How do YOU take a photo?
- Thread starter Scott Murray
- Start date
I am wondering what thought processes you go through when you decide yes this will be a great photo
Post away
The most important element to me of what will make a great shot is first the light and then the scene itself. Lots of time I will just leave a shot alone because I already know it will come out blah and uninteresting.
Landscapes are easy. I use Aperture Priority and EV comp if needed. I try to leave enough around the frame in case I have to do some cropping or distortion control if I'm shooting with an UWA.
I don't worry about shutter speed much. I have a tripod. I do however look for interesting lighting. To me, an old barn lit in an interesting way is much more desirable than a majestic mountain with blah lighting.
I've had that a few times with birds:
Rush inside to get camera and lense.
Rush back outside to find an empty brach with no bird in sight.
Scott, this question is too hard to answer!
The subject dictates my approach. I go in to a wildlife or sports shoot with the camera set up and my shooting locations as pre-planned as possible. Static subjects give me time to try multiple angles, framing and exposure.
I will also say that, for me, digital has made me a better photographer, not a lazy one. Since I don't worry about running out of film, I can try lots of shots and be as creative as I want.
The subject dictates my approach. I go in to a wildlife or sports shoot with the camera set up and my shooting locations as pre-planned as possible. Static subjects give me time to try multiple angles, framing and exposure.
I will also say that, for me, digital has made me a better photographer, not a lazy one. Since I don't worry about running out of film, I can try lots of shots and be as creative as I want.
It's impossible for me to. I either find a tons of stuff, or come with with a 0% keeper rate. This is why I don't do 365s, collective shoots, etc. Some days I never even look at a camera, let alone pick one up and use it.
Horoscope Fish
Senior Member
While I don't "force" it, I do nudge it along by practicing, regardless. Doing a 365 has already helped instill some discipline in my shooting because many are the days that frankly, I'm just not feeling it.
But I do it anyway.
And on those days, most often, I feel a bit like a derelict machine being started for the first time in a long time. Things are slow and creaky and there's a lot of complaining. After a few minutes, though, I find myself falling back into the flow and a few minutes after that I find myself once again immersed in what I'm doing and loving it and I'm glad I didn't give in to the initial resistance.
....
My previous post was a "tongue in cheek" (snarky) remark, but in all reality I am still trying to become comfortable with my processes. Different situations dictate planning and execution. Most of my photos are taken as I walk around my property with the dog. Just dry desert with the same views day after day. Ha! Most of the time the main opportunities presented are BIF shots so I plan accordingly. When I start the walk, I have the 70-300 lens, S priority set to about 800 and ISO to 400. (Usually it is bright sun conditions). Not much time for any other considerations when that bird comes zooming by. Ha!
Stationary shots are different. Some of you can take a "Stick" and make it look like a master piece. I don't know how you do it but I am trying to learn. I have been trying to see with a vision like this, but still have difficulty. Ha! I just finished an eBook "Extraordinary Everyday Photography" by Brenda Tharp and Jed Manwaring. It is basic information, but has many good reminders and ideas to develop the vision to create "that wow" photograph in daily situations.
Anyway, I still try to shoot like I did in my days of film. Frame what interests me. Take time to view what is in the viewfinder (All of it, side to side and foreground to background.) Look at light and shadows. Rarely do I review the photo in the LCD, mainly because I can't see it in the sunlight. Ha! If I do, it is usually too small for me to be too critical. Like the film days, I wait to review. When reviewing the shots on the computer many get trashed and some are saved to play with later, and then a few make me smile with pleasure after a little touch up.
Good or bad, digital has made me more willing to experiment. I do more "spray and pray" than in the film days, but still try to be discretionary in what and how many shots I take. Sometimes I even surprise myself. Ha!
Stationary shots are different. Some of you can take a "Stick" and make it look like a master piece. I don't know how you do it but I am trying to learn. I have been trying to see with a vision like this, but still have difficulty. Ha! I just finished an eBook "Extraordinary Everyday Photography" by Brenda Tharp and Jed Manwaring. It is basic information, but has many good reminders and ideas to develop the vision to create "that wow" photograph in daily situations.
