Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2005 14:41:53 -0800 From: "Shel Belinkoff" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected] Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Bill, this is pretty durned good advice. I'd add to it by suggesting that the batteries be removed from that K1000 and that a spot meter be incorporated into the program. In fact, go out some days without a camera and just use a spot meter, metering highlights and shadows of a scene. IOW, get to know the light and how it can be used in composition. Remember, you're photographing light.
Also, save every negative, even the crap. Not only for learning what's bad, but because somewhere down the line you may learn some skills or techniques that will help you turn the crap into something uniquely interesting.
Also, I strongly suggest getting a copy of "On Being a Photographer," and reading through it several times. http://www.lenswork.com/obp.htm
Find a subject that interests you and photograph it until your fingers hurt. Shoot it from every conceivable angle and in different light. Do the same thing with a subject that doesn't interest you so much. Make it interesting!
Shel
That last point is interesting and practical.
But a less-expensive option is to use a "mask" for looking at the scene.
Take a black piece of cardboard and cut a hole in it to the dimension that you'll
shoot or print. Hold it at arms length and see your composition.
This is so much easier than a viewfinder where most everyone tends to look
at just the center, missing the whole image. And per your suggestion, walk
around the subject and look at it from every conceivable angle and in different light.
You'll quickly be able to pick out a handful of shots to take, which will look good
in the end. You'll have fewer losers -- more keepers. A smaller film budget as well.
(Assuming you use film.) But even with digital, don't get good shots by accident.
Get them by intent. That's really where we all want to be, isn't it?
Collin
"You impress at a distance, but you impact a life up close. The closer the relationship the greater the impact."
Howard Hendricks
