Photography

Nikon Ambassadors: The Honorary Title Only Few Achieve

Hi Jason, I happen to be a Jason as well and I'm a motion picture still photographer and not only that but I am a Nikon Ambassador so I can help you with that. Now I was lucky enough with a whole bunch of us over here that we were I believe the first seven official Nikon Ambassadors and it's an incredible honour. It's something which I could give away everything that I've got but I would hold that very dear to me because for someone like Nikon who I've been shooting since September 22, 1981, I think that it's just a massive compliment. You have to believe in the product, there's absolutely no doubt about that and clearly I do and have. I would never change, people say never say never but why would I? I shoot Nikon Z9, it's the best camera out on the market for what I do and it's happy days. Now as far as how do you become one, Nikon find you. It's not something that happens overnight, it's not a five year, ten year plan, it's something that takes a long time and it comes from relationships and being out there and helping other people, being a bit of a mentor and you know being able to guide people in the right way without saying the wrong thing. Sometimes I get into trouble because I didn't think because it doesn't come with a rule book. It's good to have ways of being about somebody so what you're gonna be is just a slightly different person.

I am a Nick on ambassador and it is an incredible honor that I have held for many years. To become one, you need to build relationships and be a mentor. It takes time and there isn't a rule book but it is worth it!

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To become a Nikon Ambassador, it's not a straightforward process or something that can be planned out over a specific timeline. Nikon finds you based on your relationship with the brand and your involvement in the photography community. It's important to have a genuine belief in the Nikon product and to build strong relationships while helping and mentoring others. Being a Nikon Ambassador is an incredible honor, as Nikon is a brand that many photographers, including myself, have trusted and used for years. It's a recognition that comes with time and dedication. And although there is no rule book for being an ambassador, it's essential to represent the brand in a positive and authentic way.

Do you use both auto and manual focus? How do you decide?

Mastering Auto and Manual Focus: A Photographer's Take

Hi Dylan, I'm Jason Boland. Motion Picture still photographer. Hey yeah, that's a really good question. Do you use both autofocus and manual focus and how do you choose? Okay, well I come from the old school where everything I shot was manual. Focus. You know right through to the film Matrix and and Peter Pan, I moved over to digital but you know I spent a Lifetime on manual focus and you know, I always just look at the eyes and go for that sparkle and we didn't have focus peaking. Thing in those days. So literally was the sparkle that you are after and people would always comment on how you do your work because eyes just the eyes just ping but now autofocus is so good and you know, I'm the Nick on system on those Ed nines and the I shoot mainly 3D focus and it's phenomenal. It really is phenomenal for those that don't have. I focus the reason to use manual focus would be If you've got something in the way, you know, you got bars or a fence or, you know, something that you can't get through, you know, if you have got a fence or bars, go right up close to it and the lens will pretty much shoot through it. That's not a problem whatsoever. Now, there is two reasons well and that is one reason I use manual focus. The other reason why I use manual focus is, I do a lot of ground Riggs, so and mounted rigs for action, and I shoot man, On that and I just go to the focus, peaking peaking. I should say, and I look for an average there and away. I go. Focus peaking is fantastic. The auto focus these days is just unbelievably good, especially with the I focus and, you know, and don't forget to that. The I focus is not there to leave on all the time. There's so many Focus modes in your camera and now there for a reason so you need to turn them off. Sometimes as well. Turning a focus mode off is also a mode. Don't forget that. So so yeah, if I didn't answer your question, quite right back it up and with with another question and I'll, I'll try and help there. Thanks have a good weekend. Cheers.

I started with manual focus when shooting film and moved to digital, always looking for the sparkle in the eyes. Nowadays I use auto focus a lot due to the advanced technology, but sometimes I still use manual focus if there is something in the way obstructing the shot or if I am doing action shots on rigs that require focus peaking.

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Hey Dylan, Jason Boland here, a motion picture still photographer. Your question about using both autofocus and manual focus is a great one. Personally, I come from the old school where everything was shot with manual focus. Even when I transitioned to digital, I stuck with manual focus because I had spent a lifetime mastering it. I would always focus on the eyes and look for that sparkle, without the luxury of focus peaking.

However, autofocus technology has come a long way and it's incredibly good now. I primarily use the Nikon system on my Ed nines and rely on 3D focus, which is phenomenal. Autofocus is especially useful when you have obstacles in the way, like bars or fences. You can get up close to them and the lens will shoot through without any issues.

There are two main reasons why I still use manual focus. First, when I encounter obstacles that can't be easily bypassed. And second, when I'm using ground rigs or mounted rigs for action shots. In those cases, I rely on focus peaking to find the average focus and proceed from there.

It's important to note that autofocus modes, like I focus, shouldn't be left on all the time. There are various focus modes in your camera for a reason, so it's necessary to turn them off when not needed. Turning off a focus mode is also a mode in itself.

If I didn't fully answer your question, feel free to follow up with another one, and I'll do my best to help. Have a great weekend! Cheers.

What camera and lenses do you use and why?

