DigitalPro Shooter Volume 2, Issue 3, February 4th, 2003
Welcome to DPS 2-3. This issue features 10 very practical tips on how to take more Great images, plus some very exciting news for Sports & Wedding shooters.
Is Good the enemy of Great?
Creating more Great images:
Every day in our lives and in our work we see many good photographic images, but only a few great ones. All too often it is easy to settle for a good image--well lit, well composed, communicates a basic message--rather than think about how to create a truly great image that will grab the viewer and really make the point. Clearly, in order to make great images we need to know all the basics of making good ones first. But how do we avoid getting stuck with hard drives full of good images and instead start capturing those great ones? We all have our own techniques, but here are 10 that I use to remind myself to really work towards better images:
- Know your subject. By knowing your subject you will maximize your
chances of being in the right place at the right time and capturing the peak of
action or emotion. If it is an animal read about it, study its movements and
habits, and get to know what it is likely to do next. Moose has often said his
favorite photography books are biology books and this is a major reason why.
This is just as true for sports, weddings, photojournalism or any other type of
photography. You can only be in one place at a time. Make sure its the right
one.
- Imagine your image. Once the action starts it is way too easy to lock
in and start shooting. Before things get hot, imagine the shot you'd like to
get. Maybe it is similar to one you've seen or an editor has asked for but you
didn't have. Maybe it is one that will be completely unique. Don't just imagine
the subject or the action, imagine the lighting, composition and background.
- Plan your shot. Once you know what you'd like to capture, plan it in
advance. Think about where the light will be coming from, what the background
looks like and what the subject will be doing. If it is outdoors, the clouds and
wind can also make or break your plans, as of course can snow or rain.
Thinking through what you'll do under different conditions will help you be
ready when they happen.
- Perfect your Technique. Many shots require specific techniques. Race
cars and flying birds require panning, nocturnal animals require complex flash
setups, and social photography can involve a bewildering array of exposure and
white balance options. Make sure you are comfortable with all the equipment you
need and the techniques you plan to use before you arrive on location. That way
you won't be wasting your valuable shooting time doing work you could have done
in advance.
- Prepare. How often have we all complained that
our camera doesn't focus fast enough, or that our lens hunts for focus just at
the wrong time. Sure, we all wish our gear was better, but you can do a lot to
make sure it works well by being prepared. If you have set up your shot with
good contrast between subject and background your camera and lens are less
likely to hunt when you focus. And if you pre-focus on a target about the same
distance as you expect your subject to be your camera will lock onto your
subject much more quickly and effectively. And if you have the exposure, along
with any needed compensation and white balance adjustments, figured out in
advance, you'll lose less opportunities than if you need to fiddle with your
camera while the subject is in front of you.
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6. Be Patient. This is the hardest one for me. It is hard to sit and wait for the right shot when there is action around you. It is much easier to chase the action. Particularly if you are in an exciting new location or working with a new species it is easy to want to get "something" rather than go home empty-handed. That's natural. The key is getting it out of your system early. Grab a few frames so that you have them and then settle down to the work of getting some great images. In a week of shooting devoted to Bald Eagles, the light and sky were only right for the classic portrait shot for about an hour. But it was totally worth it!
- Allow Time. You've probably figured out by now that great images
are often not made in an hour or even a day. If your subject is nature or
wildlife you may need to try many times, perhaps in different seasons or even
different years to get exactly the shot you want. That's part of what makes
photography so compelling! Obviously if you are recording an event you probably
won't have the luxury of coming back day after day, but even in that case you
can often maximize your chances by getting some shots during practice or warm-ups
and at least making sure you use the time of the event wisely.
- Be Alert. Planning is great, but many opportunities arise out of the
blue. Watch and listen to what is around you and be ready to throw your plan out
the window if something exciting happens. This isn't an excuse to be impatient
and chase every potential shot that comes along, but knowing when to move and
take advantage of a rapidly unfolding situation is an important skill. The
better you understand your subject and environment the better you'll be at
knowing when to abandon your initial plan.
- Be Bold. None of us can see exactly like our cameras. Don't be
afraid to experiment and decide for yourself whether you like the results. Too
often photographers ask whether something will work or not without
understanding why or finding out for themselves. It's great to read and listen
to others, but if you just do what they do "because they said so", you'll
quickly be stuck in a rut. The only bad image is one you don't learn from.
That's why Digital Shooters
Retreat features hands-on shooting along with the breakout sessions and
talks. A combination of those approaches is the best and fastest way to learn.
- "Rip film". When you're prepared you're more likely to know when that great image is in front of your lens. Too often I watch folks let that moment slip by while capturing one or two frames. After all the work you've put into getting there, don't be afraid to hold down your shutter release and burn through some film or flashcard space. You'll never know until you look at the images later whether the subject blinked or jerked at the wrong time. You can maximize your chances of getting the combination of elements you want by grabbing several frames.
Quick Updates
Polaroid EN-4 replacements are proving to be an inexpensive alternative for D1 family shooters, Canon has dropped the price of the 1D by $800, and DigitalPro2 is getting rave reviews from users. You can check out their testimonials and some exclusive online video demos at the WRP DigitalPro2 Page.
DigitalPro Shooter Forums!
We're all ears for experiences with both the Auto Tone setting on the D1X/D1H after firmware update, and for how rebuilt or Polaroid replacement EN-4 batteries are working out for you. Let us know in the Photo Tools forum!
DigitalPro Tip of the Week
If you've seen those nice image watermarks Moose & I use, now you can have them automatically created for you. DigitalPro2 will add the text of your choice to images you process with it. You can save as many different processing templates as you need, with different combinations of watermarks and other settings.