Photography

Sigma 200-500mm f/2.8 is the world’s most insane street photography lens

Sigma 200-500mm f/2.8 is the world’s most insane street photography lens
Sigma 200-500mm f/2.8

The Sigma 200-500mm f/2.8 EX DG is one of those lenses that’s become so legendary it’s pretty much a meme at this point. It’s a lens that many people would want to have in their collection – if only they had 26 grand to throw away.

But how does such an extreme telephoto zoom stand up to something like street photography? Well, photographer and YouTuber Tom Calton decided to find out and document it in this video.

YouTube video
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Sigma 200-500mm f/2.8 – The real Bigma!

The Sigma 200-500mm f/2.8 is one of those lenses that almost everyone knows exists, but almost no one knows someone who owns one. There have been a few reviews and videos about them before, including an equally ridiculous portrait session (also by Tom).

In typical British sarcastic humour, Tom walks us through the history of the lens and its significance in lens history. It’s a lens that’s no longer being made, but when it was available, it cost a whopping $26K. But it was the world’s first ultra-telephoto zoom lens to offer an f/2.8 aperture at 500mm.

That wide f/2.8 aperture is why this lens is so huge. It’s why most of the something-500mm zooms a lot of us use have such small apertures. Wider apertures mean larger optics. That means more size and weight.

Sigma 400-1000mm f/5.6 AdapterSigma 400-1000mm f/5.6 Adapter

With the lens being discontinued and many existing owners choosing to hold onto them, they’ve become somewhat rare in the used market. And even though it’s discontinued, there’s still a listing on B&H, which has a couple of amusing reviews on it. Honestly, I’m surprised there aren’t more.

One of the world’s smallest cameras

To make the scenario even more ridiculous, he paired one of the largest lenses in the world with one of the smallest cameras in the world. He chose the Panasonic Lumix GM1, a Micro Four Thirds camera with a 2x crop.

Panasonic Lumix GM1Panasonic Lumix GM1

However, Tom also went with a Canon EF to Micro Four Thirds speed booster. This brought the crop back to a more reasonable 1.29x. This effectively made the 200-500mm lens a 258-645mm full-frame equivalent as far as the field of view goes.

Obviously, a lens like this has distinct advantages for things like sports and wildlife. But Tom takes it on several adventures, including some street photography.

I don’t want to spoil things too much, but the images do look intriguing. They offer a unique and interesting perspective and presentation that shorter focal lengths do not. And sure, there are other 500mm zooms out there, but how many have an f/2.8 aperture?

The Insane Prices Some Photographers Command

The Insane Prices Some Photographers Command

Understanding the pricing landscape in photography can be a daunting task for both emerging and seasoned photographers. The vast range of prices, from a simple potato image fetching millions to a seasoned professional receiving a few hundred dollars for a day’s work, can leave many scratching their heads. 

Coming to you from Justin Mott, this interesting video looks at the complexities of photography pricing and explores the factors influencing these disparities. Mott uses the example of Kevin Abosch, a photographer known for his minimalist portraits of Silicon Valley executives and celebrities, who commands exorbitant fees for his work. Despite the seemingly simple nature of his portraits, Abosch’s strong branding and network have enabled him to transcend typical market rates. 

Mott emphasizes that while technical skill is undoubtedly important, branding and networking play a crucial role in a photographer’s ability to command higher prices. He compares Abosch’s work to that of legendary photographers like Richard Avedon and Irving Penn, noting that while their minimalist styles might appear similar, the latter possessed a unique ability to capture the essence of their subjects’ personalities, elevating their work beyond mere technical proficiency. 

The video underscores the importance of recognizing the dynamics that drive pricing in creative industries. As a photographer, understanding your niche, target audience, and unique value proposition is essential for establishing a sustainable career. While stories of exorbitant prices often grab headlines, it’s crucial to remember that these are outliers. Mott encourages aspiring photographers to focus on honing both their technical skills and marketing acumen to carve their own path in the industry. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Mott.

If you would like to learn more about the business of photography, check out “Making Real Money: The Business of Commercial Photography With Monte Isom!”

Who is William and Kate’s private wedding photographer?

Who is William and Kate’s private wedding photographer?

