One On One With Photographer Corey Rich

By HDVideoPro Editor Neil Matsumoto (Photos courtesy Nikon USA)

As extreme sports took off in the U.S., filmmaker/photographer Corey Rich was one of the first people to visually tell the stories of action athletes, such as climbing legend Chris Sharma, kayaking pioneer Eric Jackson and world champion surfer Lisa Anderson. His work frequently appeared in National Geographic Adventure, The New York Times Magazine and Sports Illustrated. His career eventually evolved into motion, with Rich being one of the early adopters of DSLR video. He bought the Nikon D90 back in 2008, which kickstarted a relationship with Nikon USA.

And with that strong bond, Nikon USA recently launched Nikon Behind the Scenes, which profiles professional photographers and their artistic process. The video series follows a diverse group of photographers in the field, including Nikon Ambassador Joe McNally, Nikon Professional Photographer Tamara Lackey, and Corey Rich himself. The photographers drop knowledge on subjects such as lighting, lensing, posing models, shooting landscapes, working with different subjects and gearing up for a shoot. “At the core, I really love getting to know people – fascinating people, talented people, committed people,” explains Rich. “And that’s exactly what this series is about. From a director’s perspective, it’s about getting to know some of the photographers that I admire. Spending quality time with them and then allowing them to tell a story, as well as share information to enthusiasts who want to become better photographers.”

For Rich, the concept and look of the videos evolved during production. During the planning stage, Rich thought the videos were going to be a glimpse inside the professional photographer’s world, but as they began making them, he realized he wanted the videos to be a teaching tool rather than profiles. “We really wanted to pass along lessons in each of the videos,” explains Rich. “Little lessons aimed at the enthusiasts but something the novice or professional could take away, as well. All of the photographers profiled, including myself, spend a lot of time teaching and are committed to sharing. And, of course, from Nikon’s perspective, we wanted to show you the equipment we’re using, so that you’re empowered with the right tools in your hands.” Click here to see the rest of the article on the HDVideoPro editors blog.