finalizar esta entrada algunos consejos:

–       Recuerda llegar con tiempo suficiente al evento para ver que tipo de iluminación tienes y haz alguna prueba con cualquier asistente que ande por allí.

–       No vayas cargado para exhibir tu equipo de fotografía pues con un 24-70mm. tendrás más que suficiente.  En social el tamaño no importa.

–       Si sueles hacer este tipo de fotografía piensa en comprar una batería que te permita cargar tu flash en uno o dos segundos a lo sumo. Es una inversión segura.

 –       Por último y aunque lo doy por hecho, revisa siempre el material antes de acudir a la cita cargando todas las baterías de la cámara, flash y por supuesto la externa.

Para despedir esta entrada quisiera compartir dos momentos con uno de los mejores pilotos del mundo, me refiero a Walter Röhrl. Un auténtico campeón fuera y dentro de los circuitos y que siempre está dispuesto atender a todo el que se acerca a él, bien sea para una entrevista o para charlar contigo. Gracias por ser así Walter.

Social photography

That’s at least what I thought when a good friend called to invite me to a party that was going to present a WRC ( World Rally Car) or car rally world championship , but lacked the tagline that was taking advantage because I could take the camera and make a step «pics » of the presentation and the famous who would go to the party.

Being honest, the social issue is one of my least favorite jobs because it is complicated and will always laden with responsibility . Fortunately the team is much lighter than when you go to such a circuit.

In my case I usually wear a full frame DSLR body with Nikkor 24 -70mm f : 2.8 and a powerful flash with TTL, Nikon SB800 usually something that is less bulky than the SB900 and ultimately the two are great flashes.

One problem that arises with the illumination of social are the happy shadows cast by the flash and that I hate . The best solution I’ve found is to use the flash always pointing up and with white diffuser hood which acts . This does not usually fail and also a less contrasting and more natural pictures are achieved . This system always use it , even when I use the flash to compensate for daylight .

In order not to complicate too much , I usually put the camera in manual mode with a high speed ( 1/320s ) and thus isolate the protagonists. With a little closed aperture for passage to get the battery consumption is not excessive. By the way this is the weak point of the team in this kind of pictures , the happy batteries flashes.

To do this I have sought different solutions like going more loaded with many batteries and pass another flash to go replacing but still the load time flash always makes you eternal when that moment you have the famous pouting reaches waiting to load the damn flash . Well long ago I met a colleague who used social an extra battery as a flask and showed me that the charging time should not exceed one or two seconds. It took just one day to go to my camera store to buy that wonderful brand Quantum Turbo SC that just was marred by its high price (almost 500 euros) but if I’m honest that pile is the very best that led the social work . But I advise you to look at the net there are other possibly as good as that brand but with prices much more … alternative content .

One problem I usually have when I go to an event with celebrity is not usually known to almost anyone because I was not interested in the world of entertainment but that said, it is important to talk with the organizer to put someone next to you and that tell who to take photos at the photocall for there is always someone who sneaks and wear time and useless batteries.

Also That’s at least what I thought when a good friend called to invite me to a party he was going to present a WRC ( World Rally Car) or car rally world championship, but lacked the tagline that leveraging that was because I could take the camera and make a step «pics » of the presentation and the famous who would go to the party. Also this month I had to attend as a guest at the presentation of the Porsche Panamera and Hyb step as a photographer and journalist covering the event for the magazine 9Republic .

Being honest, the social issue is one of my least favorite jobs because it is complicated and will always laden with responsibility . Fortunately the team is much lighter than when you go to such a circuit.

In my case I usually wear a full frame DSLR body with Nikkor 24 -70mm f : 2.8 and a powerful flash with TTL, Nikon SB800 usually something that is less bulky than the SB900 and ultimately the two are great flashes.

One problem that arises with the illumination of social are the happy shadows cast by the flash and that I hate . The best solution I’ve found is to use the flash always pointing up and with white diffuser hood which acts . This does not usually fail and also a less contrasting and more natural pictures are achieved . This system is very effective and sometimes I use it to compensate for daylight or else the picture may be too «hard» :

In order not to complicate too much indoors , I usually put the camera in manual mode with a high speed ( 1/320s ) and thus isolate the protagonists. With a little closed aperture for passage to get the battery consumption is not excessive. By the way this is the weak point of the team in this kind of pictures , the happy batteries flashes.

To do this I have sought different solutions like going more loaded with many batteries and pass another flash to go replacing but still the load time flash always makes you eternal when that moment you have the famous pouting reaches waiting to load the damn flash . 

Well long ago I met a colleague who used social an extra battery as a flask and showed me that the charging time should not exceed one or two seconds. It took just one day to go to my camera store to buy that wonderful brand Quantum Turbo SC that just was marred by its high price (almost 500 euros) but if I’m honest that pile is the very best that led the social work . But I advise you to look at the net there are other possibly as good as that brand but with prices much more … alternative content .

One problem I usually have when I go to an event with celebrity is not usually known to almost anyone because I was not interested in the world of entertainment but that said, it is important to talk with the organizer to put someone next to you and that tell who to take photos at the photocall for there is always someone who sneaks and wear time and useless batteries. Sometimes besides photographer to do an interview and that helps then poses.

It is also important to be informed about how you will organize the event and still sure there’s always some surprise that catches you away from your goal but no matter because although you will not believe the photographer usually send a lot and the funny thing is that guests obey you , especially if you are serious about giving orders .

It is more difficult to organize groups for example in a photocall with several photographers for all voices so that we look at your camera and always go the typical pictures of clueless you are looking at the sky or at infinity. Therefore it is important to always do several group photos without waiting for the flash to charge.

In this case we had a great time as almost all were famous athletes and one in particular has been double world champion rally but in my opinion your child also comes to the fore in the world of motor is much nicer . It will be by age.

If you allow me to complete this task you some tips:

– Remember to arrive early enough to the event to see what kind of lighting do you have any evidence and any wizard that walks by.

– Do not go loaded to showcase your photography equipment for a 24 -70mm . have more than enough. In social size does not matter .

– If you usually do this type of photography think of buying a battery that allows you to upload your flash in a second or two at most. It is a safe investment.

 – Finally and even if I assume , always check the material before coming to the appointment loading all camera batteries , flash and external course .

To end this entry I want to share two moments with one of the best drivers in the world , I mean Walter Röhrl . A true champion in and out of the circuit . Always willing to meet anyone who approaches him . Thanks so be Walter .