Hi folks,
This morning on radio I heard Lord Lichfield interviewed. A high-profile
photographer (and cousin to the Queen) who at one time anyway, used OM
gear.
He's still very much a professional photographer, and gave out a few hints
and a joke or two.
He says he travels (by air) four times a week, covering more air-miles than
the captains who pilot the planes, and seems to be perpetually in jet-lag.
Many of his assignments are to photograph groups of Royals and other
VIPs, and there is a problem in getting them to stand, smile etc on cue,
since they each expect to be spoken to individually by title or Lord, Sir
Madam etc. So to get them to stand where he thinks best, he works the
arrangement out using match-sticks, then writes numbers in circles using
chalk, on the floor. Each person is then given a card with the appropriate
number - and being the professionals they are, they obediently go and stand
where required.
Other than that, be absolutely thoroughly prepared, and get the shoot done
as quickly as possible.
He said it was his experience that the most important shoots are usually the
ones where tripods collapse, cameras fall and break etc.
He uses four camera, shooting simultaneously, one with transparency, one
with print film, one with fine-grained B&W, and one with grainy B&W.
He usually tells jokes to get people to smile on cue etc, but it doesn't always
work.
On this occasion his assistant was an extremely attractive young woman,
and he said to her, "Do what ever you have to do, to get a smile on his face".
The subject was Lester Piggott, renowned UK jockey, with a stony face.
Lichfield shot about 4 rolls of film with nary a grin, let alone a smile, and
he
had used up all his jokes. Then he saw Piggott break into a broad grin. He
looked over his shoulder, and saw his assistant, in mini-skirt, doing hand-
stands.
He got his photo.
Cheers, Brian
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