Week 22 Winner
The winner of Week 22 of our #52weeksofnature photo contest is Yuichi Yoshida. There is something tranquil about a solitary island in the South Pacific that makes you want to pack your bags and get off the grid. Yuichi has won a $100 gift code to hippytree.com and we are donating $100 to the Surfrider Foundation on his behalf. Learn more about Yuichi below.
Where was the image shot?
This image was shot right off the coast of Mataiea, French Polynesia. In the summer of 2017 I was hired as a photographer and videographer by SCORA (Southern California Outrigger Racing Association). When we were heading out towards the race course I noticed this beautiful island. As we waited for a heat to start, I was lucky enough to be up close to the island and snap a quick shot of it.
What camera did you use and what were the settings?
Camera: Nikon D800E
Lens: Nikon AF-S 24-85mm
Shutter Speed: 1/1250
Aperture: f/5.0
ISO: 250
How long have you been shooting?
I’ve been shooting for about seven years. I started in my junior year of high school, learning how to develop negatives in my photography class and I just instantly fell in love.
What’s your camera of choice?
I usually use my D800E for my work, but I like to use different types of cameras for personal use. When I don’t have my Nikon with me I like to use my Polaroid OneStep, GoPros and Canon EOS 630 film camera.
What’s your favorite subject matter to shoot?
My favorite subjects to shoot are sports and athletes. I like to get creative with the movements of the athletes and the environment around them.
Any shooting rituals?
I try to bring more equipment than I need, such as spare batteries, different cameras, a hard drive to transfer all the files in case my cards run out of space, etc. Whenever I go out on a shoot I carry my camera backpack that’s the size of my body. It’s ridiculous, but you never know what’s going to happen.
Do you shoot with a crew or shoot solo?
I would rather work with a crew and collaborate with other artists. I can get creative input and constructive criticism from them. I find that to be most important if you want to improve your work.
What excites you about photography?
The whole production of each photo is what excites me. For example, I sometimes shoot with my Polaroid or Canon film camera because I love the deferred gratification of the “big reveal” of the photos that I’ve taken. There’s still “magic” shooting digital and film, but obviously the production isn’t the same.
