Jim Thompson, Jr.
01-21-2007, 11:02 AM
Avery Website Photography Committee
Bi-Monthly Photography Tip
Name: Jim Thompson, Jr.
Date: January 15, 2007
Title: An Eye for Photography
Photography Tip: How to Capture Pleasing Images
Explanation of Using the Photography Tip:
They say photography is 20% equipment and 80% eye. While the best of cameras and lenses assure sharp and crisp images, it’s up to the user to capture desirable photographs that are pleasing to the eye whether it be of wildlife, flowers, sporting events, or an aircraft. The objective is to capture photographs that you’ll look at more than once; photos that would catch the eye of those who have no real connection with the subject. Simply stated, good photography is good photography.
Before you release the shutter button, take a second to ask yourself why you are taking the picture, what do you want it to relay, what will you do with it, what do you see in the viewfinder? If you like to see the non-detailed shadowed side of your subject, take the picture.
The digital camera era has opened up so many new avenues for those interested in photography and has greatly reduced the learning curve for good camera use. It’s natural with digital to be initially “photo happy” but as time goes on you should be taking fewer and fewer shots to capture the image you wish. This isn’t to say you shouldn’t take lots of pictures, just lots of good pictures. Once again ask yourself, “Why am I taking this picture to start with.” Slow down and take the time to set up yourself and the camera correctly.
I was fishing on the famed Bighorn River last summer with a good friend. Using our own cameras we took numerous shots of each other holding world-class brown and rainbow trout. Later that night, when viewing the images on his camera’s monitor, we noted quickly that the photos were all very bluish in color. The last time he had used the camera body was at an indoor sporting event in which the white balance set for an incandescent lighting source. For the indoor setting, the pictures were ultra sharp and had great content. In an outdoor setting, the photo results were unfavorable. Even after extensive photo manipulation work on the computer the images still fell far short of what they would have been if the settings were correct on the camera.
Before you ever lift the camera to your eye, turn the power on and check all of the settings on your control panel. Also get in the habit of viewing the same information in your viewfinder. Is that really the shutter speed, f-stop, film speed, exposure compensation, and focus area you want? Better to miss one good picture than 100. Don’t get hung up on shooting on the automatic setting on your camera. You may get instant satisfaction and take lots of good shots but you’ll get very few great ones.
To understand how your camera works and what it’s capable of doing. Read the operator’s manual end-to-end several times and then carry it with you everywhere you go. Head to your local library and check out how-to books, instructional tapes, and DVD’s on photography. There are also unlimited amounts of great information on the web.
Remember that good photography is meant to be shared with all. I hope that you receive as much enjoyment and self-satisfaction from it as I do.
Advantages of Using the Photography Tip: Obtain a higher percentage of desirable images.
http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/9153/dsc00729na.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/9158/dsc00645sy.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/587/dsc00658kq.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/5125/dsc00427yl.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Bi-Monthly Photography Tip
Name: Jim Thompson, Jr.
Date: January 15, 2007
Title: An Eye for Photography
Photography Tip: How to Capture Pleasing Images
Explanation of Using the Photography Tip:
They say photography is 20% equipment and 80% eye. While the best of cameras and lenses assure sharp and crisp images, it’s up to the user to capture desirable photographs that are pleasing to the eye whether it be of wildlife, flowers, sporting events, or an aircraft. The objective is to capture photographs that you’ll look at more than once; photos that would catch the eye of those who have no real connection with the subject. Simply stated, good photography is good photography.
Before you release the shutter button, take a second to ask yourself why you are taking the picture, what do you want it to relay, what will you do with it, what do you see in the viewfinder? If you like to see the non-detailed shadowed side of your subject, take the picture.
The digital camera era has opened up so many new avenues for those interested in photography and has greatly reduced the learning curve for good camera use. It’s natural with digital to be initially “photo happy” but as time goes on you should be taking fewer and fewer shots to capture the image you wish. This isn’t to say you shouldn’t take lots of pictures, just lots of good pictures. Once again ask yourself, “Why am I taking this picture to start with.” Slow down and take the time to set up yourself and the camera correctly.
I was fishing on the famed Bighorn River last summer with a good friend. Using our own cameras we took numerous shots of each other holding world-class brown and rainbow trout. Later that night, when viewing the images on his camera’s monitor, we noted quickly that the photos were all very bluish in color. The last time he had used the camera body was at an indoor sporting event in which the white balance set for an incandescent lighting source. For the indoor setting, the pictures were ultra sharp and had great content. In an outdoor setting, the photo results were unfavorable. Even after extensive photo manipulation work on the computer the images still fell far short of what they would have been if the settings were correct on the camera.
Before you ever lift the camera to your eye, turn the power on and check all of the settings on your control panel. Also get in the habit of viewing the same information in your viewfinder. Is that really the shutter speed, f-stop, film speed, exposure compensation, and focus area you want? Better to miss one good picture than 100. Don’t get hung up on shooting on the automatic setting on your camera. You may get instant satisfaction and take lots of good shots but you’ll get very few great ones.
To understand how your camera works and what it’s capable of doing. Read the operator’s manual end-to-end several times and then carry it with you everywhere you go. Head to your local library and check out how-to books, instructional tapes, and DVD’s on photography. There are also unlimited amounts of great information on the web.
Remember that good photography is meant to be shared with all. I hope that you receive as much enjoyment and self-satisfaction from it as I do.
Advantages of Using the Photography Tip: Obtain a higher percentage of desirable images.
http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/9153/dsc00729na.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/9158/dsc00645sy.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/587/dsc00658kq.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/5125/dsc00427yl.jpg (http://imageshack.us)