Commercial Snow Sports it's about Light and Flair . . .
Photographing gear in action . . .
Photographing gear in action . . .
Hello, I'm Tony Bynum of Finalshot Photography. I just started in on creating some new commercial images. After looking at them it made sense to put up a gallery and say a few things about commercial outdoor photography. First the location.
I'm situated on the eastern edge Glacier National Park, high in the rocky mountains, where today we're still sitting on 5 feet of snow at the house and 10 to 40 in the mountains just out the door. Snow, mountains, clean, crisp, clear air, abundant open space 7 months of winter, and wild lands together put me in a prime location for shooting snow-sports equipment. Even with abundant snow, and a great location, the challenges for me always are combining the right person with the right conditions and the right light.
Light, model, snow/weather conditions and sky are key. As you can see with these images, lighting make all the difference. Proper light, and light angle are critical. Super lighting can turn an otherwise dull photo into a winning commercial image. I have shown a sample here using a range of lighting, they all work, but some better than other's depending on your needs and your market at the time.
Next to lighting and acceptable snow and weather conditions, the key is to capture the product being used in a way that highlights it's intended use and key features. Starting of course with the directions of the client, I shoot what they ask for first. In addition to following the bosses directions, or capturing what they have in mind, I always add my own flair. Things that set my imagery apart from others are that I take chances, I shoot using my vast outdoor wilderness experience, I know how gear is designed to work and I understand the environmental conditions in which it functions best.
When i say flair, I'm talking about angles, lighting, speed, action, motion, setting all combined to make memorable images like these. I'm pretty sure that the maker of these snow shoes was not thinking radical high-jumping when they asked me to shoot for them, but i thought it would be a good idea to offer them a little range and some flair. . .
I'll be shooting more of this product and others like in the weeks to come. Stay tuned for more exiting images over the next month or two . . .
If you're interested in discussing authentic, true to life, commercial outdoor product photography, you're in the right place. I can handle everything from pre-production though final image editing. Please let me help you capture images that help tell the story of your product. From hunting to hiking I'm sure we can find a solution to your photographic needs! If you'd like to see more or learn more about me, here's a link to a recent interview where I discuss some of my thoughts on producing usable commercial and nature images.
Call or email me any time. 406.226.9151 - tony@tonybynum.com
