Steve Wise
Portrait | Last Updated: April 4, 2024
Hey all, I’m Steve Wise and I’m a Wedding, Commercial and Medical Photographer here in Perth, Western Australia… and although the above pays the bills, my real passion lies in Portraiture.
I’ve been shooting seriously since 2005 and shot my first studio portrait in 2009. I was hooked. For me it’s not just about the final result, but the interaction and collaboration with the subject – drawing out the narrative – their story.
I also enjoy the process of reverse engineering portraits – working from an idea, a prop, a metaphor – and in turn finding a subject to suit. Changing context and perhaps inviting the experiences of the viewer to come into play. Incorporating my work as a medical photographer into my portraits has also been a challenge I’ve set for myself and continue to push, providing the opportunity for some different and powerful images.
I’ve built up a fair bit of gear over the years and am of the philosophy of never being caught short and always having what you need at hand – I can’t think of anything worse at a wedding or commercial shoot!
I’m proud to be an Australian Ambassador for Elinchrom and Magmod.
My main backpack includes:
2 x Canon 1DS Mark III
Bodies – have had them for a while but they still produce beautiful files and are absolute workhorses.
Canon 15mm f/2.8 Fisheye
Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II
– the only zoom I own. Huge advocate of prime lenses with superior glass and better resolving power.
Canon 35mm f/1.4L
Canon 50mm f/1.2L
Canon 85mm f/1.2L II
Canon 135mm f/2 L
Plus a 300mm f/2.8L
/ 1.4x Extender
/ 2x Extender
– mainly for sports.
Canon 580EXII
and 600EX-RT
Speedlites are packed in with a CP-E4 Battery pack
, two sets of Yongnuo E-TTL Wireless Tranceivers
, Magmod grids & gels and a Magmod snoot.
My main location light is the Elinchrom ELB 1200
with the Hi-Sync head – enough power to take on the harsh WA sunlight! – paired with a beauty dish or gridded softbox.
I shoot tethered in the studio with various Elinchrom heads and softboxes/modifiers – all up one end, while my son’s drum kit and my basses take up the space at the other end ; )
It can get noisy in there.
I’m also lucky enough to have access to a Phase One Kit or a Hasselblad X1D
for many of my studio portraits, providing added resolution and absolutely stunning files to work with – resulting in HUGE prints that have enormous depth.
One day I’ll be able to afford these cameras. (Actually probably not ; )
…and I also really enjoy shooting film and the process of slowing down – I just wish I had more time to do it!
Cheers.
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