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Back to the Future - John MacRae - part 4 of 1 2 3 4

by John MacRae Published 01/10/2010

He also has a slot at next year's Convention and urges people to come along even if it is at 8am on Friday morning. "I'm doing an advanced lighting course," he enthuses. "Attendees will learn some table top magic; how to use mirrors, bits of foil, black reflectors, that kind of thing. I'll be shooting with a live feed on to screens so people can see exactly what I'm seeing."

"Successful commercial photography is all about giving an object shape and that's all down to the way it's lit, which is why we concentrate on lighting," he adds. "I don't do any work on the computer - take your time and get your shot right in the camera, then you don't have to mess around. I can manipulate images, but if you don't have to, don't do it."

As a pioneer of digital capture, John has tested, sampled, assessed and tweaked more than most of us, so it's refreshing to find a photographer who offers a balanced view on the technology available. His message is very much to use it as a means to an end, rather than letting it become the most important part of your photography.

He's equally assured when it comes to offering advice for photographers wanting to follow in his commercial footsteps: "If you're going to put a portfolio together, put one together that's obscure," he asserts. "Don't go out and photograph a Gucci watch or Armani sunglasses because it's not credible for a beginner. If you haven't got the work in your book, people will never believe you can do it. Start small, doing jobs for smaller businesses. Agencies will see you coming a mile off."

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1st Published 01/10/2010
last update 09/12/2022 14:51:25

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Back to the Future - John MacRae - part 4 of 1 2 3 4