Sebetulnya ini saya sadur dari NatGeo. Saya lihat bermanfaat bagi kita semua (khususnya saya yang masih belajar). Semoga bisa dinikmati:

Answers for the Most Frequently Asked Questions


What types of film do National Geographic photographers use? Nearly all use 35mm transparency film, such as Fuji Provia 100, Fuji Velvia 50, Kodachrome 64, and Kodachrome 200. Brand and type are up to the photographer, but most use three or four different emulsions, depending on the situation. They also use small amounts of other 35mm transparency emulsions as well as some 35mm color negative and larger format films. In 1995 they shot 32,000 rolls of film on magazine assignments.

What types of cameras do they use?

It’s up to the photographers, and their most popular choices are Canon and Nikon 35mm SLRs and the Leica M6 range finder.

What type of visual aesthetics is the magazine seeking?
We strive for a blend of style and content. Our photographers are experienced journalists with singular, well-developed photographic styles who use both color and composition in a unique manner.

How long is an average assignment?
Coverage for a single magazine article can run from four weeks to more than sixteen. Some last even longer. Longer assignments are usually split into two or three trips, perhaps in different seasons.

How much film is shot on an assignment?
The number of rolls (usually 36 exposures each) ranges from 300 or 400 to more than 1000 for complex stories. While this seems high, you must remember that professional photographers “sketch” with the camera, much like writers probe with questions to get at the essential information. They explore subjects visually by shooting many sides of a subject in many ways. It is usually the combination of enough time in the field and enough film exposed that provides the depth that has become the hallmark of our coverages.

How do I develop a photographic style?
Style comes with time and is a difficult thing to force. The tendency at first is to copy a well-known photographer (witness how many young photographers are trying to shoot like Eugene Richards or Mary Ellen Mark), but you must move beyond emulation and develop your own strengths. Be aware of the literal nature of your images and strive to go beyond them in an aesthetic sense, but avoid mere self-indulgence.

Any advice for a photographer wanting to enter the profession?
Desire and drive count, but professional photography is a competitive business, and for every successful photographer there are dozens looking for work. Training can only help to fine-tune a natural “eye,” and although a prospective photographer may have a true passion for the art and craft, if he lacks that eye no amount of training or desire can compensate. Many people must be content to be advanced amateurs rather than professionals.

How can I learn more about National Geographic photography?
Three books will be helpful: National Geographic: The Photographs, published in 1994, describes how our photographers work and explains the role of photography at the Society. It is available from the Society as well as in bookstores. The National Geographic Society: 100 Years of Adventure and Discovery, by C.D.B. Bryan, Harry N. Abrams, Inc., New York, 1987, offers a general history of the National Geographic Society. Odyssey, The Art of Photography at National Geographic, by Jane Livingston, Thomasson-Grant, Charlottesville, Virginia, 1988, is the catalog for the Society’s centennial photographic exhibit. You should also look at an article titled “Reel to Real” in the August 1995 issue of National Geographic.

How does National Geographic magazine differ from news magazines?
We cannot compete with weekly news magazines in speed. What we try to bring to news coverage is depth. For example, when a major earthquake hits, Time, Newsweek, and others may be first to describe the scene, but we will augment that basic information by explaining the scientific reasons for the event and by showing the effects such natural disasters have on both the people and the ecology of the area. We will examine how it has altered people’s lives and changed the social and economic future of the region.

Can I go on assignment with a Geographic photographer?
We cannot offer that experience. Our photographers are journalists who need to work with minimum disruption. They allow their subjects to go about their daily lives, and thus make photographs of real situations. Observers of any kind—whether government officials, public relations people, or guests—tend to compromise that fragile compact between photographer and subject.

However, the National Geographic Society does offer special photography travel expeditions where travelers can improve their photography skills under the guidance of National Geographic photographers.

How does the magazine put a photographic story together?
Once a story is approved, the photographer meets with the illustrations editor to plan the coverage and the budget, which must be approved by the Editor of the magazine. The photographer ships film from the field to Washington for processing and editing by the illustrations editor, who contacts the photographer after each shipment to discuss the images.

