Boudist » published

Interview and portrait tips in Digital Photography magazine

Daniel Boud — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 05:29:28 +0000

Words of Wisdom: article layout in Digital Photographer magazine

About 6 months ago i got an email from writer/photographer Lisa Perkovic asking if i’d be interested in talking to her about my work for a story in Digital Photographer magazine. I’m always happy to talk photography, so over email i answered some of her questions, and now they’re in print in the current issue of the magazine.

The words are a little hard to read in the print layouts here, so i’ve reproduced the article, along with photos and commentary below.

Daniel Boud shares his secrets on shooting from the soul – on stage and in the studio.

Setting up boudist.com in 2003 was a life-changing move for then web designer Daniel Boud. A passion for photography, a knack for shooting live music gigs and a space for sharing his shots was a winning combination. Named as one of The Music Network’s Top 30 Under 30 in 2010, and currently Time Out Sydney’s chief photographer, Boud is living the dream – but hasn’t let it go to his head.

“A positive reaction to your work is always encouraging,” he says. “It reminds you that you’re on the right path. I’m always so critical of my work and see all of its flaws, so an outside boost can be welcome. But I don’t ever rest on my laurels, I’m always striving to do better.”

The self-taught photographer puts down practice as the key to success. “I bought a digital camera in 2001 and it just set off a switch in my brain where I became obsessed with documenting every little inane thing in my life. It wasn’t consciously a training exercise but the systematic process of shooting tens of thousands of pictures. And striving to get better each time meant I got many hours of experience under my belt.”

Tonight Alive: I’d just shot this band neck deep in Sydney Harbour, so they were all soaking wet. After hopping out of the water, I wanted to get a shot of them shaking off like a dog would, while letting the front woman look more composed in the middle. Equipment: Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 16-35mm Specs: ISO 100, f/10, 1/200 sec, 32mm

With an instinctual style, Boud draws inspiration from everything around him – other photographers’ work, blogs, magazines, movies, cinematographers. Being creative is an important part of the job, but it’s also important his subjects are willing to be a part of that vision.

“My most recent subject was a musician named Devendra Banhart and he was awesome to work with. I had an idea to have him lie on the ground, surrounded by food and lollies. He was up for it and then amped it up by asking to have hundreds and thousands poured all over his face.

It’s really fun working with people who collaborate and aren’t afraid to experiment with things. I’ve photographed several drag queens and transgender people and that can be quite outrageous. Being in drag is an excuse to exercise parts of your personality you wouldn’t normally reveal, so drag performers can be very uninhibited.”

Amanda Lepore: I shot the famous transexual and muse of David LaChappelle in the lobby of the Sheraton hotel. I brought along my own wall paper to tape to the wall to add a classic vintage feel. Equipment: Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 85mm 1.8 ISO 100, f11, 1/160sec, 85mm

Boud photographs a diverse range of subjects – everything from Sydney’s best burgers to some of the world’s best performers – but portraits still have a big pull.

“My first love was shooting live music but these days I find more satisfaction shooting portraits. There’s more of me in a staged portrait: I control the lighting, the location and can give the subject direction.”

Here he answers our questions on portraits, performances and post-production:

You do a lot of music photography: what are the issues when shooting musicians performing live?

There are several limitations when shooting live, which I actually find helpful. You only get to photograph three songs, so you have to have your wits about you. There’s little time to make mistakes. You have zero control over the lighting and zero control of your subjects. So it’s simply a matter of best documenting what’s presented in front of you.

Israeli punk band Monotonix performing at the Annandale Hotel in Sydney. They had such a crazy live show, with the singer spending most of his time in the crowd. I held my camera above my head to shoot this above the crowd. Equipment: Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 16-35mm Settings: ISO 1000, f5, 1/160 sec, 16mm Lit by a Canon 580ex II on camera

How do you get your subjects to relax in front of the camera?

Like a good dentist or doctor, a photographer must have an excellent bedside manner. You have to instill confidence in your subject. If you’re having a tooth pulled, you want your dentist to act as if this is a really normal procedure that he’s done thousands of times before. It’s the same with taking a portrait. Talk to your subject about what’s going to happen, ask them questions about how they’re feeling, explain that this should be a collaborative and enjoyable experience. Use positive reinforcement. Some people are natural in front of the camera, but most people aren’t, so allow them time to warm up and realise that getting their picture taken really isn’t as bad as having a tooth pulled. And if all that fails, get them drunk.

What do you want from subjects?

