MEET OLYMPUS PHOTOGRAPHER LESLEY ANN MILLER
WHO ARE YOU?
I live in Southern California. I’ve shot motorsports for over twenty years, traveled to 4 continents, and fly over 120,000 air miles domestically annually. I've been published in motorsports magazines such as Road & Track, Autosport, Autoweek, and Motor Sport, and am on the masthead for Racer.
WHEN DID YOU REALIZE YOU WERE A PHOTOGRAPHER?
I was developing websites for race teams in the late 90s and had to wait for photographers to scan their slide film after each race. I bought an Olympus C2020Z, taught myself photography, and started shooting races myself.
Motorsports has been my primary work, but I also volunteer photographing shelter animals to capture photos that will entice people to visit and hopefully adopt them!
Being self-taught at photography, I recognize good photos from other photographers, but try to create my own style so I can offer something different to our clients
INTRODUCING OLYMPUS
How did you get started with the Olympus system?
My first digital camera was a C2020Z, then upgraded to the E1 in 2003. After switching to another system mid-2000s, I was reunited with Olympus in 2019 with the introduction of the OM-D E-M1X.
What’s your go-to Olympus setup?
An OM-D E-M1X, E-M1 Mark II, an M.Zuiko 40-150mm F2.8 PRO, 12-100mm F4.0 IS PRO, 7-14mm F2.8 PRO, 1.4x Teleconverter MC-14 and FL-900R.
How does Olympus help you do your job?
The Micro Four Thirds system makes my gear lighter and easier to carry, whether it’s around the racetrack, or through the airport. Racing is about speed, and shooting at slower shutter speeds is the key to showing that in the photo. The combination of image stabilization in the OM-D cameras and the lenses allows me to shoot 200 mph race cars as slow as 1/8 second.
From the PEN-F to the OM-D cameras, the image quality is bright and crisp, and the M.Zuiko lenses are amazingly sharp.
When using mirrorless cameras, the quality of the electronic viewfinder is integral. The EVFs on the PEN-F and OM-D cameras are simply amazing. I especially love to shoot in a mono picture mode and actually see the subject in B&W!
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT BEING A MEMBER OF THE OLYMPUS FAMILY?
Olympus is creating amazing new camera features, like Continuous Auto Focus + Tracking, Live ND Mode, and Pro Capture, and these features are really unlocking exciting abilities in my photography. I’m so proud to share that I’m using an Olympus camera and wowing my colleagues with these features that they don’t have!
TIPS FOR OTHER BUDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Immediately learn to shoot in Manual mode. Not all photos should be shot in neutral exposure, so if you shoot in a Priority mode, you are missing the opportunity to learn to maximize your light options.
TIPS FOR OTHER PRO PHOTOGRAPHERS
Rather than copying other photographers, create your own style and be really good at it.
