Inside the Mind of the Lava Hunter

BUZZBUZZIssue 17 Canon digital imaging lifestyle magazine InsideInside thethe mindmind ofof thethe LavaLava HunterHunter Staying focused under the maddening heat Photograph by Robert W. Madden © National Geographic Society In Contact NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PHOTOGRAPHER BOB MADDEN SHARES WITH CANON BUZZ VALUABLE INSIGHTS DRIVING HIS PHOTOGRAPHY. ©Robert W. Madden National Geographic photographer Bob Madden, now known to the world as the “Lava Hunter”, spoke to a full-house crowd of 300 people at the Luxe Museum during the “Capture The Heat of the Moment” photography seminar organised by Canon and National Geographic Channel on November 14, 2009. Robert Capa famously said “if your How important is interaction with your When looking through the viewfinder of a pictures aren’t good enough you’re not subject during an assignment? How do DSLR, all photographers have a tendency close enough”. How true or relevant is you “break the ice” with unwillingly or to look directly at the subject that is the statement for you in your field of difficult subjects? invariably in the middle of the frame. The work? better photographers direct their attention Photographing strangers is one of the to the corners of the frame, trying to assess What Capa was referring to was most difficult tasks that a photographer what is important to leave in or out of the presenting the immediacy of the situation undertakes. It stems from feeling that you composition. For amateurs, this is a good by being “up close and personal”. My are invading a person’s privacy. To alleviate habit to get into. “normal” lens is the Canon EF16 – 35mm/ this, I try to build up an understanding 2.8 zoom. I am a “people photographer”, with my subjects based on trust. I rarely What should one look out for in the and with this lens, I can get close to my “sneak” a picture. I trade information with editing of pictures, especially in the subjects to give viewers the feeling that s/ the people about whom I represent and digital age when high volumes of he is right there with me. The Lava Hunter why I want to take their picture. I try to captures is the norm? series is a perfect example of getting up make it a positive experience for them. If close. With longer lenses, the final image they really do not want their picture taken, is compressed and “flattened”. I will not force them. I will keep the camera away and just talk to them, learning about Where do you draw a line between their lives and experiences. Many times getting THE PICTURE and putting these conversations lead to other images yourself in harm’s way? within the locale. It is difficult to determine beforehand if you You were also Director of Design with are putting your life in danger. Experience National Geographic Magazine. How helps, but it is not infallible. A local expert important is the ability to crop a picture would help tremendously. On the Lava well? Hunter assignment, volcanologist Robin Holcomb gave me great advice on where Cropping can be important, but at National and where not to stand. Geographic, most of the pictures run full- ©Robert W. Madden In addition, you have to assess whether frame. This is because the photographers the final image will be worth the risk. If it at the National Geographic Society are isn’t, I try not to take any risk. If it is, one interested in a complete image that must tread carefully. expresses exactly how they feel about their subjects. BUZZ In Contact ©Robert W. Madden In today’s digital world, any serious photographer needs a some of these “missing” places, such as the Serengeti in Kenya/ software application that can help them organise their work. Tanzania. Several that come to mind are Lightroom, Aperture, Photo Mechanic, etc. With these tools, image editing is made easier, but Lastly, tell us the gear you use now. there is still a volume issue. For example, _MG_0802.CR2 really doesn’t help one understand the content of an image, but may be I have a rather compact camera bag. My belief is that you need the unique number that the camera has assigned it. to decide how big of a bag you want to carry, as you will fill it up no matter what size it is. I edit by looking at all images from the take. I wait several days and do it again. After losing some of the euphoria from the first My bag carries a Canon 7D or 5D body with the following lenses: review, I am able to look at them with a “colder” eye. I then make a 16 - 35mm/2.8, a 100mm macro/ 2.8, a 50mm/1.2, and a 100 a rough edit to 15% of the images — THROWING OUT the others - 400mm/ 4-5.6. I have a Canon EZ 