Royal fans keen to mark the 13th wedding anniversary of the Prince and Princess of Wales were delighted to discover a previously-unseen portrait of William and Kate from their special day this afternoon. 

Posted to Instagram with the caption ’13 years ago today!’, the black and white photograph was taken not by the couple’s official wedding photographer, Hugo Burnand, but by their private photographer, Dorset-based Millie Pilkington.

When asked abut her biggest break, Millie, who received her first camera from her mother at the age of 8, told The Gold Edition:

‘I’m not sure you can ask for a bigger break than being asked to capture the private wedding photographs for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding in April 2011.’

Prince William, 41, and Kate Middleton, 42, married at Westminster Abbey in 2011, with around 37 million people watching in the UK and while official photographs were released after the big day, Millie was chosen to take more intimate shots for their private wedding album. 

Millie Pilkington's previously-unseen portrait of William and Kate on their wedding day

Millie took this photograph of King Charles and Queen Camilla, which was released on Friday 24 May alongside Charles's encouraging health update

And Millie, described as ‘one of the UK’s most respected and accomplished portrait photographers’ on her website, turns out  to be the woman behind a whole host of royal images. 

Most recently, the photographer, who specialises in children and family, took a smiling picture of King Charles and Queen Camilla. 

Released on Friday 24 May, the image accompanied Charles’s encouraging health update announcing that the King would be returning to some of his public duties after undergoing cancer treatment. 

Millie is open about the enjoyment she gets from working with the royal family. Speaking to The Gold Edition in April 2023 she explained that, rather than finding the royals intimidating, she considers them to be ‘more humble, kind, thoughtful and approachable’ than a lot of people who lack their titles. 

Millie has also taken photographs of William and Kate’s three children, Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5. 

This photograph of Prince William with his three children was taken to mark Father's Day last year

As well as taking portraits of their youngest child, Prince Louis, which have been released on various birthdays, Millie was on hand to capture Prince William with all three children ahead of Father’s Day last year. 

According to her website, Millie, who is based near Sherborne in Dorset, ‘is known for doing whatever it takes to get the shot’. 

The combination of her professional mindset and playful personality has seen her balance on top of a ladder and wade through a pond to get the right shot. 

When she’s not photographing royals, Millie is busy taking pictures of families and pursuing editorial projects for publications including Country Life and Hello!

Speaking to The Gold Edition, Millie explained that her mother gave her a camera for her eighth birthday. 

‘I quickly became obsessed with, taking photos of almost anything that moved, albeit predominantly my dog and horse,’ she said.

But Millie believes her ‘love of portraiture’ stems from upgrading her camera to a Minolta SLR at the age of 15. At that time, she especially enjoyed taking pictures of her family and friends. 

Millie credits Jane Brown, the late English photographer who spent six decades at The Observer, as one of her most important influences. 

Royal private photographer Millie Pilkington said William and Kate's wedding was the biggest break you could get

She elaborated: ‘Be they candid snaps, such as her portrait of three Beetles fans or Cilla Black sipping tea, or even a close-up portrait of Mick Jagger laughing, her striking portraits all contain an honesty which I aspire to achieve in my portraiture.’

Another key feature of Millie’s oeuvre is her work with Country Life magazine, her biggest editorial client.

For the November 2018 issue, she photographed Dame Judi Dench for the magazine and has since shared that Country Life was a publication she had ‘always wanted to work for’. 

While she has honed her craft since her early childhood, becoming a fulltime photographer after she married in the year 2000, Millie is happy to admit that sometimes a brilliant portrait comes down simply to ‘a stroke of luck – being in the right place at the right time and being quick.’ 

WePresent | How Jingyu Lin’s photos explore her Asian-American heritage

WePresent | How Jingyu Lin’s photos explore her Asian-American heritage

Outside fashion, Lin can often be found photographing people of prominence. Most recently, she’s made portraits with Lindsay Lohan, boygenius, Kimora Lee Simons and Pat Cleveland. The binding agent between her creative worlds of fashion, beauty and portraiture is an arresting simplicity. “It’s so instinctual to me. I’ve always been more drawn to the subject’s expression than the theatrics that might surround it,” remarks the image-maker. “I think a simple image can often be the most powerful!” Through her discerning eye, Lin manages to make work that occupies the intersection of striking and subtle, playful yet refined. Rich textures, props and palettes are employed in small quantities, conjuring a calm and soft energy that is distinct and memorable. 

