Brian Ach has shot for just about every big-name publication you can think of. Rolling Stone, The New York Times, People and Time are all on his resume, and he's photographed his share of A-list celebrities, including a stint as Prince's official tour photographer. In short, he knows how to get the shot. But he argues there's an important distinction between getting a shot and getting the right shot, and it all comes down to context.
Take a look below at his PIX 2015 keynote in which he discusses his take on what makes a great shot, and click the gallery above for more detailed information about a sample of Ach's portfolio.
@Kawika. I agree and am familiar with Dennis Stock, who spent days -- not a few fleeting minutes -- with Dean when that shot was taken (and you are right, it's terrific and irrelevant who the subject was). But, no one said that Ach was "the best" (certainly not me). He is good at what he does, and what he does is hard to do, notwithstandig the belief by so many gear-focused here to the contrary.
I would like to post a photo of a young James Dean, by Dennis Stock, which is a great photo because it doesn’t matter who the subject is. It speaks volumes yet evades definition. I used to be able to post images on threads but now I see no way to do so. Here is a site where the photo may be viewed. It's the one where Dean is holding a cup of coffee.
As everyone else says, watch the video. What he does is very hard to do well and consistently, particularly during those times where he literally has just a couple of minutes to shoot. The respect he has in the industry from those he shoots (and those that hire him) says a lot -- he's really good at what he does, notwithstanding the predictable criticism here from a few.
"The respect he has in the industry from those he shoots (and those that hire him) says a lot -- he's really good at what he does" No, it says that they are familiar with him and they like him; he fits in. Good, yes. The best, no. I will try to post an image by Dennis Stock that demonstrates the quality/interest gap. It's an image of James Dean, and it's powerful precisely because it doesn't matter who the subject is; the picture itself speaks volumes and implies a backstory about the subject. Whereas the picture of Taylor Swift, for example, says nothing.
Very inspiring talk! With a well-chosen title; the "right" shot, not the "best", or "technically superb"; it's about creating opportunity, getting the most out of the 60 seconds you get, and make the image that tells the story of the day.. I am glad I watched it, I reallly learned a lot.
yes, a gallery, with pictures, that everyone can see, so people can judge me by my work; I am an amateur photographer, doing more and more payed assignments from people that approach me, not the other way around (I have no ambition to make it my full time job, it is a nice breakaway from my daytime job behind a computer).
The difference is: I am not embarrased by my pictures. I am in a process of learning, and every month I am getting better. And that is why thiis video is so valuable to me. In a few weeks time I have a big assignment on a jazz music festival, where I have to talk my way in musician's dressing rooms, trying to get permission to photograph on stage/back stage. This video is a treasure in terms of tips and tricks to get the most out of that.
You, on the other hand, simply do not show pics, and rather critique those that do. And that is why your opinion don't matter much.
This is assignments. You do what you could on assignments, you come with ideas, you adapt to reality, you do your best, it's not always perfect or even great, but any time, you do your best.
I won't judge him by these shots, for the above reasons. Maybe the guys on the band are fighting each other 2 minutes before the shoot, maybe the weather was imperfect for others, maybe. We don't know and we never will : because it's a professional photographer.
Right on, but why dpreview would choose to run this feature is a mystery. As you say, you do what you can. The fact that he has access should really be enough to let him come up with something a bit better than what we are shown here. Or maybe we are supposed to be impressed by the fact that he has access, or by the celebrities themselves.
..."but why dpreview would choose to run this feature is a mystery."
Not really a mystery. Brian spoke at an event sponsored by DPReview that drew photographers from all over the world, both in-person and online. It would be more of a mystery if we didn't publish it.
Brian doesn't get to photograph celebrities because he has some kind of 'special access' to them. It's the other way around. He gets access to them because he consistently delivers the shots that clients want, often in less time than most photographers take just to set up their lights.
I don't know the body of brian ach's work - so I try not to lash out in harsh critique based on a few photos... but if the chosen photos are any bit representative - IF ... then the work is very mediocre.¨ I've been photographing for many years and I've seen countless exhibitions ... but honestly rarely something by a "professional" as un-inspiring as the presented photos. and the Lambo? is this a joke? or is it "good" because it has a Lambo in it? or a bit of panning?...
Snapshots... fine - but publish grade work by a pro? no.
The Lake for example - even googling the subject will lead to countless more interesting pictures, from more interesting perspectives, with better lighting, composition, etc. Same goes for "Barcelona"... a city that has so much to offer not just photographically, but that shot looks like a snapshot. fine... but bland and not something I'd put on a portfolio or publish.
