Shooting in the Key of Z

[The Dude]

Legendary Rock & Roll and sports photographer Michael Zagaris, a SportsShooter.com member, shares stories about his life, and gives his perspective on the business of photography today. This is a nine-part video interview videotaped in his home in San Francisco. Very interesting interview for all interested in photography.

LINK= Shooting in the Key of Z (video)


He has some guts - pretending to be the editor of a Sports Magazine then getting tickets to fly to San Diego and being put up as well as the shooting stuff as a photojournalist "from the inside out" interesting but mainly he got pictures no one else took before (the fact he was walking with his feet taped up in his underwear is a bit freaky but... he got the shots.)
He played along - yea yea sure sure - about the 4 a.m. call and the offer from the new owners of the 49ers always putting something on the table and getting inside the team whether the music band or the teams, locker room, club house and hotels.

"Behind the scene in those days meant pre-game dug out, pre-game around the cage if you are going to do that you are going to have to be part of the team..."

Wide angle lens shooting in the locker room. 5 to 10 people think you are totally insane, 5 or 10 people don't care in the end you become part of the woodwork. You are not only getting the shots you feel the energy and for me that as always been as big a rush as getting the picture it is living the experience.

I like the way he asks to get what he wants first he finds a way to go about it then asks and states his terms, history angle and "...I am not going to be in the way I'll try to be unobtrusive sometimes I might push the envelope and when I do just give me a look and I'll back off cause the team is the most important thing..." He got guts and loves what he does... "Once you get access you push it and you push it and you push it" no guts no glory

BTW he uses Canon equipment - well he is a sports photographer - Digital SLR...

"It wasn't a conscious decision... you just pick up on things..."

Too close to shoot - "This would make such a great picture..." Been there done that

How do you get started? "You must have a passion for doing this the most important thing in the world must be getting the pictures and then seeing the picture got that should be the crux of it. If you are in this for economic remuneration you might want to try dope dealing or politics... if you want to have fun and if you want to engage the world through your lens you probably want to start out by having money in your family or hooking up with someone who has money... Most of the outlet you can work for are owned by corporation, what you can shoot, who owns the rights you are going to be severely restricted... The people who are financially successful in this field are as few and far between as the people who play in the NBA versus the people who play basketball. Lets hope this is your passion..."

[RogerF]

Good to see you here bro, we miss you already.