NIKON Z6 III This is a very powerful new camera and is also popular, As petapixel Readers can attestTo showcase the power of the device, Nikon Europe enlisted the help of four talented professional sports photographers.
for a suitable name unexpected game seriesworked with nikon Dani KM, Anouk Flesh, little shaoAnd ray demskiAll experienced photographers with unique styles. petapixel Chatted with each to learn more about their photography, the new photos they created with the Z6 III, and how improvements in camera technology impact their work.
One of the key features of the Z6 III is its all-new partially stacked 24-megapixel image sensor. Although it is not as fast as a full-stacked sensor Z8 And Z9The Z6 III can still record full-resolution RAW images at up to 20 frames per second with minimal rolling shutter distortion. As KM, Flesch, Shao and Demsky demonstrate, the Z6 III is perfectly suited to the task of high-end sports and action photography, especially compared to its predecessor.
“The speed of the Z6 III – especially the fast autofocus and 1/16,000 shutter speed – was essential for this series,” says Anouk Flesch, who took the Z6 III to a field near Bordeaux, France, to show athletes skiing in the sand. Were taken to Dune du Pilat. From ice.
“These features allowed me to focus on creativity rather than being limited by technical constraints,” Flesch added, adding that she always strives to “emphasise the natural tones of the environment”, and the dunes against the blue sky. In the case of skiing, “the difference between warm and cool tones.”
Little Shao similarly placed the athletes in an unusual environment, photographing break-dancer Link in a French forest.
“I wanted to create something that we don’t see often. The jungle terrain and environment are very unfavorable for breaking – you can’t move around, it’s difficult to balance because the ground is uneven and unpredictable. But in terms of creativity, when it is paired with the right person, it can be magical and impactful to capture people’s attention,” explains Little Shao. petapixel,
“These days, we are inundated with so much content on social media that it almost desensitizes us. People chase ideas by adopting simple, safe ideas or repeating what has already been proven to work. Very few people are willing to push themselves creatively or take risks with ideas that may not go viral,” the photographer continues.
Little Shao says that Link was the perfect B-Boy for this project. Known for his creativity and offbeat style, Link was definitely ready for a walk in the woods.
While the Z6 III and many other high-end cameras are fast enough to capture action, conveying a sense of motion in a still photo is challenging, and depends largely on the technical and artistic skills of the photographer.
“I would say there are two things I really have to keep in mind to show motion in still photos,” says Little Shao. “The first is what you are capturing. Movement within the scene naturally suggests motion, but it’s also important to tell the story behind the photo. If the image feels alive and tells a story, I believe it stirs the subconscious of the viewer. Pair this with a subject in action, and it further increases the sense of movement as the body, subject or object visually conveys intent and direction within the frame.
The second important factor is to prepare the subject and position it.
“You can guide the audience’s perception of the pace. For example, if the action moves from left to right, it is effective to frame the subject on the left, allowing the viewer to visualize the subject’s path through the frame. It is necessary to give a moving subject to move inside the frame.
Dani KM took tennis players from the court to nature. Dani captured a tennis match played on the bright white salt plains of Utah, testing the dynamic range of the Z6 III. While sports photos typically focus on the game itself, KM wanted to emphasize the environment.
“For this project, I felt that Nikon really trusted the creative process, giving me the freedom to explore new ways of viewing my photos. It felt like the right time to take a different direction, especially with such a spectacular landscape. I wanted to respect the enormity of my surroundings, so I made sure the audience focused on the environment first, with the game second. This was a unique opportunity where I could give priority to nature in a sports photoshoot.
The Z6 III helped KM in a somewhat unexpected way. While shooting speed and reliable autofocus always matter for sports photography, KM says the brightness of the EVF was especially important in this environment.
“With this camera, there is no discrepancy in brightness; What you see through the EVF is as clear as what your eyes see,” she says, noting that she shoots with both eyes open whenever possible.
KM also used the camera’s 120 frames per second shooting mode, which is JPEG only. “In sports photography, timing is everything, and with this frame rate, I’m able to capture that perfect moment without missing a single frame.”
Action photographer Ray Demski entered a mountain cave in Germany to photograph boxers, and used off-camera lighting to create a dynamic shadow boxing scene.
“For this shot of a boxer competing with his shadow, I shot one with a single Nikon SB-5000 Speedlight (https://petaPixel.com/2016/01/05/nikons-new-sb-5000- Used simple lighting. “The first speedlight to use radio-frequency was placed on the cave floor,” explains Demsky. petapixel“This created clean, strong shadows. The flash was positioned near the second boxer, just outside the frame, and was intended to cast a wide shadow on the wall while illuminating the main boxer.
Nikon’s Creative Lighting system is an often under-appreciated aspect of the company’s product lineup. Although photographers use lights from many different companies, Nikon speedlights and cameras all work well with each other.
“The Nikon CLS system and Speedlites are ideal for keeping my gear light and flexible, especially when I can’t carry larger lights in hard-to-reach places. With the Z6 III, connecting the compact Nikon WR-R10 allows me to control multiple groups of Nikon SB5000 speedlights via radio transmission. It’s incredibly efficient, especially when making adjustments to flashes located in difficult locations – like on top of the 7.5-meter light stand I used in the cave for some shots,” says Demsky.
unexpected game The series aims to showcase what makes the Z6 III a capable sports and action camera. There’s no doubt that this is indeed a highly capable camera. As petapixel It is stated in Z6 III reviewThis camera is one of the most complete mid-range hybrid cameras on the market. It offers a lot of performance for its price, significantly undercutting flagship level cameras in terms of cost without giving up much in terms of performance. The Z6 III strikes a great balance.
Although it’s not impossible to capture any of the shots above with a fair number of other cameras from Nikon or its competitors, it’s always worthwhile to see how professional photographers use the latest models and learn more about those features. Whom they care about most for their work.
Image Credit: Photos provided by Nikon. Photographers are credited in individual photo captions.
