{"id":566401,"date":"2026-03-28T10:56:14","date_gmt":"2026-03-28T10:56:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/566401\/"},"modified":"2026-03-28T10:56:14","modified_gmt":"2026-03-28T10:56:14","slug":"i-couldnt-use-a-drone-so-i-had-to-find-another-way-of-getting-above-them-with-my-dslr-says-portrait-photographer-seeking-new-perspectives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/566401\/","title":{"rendered":"“I couldn’t use a drone, so I had to find another way of getting above them with my DSLR,” says portrait photographer seeking new perspectives"},"content":{"rendered":"

A new perspective is a difficult thing to achieve in the modern age of photography. Drone<\/a> photography, action cameras,<\/a> and the new breed of lightweight pro lenses made it possible to capture unique compositions with ease \u2013 making it more challenging to produce original images.<\/p>\n

For photographer Coenraad Torlage<\/a>, that challenge became the driving force behind one of his most compelling images. His idea was clear: shooting from above \u2013 but having no drone made it difficult to achieve an aerial perspective.<\/p>\n

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Armed with a DSLR<\/a> \u2013 one of the first true professional hybrid cameras<\/a> \u2013 and a standard zoom lens<\/a>, he captured two men resting on horseback in South Africa, from a striking overhead viewpoint…<\/p>\n

Article continues below <\/p>\n

You may like<\/p>\n

The story behind the still<\/p>\n

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\"Canon
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Released in 2012, the Canon EOS 5D Mark III is an iconic full-frame DSLR (Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

Shot details
Gear: Canon EOS 5D Mark III <\/a>+ EF 24-70mm f\/2.8L USM
<\/a>Exposure: 1\/125sec, f\/8, ISO 100<\/p>\n

Torlage shot this image as part of his winning Young Farmers series, made for the final round of the Sony<\/a> World Photography Awards Student Competition 2021.<\/p>\n

He explains, “The photograph was taken on a farm in Elandslaagte in the province of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. It shows HW and Olwethu after a long day herding cattle on horseback. The idea came from observing how these young men interact as friends.<\/p>\n

“The idea for this photograph emerged from reminiscing about my childhood on the farm and praying for a way to visually represent that.<\/p>\n

The best camera deals, reviews, product advice, and unmissable photography news, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n

“It is a documentation of the life that these boys live, but it’s also part of my own visual representation of what it is like to grow up as a young farmer in South Africa. This is how I remember my childhood.”<\/p>\n

The challenges<\/p>\n

“The main challenge was to achieve a high-quality aerial shot. I couldn’t use a drone, so I had to find another way of getting above them with my DSLR. Luckily, they had a large excavator on the farm, so we used that to lift me over HW and Olwethu.<\/p>\n

“I generally keep post-production to a minimum. For this photograph, a few basic adjustments such as colour correction, sharpening, curve adjustments and some digital dodging and burning were all that was necessary.<\/p>\n

“By using a mix of natural and artificial light, Coenraad has been able to capture a timeless portrait of the two boys, with a strong narrative theme.”<\/p>\n

You might like…<\/p>\n

Browse the best full-frame DSLRs<\/a>, and the best DSLRs<\/a>. Also, check our guide to the best camera drones for aerial photography and video<\/a>, and the best drones for beginners. <\/a><\/p>\n


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