PRO STORIES: PRESTON BALLARD

MEET OLYMPUS PHOTOGRAPHER PRESTON BALLARD

WHEN DID YOU REALIZE YOU WERE A PHOTOGRAPHER?

In May of 2019 I picked up my mom’s DSLR with a 200mm lens and started taking photos of the birds at the feeder. I got really into trying and getting nicer and nicer photos, and eventually moved away from my yard into local parks. I eventually purchased my own gear and continued working to improve my skills.

INTRODUCING OLYMPUS

How did you get started with the Olympus system?

I got started with Olympus through their Break Free Program. I was one of 10 photographers chosen to receive Olympus gear and complete a photo project. My Project was focused on capturing photographs of native Floridian Wildlife.

What’s your go-to Olympus setup?

My go-to Olympus setup is the OM-D E-M1 Mark III with the M.Zuiko 100-400mm F5.0-6.3 IS and the M.Zuiko 12-100mm F4.0 IS PRO.

How does Olympus help you do your job?

My Olympus setup has helped me do my job in many different ways. Some of the most important things in my opinion are the weather sealed build of all of their gear, and the small, lightweight build. I often am out in very harsh weather and having gear that can handle the pouring rain is extremely important for me. Long hikes with my gear are not uncommon and having 10-pound setup is not very reasonable, so having lightweight gear like available from Olympus is amazing.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT BEING A MEMBER OF THE OLYMPUS FAMILY?

The Olympus family as a whole is incredibly welcoming, friendly, and loving. In the short time I have been a part of the Olympus community, I have met some incredible people that have been super helpful.

TIPS FOR OTHER BUDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS

What I have learned in my time as a photographer is that there are three main things that a budding photographer needs to focus on. These three things are light, perspective, and composition. Figuring out these three aspects of photography can make your photographs significantly better.

The first one I figured out and focused on was lighting. Full midday sun is often very rough on photographs, highlights will overexpose and blow out and there are very harsh shadows. Shooting in early morning light (the first hour or two), Evening light (the last hour or two), and in overcast light is the best time to shoot because there will not be unappealing shadows and blown highlights.

Perspective is another huge thing to focus on. Perspective was a huge thing for me, once I figured it out, it completely changed the way I photograph. For wildlife, my main goal is to try and get as close to eye level with my subjects as possible. Getting eye level with your subjects can completely change an image, it will make it significantly more intimate and make your subject feel more alive. By shifting your perspective while taking an image you can get out of the human point of view and put yourself in the world of what you are photographing.

Last but not least is Composition. I think many beginner photographers will place their subject directly in the middle of the frame on every photo. Although this can work in some cases, it is generally more visually appealing if you apply “The Rule of Thirds” into your photos and place the subject on one of the thirds. There are definitely times when straying from placing your subject on the third is the better option, and in these cases, you must ask yourself “What am I trying to convey here?” Asking yourself this question can help you decide how to compose your image in order to tell the story better.

TIPS FOR OTHER PRO PHOTOGRAPHERS

As photographers become more advanced and confident in their work, there are a few things that I feel very important to work on and keep in mind. These are Staying Humble, Always Striving to be Better, and Making Connections. Always staying humble is extremely important once you are a seasoned photographer. It can be super easy to assume your work is better than most and that you deserve more. This is not the case. Assuming you are better than many other photographers will lead you to settle with your work, which leads to less improvement and even a possibility of getting worse. Kind of tying in with Staying Humble, is Always Striving to get Better. If you always strive to get better, trying out new ideas and never being completely satisfied, the work you put out will be consistently amazing. Finally, I feel making connections is huge. Having other photographers that are at equal skill levels, or better than you, can be super helpful. Having a person, or group of people, that understand photography, that you can bounce ideas off of, et critique from, and just share images with is super important.