Kevin Zairez has been an official photographer for the college football playoff National Championship since his inception in 2015 and has been sought for sports, weddings and events in London; Trinidad and Tobago; Bahamas; United States; And, in particular, its home state of Texas. Kevin has covered several super bowls and Olympics. He shares why there are no double exposure, why paning skill is necessary, and which standard piece of gear is “obsolete”.
What are the care items always in your bag,
I take 100-300 mm f/2.8A 10-20 mm F/4A 24-105 mm F/4A 1.4x teleconverterOne El1 speedlightAnd additional battery. This kit handles almost any assignment that comes in my way.
When you shoot in an automatic mode, and which mode,
I shoot mainly in manual mode, but for outdoor football or baseball game with patchy clouds and shifting sunlight, I switch on AV mode (aperture priority) to replace light and shade during specific plays.
What technique do you use the most,
I love paning with a slow shutter speed to catch unique photos and angles.
How do you know when a photo is a success,
A picture is successful when it saves the effect and tells a story. Whether a deep emotional moment or intense action occupied, it should be powerfully resonant with the viewer.
What is usually valuable photo skills,
This can be a hot tech, but I think nowadays look the most double exposure and look deprived. While they can be effective when executed efficiently, about 80 percent of people feel forced and cheese.
Do you work with a team? If yes, how did you get team members? How did you know that they were right for the team. How will you advise someone about making someone your team,
As an official photographer for the college football playoffs, I oversee staff for all 11 playoff games, including the National Championship Games every year. When hiring a photographer, I first see their work whether they can fit for our team. I will look at their website and social media and then ask the photographers whether I know well whether they can fast for them. It is very important to do all the work for my team and works together!
What does success mean to you, Related to artistic success and financial success, or are independent of each other,
For me, success means to achieve both artistic recognition and financial awards. Blessed and thankful that I have earned many awards over the years, while also making a great life that I like through various photographic income currents.
When you look at the earlier work, what are your thoughts,
I think my early work was terrible! It is funny and humble to look back, but all have to start somewhere. In fact, I like to show my early work when my students give seminars to show that my work was not like that, now it is now, and it has done a lot of practice and learned to learn to be better.
What acclaim photo skills get useless,
I have never used a light meter and probably will never happen. I think the cameras are so advanced today that light meters are very obsolete.
What do you do to refine your skills?
I am constantly trying to learn new things every day. Technology changes at all times, and if you are not keeping, you will be left behind. It is also fun using new cameras and light tools to try new things!
Recognized by Canon as a explorer of the light, with the Triple Master title from the WPPI (Wedding and Portrait Photographs International), is one of the world worldwide only worldwide to keep Triple Master from Master of Photography from PPA (America’s professional photographers) with Triple Master title. His work has been published in countless newspapers, books and magazines. You can see her in a recurring role on the Discovery Channel show “Fast N Loud”. Kevin covered the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio and 2018 Winter Olympics at Pyongachang for USA Today. He has covered Super Bowls and has been an official photographer for the College Football Playoff National Championship since his establishment in 2015.
All photos with the permission of Kevin Zayaraj
