I not too long ago journeyed to Sweden with a purpose to analysis, write and produce a characteristic for CNET on why electrical vehicles are nice for winter driving. It was an enormous story, requiring me to journey round a number of elements of Sweden and enterprise north into the frozen Arctic Circle. As each a journalist and knowledgeable photographer, it was my job to not simply inform the story, however to seize it on digital camera. That meant touring with simply the correct gear and realizing exactly how you can use it to get the pictures I might want.
From the digital camera gear I took with me to the difficulties of taking pictures on location and the thought course of behind my pictures, this is how I captured my story on digital camera.
The digital camera gear I used
As I’d be touring round Sweden, hopping on and off trains, planes and taxis, I knew I wanted to maintain my setup light-weight. I did not wish to be burdened with a heavy backpack stuffed with digital camera our bodies and a myriad of lenses and equipment. As an alternative, I took only one digital camera: my new Leica Q3 43.
Capturing stills on the frozen lake
I purchased this digital camera for myself late final yr. It combines a high-resolution, full-frame picture sensor with a hard and fast focal size of 43mm. I like this focal size because it supplies an important stability between a wide-angle view and a zoomed-in look. I usually shoot on 35mm or 50mm prime lenses, so a 43mm lens that is completely affixed to the digital camera is a superb candy spot for me. The result’s that I had only one digital camera and lens to hold, conserving my pack load down and eliminating any distracting questions in my head about which focal size to make use of. As an alternative, it inspired me to work tougher to search out the most effective compositions.
I introduced a spare battery, together with an influence financial institution to high up the digital camera over USB-C if I wanted to (which I did not). The one addition to my setup was a PolarPro 135 Gold Mist filter. This supplies a delicate golden haze over the pictures that softens the generally harsh particulars of high-resolution pictures and supplies a barely film-like aesthetic that I completely love, and I stored this filter on the digital camera virtually the complete time.
To assist shield my digital camera, I used a leather-based Oberwerth half case, which additionally helped present additional grip — helped too by a PolarPro thumb grip on the again. In order that it was at all times able to shoot, I usually carried the digital camera round my neck utilizing a Bowman Leather-based digital camera strap. Evidently for a $7,000 digital camera, I had my very own photographic insurance coverage for it in case something occurred to it.
When not in use, I carried the digital camera, equipment and different fine details in my Wandrd Prvke backpack, which supplies a safe storage part for my digital camera gear together with an expandable roll high for my jacket, hat, gloves or the rest I must take with me.
Video gear
I additionally wanted to shoot video on this journey, each for the CNET video that will run alongside my article, in addition to capturing content material for my private images YouTube channel. To assist hold the load down, I made a decision to purchase a DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Creator Combo. This tiny, gimbal-stabilized digital camera captures great-looking, easy footage and was the right associate for my busy schedule.
I used it for capturing B-roll inside Volvo’s headquarters in Gothenburg, for filming vehicles as they slid round on a frozen lake and for capturing my photographic strolling excursions of Stockholm on one in every of my days off (seen embedded above). Positive, possibly the footage wasn’t as cinematic as I might usually attempt to obtain from my ordinary Canon R5, but it surely seemed greater than adequate and it was far simpler to hold round with me than a full-sized mirrorless digital camera and lenses.
Arctic images
The primary vacation spot on my journey was Volvo’s HQ, the place I used to be proven varied areas used for the testing of its electrical automobiles. Locations like this aren’t at all times straightforward to shoot. The primary concern is that Volvo, understandably, is not eager on exhibiting off all of its engineering secrets and techniques, so many areas I visited have been off-limits for images. Different spots the place pictures could possibly be taken have been possibly not that illustrative for my story, so it was essential to work with Volvo — as I do with any firm — to search out compromises that either side are pleased with.
That wasn’t an issue, and I am particularly happy with a few of my imagery taken inside the corporate’s battery testing space, which was a key a part of my written piece. As a journalist and photographer, my intention is at all times to rely alone photos after I’m visiting an space like this. It provides to the authenticity of the story, exhibiting CNET’s readers that I’ve truly been someplace and seen one thing firsthand. This would not be the case if I merely used photos supplied by the corporate.
