Alex Pansier (@alexpansier) is a full-time nature photographer who is passionate about the stories and emotions of nature. One of his many spectacular images was honored in the 2022 Close Up Photographer Of The Year competition, earning third place in the Invertebrate Portrait Category. We connected with him to find out more about how he used his Sony Alpha 1, Sony 90mm f/2.8 Macro G lens and some unlikely lighting to make the photo.
Photo by Alex Pansier. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 90mm f/2.8 Macro G. 1/200-sec., f/18, ISO 125.
See how photographer Alex Pansier used his Sony Alpha 1's dynamic range, a 90mm macro lens and a common flashlight to make this image and win 3rd place in the Invertebrate Portrait Category for the 2022 Close Up Photographer Of The Year competition.
Pure, Minimalist & A Little Moody
Welcome to the world of nature photography. My world and how I experience it.The animal and its habitat appeal to me the most, but I am in my element wherever nature tells its stories – with or without animals, whether tiny and in great detail, or enormous and powerful. Even at -16°C!
My style could best be described as pure, minimalist and a little moody. These days I’m increasingly choosing to go high-key or low-key, and I also enjoy losing myself in structures and details. But as an autodidact, I continue to learn, try things out, and discover. So there’s every chance that my portfolio will look a bit different in a while.
Stumbling Across Wildlife
Usually I have a plan, but sometimes pictures emerge on the spot. So is this photo. While playing with a flashlight I saw this snail. After taking a few photos I noticed the structure in the cochlea, after which I focused further on this subject.
For this photo I used a Sony Alpha 1 body with the Sony 90mm f/2.8 Macro G lens. The Alpha 1's huge dynamic range helped bring out the detail in the underexposed photo. This image required a macro lens, since I was capturing such small details. And there is no better macro choice than the Sony 90mm! It is absolute perfection.
Light That Makes The Scene
In addition to my camera with lens, I used a tripod and flash with an orange gel for this photo. The camera was on the tripod and the flash behind the subject, which was aimed at the snail. The camera settings were such that without a flash it would produce a black photo. Then you wouldn't see the snail. By lighting up the snail with the flash, you get this minimalist photo with a dark background. My settings were 1/200-sec., f/18, ISO 125. Then in Adobe Lightroom I only adjusted the exposure and did some color corrections.
See more of Alex Pansier’s work on Instagram @alexpansier.
