To capture the best photos at an event, what equipment should we bring? How can we find the right inspiration to move forward? Matthias Oesterle shares his experiences in the next installment of “Behind the Lens.”
Event photography Tips with Matthias Oesterle
Techniques and Insights from Experts Photographers
When we run out of ideas, what can we do to find more inspiration and capture stunning photos? Once we have an idea, what equipment should we have on hand to capture the stories we observe and wish to showcase in our photos? In this series, Matthias Oesterle reveals how he finds inspiration and selects the best gear for his shoots and event photography.
“I often seek out new experiences, such as new locations, new techniques, or new equipment, to push myself outside of my comfort zone.”
Matthias Oesterle
Matthias Oesterle is a German photographer based in Spain, known for his stunning photos of cultural events, particularly in Spain. His photographs skillfully capture the rich diversity of cultures and traditions, intertwining them seamlessly across nations.
Preparation and Inspiration
I often seek out new experiences, such as new locations, new techniques, or new equipment, to push myself outside of my comfort zone. Photography-focused media, Instagram, and YouTube channels are excellent sources of inspiration. I feel refreshed and eager to go out and shoot again when I come across images that make me jealous of not having taken them myself, even if the photos are taken in the most remote regions and have nothing to do with my own world.
Which Equipment Shall We Use?
In my experience, I’ve mainly used Nikon DSLR cameras, with a Sony RX 100 Va serving as a backup. I recently replaced my older cameras with a D850, which has a lens range of 16mm to 300mm with an aperture of 2.8 that can be expanded to 420mm f/4.0. In addition, I own two vintage Nikon AIS lenses, a 50mm f/1.2 and a 35mm f/1.4.
While having numerous lenses for different settings can be useful, I’ve noticed that it can also be distracting and limit my creativity. As a result, I’ve begun to pare down my gear and concentrate on using only a few lenses with which I am comfortable. For example, to capture the spirit of this year’s Good Friday procession in Tarragona, I just used a manual 50mm f/1.2 lens. Finally, I feel that the optimal equipment for a given project can be determined by the photographer’s own preferences as well as the story they wish to tell.
“While having numerous lenses for different settings can be useful, I’ve noticed that it can also be distracting and limit my creativity.” – Event photography tips with Matthias Oesterle.
For Menorca’s Jaleos, for example I use only the 16-18mm and try to go as close as possible. You clearly see the difference between those images taken with a 70-200 from the sideline by the fellow competition. The same goes for the fire runners, just with the 24-70mm, as I can screw a UV filter on. Crucial for such type of photography, Sometimes I burn 3 of them during a 1-hour session. Long telephoto lenses are the natural choice for most sports photography, such as F1 or tennis, even if heavy and bulky when not mounted on the camera.
“To capture the spirit of this year’s Good Friday procession in Tarragona, I just used a manual 50mm f/1.2 lens.” – Event photography tips with Matthias Oesterle.
“Long telephoto lenses are the natural choice for most sports photography, such as F1 or tennis, even if they are heavy and bulky when not mounted on the camera.” – Event photography tips with Matthias Oesterle.
