Within the world of individuals who make their living as professional photographers, a unique subset do so in a way that consistently captures the essence of sporting contests in single image frames.
Renowned camera and lens manufacturer Nikon Corporation recognizes a select few of these among the ranks of its Brand Ambassadors. And last summer brought one of its best to Saline Michigan for coverage of the 2018 LPGA Volvik Championship at our own Travis Pointe Country Club. That’s where we caught up with Ciudad de México-based Gabriel Röux for this exclusive interview. [1,2,3,4]
Saline Journal: “What special skills are required to be a sports photographer, generally, and in particular to golf?”
Gabriel Röux: “The main ingredient is to love and enjoy the fact of being ‘there.’ They can’t pay you enough for the long hours on the course and being away from home. Being surrounded by the best of the best has to motivate you to perform at your best, day in day out.”
Saline Journal: “Is there a lot of opportunity for people to make a living in this sort of work? What sort of preparations should young people who are interested in photography be making right now?”
Gabriel Röux: “It is a very, very competitive line of work. And yes, you can make a living out of this — again, with a lot of hard work.
As preparations, it’s imperative to have a high level of knowledge regarding the art of photography and technology. You are never done learning new ways of generating a great image, and technology is always a step ahead.
Saline Journal: “What’s an appropriate view of technology? Is serious photography yet at the point of turning that over to automatic settings?”
Gabriel Röux: “It’s all about the man or woman behind the camera. The camera is just a tool. It will perform as good as the operator. The tool has to be led to do what it’s been built for. It’s the skill of the photographer to take it to it’s limits. And that’s only done by being as technical as you can be.
Automatic settings will produce images with someone else’s algorithms.
Saline Journal: “What are the thrills of your work? What are the downsides?
Gabriel Röux: “The thrills are many! The atmosphere is unique. The fact of getting ready for the journey, being part of a huge puzzle made up by great people doing great things is awesome. The daily challenge of being professional has no comparison.
It has no downside: The long hours, being away from home and missing meals are part of the deal. Nothing comes easy.
Saline Journal: “Can you share a little bit about the equipment you most commonly use and how you have it configured? Any tips for managing the weight?”
Gabriel Röux: “My most trusted Nikon lenses are the 400mm f/2.8, 70-200mm f/2.8, 16-35mm f/4, and a 2x extender. My Nikon SB 910 flash.
“I use D5 and D4s camera Nikon bodies. These Nikon bodies are just hard to beat workhorses! I like to think of them as warriors who perform better in inclement conditions. I usually have them on aperture priority or manual mode.
A monopod is must with the 400mm lens, plus it makes it easier to walk around on your shoulder than in your hand. A Think Tank belt with three pouches is another must. Extra batteries; cables, sun screen, and sometimes rain gear goes into these pouches — adding up to 30-plus pounds of weight. [5]
Tip: Not over carrying ‘stuff’ is part of the difference between a good or not so good long day.
Saline Journal: “Why Nikon?”
Gabriel Röux: “I am a thirty-year-plus Nikon user. It’s built; its ergonomics, the quality of the lenses, are nothing but superb. I just can’t picture myself with different gear. I think it’s part of my DNA.”
Saline Journal: “You’re also a ‘Nikon Ambassador,’ correct?”
Gabriel Röux: “I am honored to be one of five Nikon Ambassadors in Mexico. I’d like to believe that in order to become an Ambassador you have to understand the hardships of being a professional photographer and thus be able to make the path smoother for those in the upbringing.”
Saline Journal: “When you’re not ‘on the job,’ do you make photographs?”
Gabriel Röux: “When not on the job, I like to watch; I like to exercise different senses so that when I am back on the job, I can ‘feel’ what I am seeing.
Yet I do carry a lots of smaller cameras just in case!
Saline Journal: “What was your experience like photographing the LPGA Volvik Championship at the Travis Pointe Country Club?”
Gabriel Röux: “I love The Volvik Championship! I truly enjoy the 9th hole; honoring the women and men in the military is very special to me. It’s been the spot for celebrating my birthday for the last three years. I turned 50 here! The Karbos have been incredibly nice to me; I had the best chocolate birthday cake ever here. Volvik is an awesome sponsor too. Fans and volunteers are great. [6]
It’s a fantastic community.
References
- Nikon (home page).
- Volvik Championship (home page).
- Travis Pointe Country Club (home page).
- Gabriel Röux (home page).
- Think Tank (home page).
- “Staff Directory” Volvik Championship.
