On his path to becoming an internationally acclaimed photographer, Russell Ord has squinted down the lens at an intriguing mix of subjects over the years. From shooting world-class surfers and celebrity chefs to exploring remote landscapes. He’s roamed with Uunguu Rangers in the Australian outback, island-hopped across tropical fantasylands, and followed his photographic instincts through urban meccas. Meanwhile, his ocean images are famous for portraying both cruelty and majesty of the sea.
As one of the world’s leading surf photographers, he documented a treacherous spot in the Indian Ocean known simply as “The Right”. In pursuit of a unique angle, Russell put himself in a situation where the ocean’s most powerful forces converge. This challenging shoot became central to his acclaimed documentary “One Shot”.
Innovative Gear for Dynamic Photography
Recently, Russell got a chance to try out the new GFX100S II camera, together with the GF500mmF5.6 lens introduced at the last X Summit. This combination has revolutionized his approach to sports photography, bringing new, exciting features to the table.
“In the past, I have used the 500mm focal length (not with large format), and those lenses are bulky and very heavy, opposite to the look and feel of the GF500mmF5.6. The GF500mmF5.6 equipped with the GFX100S II is lightweight, compact and well-built. I can easily imagine climbing rocks, scouring sand dunes, and walking some kilometers/miles along the coast without concerns.”
“If I could use one word to describe the performance, it would be “breathtaking”, I cannot believe I have a 102MP Large Format camera that continuously focuses on my subject (handheld) and can produce imagery of the finest quality. Now, I can shoot action sports imagery (surfing) and simultaneously have my eye on possible gallery pieces and photos I can enlarge on a grand scale.”
The GFX100S II features the highest level of 5-axis image stabilization with a benefit of up to 8.0 stops for limitless large-format creativity. Image quality is one of the most significant factors in this GFX system. Apart from allowing for printing stunning enlargements with the finest details, it lets you have amazing clarity even in challenging weather conditions. Shooting out of a helicopter, doors off, with the GFX100S II and GF500mmF5.6, Russell got beautiful, detailed images despite the very windy conditions, fast erratic movements, and suffering motion sickness.
More beauty to it, the GFX100S II can continuously focus on a moving subject, such as a surfer flying across the wave, with subject and eye detection following him from start to finish without any hunting. It works not only in favorable conditions with high contrast and bright light, but also in low-light, backlit, and dark conditions while shooting flash.
“A saying I use a lot, “press the trigger at the right time”, still applies, but I must admit I love having 7fps on a large format camera. It’s a fine line in and out of the water missing that critical shot; the 7fps gives you many more opportunities to nail that exact shot at 102mp (mind-blowing).”
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