530 Speed light with a flash — refining the remaining 20 to 30 photographs that I name, add cord, 32Gb of memory, an extra camera battery, extra flash metadata and post process for each image. I save all RAW files in batteries, a 4Gb thumb drive and pen and paper for captions. case I want to return to the “digital original”. When traveling, I also include my MacBook laptop, a card reader and a Canon battery charger. On longer shoots, I take more than Having covered all seven continents in your long career, what one camera body, but this is for the client’s edification, as I find that do you hope to achieve next? the camera is one of the most reliable pieces of gear in the bag. A tripod and a folding reflector complete the basic equipment. Because I was assigned to the places that I covered for various Obviously, specialised assignments call for a variation of gear. publications, I have some “holes” in where I have been in the world. I am an insatiable traveler and am anxious to photograph Catch Madden in National Geographic Channel’s “Nat Geo’s Most Amazing Photo: Lava Hunter” on December 20th and 27th on NGC HD (Starhub channel 301) ©Robert W. Madden BUZZ What’s Up “Lava Hunter” Bob Madden leads exclusive photography workshop in Singapore After bringing some 300 seminar participants through his Besides delivering invaluable pointers and sharing his extensive body of work garnered through a career spanning techniques, Madden also took the workshop participants more than 30 years, National Geographic photographer through the paces of photo editing and critique. Bob Madden led 15 lucky participants and members of the Singapore press on a half-day workshop on November 14, 2009. 1. Jenson Button autographs a Brawn GP jersey. 2. Mr Satoshi Kimura, CEO and President Canon 3. Mr Melvyn Ho (C), Vice President of Singapore, shakes hands with Brawn GP Team Canon Singapore, chats with invited guests. Principal Ross Brawn. BRAWN GP STARS MAKE APPEARANCE AT CANON PRODUCT LAUNCH Canon Singapore announced the launch of more than The stars of the Brawn GP team were also in attendance, 30 new products during a star-studded event held at the fresh after Canon Singapore’s announcement of a special Capella hotel on September 25, 2009. sponsorship deal with the team for the Singapore Grand Prix. Sharing the limelight though were not just cutting edge cameras and camcorders. BUZZ What’s Up Paul Henri Cahier (L) and Andrew Koh (R), General Manager and Director Canon Singapore, listen to Rubens Barrichello during a discussion at Raffles Hotel. Photography enthusiasts and Formula second edition of the Singapore Grand octane world of Formula One. One fans got more than they bargained for Prix, the only night race in the Formula at Raffles Hotel on September 23, 2009 One race calendar. Cahier had been given his first camera at when Brawn GP’s Rubens Barrichello the age of 13 by the “Cartier-Bresson of (now signed on to Williams for the 2010 With 288 races under his belt (at the end Motor Racing”, his father Bernard. season) made a surprise appearance of the 2009 season) Barrichello can be during a Canon seminar featuring considered one of the most experienced Participants at the gathering were treated to photographer Paul Henri Cahier, a staple drivers on the circuit. Cahier’s pictures from the 2008 Singapore on the F1 calendar in his own right. Grand Prix, with shooting tips freely Cahier on the other hand was no stranger dispensed and technical data displayed. Both men were in Singapore for similar behind the lens when it comes to missions - to make their mark in the capturing the glamour, drama and high- Canon PhotoMarathon 2009 scales new heights Back for a seventh successful year, Participants in Asia’s most anticipat- the Canon PhotoMarathon saw more ed one-day photo competition raced than 1,300 shutterbugs of all ages vy- to snap their interpretations of each ing for top honours in three shooting Theme. At stake was the grand prize themes released throughout October of a nine-day, all-expenses paid pho- 10, 2009. to clinic to Japan worth $6,000 each for the Best Of Show winners of the The turn-out at Suntec City once Open and Student categories. again garnered a mention in the Sin- gapore Book of Records for the one- To view the winning works, visit: http://www.canon.com.sg/digitaldreams/photomarathon/ of-a-kind event. BUZZ Technology A new workhorse gallops into town Canon’s flagshipPIXMA MP996 makes printing, scanning and copying a breeze The new PIXMA MP996 puts the photo tones. Innovative warm and cool tone scanning capabilities for both negatives printing lab on your desktop.

Load more