Eric Palmer

Published: 16/06/12

Saturday Snaps with

Who is Eric Palmer?

What or who I am perceived as can only really be answered by the people who know me and you will get a different answer from everyone.

It is difficult for me to describe myself. I like to think I'm a friendly, chilled, easy going guy, but who I am to you depends largely on how you approach/treat me.

I grew up on a small nature reserve an hour form Cape Town, my father is an ecologist and my mother is a potter/photographer.

Rollerblading was my first passion before photography. The nature side from my Dad, art from my Mom and the action growing up is what lead me to where I am now and is the main reason I shoot what I do.

Years shooting:

Five.

What got you into taking photos?

With my mom being a photographer I was around it a lot growing up, but strangely enough I never really took to it. I was too busy saving for the next pair of skates or wheels and film was expensive.

In 2007 one of the guys my mom teaches with moved from Nikon to Canon and had a spare D70, a few lenses and a flash sitting in his cupboard and offered it to me. That was it. The addiction bit hard!

First photography related memory:

I remember getting my first camera (that D70): I was working the day I got it, but the next day I was keen to play with it and I saw that there was a DH race across the valley from my house. I went over and was all thumbs, but loved it.

Best photography experience:

Whenever I'm with my camera in good light working with good stuntmen.

Worst photography experience:

Getting stood up or left waiting at a spot for hours. I guess that's more general though and not photography specific.

With photos I guess I've been pretty lucky and never had a bad experience that really stands out... Trying to sell images is probably the worst part haha.

Advice for taking a great photo:

Tackle photography one step at a time, try to improve on every shoot you do and be fussy about your work, but enjoy the little victories.

The more you improve the more fussy your idea of a great photo becomes, so even when you think you have the best shot, don't stop as there is probably something that can be improved or another angle to try out.

Three favourite photographers:

The list is too long, but Joel Grimes, Joey Lawrence and Wes Driver are a few that inspire me.

Photography highlight/achievement:

My biggest highlight was getting a Cape Town feature in RIDEbmx US.

Why do you take photos?

I'm hooked, I love it and it brings a smile to my face, simple as that!

Top photos:

Greg Illingworth - Downtable

Greg is a gent and any time I get to shoot with him is gold! He rides like a beast and makes my life easy. It's not often I get to shoot good street at sunset with a nice backdrop, but this spot worked out so well with lionshead and the lights helped frame the shot.

Shot with my D200 and 24-70mm f2.8 and lit with two SB-600's and a SB-900.

Kirk and Stutta

Portraits were not something I first thought I'd get into, but I found myself shooting quite a few to practice my lighting. I love playing with lighting and a mood or drama to something that would have otherwise been quite standard. Doing this with strobes is challenging, but it makes the reward that much better.

Shot with my D70 and 24-70mm f2.8 and lit with two SB-600's and a SB-900.

Malcolm Peters - Bank Table

I work with Malcolm a lot. The man is South Africa's Harry Main, so my job is always easy. This shot was a bit of luck. I had just found my spot and hadn't really planned my framing and saw Moe on his way. I wasn't quite sure exactly where he was going to trick, but managed to get everything framed better than I could have hoped for and Malcolm's table was a monster and perfect!

Shot with my mom's D70s and 70-200mm f2.8 and lit with two SB-600's and a SB-900.

Terrence Monk - MX

I took a while to get out to the local MX track and after getting a few roost shots on the DH side I thought I'd get my fix with the MX guys and on my first trip I got this gem of Terrence ripping the ground to pieces.

Shot with my D70 and 24-70mm f2.8 and lit with two SB-600's and a SB-900.

Wayne Reiche - Flair

Wayne is the Godfather of Gums and a shot of this man on his creations is always a treat! We were shooting an interview for BMeggs.webgarden.com and just before complete darkness on the last shoot we got this flair on the quarter. It was also the first time I shot this quarter that late and being a fan of dark moody stuff it was just what I was after.

Shot with my D70 and 24-70mm f2.8 and lit with two SB-600's and a SB-900.