This week’s featured photographer is all about capturing the feeling of his subjects and events. He’s captured the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Mick Jagger, Madonna, The Rolling Stones, Ray Charles, and Joe Montana. Michael Zagaris a.k.a “Z-Man,” has rubbed elbows and captured images of some of the most famous performers, musicians and athletes we’ve ever seen. What his secret? Spoiler Alert: He says he doesn’t actually have one. Z-Man uses something we all have, instinct. Z-Man says the key to capturing emotion is to pay attention.

Feel it “viscerally

“Remain engaged. Always be open. Try to see and feel everything and capture it. Shoot what really moves you and shoot what  you feel.”

Z-Man also talks about engaging with his subjects and knowing when to be invisible. From his black and white images, to the bright lights of the stage, Z-Man captures the moments and emotion so well, it leaves us feeling as if we were at the concert or ball game too.

In the video “Photography Tips: The Keys to Capturing Emotion,” Z-Man says photography is like dancing, you learn to flow with your subjects and environment.

“You become what you shoot,” said Zagaris.

Z-Man considers himself more of a photojournalist. He wants to capture reality or things that appear to be real, and give his audience a behind-the-scenes experience, or as he calls it, “a visual diary.”

Z-Man became a sports photographer in the 1970s, he is the current team photographer for the San Francisco 49ers.

Whether it’s famous rockstars or professional athletes, Z-Man uses his camera lens to bridge the gap between him and his subject.

“There’s just you and me,” Zagaris will say to his subjects. “I want you to act or be either who you are, or who you think you are, or who you’d like to be.”

You won’t hear Z-Man taking about F-Stops or exposure, for him, it’s all about what you feel. “Remain engaged. Always be open. Try to see and feel everything and capture it. Shoot what really moves you and shoot what  you feel.”

The Who at Winterland. March 30, 1976 _Photo Credit: Michael Zagaris

Z-Man’s Composition Tips:

• Visualize your image: Make sure your final image is the image you intended to see from the beginning.
• It’s all about the flow. Photography is like a dance with your subjects.
• Pay Attention: Subjects, back drop, lens, angles, the environment as a whole.
• Research shoot (Z-Man studies fashion magazines)
• Have a visual in mind of what you want photo to look like
• Embrace your surroundings
• Immediately asses environment and subject
• Ask client what they want, how they feel
• Let them know this photoshoot is just about the two of you.

“There’s just you and me,” Zagaris will say to his subjects. “I want you to act or be either who you are, or who you think you are, or who you’d like to be.”

Want more? Watch more at: Marc Silber’s Advancing Your Photography Show.

Go out and capture your own images of life!

Follow us on Instagram:  @MichaelZagaris   @Marc Silber