Photographing Ron B’s show, No Boundaries Up Close and Personal, with Sigma 105mm f/1.4 ART
Guess what? Recently I was, yet again, on No Boundaries Up Close and Personal, an MNN show hosted by HIV and trans advocate, actor, and celebrity host Ron B. And, as it always happens on the panel, we got to talk some more about HIV, AIDS and related activism, among others, as well as A&U–America’s AIDS Magazine vital role in covering the AIDS epidemic since 1991 and counting. Being on the show is always a humbling experience, this time even more because on the panel was the amazing HIV and trans activist, and award-winning performing artist Reverend Yolanda.
Knowing that both Ron B. and Rev. Yolanda were going to perform after the panel discussion, I brought with me my camera, and also my Sigma 105mm f/1.4 and Nikon lenses.
While this was the first time for me to shoot the performances with the boker master, here’s my take on that experience:
Therefore, once these kinds of shoots are doable with a Sigma 105mm f/1.4 and the results could be quite interesting, it’s also a good idea to use a zoom lens as a main lens for the photo shoot, and the prime lens as an additional lens. For example, zoom lenses, 24-70mm f/2.8 and 70-200mm f/2.8 allow for capturing pretty much everything from wide-angle to close-up shots.
The close-up shots posted above were taken with the Nikon 28-300mm zoomed in all the way to 300mm.
To reiterate, from what I’ve noticed so far, the Sigma 105mm f/1.4 can slow down the photo shoot quite a bit, especially when photographing shows like the one mentioned here, and even when photographing portraits, in studio and/or on location. On one hand, that’s a good thing because it allows photographers to focus more on the image at hand; on the other hand, there are situations, such as events and in particular, sports, when being slowed down doesn’t help the photo shoot. That said, it was, indeed, an interesting experience photographing No Boundaries with the bokeh master. Such an experience, in a way, opens the mind to new ideas and possibilities in terms of how to best photograph such a show. And that’s a good thing!
Also, last but definitely not least, I’d like to thank actor, advocate, and celebrity host Ron B. for having me on the show yet again, and for allowing me to talk about issues I truly care about. A big thank-you goes also to the artist and advocates Rev. Yolanda. Both Ron B. and Rev. Yolanda are amazing, talented, and inspiring individuals that I call “angels” for many reasons. I met Ron B. back in 2007 when covering a World AIDS Day event. “I was in Angels in America,” she told me then, and had me right there and then, at Angels in America, one of my go-to, favorite movies. And Rev. Yolanda, she’s gracious, funny, and inspiring. I met her in October of last year, also on Ron B’s show, where she performed “We Are Angels” (“struggling to be human”). Her voice and the song, itself, touched a chord and I ended up interviewing and photographing Rev. Yolanda for A&U Magazine. So, to both Ron B. and Rev. Yolanda, a big thank you!
And thank you, all, for reading this blog.
Appreciate it!
Alina Oswald
NOTE: find out more about Sigma ART 105mm f/1.4 lens below:
Alina Oswald 
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