It's probably a poor choice of photos to have included in the gallery. They are photos from the linked presentation, and they make a lot of sense when taken in the context of the presentation because Brian uses each photo to illustrate a specific point. As on-off standalone photos they don't have the same impact.
I've seen a lot of Brian's 'stand-alone' work and his stuff is really good. That's why he keeps getting called back by top publications and artists to do work for them.
The presentation is entertaining however few of the pictures he is showing there have a context in them. The context is simply given by his explanations on how he took the shot. Very few images are compelling, in my view; the most intriguing part remains understanding how he managed to get all these high profile jobs.
People have often spoke about context, but I've never really understood what he meant. Brian in the video said, "The ultimate fantasy shot is the Pope next to a Yellow cab in front of the Brooklyn Bridge". Finally I get it.
Out of all the PIX2015 videos I've watched, I enjoying this one the most. Brian has a keen sense of humor and is an entertaining story teller. Like any good pro photographer, he has the knowledge and experience to make the quick decisions so he doesn't miss the critical shot.
Well, not sure I'd say the right shot. But that's subjective. That's the best he could get from Prince? Is the singer formerly known as a symbol on cold medication?
For my taste, the group of rap singers? Cliché. Cheesy.
Right shot depends on context, and I totally agree on that. The pictures in the DPReview slide show are shown out of context. So it's hard to judge them. Watch the video, where the photographer uses that Prince picture to make a point. That is context. Possibly the picture was also published as part of an article where the picture supports wording or graphics design, again context.
Felix is correct - it is about context. Brian uses that shot of Prince in his talk to make some specific points. Short of putting a transcript of his talk into the news story the photo as a stand-alone is a bit out of context.
It's a great presentation, and as Prince's tour photographer he has some fun stories to share.
I should add that the same is true of the other photos in the gallery here as well. They are all from Brian's talk, and in the context of the talk it's easy to understand why they are included.
Man, before judging a photographer watching only 6 on his pics, you should ask yourself why he works with the greats one and take a look at his work over his website.
Really? I don't mean to be rude but the Taylor Swift portrait makes her look ugly which is remarkable, the Lambo photo is totally meh, the Lake Tahoe shot is ordinary and the Barcelona shot looks like an iPhone snap taken by a tourist. Nothing particularly impressive. I am sure he is a great photographer, but the pics are unimpressive in terms of lighting, posing and composing to me...
looking at these samples of this guy's photos, I'd say that he could teach You how to light people if you like really harsh, tacky lighting with no Feeling whatsoever. And/or just how to shoot landscapes "like a beginner". So much for being Well Known.
The LowePro PhotoSport Outdoor is a camera pack for photographers who also need a well-designed daypack for hiking and other outdoor use. If that sounds like you, the PhotoSport Outdoor may be a great choice, but as with any hybrid product, there are a few tradeoffs.
The Sony a7C II refreshes the compact full-frame with a 33MP sensor, the addition of a front control dial, a dedicated 'AI' processor, 10-bit 4K/60p video and more. It's a definite improvement, but it helps if you value its compact form.
Why is the Peak Design Everyday Backpack so widely used? A snazzy design? Exceptional utility? A combination of both? After testing one, it's clear why this bag deserves every accolade it's received.
The new Wacom One 12 pen display, now in its second generation, offers photographers an affordable option to the mouse or trackpad, making processing images easy and efficient by editing directly on the screen.
For photographers who need advanced photo editing options, Pixelmator Pro for macOS offers layer-based editing, machine learning-powered adjustment and selection tools, and features such as Denoise and Super Resolution. It's also affordable.
If you want a compact camera that produces great quality photos without the hassle of changing lenses, there are plenty of choices available for every budget. Read on to find out which portable enthusiast compacts are our favorites.
What's the best camera for travel? Good travel cameras should be small, versatile, and offer good image quality. In this buying guide we've rounded-up several great cameras for travel and recommended the best.
What’s the best camera for around $2000? This price point gives you access to some of the most all-round capable cameras available. Excellent image quality, powerful autofocus and great looking video are the least you can expect. We've picked the models that really stand out.
Above $2500 cameras tend to become increasingly specialized, making it difficult to select a 'best' option. We case our eye over the options costing more than $2500 but less than $4000, to find the best all-rounder.
Sony's gridline update adds up to four customizable grids to which users can add color codes and apply transparency masks. It also raises questions about the future of cameras and what it means for feature updates.