Issues obtained extra dramatic as I joined Volvo up within the frozen north of Sweden. My journey took me first as much as the Arctic Circle to the town of Kiruna, the place I not solely noticed inside Volvo’s Arctic testing facility, however was additionally given the chance to trip a snowmobile at night time throughout frozen lakes and thru snow-bound forests
Taking this picture of the aurora borealis required a tripod and a gradual shutter pace
It was wonderful, particularly after we stopped and obtained a short glimpse of the Northern Lights overhead. I set my digital camera up on my Peak Design Journey Tripod, framed my picture utilizing the snowmobiles as foreground curiosity and used a three-second shutter pace and ISO of 800 to seize sufficient mild. I am happy with the picture I used to be capable of get.
Frantic pictures on a frozen lake
We then traveled somewhat extra south to the town of Lulea, the place we have been handed the keys to Volvo’s all-electric EX90 and given a route that will take us throughout the countryside and to an ice monitor that Volvo had cleared on a frozen lake. I shared the driving with one other journalist on this leg of the journey, giving me a possibility to shoot out of the automotive window, capturing some particulars across the space that I felt would add some additional colour and scene-setting to my story.
On the lake, issues have been much less sedate. I began off doing a few of my very own driving, going hell-for-leather across the course within the hopes of sending the automotive sideways across the corners — and steadily spinning off the monitor into snow drifts. Nice enjoyable. I might connected my DJI Osmo on a small clamp contained in the automotive to movie my efforts from a number of angles, however then it was time for me to do one thing a bit extra harmful.
Capturing a automotive in movement like that is no straightforward process
I wanted to seize photos and pictures of the vehicles driving and that required a extra sophisticated setup. First, I wanted one in every of Volvo’s check drivers to drive the automotive that will be the topic. I’d then be in a automotive in entrance, sitting within the trunk with the tailgate open, permitting me to freely {photograph} the automotive because it drove shut behind us. Once I do that on public roads I put on a high-vis vest and I am firmly connected contained in the automotive utilizing a security harness. We did not have this on the closed monitor so I simply needed to sit within the again and check out to not slide out as we took every nook.
At one level I practically did, however I stored my foot pressed laborious towards the facet to assist me, which helped. Was it secure? No, not likely, and it is completely not one thing I might have carried out on public roads, if nothing else as a result of it might have been unlawful. However it was the one means I used to be capable of get the pictures I required of the vehicles in motion. The freezing circumstances and excessive speeds on the monitor meant that snow and ice billowed round me, overlaying me — and the digital camera — in snow. Fortunately, my Leica Q3 43 is climate sealed so I wasn’t nervous about any water harm. You’ll be able to see me sitting with the remnants of snow on me on the high of this text.
Hunched within the open again of the automotive, I attempted laborious to not fall out.
I used a slower shutter pace on my digital camera — normally round 1/80 of a second — which barely blurred the movement of the automotive’s wheels and the bottom because it sped previous whereas hopefully conserving the automotive in sharp focus. I used burst mode to extend the probabilities of getting sharp, usable photos, however even then I solely obtained about 10 that I used to be pleased with out of the couple of hundred that I shot. However that is high-quality, I solely wanted a couple of for example my story. I did one other run, this time with my Osmo to seize video. I did some out of the again and a few out of facet home windows filming each the topic automotive behind and a few footage of the automotive we have been driving with a purpose to give our proficient video editors extra various footage to work with.
After our final lap, the day got here to an finish, as did my time in Sweden.
Enhancing and recommendation
I shot lots of photos on this journey utilizing Leica’s built-in Chrome colour profile. I like the colours and tones it supplies, particularly when paired with the PolarPro Gold Mist filter. However I shot my photos in each JPEG and uncooked, permitting me to additionally apply my very own edits to the uncooked information if I wished to. For some pictures — like those of the vehicles in movement on the monitor — I used my very own edits, whereas for others I merely used the JPEG with the Chrome profile in-built.
The Leica’s built-in colours allowed for dreamy-looking pictures.
I shot many photos for my very own use on my travels, and the vast majority of my favourite pictures are utilizing the built-in colours from the Leica look. Do not be afraid to make use of these profiles as they will give you an important artistic increase once you’re out taking your photos. Fujifilm’s cameras (just like the wonderful X100VI) are famed for having a wide range of gorgeous film-like colour profiles in-built, so look towards these in the event you’re eager on utilizing in-camera colours.
Total, I am actually happy with the number of photos I shot each for CNET and for myself. It actually helped that I stored my gear load to a minimal because it allowed me to be nimble and react rapidly to moments after I noticed them. In the event you’re eager on taking your individual journey and documentary pictures like this, be certain to take a look at my full information to skilled journey images.
Editors’ word: Journey prices associated to elements of this story have been coated by the producer, which is widespread within the auto trade. The judgments and opinions of CNET’s employees are our personal.