Connection—with people and objects —is the driving force behind Lin’s storytelling. Pulling from life to craft narratives that blend the familiar with fantasy to unite people and provoke conversation. “It’s the most wonderful thing,” Lin says excitedly, as she reflects on the potential of image-making. “I’ve always been a deeply emotional person who experiences very high highs and low lows. I didn’t have an outlet for any of that until I started shooting, and once that clicked for me, it was very natural to use the medium to channel those thoughts. ”

A Look Back at the Birth of Modern Sports Photography

A Look Back at the Birth of Modern Sports Photography

Capturing the essence of athleticism and the thrill of competition has always been a driving force for sports photographers. But the landscape of this genre has undergone a dramatic transformation in recent years, evolving from isolated photo shoots to comprehensive media days involving entire teams and extensive production crews. 

Coming to you from James Quantz Jr, this insightful video takes you on a journey through time, revisiting Quantz’s first-ever behind-the-scenes sports photography video from 2013, offering fascinating glimpse into how much the industry has changed in just over a decade, highlighting advancements in equipment, techniques, and the overall approach to sports photography. 

Quantz’s original video was created as a marketing tool, showcasing his innovative approach to capturing college athletic teams. Back then, teams relied on piecing together in-game action shots for promotional materials. Quantz proposed a more controlled and stylized approach, photographing individual star players to create a portfolio of images for various media needs. This concept, which now seems commonplace, was groundbreaking at the time, eventually landing Quantz work with several NFL, NHL, and NBA teams. 

The video delves into the technical aspects of the 2013 shoot, comparing the equipment and methods used then to those employed today. Beyond gear, the video highlights the shift from static tripod-based shooting to a more dynamic and flexible approach, allowing photographers to better capture the energy and movement of athletes. 

The evolution of sports photography extends beyond technological advancements. The rise of social media and the increasing demand for behind-the-scenes content has transformed how teams and athletes connect with their fans. What was once a niche service offered by pioneering photographers like Quantz has become an integral part of the sports industry, with dedicated media days and full-time staff photographers now the norm. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Quantz.
 

Take a step forward with your images with the best program for photographers: Adobe Photoshop

Take a step forward with your images with the best program for photographers: Adobe Photoshop

Post-processing is not just a common step in photography; it’s where your images come to life, revealing the vivid details and emotional depth that you managed to capture through your lens. Handling it like a professional isn’t always an easy task but thankfully, we have a powerful ally in Photoshop. Adobe Photoshop stands at the forefront of this transformative process, offering photographers unparalleled tools to refine and enhance their work in just a few clicks.

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Considered a powerhouse in photo editing, Adobe Photoshop delivers a suite of sophisticated tools designed to meet the demands of modern photography. From subtle adjustments to complex compositions, this software enables artists and professionals alike to push the boundaries of digital image editing. Whether you’re aiming to correct lighting issues, enhance colors, or create intricate visual effects, Photoshop provides the capabilities to turn your visions into reality.

By choosing Adobe Photoshop, you’ll have access to a precise and innovative tool that will help you edit all your photos like a professional. In this article we will guide you through the essential features, learning resources, and pricing strategies that make Photoshop an invaluable asset for photographers seeking to elevate their craft. Let ‘s go!

Why Choose Adobe Photoshop?

Adobe Photoshop enjoys a well-earned reputation as the industry standard in photo editing, all thanks to Adobe’s relentless innovation and unwavering reliability in all its products. Professionals across the globe rely on Photoshop not only for its comprehensive toolset but also for its ability to integrate seamlessly into diverse workflows and its consistent performance in delivering high-quality results.

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These are some of Photoshop’s key features that stand out for photographers:

  • Layering and Compositing: Stack adjustments without altering the original image, blending various elements to produce something entirely new and visually striking.
  • Color Correction and Adjustment Tools: Adjust hues, saturation, and luminance to correct lighting imbalances and color mismatches.
  • Retouching and Restoration: Remove blemishes, smooth out imperfections, and bring faded images back to their former glory
  • Advanced Selection Tools: Sophisticated selection tools for meticulous edits. Cut out complex shapes or selectively apply effects to ensure every edit as intended.

