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Really Useful Stuff! |
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"What makes a good photograph?"...If I had a penny for every time someone asked me this, well let’s just say my wife and children would be very disappointed! |
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There are no hard and fast rules, in fact some of the so called ‘rules’ of photography can be broken to very good effect; razor sharp focus, rule-of-thirds, level horizon to name but a few. With this in mind I have created these articles of things which have helped me along the way and I hope you find them useful too. As I learn more these will added to. |
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Look Behind You! |
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This isn’t a pantomime or some warning of an on-coming threat but painfully simple and worth while advice. It could perhaps be broadened to ‘look around you’. If you are either walking through wonderful scenery or heading towards a very specific ‘target’ always take time to look around you and in particular look behind you. It is all too easy to become blinkered and see only that which is in front of you. If you think about it, you’re missing out on half the view! |
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Spare Shots |
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Always leave spare shots in your camera (Lord Lichfield used to do this). Some great photo opportunities can be missed walking back to the car or packing up thinking ‘job done! Time to go’. |
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Never Assume |
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Never assume ‘the shot is in the bag’, always take a few more. Even with today’s digital cameras it can be difficult to see pin sharp focus on a 2inch LCD screen viewed in broad daylight. I’ve certainly been there; excitedly getting home to view my pictures only to be disappointed by the poor focus, exposure, colour balance or something else which wasn’t apparent at the time. One way to avoid disappointment is to bracket your shots (see above). |
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Research Your Location |
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If you have a particular ‘target’ or destination in mind it’s worth doing a little research beforehand; Ordinance Survey maps are great for this. First and foremost you’ll need to know how to get there and not waste valuable time getting lost. This I’ve done before, particularly in the mornings. Driving around unfamiliar territory in the dark, getting lost, and trying to read an OS map. Meanwhile the sun is rising the mist is burning off and I’m beginning to wish I’d stayed in bed! You may also want to check on where the sun is due to rise / set in relation to the pictures you want to take. A study of the area might also suggest a better view or vantage point. Having said all this it is important to be flexible but not to the point where you’re so busy wandering off you don’t actually reach to your original destination. I find it best to be a little disciplined; stick to the original plan, get the shots and then investigate other areas. |
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Speak to People |
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Sometimes people’s imaginations can run wild when they see someone photographing unconventional subjects; derelict buildings, burnt out cars etc. An element of suspicion or even paranoia can creep in. Some time ago I was accused of being from the environment agency (what did that person have to hide!). I knew I didn’t need permission simply to take the picture as I was on a public right of way. I didn’t know who the owner might have been but in hindsight a polite chat with those present would have allayed all fears. On the whole the general public are great but it ALWAYS pays to simply explain who you are and what you are doing. Always seek permission even if you don’t actually need it. I have not been refused yet; people just like to know what’s going on. |
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