Profile: Rafel Bagot, Journalist and TV Sports Presenter

Rafel Bagot is a familiar face on TV3, where he covers sports with charisma and ease. I met him through his partner, Maysa, and suggested him as a profile for the magazine. He’s smart, engaging, and photogenic—not a bad combination when you’re aiming for both a good interview and a strong visual.

A Shoot That Didn’t Go to Plan (But Worked Anyway)

We originally imagined something more dynamic—photos of Rafel shooting hoops, since basketball is his thing. Unfortunately, the weather had other plans. With rain, strong winds, and me nursing a cold, we opted for a simpler, safer approach. I had no assistant that day, and the idea of using light stands in a gale didn’t exactly fill me with confidence.

Urban Texture and Two-Flash Simplicity

We considered shooting outside his building, but a nearby spot with some elegant urban decay caught my eye. This photo wasn’t taken for the magazine layout specifically—it wouldn’t exactly work with a text wrap—but I liked it enough to shoot it anyway.

I lit him with two flashes: one bare, positioned high above, and another with a grid over my right shoulder. I did a bit of post-processing in Aperture 3 using Nik Color Efex Pro, mostly to enhance the contrast and grit of the background.

A Good Reminder: Keep It Simple

Despite the challenges—weather, illness, and an uncooperative layout brief—this shoot reminded me that you don’t always need the full production. A good subject, an eye for the background, and some light finesse often go further than planned perfection.