These capabilities make Adobe Photoshop not merely a tool but an extension of a photographer’s vision, providing all that is needed to transform good photos into great ones. As we delve deeper into these features, it becomes clear why Photoshop is the top choice for professionals looking to advance their photographic artistry.

Key Features of Adobe Photoshop for Photographers

Adobe Photoshop stands out as a premier editing tool due to its rich array of features that cater specifically to the needs of photographers. Each feature is designed to enhance, correct, or transform photographs and improve the final outcome. These are some of its most outstanding features:

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Layering and Compositing: Expanding Creativity

In Photoshop, layering and compositing offer unlimited creative possibilities. Layering involves stacking different elements such as images, adjustments, and effects in a sequence where each layer can be individually modified without affecting others. This approach is essential for maintaining flexibility throughout the editing process.

The non-destructive nature of this layering means that all changes, whether they’re opacity adjustments, blending modes, or filter applications, can be tweaked or reversed at any point. This capability is crucial for photographers who need to experiment and iterate on their vision without losing the option to revert to the original state of the image.

Compositing takes this a step further by allowing to merge elements from multiple sources into a single image. This process is often used to craft scenes or effects that would be impossible to capture in a single photograph. For instance, a photographer can combine elements from different times of day or various weather conditions into one cohesive image that tells a unique story or conveys a specific mood. Moreover, Photoshop’s advanced masking and selection tools play a critical role in compositing by enabling precise control over which parts of each layer are visible and how they interact. 

Example of merged layers in Adobe Photoshop.

Color Correction and Adjustment: Mastering Mood and Tone

Photoshop’s color correction tools are powerful and user-friendly, designed to give photographers complete control over the color dynamics within their images. These are crucial for both correcting common photographic issues, like exposure or color problems as well as allowing the adjustment of an image to better reflect the intended mood or style.

  • Curves and Levels: These tools let users easily tune-up exposure and contrast. Curves allow precise control over the luminosity of an image across different tonal ranges while levels provide a more straightforward approach to adjusting brightness, contrast, and tonal range.
  • Hue/Saturation: This tool is essential for adjusting the color intensity and hue of an entire image or specific colors within the photography. It’s particularly useful for making colors pop, muting overly vibrant areas, or changing a color entirely.
  • Selective Color: For more targeted adjustments, the selective color tool allows changes to individual color components within an image. This tool lets you fine tune specific colors without affecting the rest of the image, enhancing its accuracy, or creatively altering the color scheme to achieve a specific atmosphere.
High contrast pictures are ideal for creating duotone images

Retouching and Restoration: Reviving and Perfecting Visuals

Adobe Photoshop’s suite of retouching and restoration tools is meticulously designed to tackle a wide range of photographic issues, from simple cosmetic fixes to complex restoration of aged or damaged photographs. Here’s some of them:

  • Healing Brush: Ideal for removing small blemishes or inconsistencies in an image, this tool is perfect for correcting skin imperfections, removing dust spots, or any other minor flaws that distract from the main subject.
  • Clone Stamp: For more direct control over the pixels being copied, the Clone Stamp tool allows photographers to duplicate one part of an image to another. This is particularly useful for larger areas or where a precise match of texture or tone is necessary. 
  • Patch Tool: Combining aspects of the Healing Brush and Clone Stamp, the Patch Tool lets users select a specific area of an image and then replace it with a sample from another area. This is especially effective for larger flawed areas and provides a quick and seamless way to correct them by matching the lighting and shading of the surrounding area.
Open the Properties panel to refine your mask

Advanced Selection Tools: Precision at Your Fingertips

In Adobe Photoshop, the suite of advanced selection tools lets you easily perform highly detailed edits. These tools enable photographers and designers to isolate and manipulate specific areas of an image with precision, which is essential for complex modifications that require fine attention to detail.