I want them to relax and feel that they’re in a safe place where they can be creative, to think about what we could do together that would best represent them. I often tell people to not be afraid to act like an idiot. The worst that could happen is that the photo doesn’t work, but no-one ever need see that. They’ll only see the best shots, and to get them, you have to get some bad ones first.

Andrew WK: I shot Andrew backstage at the Sydney Big Day Out music festival. He’s got such a manic stage presence and I wanted to capture that on camera. I asked him to do a series of dramatic poses and only after the seeing the shots on my computer did I think to combine them into a shot with three of him. Lit by a profoto ring flash. Equipment: Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 16-35mm Specs: ISO 160, f/6.3, 1/125 sec, 31mm

How do you pull energy from subjects and convey that in your work?

It can be a challenge if you don’t have much time or your subject is very uncomfortable. But simple directions, asking people to move or do something different, can be useful. You could ask your subject to jump on the spot, walk towards the camera, tell a joke, yell down the lens. They’re all things that allow your subject to be in the moment, rather than think about having their picture taken.

How much control do you get over what the shoot will look like?

Usually a lot. Sometimes a picture editor or magazine art director will be really specific with what they’re after if it’s for a cover, but otherwise I’m usually left up to my own devices.

Do you work with stylists on your shoots?

For the bigger music shoots with a decent budget I have. It can be a real help for people to have options for clothes and accessories to wear, but some people don’t like it because it feels inauthentic

Adriano Zumbo: I shot Adriano at my home studio. We bought along some of his famous macaroons to use as a prop. I challenged him by asking how many macaroons he could fit in his mouth at once. He was such a good sport and had no problems goofing around. Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 70-200mm ISO 100, f9, 1/125sec, 200mm

The Grates: Patience the singer has a lot of manic energy and I wanted to capture that so I asked her to scream at me. This is actually a composite shot, I did shoot them together but the art director liked two different shots for each of them so combined these for the cover. Lit from the front by a beauty dish. Equipment: Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 50mm Specs: ISO 100, f/9, 1/125 sec, 50mm

How long does a shoot typically take?

It really depends. I’ve done shoots with stars in hotel rooms where I’ve had one minute to nail a portrait… but then I’ve also had all-day shoots with several different locations and many different set-ups.

Do you tether the camera to the computer to see the images as you’re working?

I have shot tethered but it’s not something I normally do.

Paul Dempsey: I was shooting some pictures of Paul for his record company to use as publicity, documenting his album recording process. He was recording in a country house, and sleeping in the same room as the studio. So this was a little unguarded moment as he strummed away, shot in natural light. Equipment: Canon 5D, Tamron 17-35mm Specs: ISO 800, f3.5, 23mm, 1/50 sec, 23mm

When you’re shooting on location, do you use available light?

Yes, but I will also often use lighting in addition to the natural light to give a bit more control.

What sort of lighting set-ups do you use at shoots?

All sorts. I’ve got no standard set-up, each time is different. I’ve also got a studio with all sorts of gear. If I’m going on location and the budget is amenable I’ll hire Profoto lights and modifiers.

When you’re shooting an event or a live performance, are you part of the crowd or apart from it?

Both. I shoot events best when I’ve got an emotional attachment to them, whether it’s a band I love or an event surrounded by friends.

What do you think about “party” and “gig” photographers?

It’s a real skill to capture those sorts of events well. It takes a mixture of really knowing your gear well and working in unpredictable environments, plus having the personality to be bold and interact with people to get the best possible pictures.

Are you a “get in right in-camera” or ‘fix it later on the computer” photographer?

Definitely an in-camera guy. If someone comes to me with a concept that requires a lot of retouching, I’ll usually look for ways to get a similar result in-camera. Otherwise I’ll suggest another photographer because I really don’t enjoy the post-production process.

Can you give us an insight into your post-processing techniques?

It’s pretty straightforward. Import the shots into Lightroom; do a first pass look to pick all the decent shots; then do a second pass with a more critical eye to be left with only the very best shots. I then only do minor adjustments in Lightroom. I very rarely touch Photoshop anymore. I may adjust the white balance, straighten the shot if it’s a little crooked, bring out a small bit of shadow detail, remove any sensor dust and make sure the exposure is bang on. That’s about it.

Who’s on your photography wish list?

Taking someone’s picture is often just a great excuse to meet interesting people. So if I was to aim for the stars I’d say someone like Barack Obama, David Bowie, Bono or Jack White.

