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A quick thread to explain how I approach photo jobs. Each photographer will do things a little differently. This is how I do it...
The first thing to take into account is that i am not a specialist in any area, im employed to take photos, im basically someone who knows how to work a camera to get photos for people and has to cover anything from post mortems to weddings, war to kids playing
Engineering stuff to action stuff, studio stuff to unusual location stuff.
I still use the same (ish) approach that I was taught when I joined the RAF a couple of years ago (ish) ;-)
I still use the same (ish) approach that I was taught when I joined the RAF a couple of years ago (ish) ;-)
For the range of subjects I have to photograph I cannot be an expert in any area, once you know how to work a camera getting a great photo is mostly listening to the experts about whats going to happen and planning what you want to do. It is massively down to talking to people
To understand their area that I'm joining for the day, getting to understand what they do and what they need the photos to show. Planning is a huge part of it and something many people forget about
So... to the photography, there are 4 modes on a camera, Auto (it does everything for you)... never use it. You don't learn from it and the results are always mediocre. Full Manual mode (You have to think of everything) Great if you have lots of time but easy to make mistakes
So that leaves Aperture Priority (you pick an Aperture and the camera works out the shutter speed). And Shutter priority (you pick a shutter speed and the camera works out the aperture)
At this point I should point out (some armchair anorak will point out) there are other things to consider but I'm trying to keep it simple to explain my thought process to shooting
So you have a decision to make, shutter or aperture priority mode. If things are moving and I want to enhance or eliminate movement then it's shutter priority mode so I can get exactly what I want
If the main thing I need to consider is depth or amount of light available (its dark) then I use Aperture priorty
By using these two modes its a quick easy decision of what effect I want and how I want to control it.
This means I can fully pay attention to the subject and not have to keep looking away from the subject to change things.
This means I can fully pay attention to the subject and not have to keep looking away from the subject to change things.
All the best photos you ever see are about a moment in time, its the moment a bride cries, the moment a baby smiles, a gymnast is at full stretch, a rally car at peak slide or height of a jump, the moment a Tiger growls etc etc etc.
It is always about a moment, it is NEVER about a setting!
The trick is to be ready for that moment.
The trick is to be ready for that moment.
A good photographer is generally somebody who knows how a camera works but knows the subject just as well if not better.
I find it best to work to the Keep it Simple way of doing things.
This way I can pick up a camera and a minute later be ready to get decent photos of pretty much anything
This way I can pick up a camera and a minute later be ready to get decent photos of pretty much anything
That said... when I have more time to do jobs I donit properly ;-)