  • Magic Wand: This tool selects parts of an image based on the color and tone similarities. It is particularly useful for quickly selecting a consistently colored area without having to manually trace its outline. 
  • Lasso Tools: The Lasso tool suite offers three options: the standard Lasso for freehand selections, the Polygonal Lasso for straight-edged selections, and the Magnetic Lasso that clings to edges as you trace around them. 
  • Pen Tool: Perhaps the most precise of all Photoshop’s selection tools, the Pen tool allows for pinpoint accuracy and control. It is used to draw paths around objects, which can then be converted into selections. 
ON1 Effects also functions as a standalone app and brings dozens of unique effects to your workflow

Why Photoshop is the Industry Standard for Photographers

Photoshop is, without a doubt, the industry-standard photo editing software. With features designed from simple retouching to complex graphic design and 3D modeling, Photoshop offers unmatched versatility. Adobe has shown a full commitment to their star product with continuous innovation and improvements to Photoshop since it launched all the way back in 1990. Even today, it remains way ahead of the cutting edge of digital imaging software. Regular updates introduce new tools, enhanced performance, and better integration with other platforms and devices

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Setting New Industry Standards

In 2024, thanks to the introduction of new AI features such Adobe Sensei and Adobe Firefly, users are already making image generative technology a standard part of image enhancement workflows. This integration represents a significant shift towards more automated and intelligent editing processes, allowing for quicker enhancements and creative possibilities that were previously difficult or impossible to achieve manually. As these tools become more embedded in daily use, they are setting new standards for efficiency and innovation in digital imaging.

Productivity and Real-Time Support:

Adobe Photoshop users benefit from its extensive range of resources and professional support. Adobe provides regular webinars and live training sessions where users can interact with experts and get answers to their queries in real time. For more personalized support, Adobe’s customer service includes technical support and troubleshooting, which are invaluable for professionals working under tight deadlines. This level of support ensures that users can maintain productivity without having to deal with any downtimes or disruptions.

A Special Introductory Price to Access all of Adobe Photoshop’s Features

Adobe Photoshop is available with a subscription-based model through Adobe’s Creative Cloud (CC). This means that once you have an active subscription you can access continuous updates, new features, cloud storage, and integration with other Adobe applications.

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Monthly or Annual Plans

Users can choose to subscribe to Photoshop either monthly or annually, with significant savings typically offered on the annual commitment. 

Photoshop is also available as part of various Adobe Creative Cloud bundles, which can include other Adobe apps like Lightroom, Illustrator, and Adobe Premiere Pro. These bundles are particularly attractive for professionals who rely on multiple tools for their creative workflows.

First-Year Discount

Adobe often provides a reduced price for the first year of a subscription, making it more accessible for new users to start using Photoshop. This introductory offer is an excellent opportunity for those unsure about the commitment to try the software at a lower risk.

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The availability of this promotion can vary significantly depending on your country and region.

Take the Next Step with Adobe Photoshop

Ready to transform your photography with the world’s leading image editing software? Visit Adobe’s official website to explore the various subscription options and find the plan that best suits your creative needs. Whether you’re a professional photographer or an enthusiastic beginner, Adobe Photoshop offers a powerful suite of tools to elevate your work.

  • Visit Adobe to Download or Purchase Photoshop: Start your journey by navigating to Adobe’s website. Here, you can view detailed information about Photoshop’s features, subscription plans, and pricing. Choose a plan that aligns with your needs and click ‘Buy Now’ to begin the process.
  • Sign Up for a Free Trial: Not sure if Photoshop is right for you? Adobe offers a free trial, allowing you to test all the features without any commitment. To access the trial, simply select the ‘Free Trial‘ option on the Photoshop page. This is an excellent opportunity to experience firsthand how Photoshop can enhance your photographic projects.
  • Explore and Learn: Once you’ve installed Photoshop, take advantage of the vast array of tutorials and resources available on Adobe’s website and through the Creative Cloud application. These resources are designed to help you get the most out of your Photoshop experience, from basic introductions to advanced techniques.

Harnessing the Power of Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop stands unrivaled as the go-to choice for photographers both aspiring artists to professionals in the industry. Its comprehensive suite of editing features ensures that every photo you take has the potential to become a masterpiece. Whether you are correcting minor flaws, adjusting colors to capture the right mood, or creating complex composites, Photoshop provides the tools you need to transform and give shape to all your ideas. 

Subscribing and downloading Photoshop opens a world of creative possibilities. As you explore its vast capabilities and powerful tools, this amazing tool will become your best ally to boost your creativity. Don’t waste any time and add Photoshop into your workflow to discover just how much further you can push the boundaries of your photography. Take the step today to explore how Adobe’s most famous program can elevate your photographic art to new heights. Are you ready to get your free trial now?