At last, people who don’t want to pay a premium for Apple’s Pro models can capture high-resolution 24MP and 48MP photos using the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus. Is the lack of a dedicated telephoto lens or the ability to capture Raw images worth the savings for photographers?
Kodak's Super 8 Camera is a hybrid of old and new: it shoots movies using Super 8 motion picture film but incorporates digital elements like a flip-out LCD screen and audio capture. Eight years after we first saw the camera at CES 2016, Kodak is finally bringing it to market.
In this supplement to his recently completed 10-part series on landscape photography, photographer Erez Marom explores how the compositional skills developed for capturing landscapes can be extended to other areas of photography.
If you want a compact camera that produces great quality photos without the hassle of changing lenses, there are plenty of choices available for every budget. Read on to find out which portable enthusiast compacts are our favorites.
Sony, the Associated Press and 'Photo Mechanic' maker Camera Bits have run a month-long field-test to evaluate capture authentication and a subsequent workflow.
A color-accurate monitor is an essential piece of the digital creator's toolkit. In this guide, we'll go over everything you need to know about how color calibration actually works so you can understand the process and improve your workflow.
What's the best camera for travel? Good travel cameras should be small, versatile, and offer good image quality. In this buying guide we've rounded-up several great cameras for travel and recommended the best.
It's that time of year again: When people get up way too early to rush out to big box stores and climb over each other to buy $99 TVs. We've saved you the trip, highlighting the best photo-related deals that can be ordered from the comfort of your own home.
The LowePro PhotoSport Outdoor is a camera pack for photographers who also need a well-designed daypack for hiking and other outdoor use. If that sounds like you, the PhotoSport Outdoor may be a great choice, but as with any hybrid product, there are a few tradeoffs.
Sigma's latest 70-200mm F2.8 offering promises to blend solid build, reasonably light weight and impressive image quality into a relatively affordable package. See how it stacks up in our initial impressions.
The Sony a9 III is heralded as a revolutionary camera, but is all the hype warranted? DPReview's Richard Butler and Dale Baskin break down what's actually new and worth paying attention to.
What’s the best camera for around $2000? This price point gives you access to some of the most all-round capable cameras available. Excellent image quality, powerful autofocus and great looking video are the least you can expect. We've picked the models that really stand out.
DJI's Air 3 and Mini 4 Pro are two of the most popular drones on the market, but there are important differences between the two. In this article, we'll help figure out which of these two popular drones is right for you.
The Sony a7C II refreshes the compact full-frame with a 33MP sensor, the addition of a front control dial, a dedicated 'AI' processor, 10-bit 4K/60p video and more. It's a definite improvement, but it helps if you value its compact form.
Above $2500 cameras tend to become increasingly specialized, making it difficult to select a 'best' option. We case our eye over the options costing more than $2500 but less than $4000, to find the best all-rounder.
The iPhone 15 Pro allows users to capture 48MP photos in HEIF or JPEG format in addition to Raw files, while new lens coatings claim to cut down lens flare. How do the cameras in Apple's latest flagship look in everyday circumstances? Check out our gallery to find out.
Global shutters, that can read all their pixels at exactly the same moment have been the valued by videographers for some time, but this approach has benefits for photographers, too.
We had an opportunity to shoot a pre-production a9 III camera with global shutter following Sony's announcement this week. This gallery includes images captured with the new 300mm F2.8 GM OSS telephoto lens and some high-speed flash photos.
The Sony a9 III is a ground-breaking full-frame mirrorless camera that brings global shutter to deliver unforeseen high-speed capture, flash sync and capabilities not seen before. We delve a little further into the a9III to find out what makes it tick.
The "Big Four" Fashion Weeks – New York, London, Milan and Paris - have wrapped for 2023 but it's never too early to start planning for next season. If shooting Fashion Week is on your bucket list, read on. We'll tell you what opportunities are available for photographers and provide some tips to get you started.
Sony has announced the a9 III: the first full-frame camera to use a global shutter sensor. This gives it the ability to shoot at up to 120 fps with flash sync up to 1/80,000 sec and zero rolling shutter.
What’s the best camera for around $1500? These midrange cameras should have capable autofocus systems, lots of direct controls and the latest sensors offering great image quality. We recommend our favorite options.
First developed in the mid-1800s, salt prints may be considered an obscure 'alternative' photographic process. But all the more reason to make your own. Here's how.
Around $1000 is increasingly becoming the entry point for modern interchangeable lens cameras. We look at what you can get for your money, and which we think is best.
Comments