#CreatorConversations is an AMA (Ask Me Anything) series hosted by @sonyalpha on Instagram. As part of the series, we were joined by Tobi Shinobi (@tobishinobi) of the Sony Alpha Imaging Collective. See some of the highlights below as he shares how he developed his signature style, where he finds his inspiration and more. Visit the Instagram post for the full AMA and make sure you’re following @sonyalpha and #CreatorConversations to stay connected.
“I have often found spending time behind the camera cathartic. With everything that’s going on it’s important to remember to take some time for yourself.” – Tobi Shinobi #CreatorConversations
“Where do you get your inspiration from? Many of these pictures are of the viewpoint looking up and I love that.” – @corinnetousey
Tobi: “To be honest I pull inspiration from so many places. Art, anime, sports, film, music. All my experiences come together to then feed through my lens of perspective and balance both in the literal and figurative sense.
"Two-parter: 1. How long did it take you to find and develop your signature style? 2. Your work is amazing and recognizable. I consider this a hallmark of one of the ‘greats.’ Do you agree?" – @crissibeth
Tobi: "I decided a while back the type of things that interested me in terms of shots and cross-referenced that with the type of work that I felt I’d do best at improving. Once I narrowed down the area that I wanted to focus on, I have worked to hone my skills over and over – revisiting certain places again and again with different lenses at different times of day to learn light. I think that’s what a great would do but I can’t say definitively."
“How do you choose an edit that matches with the picture? Which editing app do you use the most and recommend to a basic photographer?” – @taha__arain
Tobi: “I often already know how I’m going to edit it when I shoot it. Lightroom is what I use for my edits.”
“I’m curious how you got that awesome long exposure shot. Looks like you were on the subway, and the lines are so clean!” – @polythenelucy
Tobi: “Yes. Find a train with a clean window and be patient. Get as steady as you can and you can get some great shots.”
"What’s your favorite focal length/lens?" – @robbie_ralph
Tobi: “24mm 1.4, 35mm 1.4, and 14mm 1.8.”
“What gear do you use?” – @simona_anonymix_young
Tobi: The α7R IV and lenses listed above.”
“How do you find the right perspective for your shots? Or do you just start shooting and alter it in post?” – @therealchiu718
Tobi: “I look for the things I want to shoot. Lots of research and then shoot a lot.”
See the full AMA here.
