COVID-19 CRISIS: Danger or Opportunity

Operator Selection, Talent, Human Resources [NIKON Z 6, 35.0 mm f/1.4, Mode = Manual, ISO 50, 1/125, ƒ/6.3, (35mm = 35)]

Nothing can inspire you more than a crisis. The Chinese word for “crisis” is frequently invoked in Western motivational speaking as being composed of two Chinese characters signifying “danger” and “opportunity,” respectively.

I had already scheduled some photo shoots this week that I was able to keep; we just took the opportunity to show how my client was responding to the COVID-19 crisis.

My setup this week in my basement studio

I work most all the time with a formal shot list, or I have done something so many times that I know the list by heart.

Labor Costs [NIKON Z 6, 35.0 mm f/1.4, Mode = Manual, ISO 50, 1/125, ƒ/1.4, (35mm = 35)]

I have had one complex list. The team I am working with had this one category they called “Something that embodies.”

Labor Cost was one of those topics.

Labor Costs [NIKON Z 6, 60.0 mm f/2.8, Mode = Manual, ISO 50, 1/125, ƒ/25, (35mm = 60)]

I went online and Googled and looked for images others had done on the topic. This inspired me.

Family [NIKON Z 6, 60.0 mm f/2.8, Mode = Manual, ISO 50, 1/125, ƒ/40, (35mm = 60)]

I wanted to get some small people figurines and thought of Hobby Lobby near me.

I called to see if they were open, and they were. I went and found two sets of people. A Family and Young Adults were what I found in the store.

Auto Insurance [NIKON Z 6, 35.0 mm f/1.4, Mode = Manual, ISO 50, 1/125, ƒ/13, (35mm = 35)]

While there, I went ahead and bought some matchbox-style cars and trucks. I used them for the theme of “Auto Insurance.”

Auto Insurance [NIKON Z 6, 60.0 mm f/2.8, Mode = Manual, ISO 50, 1/125, ƒ/25, (35mm = 60)]

I then combined the two for other possibilities.

While shooting images is fun, the photos are not all that usable without a caption and those important “Keywords.”

You can easily add keywords in Adobe Lightroom, and here is a video showing you how to do this. Now when it is uploaded to an online library and someone searches, as long as I have created keywords in the metadata, they are findable.

Vehicle costs like insurance or maintenance [NIKON Z 6, 60.0 mm f/2.8, Mode = Manual, ISO 50, 1/125, ƒ/29, (35mm = 60)]

So for the past few days, I have been being productive and shooting images that some of my clients will use.

Healthcare application [NIKON Z 6, 60.0 mm f/2.8, Mode = Manual, ISO 50, 1/125, ƒ/18, (35mm = 60)]

This has helped me keep my sanity and keep my focus. While many are just seeing the “DANGER,” I have chosen to see the “OPPORTUNITY.”