Anyway, I still try to shoot like I did in my days of film. Frame what interests me. Take time to view what is in the viewfinder (All of it, side to side and foreground to background.) Look at light and shadows. Rarely do I review the photo in the LCD, mainly because I can't see it in the sunlight. Ha! If I do, it is usually too small for me to be too critical. Like the film days, I wait to review. When reviewing the shots on the computer many get trashed and some are saved to play with later, and then a few make me smile with pleasure after a little touch up.
Good or bad, digital has made me more willing to experiment. I do more "spray and pray" than in the film days, but still try to be discretionary in what and how many shots I take. Sometimes I even surprise myself. Ha!
There are days when i have zero interest in shooting, thankfully not the norm. The happiest times in my life when i took pictures are the best i've taken hands down. One particular period i was all warm and fuzzy, new relationship, all that stuff,,
, and i had just gotten a N90 and a 28-70, and the shots i got then were the best i ever took. Maybe i should look her up. analoguey01
Senior Member
Visualise, visualise, visualise.
Then look through the viewfinder, adjust settings and maybe for composition.
Then release the shutter.
At some shots, I might bungle and would know I have, so take another Of similar nature.
Look for the Next shot.
Film, Digital, phone. Doesn't matter.
Yes, with digital, you get slightly more possibilities of adjusting, experimenting -but if you do too much, you'll lose it cos you'll then have to back up the photos, catalog it etc., too much work there!
You can visualise any sort of shot, not just the Studio ones - sports, wildlife and street shots.
All the best.
Ps - I love shooting film more for personal work.
Then look through the viewfinder, adjust settings and maybe for composition.
Then release the shutter.
At some shots, I might bungle and would know I have, so take another Of similar nature.
Look for the Next shot.
Film, Digital, phone. Doesn't matter.
Yes, with digital, you get slightly more possibilities of adjusting, experimenting -but if you do too much, you'll lose it cos you'll then have to back up the photos, catalog it etc., too much work there!
You can visualise any sort of shot, not just the Studio ones - sports, wildlife and street shots.
All the best.
Ps - I love shooting film more for personal work.
I started out as a snapshot shooter, as did, I believe, many of us. Once i knew i wanted to pursue photography more seriously, i started setting goals and planning series photos for both the experience and to fulfill my desire to view the same scene or object at different times or in different seasons. I try and bring the same discipline to photography as I do to my wood working. To me,a well rendered photo is as satisfying as a well built cabinet, Since entering the digital age i now have the satisfaction of controlling every thing about my photos, from capture, to editing, to printing, to framing and mounting on the wall. Is this a great hobby or what?
Having come back to the Hobby after 30 years and from film to digital I shoot a little more than normal.
Now I can take multiple shots from different angles and settings having to worry about processing fees and film limitations.
But on a side note, I usually put the camera up to my eye look thru the little window , press a little button and decide if as the optometrist says is the image Better 1 or Better 2, and then just Take The Dang Picture !
Now I can take multiple shots from different angles and settings having to worry about processing fees and film limitations.
But on a side note, I usually put the camera up to my eye look thru the little window , press a little button and decide if as the optometrist says is the image Better 1 or Better 2, and then just Take The Dang Picture !
analoguey01
Senior Member
Having come back to the Hobby after 30 years and from film to digital I shoot a little more than normal.
Now I can take multiple shots from different angles and settings having to worry about processing fees and film limitations.
Hehehe.
Then comes the problem of sorting, backing them up and cataloguing.
Shooting lot more == lot more effort on the admin tasks like those.
Yes, but 5000 digital photos fit on an external hard drive which measures 3x5. 5000 print photos take up 20 shoe boxes which take up 1/2 of a closet.
analoguey01
Senior Member
Revisit this when you've shot a few years of Digital and are trying to retrieve that one image you or Trip you remember.
Or if one hard disk flips.
PS. Btdt.
Or if one hard disk flips.
PS. Btdt.