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Cancer-Hit Kate Skips Traditional Anniversary Photograph with William

Cancer-Hit Kate Skips Traditional Anniversary Photograph with William
image

Kate Middleton’s ill-health was spotlighted again Monday, after she and her husband decided not to issue a new photograph to mark the anniversary of their wedding.

Instead, the couple marked their 13th wedding anniversary by issuing a previously unseen photograph taken on their wedding day.

The reluctance to issue a new photograph came as little surprise, Kate has asked for privacy as she undergoes preventative chemotherapy while recovering from cancer, although the decision may concern royal watchers hoping for a positive update on her health.

The last photograph that Kensington Palace issued of Kate was mired in controversy after global news agencies “killed” the picture after realizing it had been amateurishly photoshopped. Kate swiftly admitted she had edited the photograph.

The couple have not deleted the notorious photograph on their social media accounts.

The couple also issued a photograph of Prince Louis to mark his birthday last week. They said that Kate had taken the photo and it was unedited.

They and are expected to issue a new photograph of Princess Charlotte to mark her birthday this week.

The couple have often, but not always, issued informal anniversary photographs to mark their wedding anniversary. Last year they shared pictures of themselves riding bicycles, and for their 10th anniversary they released pictures modeled on engagement photographs taken at Kensington Palace.

However, they have not shared images every year. In 2022, they did not share pictures on social media after commonwealth country Australia was hit by devastating floods.

William has gone back to work, appearing at several public events, however the couple have asked for privacy for their family after Kate revealed she had been diagnosed with cancer.

Meet the Man Behind Bogey Boys’ Carefully Crafted Image

Meet the Man Behind Bogey Boys’ Carefully Crafted Image

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Introducing Shotmakers, a new series that explores the modern world of golf photography and how the people who comprise it are redefining the game’s visual language.


In 2018 Jake Magraw directed a music video for Macklemore for the song “How To Play The Flute.” Little did Magraw know, a few years later he would be with Macklemore, who he calls by his real name Ben, on a tour through Europe. In between sold out shows in Italy, Switzerland and France, Ben and a few other members of the closely knit group called the “bogey boys” were learning how to play golf. Truthfully, they weren’t just learning how to make a small white object fly through the air though, they were learning how to build a brand.

Over the last few seasons Bogey Boys has emerged as one of an elite group of micro brands that are reimagining what golf can look like. And although Macklemore has been the face and leader of Bogey Boys, Magraw has also been there from the beginning. The relationship between the two, as Magraw describes, thrives off a mutual appreciation for each others’ talents. Ben, the architect. Jake, the interpreter.

JMDM Creative, Magraw’s professional alter-ego, had a circuitous route to golf a bit like a double dogleg par-5 winding through trees. After “bouncing around community colleges” he found a two-year commercial photography program in Seattle where he connected with one of Macklemore’s original tour photographers. That parlayed into a chance to work with the Seattle musician, and with each successful tour documented and music video directed, Magraw would become one of Macklemore’s most trusted producers.

Later on, Magraw leveraged his credibility through Bogey Boys and his past experience in studio photography to open up even more opportunities in the golf space, working with golf brands Cleveland and Srixon. In the first edition of our new series Shotmakers, we uncovered an individual journey that’s emblematic of golf’s modern renaissance.

Having worked with Macklemore on his music videos and tours, how did that transition into golf and Bogey Boys?

Jake Magraw: I think the big transition was him having kids, he was having a family and I think that changed his life. He wasn’t going to have as much spare time to be constantly gone. So when Ben fell in love with golf, we started playing it on tour, because we’re in Europe a lot and we can go to some beautiful spots.

There was a group of us, we were just not really great at golf yet, and that’s where Bogey Boys really came from. We were just happy making bogeys and we were celebrating if we made a par.

Is it important to show that amateur side to the sport?

We’re all hoping for that one perfect swing, but that’s a pro’s reality, that’s not our reality. And I think what we did well early on with Bogey Boys was to not just film us hitting good shots, but to film us missing shots too. Obviously you don’t want to make the sport look like a joke, but it’s our reality.

Again, we’re just happy to hit the green and I think a lot of people were scared to show that because it shows you’re not good at golf. But now it’s shifting into a place where you can have fun with it. You should have fun with it.