Midway through the coverage the photographer comes to Washington and works with the illustrations editor to assemble a tray of the best photographs to date. Senior staff from the photographic, illustrations, and layout divisions offer comments and suggestions, and the photographer returns to the field. When coverage is complete he returns to prepare a final edit with the illustrations editor, to present to the Editor of the magazine. Upon his approval, a layout is produced.

What backgrounds do your photographers have?
All have college degrees but in a variety of disciplines. Most did not major in photography, although all took photography courses. The most common majors were journalism, anthropology, sociology or psychology, fine arts, and natural or life sciences. Several have master’s degrees, and one of our contract photographers has a Ph.D. Normally our freelance photographers have at least five to ten years’ experience with other publications before coming to us, some as photojournalists from newspapers or magazines. Others arrive from specializations such as wildlife, underwater, or aerial photography.

How do photographers ship their film?
Mostly by air express. The film is put into the original film can and packed securely to prevent damage from impact and moisture. The rolls are numbered in sequence as they were shot. When a fairly large amount of film is shipped, a photographer will often divide the film into two shipments—even-numbered rolls in one shipment, odd in another. This way if one shipment is lost or damaged at least every other roll will survive. A photographer usually notifies headquarters when a shipment is made and provides the air bill number: If the shipment does not arrive when expected, it’s easier to trace it successfully if the process is initiated immediately.

Wah sungguh aneh, kemaren saya baru debat dengan seseorang tentang NatGeo. Terus kepikiran pengen bikin thread di FN untuk menjawab pertanyaan saya, eh tahu-tahunya sekarang muncul. Kayak ada yang baca pikiran saya saja. Anyway its a very good info up there. Bagi yang fans sama foto-foto NatGeo, sekarang ngerti dong kenapa mereka bisa bagus fotonya.

ok, saya sekarang ada satu pertanyaan. Bisa diskusi juga. Di FAQ ditulis mereka bisa ambil sampai 1000 shots. Anggap setengahnya perfect secara teknis jadi 500. Nah dari 500 ini editor harus memilih beberapa shot untuk dimasukan ke dalam majalah. Anggap 20 shots, apakah itu merupakan hal yang sulit sekali bagi editor ini. Apakah keputusan akhir terletak di tangan editor, apakah si fotografer tidak punya hak sama sekali untuk memutuskan foto apa yang muncul? :)

Topik selanjutnya. Kemaren saya debat sama pacar saya. Dia mengatakan berhubung mereka ambil beribu-ribu shots, maka pasti diantara shots itu ada yang bagus. Jadi artinya kalau saja seseorang dikasih 1000 rolls, dan disuruh shots. Pasti diantara foto-foto yang diambil pasti ada yang bagus. Apakah benar quantity = quality? Saya tidak setuju dengan argumen pacar saya.

Fotografer kayaknya memang tidak punya hak soal pemuatan foto, tapi mungkin bisa memberi masukan lainnya untuk bahan pengambilan keputusan.

Belum tentu banyak motret banyak hasil bagus. Pak Goen pernah bilang kalau dalam 1 roll kita dapat 3 frame foto yang bagus,itu sudah baik. Tapi memang nilai kemungkinan untuk mendapat hasil yang baik menjadi lebih tinggi pula.

Betul. 1 rol itu yang saya anggap bagus dan layak paling hanya 5 - 10 frame.
Itulah alasan saya lebih sering memakai digital...:)

Setahu saya pemotret yg ditugasi NG, adalah mereka yg bekerja di NG juga. Jadi NG sudah memiliki fotografer sendiri, meski ini tidak selalu. Nah, waktu milih2 foto yg siap dicetak, yah mereka2 kalangan sendiri juga yg memutuskannya. Kalau pun tidak begini, fotografer yg ditugaskan memotret memang cuma ngumpulin foto2 saja. Yang memilih itu bukan urusannya lagi. Yah editorlah yg milih foto yg laik cetak.

