Thought Piece 5

In these last few pages of “The Hot Shoe Diaries” by Joe McNally, he shared only a couple shoots that he did. One of these shoots included a muscular man posing with this really nice light coming from behind him. The other shoot was with firetrucks from a station that McNally had said he saw or worked with during 9/11. He also shared the different difficulties faced during these photoshoots as well as how he dealt with and fixed them. I think that the way McNally perseveres and continues to try difficult things while doing shoots is very admirable. I know that I tend to get frustrated and give up quickly, and I have no doubt that he gets frustrated when problems arise. But the way he handles the difficulties and takes them as learning experiences and ways to better himself is amazing.

With the shoot with the man/couple that he did, this was the muscular people, he used many different things and techniques that I probably never would have thought of. McNally shared that he used baby oil and a spray bottle to get the desired effect of a shiny and smooth body against his lighting. While I do know that these things give this kind of effect, I’m confident that I would not have thought of using them to do this shoot. The way McNally can think ahead and be fully prepared for the shoot and for anything that could possibly go wrong is very inspiring and it makes me want to be able to be that good one day and it makes me want to be able to think similarly to the way that he does in terms of preparation.

During the fire station and firetruck shoot, there were multiple photos that really caught my attention and drew me in. These photos were just so appealing to me in the movement and the perspectives of them. When I was reading McNally’s description of how he mounted his cameras and lighting equipment, all that I could think of was how I would be terrified to do that with my cameras (and I’m sure that his are much more expensive than mine are). The way that he had his camera mounted off the side of the firetruck, upside down, off a pole was insane (especially considering the fact that the firetruck was in motion while these photos were done). I think that the way McNally can make such an interesting photo up in his head and then execute it perfectly is insane.

I aspire to be able to, one day, be able to achieve the level of work that he does. I think that the way he sets up the lighting equipment, places his camera, and poses his subjects is at such an advanced level that requires a lot of work to achieve. I know that my work is nowhere near the level that McNally’s is at, but I think that if I put my mind to it and put in the effort, I’ll be able to get close one day.