As most photographers will tell you, a photo is not always waiting until you are ready to take it. It is very easy to miss a shot because your camera is still set for that shot you took five minutes ago. Here are a few of my quick tips for helping you be ready for those unpredictable moments.
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1: Be aware of lighting conditions
Say you are walking down a trail and there and many trees all around and above. It is likely that this makes for a somewhat dark area so adjust your camera accordingly. Bump up that ISO, slow down your shutter (but still keep it hand holdable) and maybe even open up your aperture a bit. You follow the trail around and the trees become fewer and fewer which means the lighting conditions brighten up. Now it is time to bring that ISO back down, possibly a faster shutter or bring up the F stop for more depth of field because your surrounding light has changed and so should your camera settings.By being aware of these things you are more likely to have a workable image when a subject or moment presents itself for a second and then it is gone. I can't tell you how many times in the past I have grabbed my camera for a quick shot only to have snapped a black frame of nothingness because the 1/200 - F11 - ISO 100 settings clearly did not work where I had since moved to.
2: Abide the wide
Unplanned photo opportunities will more than likely be so quick that finding the ideal composition means missing the shot. While it is important to have good composition often times in these fleeting moments you are not able to compose, recompose and try different angles. Having time to only snap a frame or two means you need to increase the chances of having your subject in frame at all. Whatever lens you have on your camera during a transitional period, keep it at the widest end of it's zoom range.You can always crop in to get a better composition, but if you cut off your subject there is no bringing back the features that weren't photographed to begin with. While it is possible that these surprise moments may happen at a distance it is more likely to happen closer to you because of the sound and movement you are creating causes subjects to react to that more so at close range than at far.
3: Have an accessible camera
I know this sounds like a no-brainer but this is actually something that is easy to forget. I have missed shots because I was shooting on a tripod and instead of putting the camera back around my neck when done, I fold the tripod legs inward and carry the camera on the tripod over my shoulder. While at the moment that may mean convenience, it also means to get a shot where I need to be mobile, I have to: Get that tripod off my shoulder, set it down, remove the camera via quick plate then come up for the shot which at this point is likely no longer there. Not to mention if I hadn't been using tips one and two, that is two more things between me and taking the shot. Being able to get to your camera is vital because you can't really get a shot without it.4: Don't pack up your camera
Sometimes the best shots may come after you think you are done shooting. You are heading back to the car and maybe you're only twenty feet from it, but a lot can happen in that twenty feet. If you pack up and opportunity happens to present itself then chances are it will be gone by the time you get your gear back out. It's also not a bad idea to ride with your camera in the passenger seat should the need for a drive by shooting arise (photographically speaking of course!)5: Leave your camera turned on
Some people (including myself in the past) get in the bad habit of shutting your camera off in between locations or sets. Modern DSLR cameras have pretty decent battery life (even without a battery grip) and unless you are really hurting on remaining battery and have planned shots you must get, then leave your camera on. Every step between getting the camera ready and shooting is going to be time you can't have back. In those situations you may even forget you turned it off prior to that moment and with eye to viewfinder, you find yourself standing there disappointed when the shutter never actuates. If you still feel turning off your camera to have longer battery time is worth it, you have to ask yourself: "Is the battery life I get worth the photos I don't?"- - -
Capturing the unexpected is never a guarantee but with these five tips I am hoping to help you increase your odds and end up with some keepers. This goes for any kind of shooting, whether it is an expression on a models face during a makeup touch-up or between poses, a rare car on the road next to you or wildlife passing by, these moments disappear faster than they arrive and it is vital to be prepared if you want to capture them. Happy shooting.-----------------------------------------------------
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While some of these tips may seem to be common sense, it's amazing how much of these we don't put into practice when actually walking around with our cameras stuck in our bag or even in our hand. I've missed a lot of shots in the past that I could have gotten if I'd only had the camera a little more accessible and ready to shoot. Great tips.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment. I most definitely agree with you. Many times we get so caught up with getting to the shot that we think we want or thinking about all the technical aspects that we forget the basics and end up missing out on good photos because of that. Practicing things like these eventually make them second nature and that is the goal.
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