Marieke Hardy and Anthony Hayes: Marieke wanted to recreate a photo of Derryn Hinch from the 70’s in a similar pose with a playboy model. We reversed the gender roles and modernised it with papers and magazines from that day. We shot it quickly in her hotel room. Lit by a bare strobe on camera left bouncing off a white wall. Equipment: Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 50mm 1.4 Specs: ISO 100, f/7.1, 1/125 sec

A portrait of Wolfmother singer Andrew Stockdale. I arranged to shoot Andrew in a guitar store which I knew had some cool amps and guitars around. Lit by a single soft box Equipment: Canon 5D Mark II, Tamron 17-35mm Specs: ISO 100, f10, 1/160 sec, 26mm

Dan Sultan: This was shot in the same space as the Wolfmother photo, but decorated differently. I can't remember exactly what prompted Dan to give me the two finger salute. Canon 5d Mark II, Canon 16-35mm ISO 125, f5.6, 1/20 sec, 16mm Lit by a profoto ring flash

Top Boudist tips for Portrait photography

Be prepared.
Have everything ready before your subject arrives so you jump straight into it and don’t have to adjust any lighting.
Have a conversation.
Talk to your subject. Make the process collaborative.
Direct your subject.
Don’t be afraid to tell someone how to stand, where to put their hands, what direction to look in or give them some motivation for their expression.
Have confidence.
Your subject is looking to you for reassurance. It can be intimidating having your picture taken, so your subject needs to know you’re going to make them look amazing.
Positive reinforcement.
Let your subject know how awesome they look. The ego boost will make them look better in pictures and enjoy the process more.

Devendra Banhart: Backstage at Splendour in the Grass, last shot of the day and I had all these sweets left over and wanted to find a way to use them in one shot. So I asked Devendra if he minded laying down surrounded by all the lollies. He was totally into it and was the one to suggest pouring hundreds and thousands on his face. Equipment: Canon 5DMkII, Canon 17-35mm Specs: ISO 200, f/9, 1/125sec, 25mm

Sarah Doyle in Time Out Sydney

Daniel Boud — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 10:23:35 +0000

On Monday night Time Out Sydney held a party at Ms G’s to launch their Food Awards issue featuring Porteño‘s elegant maitre d’ Sarah Doyle on the cover. An opportune time to share some pictures from the shoot.

Sarah Doyle and her Time Out cover at the Food Awards party

Here’s a look at the cover image straight from the camera, before it gets into the hands of the designers.

The cover shot in its original state

Not so glamourous, as Sarah poses on a mop in my studio.

And here’s a few more from inside the mag.

Porteño picked up the award for Best New Restaurant

And some pictures that didn’t make the cut.

Sarah’s hair was done by Tony Vacher from Sterling.

The Grates for triple j magazine

Daniel Boud — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 12:40:57 +0000

I’ve had a few weeks off, getting married in Thailand and whatnot. But it’s time to hop back on the blogging wagon so here’s some clippings from a shoot i did before i left with The Grates for triple j magazine.

As soon as Patience did the yelling thing, gnashing her teeth, i knew it was a winner of a shot, and i also knew it was exactly the same face she pulled for Cybele on her Grates cover shot a few years back.

Time Out Burger Wars issue photos

Daniel Boud — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 02:39:09 +0000

For the June issue of Time Out Sydney they staged a burger showdown, where six of Sydney’s top chefs prepared their burger for a blind taste test from a panel of six restaurant critics.

It was hosted at Rockpool Bar and Grill and i set up a bit a mobile studio to shoot the chefs and their burgers in one of the private dining rooms.

Becasse review

As well as the burgers i got to sample some fine dining fare at the new Bécasse restaurant in the revamped Westfield in the city.

Menya Mappen review

I also shot Menya Mappen in the city in a guerrilla style shoot.

When photographing for reviews i always call ahead to the restaurant asking to come in and take photos. It’s done separately to the writer, they remain anonymous and the restaurant doesn’t know they’re being reviewed till after it’s done and the first they read of it is in the magazine.

But when i asked to shoot Menya Mappen they said i couldn’t have permission to take photos unless they read the review and approved it first. That’s a big no no, so i just had to visit and photograph undercover. So like anyone i lined up for my food, ordered and ate while taking a few sneaky snapshots while no one was looking.

Bankstown food tour

David Wenham, photographed on the roof of the Hotel Hollywood

Theatre director Iain Sinclair

I photographed director Iain Sinclair to accompany his new play Rope which is playing at Bondi Pavilion.

I also took some shots of the cast for an online feature.

The cast of Rope

Actress Maeve Dermody in the dressing room at Belvoir Theatre

Sparkadia Drum Cover

Daniel Boud — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 07:37:09 +0000

Alex from Sparkadia on the cover of Drum Media

Last week a picture i took of Alex from Sparkadia graced the cover of Drum Media.