“The clothes made sense, the way I was shooting them made sense.”

So how were you able to make the transition to shooting golf?

I’m pretty lucky that Ben is one of those guys who has ride or dies, and he works with those people and is very loyal to those people. I tell people a lot that I definitely got opportunities from him. But you also have to be ready for those opportunities. You have to position yourself so when you get the opportunity you can seize it and turn it into something even bigger.

I was in a spot in my personal art where I was feeling confident about what I wanted my stuff to look like, and it felt different to what other people were doing in the golf space. I felt like it was a good time for me to come in and make it look a little different, and I think it really worked well with what Ben was creating stylistically.

Obviously there’s a vintage aspect to everything he was doing at that time, and the style that I was leaning into was a film and vintage look. So I think those paths crossed and molded together really well. The clothes made sense, the way I was shooting them made sense. It was just a great opportunity to start there, and then that escalated as Bogey Boys started to ramp up.

Is that creative direction part of how Bogey Boys stands out?

Other companies will cycle through photographers and use different people. And my perfect vision is that people see Bogey Boys’ images and they know it’s us.

I was pretty lucky to have someone who could steer that ship in that direction. Even on the music side, Ben always had a lot of input visually and he’s very good at it, that’s why he and I get along. He understands how to tell me what he’s thinking.

Not a lot of people who run brands understand that. They don’t know how to communicate to the people who are creating content. And that becomes a problem when you have to ask yourself ‘Am I telling their story? Am I telling it correctly? Am I representing their brand correctly?’ And I think that was the benefit to Ben and I having a relationship where I can just feel what he’s thinking and shoot it.

Product photography has evolved really quickly now that brands understand they have to cultivate an image. Has that allowed you to shine in this space?

I mean that’s the exact conversation I had with the guy that I work with closely at Cleveland. For a long time brands thought ‘we’ll just use CGI clubs.’ And when I first talked to him I told him I thought that was weird. You’re buying a physical product and you go to the website and it gives you no representation of what the club feels like or it looks like.

Visually it looks like people aren’t trying, the attitude is basically ‘we got this digital thing made, now let’s throw it over our whole website.’ And again I was lucky to have a collaboration with him where we could talk about it and try to make that product photography cooler.

Product photography is like fashion in that sense, it needs to appeal to younger people. Traditional golfers don’t care about product photography, they’re going to buy the clubs as long as it performs. But people like us are going to care if it looks cool and it was branded well. We care about that stuff because we grew up in an era where that’s just what we were into.

The behind-the-scenes of those shoots are funny because you see the setup and it looks like a little movie set, but the final result makes everything seem so much bigger.

There’s a good one from a Srixon campaign that we did because we used a bunch of LED lights, it was one of my favorites for sure. And then you look at the BTS and it’s just this tiny world with LEDs going everywhere. It was one of those cool ones where we definitely tried something different and I thought we hit a pretty solid home run with it.

I used to steer away from product photography because you’re living in the studio and working with something so small and sometimes you just want to be outside. But it’s also fun, you really challenge yourself doing the lighting stuff.

Working with golf clubs is along the lines of working with perfume bottles. They’re really hard to shoot, they’re very reflective. There’s a lot going on and there aren’t a lot of ways to shoot them. So trying to make them look cool is part of the battle.

What have been some of your other favorite campaigns?

The adidas thing was pretty special with Bogey Boys. I think that our first campaign was pretty special too, just because it felt like a dream that it was all happening; all the years of just joking about Bogey Boys and then finally seeing it actually made.

But I think the adidas moment was really cool. I was really stoked for Ben and it was a really cool moment for me to be able to have my voice in that collaboration. Requesting Collin Morikawa to be part of our campaign was pretty epic.

What else would you like to do in the golf space going forward?

I think pushing forward to build that community and diversity in golf and the acceptance of it. While a lot has changed these last couple years and a lot of people are moving into this space, I still think the roots of golf are not super accepting of other people and certain aspects of what has been changing.

So I think it’s just keeping our foot on that pedal as far as changing that narrative and making it more approachable. It still feels unattainable because it’s pretty expensive in some ways, so just doing what I can in my space of shooting it and telling stories to help change that.