Oya, 1000 shots itu sebetulnya masih kecil sekali untuk ukuran NG. Saya pernah baca - dan tiap bulan baca sebetulnya itu majalah - ada fotografer yg membawa ratusan roll film! Dan sudah biasa di kalangan mereka membawa satu, dua atau tiga kardus roll sekaligus! Karena sekali mereka berpetualang untuk meliput dan membuat cerita, mereka bakal menghabiskan waktu berhari-hari dan kadang bulanan. Kalau 1000 shots itu mah kecil banget buat NG, cuman 28 roll film!

Kuantitas = kualitas? Persisnya nggak begitu sih, IMHO. Tapi masuk akal juga, bagi pros yg menghabiskan 1000 roll film mungkin saja foto yg bagus (anggap setiap roll ada 5 foto bagus) bisa mencapai 5000 foto. Kalau si fotografer menghabiskan 10.000 roll? Sudah ada paling tidak berkisar 50.000 foto bagus! Makin besar jumlah roll yg dihabiskan, makin banyak foto bagus yg dihasilkan (tentu fotografernya sudah maestro bangetlah). Masuk akal memang.

jadi bung Herry, fotografer NatGeo itu istilahnya 'tukang foto'. hehe :) Saya setuju kalau 1000 shots itu terlalu sedikit untuk ukuran NatGeo, untuk kebanyakan artikel di NatGeo itu hasil dari 'assignment' berbulan-bulan bahkan sampai setahun lebih. Beberapa edisi yang lalu saya baca satu artikel yang tentang Zebra di afrika, itu fotografer ngikutin Zebranya sampai satu tahun. Nah satu tahun ngambilin foto zebra terus, berapa banyak roll film itu. Bener-bener salut sih, tapi memang NatGeo bukan cuman foto doang. Mereka juga mempunyai artikel yang sangat informatif dan tidak biased.

Salam
Willy

yang saya denger, dari 1000 foto mereka cuma pilih 1 :O
yang saya kagum, dengan main di slow dan medium speed film, ternyata foto malam untuk obyek bergerak pun tetap ciamik. =D> Padahal obyeknya binatang buas, yang tentunya kalau pakai motret jarak dekat akan membahayakan jiwa fotografer. Pakai lensa tele dan tripod sih kayaknya sudah pasti, tapi tetap tajam dengan high shutter speed dimalam hari? Ada yang tau nggak gimana caranya?
btw, sinar yang kelihatan dimata singa itu sinar dari flash bukan?

Untuk yg singa itu aku pernah nonton di film National Geographics : The Photographers,fotografer naik mobil jip (ada supirnya--kalo ga salah suaminya) mengikuti singa tersebut waktu malam...malah waktu singa itu berburu dan menggigit zebra,jip tersebut berada di dekatnya.Singa diterangi dengan lampu dari jip (ngga inget lampu mobil atau tambahan).

wow

dear all, ini kan jadi masalah perbandingan toh ? jika dalm 1 roll cuman ada 5 shot bagus, so, 10 roll, cuman ada 50 shot "bagus" scr teknis. abis itu masih harus disesuaikan dgn cerita dan teks. so dari 50 shot bagus itu, di pilah lagi.
misalnya cerita ttg zebra, cerita ttg siklus hidup: konsepsi, hamil, lahir, mati. nah foto ttg zebra lagi jalan jalan kan gak cocok, jadi dari 50 itu udah berkurang lagi....
gua rasa ada proses pengkatalogan juga, jadi fotonya pada masuk ke kantor pusat, ada yg bertugas utk mengkatalogkannya dng kriteria sbb: Nat Geo Quality, relevance to story,
abis itu baru si editor dan penulis cerita ngeliatin foto foto yg lolos dan sisanya di katalog spt kita, masuk kategori transport atau model dll.
tapi memang edannnn fotografer Nat Geo itu...

wow...thx for share...

Satu lagi yang lupa untuk diungkapkan , yang dipentingkan adalah keaslian gambar dan informasi di natur pada setiap foto dari Nat Geo. , bukan hanya keindahan dan nilai ilmiah-nya

10.000 roll film? sampe nggak bisa lurus lagi kali ya jari telunjuknya... :p
salut sama standard tinggi Nat Geo.. tapi kasian sama editor fotonya.. hehe