It’s great to work with Alex again, we’ve a long history as i’m pretty sure i took their first ever press shots back in 2005 when they were still called The Spark.

The Sparkadia feature inside Drum Media

The picture they ran inside with the feature was fun for me to see, featuring my cat and assistant Stephanie. I always like to see lighting set-ups and revealing the artifice behind staged photos.

Dan Kelly and Gareth Liddiard in Rolling Stone

Daniel Boud — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 23:15:35 +0000

A double page spread in the April issue of Rolling Stone Australia

I had a couple of fun photo assignments published in the most recent issue of Rolling Stone, first up was some pictures with Gareth Liddiard and Dan Kelly who are soon to embark on a national tour together.

As is often the case it was a last minute shoot with no particular brief or vision in mind, but we decided we’d meet up at Clovelly beach and go from there. Fortune favoured us with overcast skies and a big empty blue swimming pool where we did nearly all the photos.

The double page opening shot is somewhat of a visual cliche for those head to head interview stories, but it works well on the page.

Getting two dudes up so close and personal is sometimes uncomfortable and often devolves into giggles as this out-take shows.

Gareth Liddiard and Dan Kelly head to head

The inside shot was the two of the kicking back laying on the pool floor. As you do.

And here’s a few others that didn’t make the story.

Time Out Food and Drink photos

Daniel Boud — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 04:00:21 +0000

It’s been a while since i’ve posted some of my food and drink photos that i’ve shot for Time Out Sydney so here’s a bit of an update from the past few issues.

Unlike previous times, i’m showing the actual page layouts, so you can see how the my photos are used in context of the magazine.

I do so because:

I’m proud of the work of the Time Out design team of Phil Bunting and Tom Hislop
I’m proud of the work of Time Out food editor Myffy Rigby
These layouts are a reminder to those that haven’t picked up the magazine lately that it’s worth doing so. The magazine shows the photography better than the website. Subscribe today!
As a followup to my older post about concert photography not paying. I’ve diversified.

If this has whet your appetite you can subscribe to Time Out Sydney quite cheaply. It makes the perfect Christmas gift!

Annandale Hotel 10th Birthday

Daniel Boud — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 06:30:09 +0000

Jimmy Barnes on stage at the Annandale with band members Davey Lane and Charlie Owen

Over the past couple of weeks my local, The Annandale Hotel has been celebrating its ten year anniversary. The place has stood for a lot longer than ten years, but the anniversary marks the time it’s been owned and run in it’s current incarnation by Matt and Dan Rule.

I saw a couple of the gigs, and took a photo for Drum Media to coincide with the anniversary.

While i wouldn’t normally call myself a Jimmy Barnes fan, it was pretty special watching him belting out the hits like Khe Sanh, Flame Trees and Working Class Man. I wasn’t intending to take photos, but when Andy invited me along he said i’d regret it if i didn’t, and he was probably right. So i took a few snaps from behind the bar.

They accompany a story he wrote for Mess and Noise, primarily about his cab ride to the gig.

And here’s a couple of shots i did for Drum Media featuring Richard Clapton (who had to leave before we shot the second shot), Jake and Stav from bluejuice, Jay Whalley from Frenzal Rhomb and Pete Kostic from Regurgitator and Front End Loader.

Vieux Farka Touré live album cover

Daniel Boud — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 04:53:51 +0000

Vieux Farka Touré performs at Sydney Festival

Back in January i photographed Summer Sounds in the Domain for Sydney Festival, which featured Malian musician Vieux Farka Touré.

Some weeks after the gig, his label got in touch asking to buy the image for a live album he was releasing.

Vieux Farka Touré live album cover

The inside sleeve

And now it’s coming out.

On pre-order at Amazon.

Oh Mercy and the Australian Music Prize

Daniel Boud — Wed, 26 May 2010 02:25:29 +0000

Some snaps of Oh Mercy at the MCA, after the Australian Music Prize announcement in February.

I was covering it for Rolling Stone, and supposed to shoot the winner, but unfortunately Lisa Mitchell was in the UK.

So i snapped Oh Mercy instead, who picked up the Red Bull Award “in recognition of outstanding potential”.

Oh Mercy perform at the Australian Music Prize winners event

Peter Garrett spoke at the event - under very red lights

Monotonix

In the same issue of Rolling Stone i had a half page photo of the legends who are Monotonix with this shot from The Annandale.

Boudist » published

Interview and portrait tips in Digital Photography magazine

Daniel Boud shares his secrets on shooting from the soul – on stage and in the studio.

Top Boudist tips for Portrait photography

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