NZPhotographer Issue 2, Dec 2017

Tell us about getting published
in New Zealand Geographic...
What can I say? Apart from having someone
purchase your images to hang in their lounge, being
asked to publish in NZ Geographic is kind of the ants
pants really. It’s the one place, other than National
Geographic, where everyone wants to “be seen”.
For me, I was gobsmacked and didn’t really realise
what they saw in that image until I saw it published
and read the text they wrote with it!!! They found
me through Flickr where they’d periodically choose
images that they faved which in itself was pretty cool.
What’s your proudest moment
in the photography world?
I’m not sure it has happened yet. I’ve met some
amazing people and had some great adventures
and even introduced others to where I live to enjoy
the adventure with me... to be honest, I don’t
really understand the fuss that goes along with
photography... as if we are any different to a plumber
or labourer doing their job. Egos are rife in this industry
and I struggle to work out why there is a certain strut
that photographers can take on when lugging around
a big camera with a larger lens... they are all just tools
to help us do our job.
I suppose if I were to be “proud” it would be that I
am doing this full time when there are so many other
talented photographers out there that can’t or are
“IF YOU ARE
NOT ALREADY A
PHOTOGRAPHER, NZ WILL
TURN YOU INTO ONE”
Rina Sjardin-Thompson
not. The other possible proud moment would be
when I am teaching in workshops and I see students
get it. When they figure something out they thought
they couldn’t do or when you see them growing and
producing good work! That’s pretty satisfying I think.
What equipment do you use?
I use a Canon 6D and L series lenses. 24 -105mm,
100mm macro, 100 – 400mm (my walk around lens),
and 16 – 38mm.
I don’t use filters other than an ND8 for water....
So you can see my kit is as simple as I am and as
simple as my work is. But I like it like that... and you
know what... it works for me.
I usually would say it doesn’t matter what gear you
have until you know where you are going with your
interest in photography, can afford all the good gear
or want to concentrate on something specific. I’m
more interested in how people see the world and
fill the frame more than what gear they captured it
with.... too many times I see people bragging about
what gear they have so the expectation is they MUST
have great images.... not so!!!
Where’s your favorite place
to shoot in NZ?
Without a doubt the West Coast. It is the MOST
underrated, underutilised area in NZ for photography.
It’s not an easy place to live if you’re not used to
being without all manner of creature comforts but
that’s part of what the West Coast is all about.... This
place is just amazing!
Any locations still on your ‘to shoot’ list?
People have asked me why I’m not travelling the
world with my photography. I kinda think that I am
already where the rest of the world wants to be
whether they are purely a tourist or a photographer....
If you weren’t already a photographer, NZ will turn you
into one!!!
I’ll go wherever the work takes me but I feel that I
could take photos for the next 50 years (I will be 103
by then)... and still not cover NZ and all it has to offer!
So no, I am totally happy to be a homebody!
Tell us about your workshops...
Four years ago I started teaching beginners who were
terrified of their cameras and its settings so I wanted
to change that for people... After doing them on
my own for 2 yrs I invited Mikey MacKinven to join
me to teach astrophotography and editing. I have
designed a few different styles of workshops for Epic
Photography Workshops ranging from beginners long
weekends to the longer 7 day epic workshop which
include doors off heli shooting, a night in an alpine hut
and a few hrs on the ice enjoying one of the 2 glaciers
we have here.
I have started to work with Rachel Gillespie from NZ
Adventures to run Female Photography Adventures
which have proved to be a huge response... These
are long weekends run each month in different areas
of the country. These are with beginners in mind, the
intention being to build confidence not only in their
photography but also within themselves. Through
workshops, we also offer mentorships so that they are
not left on their own once the workshop is done!!
As I have said previously that I will go where the work
takes me, I am in the middle of organising workshops/
tours overseas:
• South Australia with local photographer Dave
Birch
• Africa with host Tracy Pepper
• Canada with local host and guide Paula Sheridan
of Okarito Boat Tours
“GOOD GEAR DOES NOT
TRANSLATE INTO GOOD
PHOTOS”
composition but if you purely look for the light,
that’s all you need to create magic... See step 1.
That also goes for editing as well. As I said, less is
more.
4. Chase The Light. The light is what will make or
break your image.
What other tips do you have?
Rina Sjardin-Thompson
1. Never wear white around water. It is a guarantee
that you will fall in, be wiped out by a wave, get
caught in heavy rain... only to find your whites are
no longer white but opaque.... True story!!!
2. Chocolate. Never leave home without it – You
always walk further than you think you did and
you’ll need it for the return trip!!!
3. An over inflated ego is not attractive, in fact, it’s
downright ugly so stay modest.
4. Don’t rely on others to motivate you... You have
to get you out of bed in the morning. You have to
want to learn and you have to do the do.... and
only you. Photography is essentially a lone activity
and if you can’t motivate yourself to get out then
its not going to work for you.
5. When you are mustering cattle, fall off your horse,
and 2 fighting bulls come at you – RUN!!!! Don’t
stand there taking the photo and have your
partner telling you to “F@%K the photo get out of
the F@#Kn way!!! NB: That image became my 5th
best selling image!
What are 4 basics of landscape photography that
our readers should know?
1. Be Patient. Rather than hit the location, grab a
shot or two then hit the road, spend the time
“getting to know” and getting “the feel” of the
place.... Your images will be sooo much better for
the time spent connecting to your landscape.
Where can we find you online?
My business cards simply say, as does the text on my
high vis vest for sports photography,
“Rina Sjardin-Thompson... “Find me on Facebook”.
www.facebook.com/rinathompsonphotography
2. Get Out. People have asked how I get consistently
good photos. That’s easy. You have to get off the
couch and go out and you also have to develop
new habits like taking the camera with you all
the time. Re-train yourself if you have to, to take
advantage of the best light the day has to offer
you.
3. Keep It Simple. I think we tend to overcomplicate
things and look for the most jaw-dropping
8 NZPhotographer
December 2017
9