Category: Tips

Catching a Wave

The best time to capture a wave is when it’s drawing back.  As the wave comes in it envelops any rocks and sometimes it completely washes over them.  Taking a shot at this point makes it look overwhelmed with that white froth you get from the crest of the wave.
By waiting until the water is starting to draw back out you have clearly defined movement from the water and the rocks become visible.
Marg Jackman

Marg’s Tip for February

Five Tried and True Landscape Photography Tips Used by the Pros.

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Have you ever found yourself wondering how do the professionals (Pros) consistently turn out amazing photographs day after day, year after year and what are their secrets.

1.  Experimentation

Experimenting is one of the best ways to shake yourself up out of the doldrums and even pros use it to get their creative juices flowing.  Try something totally out of your comfort zone,  If you are already a master of the golden hours, try shooting a nightscape or even a long exposure in the middle of the day.  Experimenting keeps you on the learning path and when you learn, you grow as a photographer.

2.  Making it on your own

Many places on your photography list have already been captured hundreds of times.  What else can you do?  Is there another foreground element you can add or take away?  One of the things that make pros work stand out from the rest, is their perspective and ability to make a place seem like you are seeing it for the first time.  Can you get a different angle, add or detract an element or shoot it differently. (eg. with light trails or multiple exposures?)

3.  Tell a Story

Being able to evoke the emotions of your audience should always be a goal.  Keep in mind that the purpose of your photographic story is to interest, instruct or amuse your audience.  Decide how you want the image to affect them, and then how to achieve that goal.  Is it going to be realistic or abstract, black or white or infrared?

4.  Less Can Be More

In landscape photograph, being more selective with the views you present, tells a more effective story, so pros understand the power of good composition.  One of the rules of good composition is that your image should contain just enough details.  You do not have the luxury of physically moving things around, so you must arrange the elements of an image by changing your position. You can then find the most flattering views and one that tells a different story.
Choosing the important elements to highlight, helps you to decide what to include and what to leave out.  Make your subject dominate by accentuating it with one or few related elements, remembering to declutter as much as you can.  As a general rule, if the element  doesn’t  enhance the subject, it may be detracting from it.

5.  Know Your Post-Processing

Ideally you want to get the shot right in camera.  Pros know the importance of post-processing. That is the main reason they shoot in RAW, to capture all the uncompressed image data, which leads to higher quality images in the end.  Digital photography has made it easier to post-process, but it also makes it easier to go overboard easily.  So determine your vision for the final image, and learn to execute it properly, so you produce an image that represents you.

Conclusion

Staying consistent means staying creative or constantly challenging yourself to try something different or learn something new.  There is nothing more amazing than producing a piece that someone can identify as yours, even before they confirm you did.

Straighten Things Out

If you prefer to get your perspective as straight as possible in-camera but you don’t have a tilt-shift lens, there is a solution.  You have just taken a shot of a building, possibly with a 20mm lens, and are standing close to it and looking up.
If possible, step back and switch to a longer lens. You’ll be able to keep your camera level and avoid converging verticals – though your subject will be smaller in the frame.
Marg Jackman

Merry Christmas!

Did Santa bring you a new camera for Christmas? If you’re new to photography then this article on camera basics that Fraser Campbell shared with us will help you get started.

If you want to learn even more about your new camera why not try it out at our Shoot In which we’re holding as part of the meeting on January 6th. Don’t forget to bring your manual.

Henry’s Kanata

stu-and-gregThanks to Alexandra Leask and Greg Pilsworth from Henry’s Kanata for their interesting presentation at our December meeting and for answering all our questions during the break.

Alexandra discussed the following:

  • Sandisk SD cards come with an offer for a free trial version of their file recovery  software
  • SD cards and what all the numbers mean. You can get your own copy of her handout by clicking here.
  • The Canon CS100 1 TB external drive can be used without a computer to back up images from memory cards. It has WiFi so can connect directly to computers and  smart TVs.
  • Smart phone photography as “the camera you carry” – better than the one you leave at home
  • XQD memory cards which are a new standard for fast reliable storage supported by the Nikon D500. A replacement for CF the old card standard
  • sensor sizes based on the image in this article

Alexandra pointed out that all the staff at Henry’s are avid photographers and that they welcome questions. Specifics (hours and location) of Henry’s Kanata store are here. The Henry’s web site is here.

