"Tech" Notes:
All photos were taken with pretty good cameras and lenses. Like good hammers, they mostly did what they were supposed to do. Having good tools is helpful, but I believe that certain aspects of photography, such as framing, are more important than mega-pixel counts. Here are a few of the "rules" I try to follow:
- Sometimes you have to step onto someone's precious flower bed to get a better angle.
- Instead of shooting from the sidewalk, how about taking a shot while crossing the street?
- Go down on your knees and get you pants dirty. The world can look a lot more interesting from below.
- Standing on your car's bumper, trunk, or roof can get you a better angle, if holding the camera over your head is not enough.
- As my former photo professor, Robbert Flick, once told me: "If the photo you're trying to take is just not happening--turn around."
- Try using the hi-beams of your car for lighting. Get the front wheels on a curb and bounce the light off the side of a house. I've shot movies that way, sometimes using a bunch of crew cars.
- Always be ready to take a picture. That magical moment may only last a few seconds.
- Before pulling the trigger take a moment, study the composition and ask yourself: Does the image make you feel anything? If not, follow some of the rules above.
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