Four photography tips to know before entering the Sony Alpha Awards Photo Competition

“Put some good walking shoes on and go hit the streets with your camera. When I’m wanting to capture urban details I like to use a telephoto lens like the Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS which allows you to capture details from a distance, like shadows on beautiful buildings. I’m always a big believer in giving yourself space to crop and adjust. Frame your shot with some wiggle room to crop in, rotate or fix perspectives in your editing software.

In this image, the sun was setting in Melbourne when I noticed a shadow from a plant hit the side of this building. The juxtaposition of something alive on a concrete building was so interesting, I had to capture the moment.”

“We all know life in the city is exciting and fast – things are happening and moving everywhere. That’s why I like to use motion blur techniques to portray that sense of life-in-action.

Use a wider lens like the Sony FE 14mm F1.8 GM and set your shutter speed low, I like to go somewhere usually around ⅛. It needs to be long enough that your subject is sharp but the movement around them is blurred. Then, take a burst of photos of your subject as either they’re moving or everything around them moves. You can incorporate a flash with this effect too for an extra dramatic light trail effect. Your settings will vary depending on where you are and how well lit the subject is.

This photograph was taken on a night out filming in Melbourne’s Section 8. In the moment the DJ turned around at the right time creating a circular motion blur that draws you straight to the subject.”

“When shooting portraits, I find that you can make the shot more interesting with composition by including a foreground, middleground and background. Using a small f-number will increase the blur and depth of field which will help separate each layer. I like to use a 50mm lens like the Sony FE 50mm F1.4 GM lens for portraits as it has a low f-number and a nice focal length that doesn’t distort your subject.

In this image I found a trolley in the street and decided to use it as a prop. I put myself slightly under the trolley and shot through it, which gave me a unique composition with foreground, middleground and background.”

“Planning to escape the city with a day trip to the wilderness? Bring your camera along and challenge yourself to photograph in nature. Depending on where you go or what you’re getting up to, you may not want to lug around heavy lenses and gear. If this is the case, I recommend using a wide-angle zoom lens such as the Sony FE 24-70mm F/2.8 GM lens. This all-rounder is an essential for all types of photographers as it can capture wide landscapes at 24mm or set your focal length higher for tighter shots. You also have a nice f-number range to either capture soft bokeh blurs or sharp landscapes.

This image was taken at dusk on the bank of the Phewa Lake in 2018. What I love about it is the contrast between the silhouette of the boatmen with the layers of mountains in the background.”

Entries for the Sony Alpha Awards Photo Competition are open now until 12:00PM AEST Monday 24 June with finalists being notified in July. For all the details and to enter head here.