Photographing Events? Be the Border Collie.

OK, so maybe don't corral your subjects by circling them towards where you want them to go. Instead, be keenly aware of what is going on at all times during the event: instinctively know where the herd, or action, is heading. And, most importantly, avoid directly interacting with the subjects: Border Collies don't nip, and effective event photographers don't talk.

Subjects:

So you've been asked (or you want to) photograph a celebration or some kind of gathering. It may seem straightforward to you, and it will be, if you research the event ahead of time. Since you can't be everywhere during the event depending on complexity of its programming, you'll want to prioritize what you will and will not cover. Start by finding a program of activities, either on its website or from the organizer. If it's a gig, your contact will tell you what they want, but you'll still want to know timing.

Photographic Style:

My safe guess is you'll want to avoid the "family holiday group shot" photographs: "Gather 'round now. OK, tall people in back." There's no room for glazed-over eyes looking at your work. Yes, you need to account for the organizers or people of honor in attendance, but get them in action, even if it's just expressively talking with others. So you've guessed the style: photojournalistic shooting yields the most engaging shots. Letting the situation unfold on its own allows for interesting developments to grow -- developments of which, you are not intended to be a part. Think of photojournalism for events like time traveling films: limit your interaction with people and things as much as possible to ensure that history (or future) develops as it should.

Emulate a Movie:

In covering an occasion, you have been tasked with documenting a short story or episode. Think of your favorite movies -- several of them. Now think of the types of shots used and their chronology. You may choose to start the event with an establishing shot, which shows the environment, sets the mood. Get up high and show the whole setting if possible. This can end the event too. But just make sure it's compelling in some way. Next, wide shots (or long shots), are helpful in showing lots of information on one aspect of the event. Then, medium shots effectively show layered activities between fore-, mid- or backgrounds. And of course there are endless subjects for close-up/tight shots -- both people and distinctive set elements. The bulk of your shots will be, of course, medium and tight shots. This will make your body of work a success because the mind draws itself to minimal, yet intriguing, information at a given time that is the photograph. Be sure to present your final shots in this order of shots: it will make story and multiple photographs more pleasant to consume.

My Latest Event:

I recently attended the 30th Annual Sheepshearing Festival at Gore Place in Waltham, MA. This is a 4th annual date tradition for my fiancée and me, so, full disclosure, I have never covered the event in full assignment mode. However, I always scout out individual shots and shoot with storytelling in mind for a compelling photograph. The festival is on the grounds of an historic mansion, so one of my shots has the impressive brick house in the background with the rows of tents and wandering attendees in the fore- and midground. There was a sheep herding demo, complete with four attentive (and entertaining for us) Border Collies. I took closely cropped wide shot to get some expanse of the dogs surrounding the flock and I pursued a closeup of a sheep dodging a running Collie. There were colonial reenactors so I found a found a quiet shot of them by their military tent. At the pens where the shearing was actually happening, I tried for detail shots that showed texture and an almost instructional image on holding the shears/electric shaver. For the sheep waiting their turn, I crouched low to get eye level with the sheep that resulted in more intimate shots that appear to capture the sheep's personality.

Covering events can appear overwhelming, but just keep reminding yourself to shoot it a section at a time. You will never, of course, get all the captivating moments, but if you circulate yourself about like a seasoned socialite, you will leave with a series of images that illustrate the essence of the happening that remind attendees of the time they had and make those who couldn't attend wish they had.

#Photographytips #Sheep