Nikon's Z Mount: The Key to Amazing Low-Light Photography

Hi mister, thanks for the question. What a camera and lenses do I use and why? Well, I'm an econ boy. I've been shooting Nick on professionally since September 22 1981. I've never used any other system professionally, I've, you know, obviously picked up other people's cameras and done my own research and stuff like that. But for me of I've always found Nick on is just amazing, you know especially low light which on a film set is one of the most important things for me because my life If is governed by shutter speed, you know, trying to pull up the action so Nichols can see in the dark like a cat full of carrots. Actually. And, you know, I'm happy to shoot 6400 ISO all day long. I'm all on Z 9s. Now and my crash cameras, as Ed 62s. And and the I've nearly got all only Z Mount lenses. Now the S-Class the one exception is the one 22300 2.8. And that that I'm going to keep until Nick on bring out as Ed Mount one for that. Now honestly there's so many great systems out there, the cannon, they have a they have a great Mount as well. There's a good reason why a Nikon and Canon of made the new Mount I wouldn't be going with any other system that doesn't have, that have a large amount. Now it means that At basically the in actual basically the rear element is closer to the sensor so that that means that there's less light to bend. So when I first used the 70 to 200 2.8 it was delivered to me on set. I pulled off my f-mount one and I put on the S Mount one and I could instantly see the difference. It's richer. It's grandia, it's blacker, it's denser. The, the quality of the S-Class on the Nikon and the Zed Mount is just blows me away and makes me speechless. So, yeah, I've thoroughly recommend it. And that's the reason why is it? And it's never let me down. So, I'm doing okay. I think thanks for the question. Cheers me by.

I use Nikon cameras and lenses because they are great for low light situations and the S-Class lenses offer high quality images. The Zeiss Mount offers a closer rear element to the sensor, resulting in less light to bend, making images richer and denser.

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I use Nikon cameras and lenses because I have been shooting with them professionally since September 22, 1981. I find Nikon cameras to be amazing, especially in low-light situations which are crucial for me on film sets. The ability to shoot at high ISOs like 6400 is important for capturing action in low light. Currently, I use the Nikon Z 9 as my primary camera and the D850 as my backup. I have mostly transitioned to using Z mount lenses, except for the 70-200mm f/2.8 lens, which I will keep until Nikon releases an equivalent in the Z mount.

The Nikon and Canon systems have made the new mount for a good reason. The larger mount allows for a closer distance between the rear element of the lens and the sensor, resulting in less light bending. When I switched from the F-mount to the S-mount lens, I instantly noticed a difference in the richness, grandeur, darkness, and density of the images. The quality of the S-class lenses on the Nikon Z mount consistently blows me away.

While there are many great camera systems out there, I personally recommend Nikon because it has never let me down. I am happy with my choice and it has served me well throughout my career. Thank you for the question!

For my Nikon Ambassadors, what are your impressions of the Z8 - is it the best camera Nikon has released?

Nikon Ambassadors Rave: Z8 May Be Their Best Camera Yet

Right, apt question for the day. Is the Z8 or the Z8 the best camera Nikon's ever released? Well I'd have to say it probably is actually. I've been very vocal in the past about sitting there saying that the D850 was the best DSLR camera that was ever made and probably will ever have been made and I think I'm right there. And that was just under six years ago that they released the D850 so I just can't believe how far we've come in really such a short time. The Z8, yeah it's the bomb isn't it? I mean it's got everything that the Z9 has pretty much and you know everyone knows that I'm the loudest shouter about my love for the Z9. It's an incredible camera I think they're both amazing and to be honest you probably need one of each. So then you've definitely got the best camera that Nikon's ever made between them and then you know get a retro D850 as well so then you can put that in your collection also. But yeah the Z8 at the moment, Z8, is looking like definitely the best camera at this stage. Can't wait to see what comes in the future and the firmware upgrades, they're going to be awesome.

The Z8 is looking like Nikon's best camera so far and it has most of the features that the Z9 has. A great combination would be to have one of each, plus a retro D850 for your collection.

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As a Nikon Ambassador, I must say that the Z8 is indeed an impressive camera. In the past, I've praised the D850 as the best DSLR ever made, and it still holds its position. However, the Z8 has taken things to a new level. It's packed with features similar to the Z9, which I have been very vocal about loving. Both cameras are incredible, and honestly, you might even need one of each to truly have the best of what Nikon offers. It's amazing how far we've come in such a short time since the release of the D850 just under six years ago. The Z8 currently stands as Nikon's best camera in my opinion, but who knows what the future holds with firmware upgrades and new models. The Z8 is certainly a camera worth looking forward to.

