"GETTING THE SHOT"
GETTING THE SHOT
For most photographers, full time jobs limit the availability of our being outdoors at the right time. I have a few tricks, which have enabled me to produce better quality images under less than optimal lighting and weather conditions.
Firstly, shoot in your own territory to get comfortable with your cameras operation. Don’t go on an expensive trip prior to reading your cameras manual or learning its basic operation. I recently met an individual in Monument Valley struggling to get his new, expensive digital camera to work properly and he missed a very beautiful sunset opportunity.
Ok, if you find yourself in that position, most modern cameras have a mode position itemized with an “A” for Auto or “p” for program. Auto mode is exactly as described. It removes guesswork by automatically choosing the exposure settings but limits creative capability. The “P” mode gives you some additional options and will get you 80% of the way to your goal. I tell my wife that “P” stands for “perfect” and she keeps it there. This will give you a pretty “purfect” picture in most conditions but our goal is to improve upon our final image and bring into play our creative skills.
Researching locations with books or photo guides helps make great photos. Most newspapers, including our local paper here in Tucson, have a featured “hike of the week” which I file and use for planning local shoots.
Keep a packing list inside your bag and check it prior to departure so you don’t forget key items such as film, digital cards or batteries. (Trust me, it will happen.)
Don’t be discouraged if the weather doesn’t cooperate. Cloudy days are my best days for shooting floral and close ups. Don’t be discouraged if you miss the early morning or late afternoon “golden” light. Here your polarizing and warming filter may help but will not correct an overly contrasting or bright scene.
In this digital age some people may tell you that you don’t need any filters but a few are still invaluable. I have a combination warming and polarizing filter, which I used to obtain the first photo in my "Arizona" gallery. The polarizer helps to bring out contrast in our beautiful Arizona landscapes under magnificent clouded skies and acts as a “haze filter”. The warming filter brings back some of the color lost in the mid-day harsh light, especially during the dry seasons. Neutral graduated filters are needed to balance contrasty scenes.
Lastly, be patient, focus on the composition of your image and remember; a successful photo day is when you come back with one good photo that you can have printed for proud display.
He can be reached at: vicbeer@comcast.net
He provides instruction in photography, printing and Photoshop.