You can email Alexandra here and Greg here.

 

 

Marg’s Tip for December

Contemplative Photography

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Henri Cartier-Bresson said: For me the camera is a sketch book, an instrument of intuition and spontaneity.
In order to”give a meaning” to the world, one has to feel oneself involved in what one frames through the viewfinder – Must always take photography with the greatest respect for the subject and oneself.

Preparing for your Journey: Simplify.

Heavy tripods, huge lenses and expensive cameras are not necessary for Contemplative Photography – an open heart, unfettered mind and infinite patient are.
Equipping the Mind:  Probably more important than what you carry on your back, is what you carry in your heart.  There are two approaches.  You “shoot” your subject, you “take” photographs.  We use telephoto lenses to get close to a subject without their knowledge. It is photography as voyeur, as hunter.  The other way is to engage in a dialogue that respects your subject.  A Contemplative Photographer understands that photograph is a two way street and waits for the landscape to invite them in.  The four B’s.  Be still, be present, be patient and be persistent.

The Contemplative Eye:

  • Sees beauty in the commonplace
  • Looks for the subtle language of pattern and texture
  • Seeks out the metaphoric capabilities of the landscape
  • Is unhurried and patient
  • Looks beneath the subject qualities to reveal the hidden layers of meaning
  • Revels in the interplay of light and shadow.

Contemplative Thought Flow:

Approaching:    As you sit in the landscape, try to engage with what is in front of you.  Journal your thoughts and be patient.
Engaging:      What in the landscape draws your attention? Does it require you to move closer and step back?  Use you viewfinder to try out different compositions.
Reflecting:      Play back your photograph.  Do any of them illustrate the feelings you have for the landscape?  Sometimes you need to return again and again before you capture the essence of the place.
The outer landscape becomes a metaphor for the unknown inner landscape.
The essential tasks of every Contemplative Photographer is to seek out and resonate with those metaphors., which include, shadows,play of light on subjects, contrasts of texture, colour, man-made elements, architectural features, weather effects, trees, especially unusual ones,plants and flowers and water-still and moving.

Changing your Lenses:

Traditional photography puts an emphasis on technique and subject matter.  Contemplative Photography emphasises the individuals interpretation of the landscape through the lenses of our heart.
THE OLD LENS THE NEW LENS
Images are taken Image received
Concern for control Openness to Surprise
Photography as aggression Photography as an act of respect
The camera as a weapon ( point and shoot) The camera as translator
Subject as object Subject as co-creator
An attitude of judgement An attitude of wonder
Photography is “detached” Photography forms an interconnection
After you have created your photograph, there is always the issue of what to do with it.  It all comes down to what you hope to convey in the photograph and you might not know till long after it is made, after you have had time to sit with the image and reflect on the meaning to you.  This is the Contemplative part of the process and it takes time.

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This hint is condensed from A Field Guide for the Contemplative Photographer by Patricia Turner.

Gift of Lights

Camera Club member Kathy Brown pointed out Gift of Lights  as good chance to get some interesting Christmas light pictures.

Quoting from their website:

Gift of Lights is a family-friendly 2 kilometre drive-thru holiday light display featuring a 100+ foot light tunnel at the exit, and over 30 full light static & animated displays!

It’s on from Friday, November 25th, 2016 to Sunday, January 1st, 2017 7 days a week: from 5:00 PM until 10:00 PM at Wesley Clover Parks Campground, 411 Corkstown Road.

If you go and take pictures,  please share them with the club.

Thanks for sharing this with us Kathy.

[Added later]

Kathy did some checking with the organizers and it’s not possible to get out of your car to take pictures so this might not be a great opportunity.

Photo Swirls

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Ron Pierce submitted this great image of swirled flowers in response to the summer garden assignment. He’s prepared a note for us explaining how it’s done. Inside his note are links to even more detailed instructions. Thanks for sharing Ron.

Julieanne Kost

At the recent Camera Club executive meeting, Brenda Smith mentioned Julieanne Kost as a good source of tips about Lightroom and Photoshop.

She has many free tutorials on her web site where she also lists several courses she has on Lynda.com. See this post for information on how to access the Lynda.com courses for free.

Thanks for sharing the great tip Brenda.