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VISION
| Develop the art of 'seeing' images . . . awareness, anticipation and
imagination are a few of the 'tools' needed to 'manipulate' our photographic
equipment, and produce images that fall into the 'out of the ordinary' category.
For example, you're on a hillside looking down on a winding road. What you
visualize is a red vehicle at a given spot in the road. Now all that is needed
is some 'waiting' patience, and the appropriate camera settings . . . then
voila!
LIGHT
| Utilize the best light of the day. Texture enhances any image, be it a
close-up or landscape. Sometimes, just by changing our camera angle we'll
improve the lighting on a given subject. Get
yourself to your chosen spot early or late, and then hurry up and wait!
SIMPLICITY
| 'Clutter' is fine and necessary with some subjects such landscapes with
foreground interest, but as a general rule keep things simple. Also, keep an eye
out for distractions in the background which might be something like a branch,
or a patch of unwanted light.
CREATIVITY
| Experiment with techniques . . . could this subject be recorded best with a
slower shutter speed; by selective focus; or a ‘ton’ of depth of field and so
on? Make the ordinary look extraordinary.
COMPOSITION
| Can the composition be improved with a different camera angle, or tighter
framing? Zoom in and out, walk around and consider the angle of light on your
subject and would-be distractions, then go ahead and shoot in the knowledge that
you are giving the subject 'your best shot'.
IMPACT
| Fill the frame whenever possible. Try a different camera angle, especially
closer, lower or higher. Maybe a use the widest angle lens you have, then get in
close. Experiment with panning techniques. Try different flash/daylight
exposure combinations.
QUALITY
| Use a tripod, and slow film whenever practical. The same applies to digital,
as the 100/200 asa will be superior to 400 asa and above. Choose 'quality
subjects' too.
DETAILS, DETAILS
| Explore your viewfinder and remove those elements that will bother the life
out of you later! This will usually be something akin to a splash of sunlight
on a rock, or misplaced blade of grass when doing a macro [close-up] shot
GUIDELINES
| Follow those photo guidelines such as the ‘rule of thirds’ and so on, BUT,
also break those ‘rules’ whenever you see fit. Rule 1, take note of the rules,
and rule 2, break the rules!
BE PREPARED
| Especially when traveling. Closer to home, have a camera on hand for those
special moments and so on. Make sure your not at the end of a roll or a full
memory card, and pre-set a manual camera to around 125th @ f.8, or on Program. I
also like to set my camera to Auto Expose Bracket [AEB], turn on wind/drive
feature, and shoot freely in the knowledge that I'm covering all bases. This is
a particularly good technique for difficult exposure situations, and for
wildlife and sports etcetera.
KEEP AN OPEN MIND
| Quality images ARE to be found with the sun at it’s highest point of the
day, and polarization does work at other than right-angles to the sun. In other
words you don't have to align yourself with the common clichés.
GO A STEP HIGHER
| Don’t settle for ‘second-best’ . . . consider all the elements that could
improve your picture before you release the shutter. This might be something
distracting in the picture such as rubbish or a branch. Also, does the subject
merge with something in the background that can be cured simply by moving to the
right or left?
PLANNING AND
PATIENCE | Get to know your
subject's behavior patterns be it Elk during the rut, a bird approaching a nest,
or when the sun will hit a mountain peak at dawn. It's all very rewarding and
satisfying.
THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT
| To improve your pictures consider your lenses and accessories. Will a filter
help? Will a longer lens be useful for landscapes? Will auto-focus alleviate
your focusing problems? These are decisions you have to make for yourself, so
practice them until they become second nature to you.
WHICH CAMERA SYSTEM?
| None in particular in my opinion. It's really all down to how you see and
compose pictures, so it's not the equipment, it's you!
BE ADAPTABLE
| Change camera positions to leave out those power poles or 'stray' people.
Perhaps the shade of a tree can serve as your lens shade? Lost or broken your
cable release? . . . use the self-timer.
TELL A STORY
| Include the 'environment'. What does the image say about the time, place or
person? I personally like to fill the frame with my subject, but once in a while
I will include more of the background, such as in character shots to create an
'environmental portrait'.
TAKE THE
OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARISE | Take the
opportunities afforded by zoos, wildlife farms, and events such as historic
re-creations to capture those rare and otherwise unobtainable images. Obviously
you'll want to get in tight on your subject, so use longer lenses to eliminate
society's distractions.
MAKE THE EFFORT
| An image you have in mind may require some elaborate setting up. If the
image is worth the effort, then go ahead and manipulate and coerce! Also, don't
leave that tripod in the car or think, "the right lens is in my bag, but . . .
". When you take the time to get it right you won't be disappointed.
ENJOY YOUR
PHOTOGRAPHY | Take pictures for your
own pleasure first of all. Please don’t do it to please others or a club judge,
though that will certainly follow.
PHOTOGRAPHY IS AN
ART | . . . and just as with the
many other arts out there in the big world, you will naturally develop your own
style. Yes, even with a camera. I've been in Camera Clubs and at exhibitions and
hear comments such as "That's a 'Joe Bloggs' shot", and we all have that
potential.
© John Baker
Photographer LLC
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