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Photography: Spanish Love Songs, Oso Oso, Sydney Sprague, Worry Club

Photography: Spanish Love Songs, Oso Oso, Sydney Sprague, Worry Club

Posted: 29th April, 2024 by The Editor

Spanish Love Songs have been on my list of bands to see live since their 2020 release of “Brave Faces Everyone” and they did not disappoint. For a band who’s lyrics center around life’s challenges and heavy topics, they surely know how to make it fun and groovy. With support from emo-scene long-timers, Oso Oso, who continue to deliver catchy tunes and ear worms throughout the years. As well as Sydney Sprague and Chicago’s Worry Club, the night was truly non-stop bangers and fun. Sarah took some sick shots, check them out!



Photos by Sarah Knoll

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How To Win Adventure Photography’s Most Prestigious Prize

How To Win Adventure Photography’s Most Prestigious Prize

Gonzalo Robert Parraguez’s image of paddler Kilian Ivelic sending a waterfall in the Cajon del Maipo, on Chile’s Maipo River, is dreamy for more than just its magical light, billowing water and otherworldly textures of the rocks channeling the cascade. Ivelic, 24, grew up dreaming about paddling the class V Maipo canyon and has been developing his boating skills for years on Chile’s iconic whitewater rivers—tracked and documented by Robert Parraguez’s lens. The duo’s efforts paid off: 25-year-old Robert Parraguez won Red Bull’s prestigious 2023 Illume award for emerging photographers for this photo. Along with producing a remarkable image, the acclaim showcases a tremendous partnership between an extreme athlete and an adventurous lensman poised to take the next step.

“Without him, none of these places would look so amazing,” says Robert Parraguez. “The first time I met Kili was by chance on the river. He’s always so motivated and such a nice person; he’s become a very good partner for these missions.”

How to win adventure photography’s most prestigious prize

Robert Parraguez and Ivelic waited patiently for months for the right water levels to run the Maipo’s rock-clad waterfalls, just south of Santiago in central Chile. Then, in late May 2022, Ivelic gave the photographer a call. The pair drove for two hours, trekked 10 minutes to the canyon and set up anchors for a challenging 15-meter rappel to give Robert Parraguez and a safety boater access to the river. The focus was on helping Ivelic achieve his dream descent, Robert Parraguez recalls. “Honestly, when I was walking to the waterfall, I never thought I would get an award-winning picture.”

a whitewater kayaker drops off a rushing waterfall in a cavern
“It’s the people you meet, the bonds you form and all the experiences you have together. For me, that’s the most important thing.” | Feature photo: Red Bull Illume // Gonzalo Robert Parraguez

Such a harrowing approach puts a premium on compact camera equipment and a versatile zoom lens, Robert Parraguez says. A wide-angle perspective captures the scale of the scene: Reflecting on the day, Robert Parraguez can still hear the deep bass rumble of the falls, taste the misty air, and sense the butterflies he felt in his stomach as his friend planted a forward stroke into frothy water at the apex of the drop.

These experiences give Robert Parraguez all the resolve he needs to continue with his life’s passion to travel the world, camera in hand. Living in Chile gives him access to some of the world’s finest whitewater rivers as well as ocean surf breaks. His recent film, There’s Good In Everything with Spanish whitewater superstar Aniol Serrasolses, won the Best Whitewater Film award at the 2024 Paddling Film Festival.

“I started photography when I was 18, when I left school and didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life,” Robert Parraguez says. “I think what I like most about being an adventure photographer is just what it says: photographing the adventure and always being on adventures with amazing people. One of the biggest difficulties in taking these photos is always the access, but at the same time, it’s also the fun part—when you want something really bad and have to figure out how to get there to make it happen. That’s where the adventure begins.”

Watch Gonzalo Robert Parraguez’s film Origen, starring Kilian Ivelic, and There’s Good In Everything in the 2024 Paddling Film Festival at paddlingfilmfestival.com.

Cover of the Spring 2024 issue of Paddling Magazine, Issue 71This article was first published in the Spring 2024 issue of Paddling Magazine. Subscribe to Paddling Magazine’s print and digital editions, or browse the archives.


“It’s the people you meet, the bonds you form and all the experiences you have together. For me, that’s the most important thing.” | Feature photo: Red Bull Illume // Gonzalo Robert Parraguez