|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| . | |||||||||
 |
||
|
Rangefinder
Magazine Ron Nichols: by Larry Singer
“
The overriding issue,” says Nichols, “is that ferrets are
amazingly curious, hyperactive and fast—a lethal combination for
a happy and productive photographer/subject relationship.
Nichols did not start his career aiming his camera at our four-legged and winged friends. After graduating from the University of Missouri with a degree in journalism and photography, Nichols worked for daily newspapers for seven or eight years and then taught photography classes at the University of Utah for a decade. During this period Nichols realized the commercial possibilities inherent in the creation of scrapbooks, which was, and remains, a huge commercial phenomena. Nichols, now in his mid-40s, wrote his first book when he realized how many people had jumped on the scrapbook bandwagon.
One of the main concepts Nichols stresses in his workshops is that top-notch photographs do not have to come from an expensive camera, but they will come from what goes on between the ears of the photographer. “I teach students that expensive gear is not a prerequisite for great pictures, and that gratifying results can be achieved with simple point-and-shoot cameras. It’s not about the equipment,” he says, “It’s about seeing pictures.” One of Nichols favorite anecdotes concerns a lady who attended one of his workshops.
As Nichols was showing these pictures to the assembled students, he could hear them gasping, and almost instantly people asked what kind of camera the photographer used to get these incredible pictures. When his student stood and held her camera up for the class to see, to everyone’s astonishment it was a very basic point and shoot model. “ I think the students in my class thought she was a plant,” Nichols says. “But she wasn’t.”
According to Nichols, pet photos are vitally important because “pets give us unconditional love. They ask for little. They never criticize, and they never pass judgment. “ Considering these traits, it’s no wonder that people love their pets. Millions of people show this love by putting photos of their pets on their desks and in their wallets.” In fact, Nichols has two dogs of his own that often find themselves in front of his camera. Cats, on the other hand, says Nichols, are, to him, a great photo challenge. He has found that when it comes to posing for pictures, cats do pretty much what they want to do, while dogs tend to be much more obedient. “Dogs wear their hearts on their sleeves,” Nichols said, “and make no bones about showing how much they love humans. They’re willing to show that love by doing anything to impress us.”
“ The first thing I do before photographing a pet,” says Nichols, “is study the pet’s behavior. By observing first, I have a better understanding of when and where the pet is likely to be most photogenic. Observing helps me recognize patterns of behavior that can lead to great pictures. “ If people plan on taking a lot of photos of their pets at home,” Nichols says, “it’s best to start when the pet’s young. Getting a pet used to a camera at a young age will reduce its ‘fright factor’ as the pet ages. “ When I shoot a pet indoors,” explains Nichols, “I always avoid direct flash. Not only does it cause flat lighting with red-eye and create shadow problems, but it also provokes fear in some pet subjects. Once a pet has a bad association with a camera, it’s hard to overcome that. If necessary,” Nichols suggests, “use higher speed film and natural light for better results without flash.”
“ One of the most common mistakes photographers make when photographing their pets,” Nichols reveals, “is not moving in close to the pet. Probably the most important photographic tip for nearly all pet picture-taking endeavors is to get in close and fill up the frame with your pet subject. If the animal is skittish so you don’t want to get in too close with camera, consider using a telephoto lens, which will let you fill the frame without getting so close that you disturb your pet. A telephoto lens will also have the added bonus of blurring any distracting elements in the background. “ It is also a good idea,” says Nichols, “to get a little help, if necessary. If you’re shooting a pet portrait, get your assistant to help keep a pet’s attention while you focus on the picture, or have them stand nearby you with a pet’s favorite toy while you focus on getting professional results.” For example, look at Nichols’ ferret portrait, and you’ll see the ferrets’ owner’s fingers, carefully rendered out of focus, holding the ferrets to keep them from moving.
“ The one thing that pet photographers should never forget,” says Nichols, “is patience is more than a virtue when photographing animals, it is a necessity. Slow down and shoot more film than you would on a human subject. Rather than rushing in and taking hurried snapshots, take time to let the animal relax, and then carefully compose the scene. Once you see the animal is cooperating, shoot several frames of every photogenic situation as it unfolds.
“ And finally,” Nichols says, “it is critical to focus on the eyes of your animal subject.” For most portraits, the eyes have it. Generally, you’ll want to have the pet subject looking directly at the camera. If the eyes are not sharp, the entire picture will seem out of focus.
“
One of the greatest compliments I ever received as a teacher,” Nichols
says proudly, “was when I received a teacher evaluation form back
from one of my students. The student wrote, ‘Your class has enhanced
my visual abilities more than I ever imagined. I will never see the world
the same way again. I don’t know whether to curse you or praise
you.’” Larry Singer is a former newspaper writer, photographer and artist now living in Lauderhill, Florida. He has taught photography in Florida and Denver and now has an obsession with hearts. He can be contacted at larrysinger@mac.com. |
||
|
The next time you find yourself having to satisfy a
demanding customer by producing a beautiful portrait of, oh, let’s
say a ferret, heed well this warning from pet photographer, teacher and
author
Ron Nichols: “I can honestly say ferrets are the most difficult
animals I’ve ever photographed.
Fortunately
for Nichols, the other animals whose portraits adorn his book, How
to Take Great Pet Pictures, (2001, Amherst Media), such as
dogs, cats, pigs, horses, birds and a bearded dragon (a critter that
looks like an iguana), did not pose such hair-pulling challenges. But
to maintain a firm grip on his sanity, Nichols draws the line at tarantulas
and snakes.
While
giving workshops to teach people how to put together beautiful scrapbooks,
he noticed many of the pictures his students showed him needed
improvement. The result was his first book for Amherst Media, Picture
Taking for Moms & Dads, a tome published in 2000, which, according
to Nichols, has done well and wound up on the list of Amherst Media’s
top 20 best sellers within a year.
“Before the class officially began,” he explains, “I
sent my students out with their cameras and told them to come back in
24 hours with pictures we could critique as a group.” When one
of his students returned with her prints, he was amazed at the results
and remembers thinking to himself that they were of such high quality,
he wouldn’t mind having shot them himself and displaying them in
his portfolio. 
Realizing that pets are one
of the principal subjects people love to put in their scrapbooks, How
to Take Great Pet Pictures was a logical
next step, in 2002, for Nichols to take in the world of publishing.
Nichols, who
works with a Nikon FM and a Mamiya 645, says he shoots 95 percent of
his pictures out of his home. The rest are shot on location,
if it will help relax the pets and make them feel comfortable during
the shoot.
He suggests
the avid pet photographer always have his/her camera loaded with film
and fresh batteries. He also suggests keeping your camera in
the same place to make certain you know where it is because many times
you only have a fleeting moment to capture a great pet picture. 
“
Pet photographers have got to remember,” says Nichols, “if
at first you don’t succeed, don’t give up. Most pet behaviors
are likely to reoccur over time. So if you miss an opportunity, or if
an animal is especially uncooperative during a pet portrait sitting,
don’t force the issue. No picture is worth causing unnecessary
stress in the pet’s life or in your own. Keeping a pet safe and
happy is more important than a photograph. 
“
It is also a good idea,” says Nichols, “to shoot from different
angles.” Sometimes, a change in perspective (like shooting down
from a higher angle) can help eliminate distracting backgrounds, such
as telephone poles or other obstacles that might otherwise negatively
affect your photograph. Sometimes, he adds, shooting from your pet’s
perspective will make a great picture. 
Throughout his career, Ron Nichols has developed a simple
mission statement for his teaching and photography: to inspire, to
create, to inspire creativity. 