Inside the Film Industry: The Role of Assistants in Capturing Iconic Movie Posters

I lived a I'm Jason be on the motion picture still photographer in obviously, the film industry. Now, good question about assistance. Now, on a film set, when I'm doing unit coverage, I never use an assistant, it's all up to me. I like to be in control of everything. If there's a problem or someone's in an eye line or a distraction, any way whatsoever, I want it to be my fault, not someone elses, you know? You can be asked to move on and, you know, you don't get to see The coverage that you want to do for the day. But when I'm doing the big posters, or what we call in the film industry, the one sheets, they special shoots, we call them as well that dumb for the posters and billboards and character images. I have a team, then, you know, I have a couple of assistants and a Digi Tech and I really rely on those guys to help me with the pre light and and, you know, just making me feel good on the day, you know, run things by them. It's like, what do you think is it too? Edgy, the backlight, you know? His two sons. You know, I've shot the posters for so many movies and you can see them on my Instagram, actually, but you know most recently for Ragnarok and shang-chi, you know that were really big, really big shoots over several days and sometimes to like, you know, when I did the Guardians of the Galaxy character shots for Ragnarok, I literally had 10 to 15 minutes with each character and we had so much fun though. And we rocked out. So, so, yeah. I do use assistance, but only for the special sheets. Okay. Thanks for the question. I know it wasn't directly for me, but I couldn't help myself. It was a good one to answer. Thanks cheese.

I am a still photographer in the film industry and I never use an assistant when doing unit coverage. However, for special shoots like posters and character images, I use a team of assistants and a Digi Tech to help me with pre light and other tasks.

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As a motion picture still photographer in the film industry, I often work without an assistant when doing unit coverage on a film set. I prefer to have full control over everything and take responsibility for any issues that may arise. However, for special shoots like creating posters, billboards, and character images, I do have a team of assistants and a Digi Tech to support me. I rely on them for pre-lighting and to provide input on the creative aspects of the shoot. These shoots can span several days and involve capturing images for major movies like Ragnarok and Shang-Chi. While I typically work independently, I do utilize assistance for these special projects.

What is the coolest gadget in your camera bag, that is not a lense or body?

Camera rig secrets: Discover the ingenious gadget that protects your gear like no other!

I'll arrange. Thanks for the question. What's the coolest Gadget in my camera case or camera bag? That is not a lens or camera? Well, that's actually pretty easy because I make up a lot of rigs because I don't know. I'm a motion picture still photographer and I'll work on some pretty big films. And I do I set camera rigs up when I'm shooting, you know, stuff on like, James Bond and things like that. And, you know, I'll shoot with a practical camera and Same time, I'll fire off a remote but one of the best things that I've got in my bag which I only found recently is a little like a sled pod by platy pod. And the reason why I use that is because it is it's a metal sled. Got a ball head on top of it. I can put a and it's only as big as my hand. I can put a, a z9 and a 70-200 on it and it is Incredibly stable. But the reason why I like to use it, I actually use my Z 62s as crash cams, so I put them on on this, on the ball head on the sled and I don't I don't put anything on it to keep it. I don't, what do you call it? I don't mount it. I just leave it flat so that if a car hits a or some debris hits, that it will hit the front of the camera and it will slide backwards. So I'll The amount of damage. In fact, I had one an explosion and a big truck hitting a wall, just a while back and part of the wall, hit the camera and it just slid my Z6 to back and it was fine. So there you go. I had a little bit of dirt on the front of the element and I had a tiny little scratch on the lens hood and no damage to anything else. So yeah, that's right. I tip platy pod go and check them out. They make great stuff and tell them. Jason sent you. I get nothing from him for it. So, you know, feel free, they probably won't even know who I am when you say, say Jason sent. Yeah. But they'll know. Moose moose is good mates with them. So say moose hit you. Okay cheers. I hope that answered your question but I might

The coolest gadget in my camera case or bag is a Platy Pod sled. It's a metal sled with a ball head on top, and it fits a Z9 and 70-200 lens. Its small size and stability make it great for using as a crash cam. It can take a lot of damage without damaging the camera and lens.

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The coolest gadget in my camera bag, excluding lenses and camera bodies, is a sled pod by Platypod. It's a small metal sled with a ball head on top. I use it for setting up camera rigs on film sets. It provides incredible stability, allowing me to mount a camera and lens combination like the Z9 and a 70-200mm. 

What makes it even cooler is that I use it as a crash cam. I attach my Z6 to the ball head without securing it, so if any impact occurs, the camera slides backward, minimizing damage. I've had instances where debris or even a truck hitting a wall caused the camera to slide back, resulting in minimal damage. It's a reliable and protective tool.

I highly recommend checking out Platypod for their great products. Let them know that Jason or Moose sent you, although they might not know who I am. But Moose is good friends with them. So, give it a try and enjoy capturing amazing shots with added protection.

Jasin Boland answers your Photography questions. See all the advice Jasin Boland has and get answers to your own Photography questions.

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Jasin Boland is a renowned global motion picture still photographer whose work has appeared in newspapers, magazines, billboards and movie posters around the world. He has captured the raw emotion of action franchises such as The Matrix, James Bond and Jason Bourne. As a member of The Society of Motion Picture Still Photographers, Jasin has photographed the first three Matrix films and the last three 007 Bond films. As he reflects on his achievements, he sees many more highlights in his career yet to come. Jasin is an avid supporter of aspiring photographers, believing that the enthusiasm of the craft is the heart of photography. He owes much of his success to the mentors and professionals who nurtured his love of photography and helped to propel his career.