You would not want to be standing near me when I discover a preventable composition error in a photograph as I view it on my computer. The air turns blue and lightning bolts emerge from my head. I suffer total frustration and guilt because I could have corrected the error if only I had spotted it in the viewfinder or on the display on the back of the camera. Continue reading “Trite but True #9: Look, really look, through the viewfinder”
Trite but True #8: Keep a camera with you always
I’m not expecting an alien spaceship to land in front of me today. But if it does, I’ll get the pictures – If I have a camera with me. Continue reading “Trite but True #8: Keep a camera with you always”
Trite but True #7: Take lots of pictures
Armed with high-capacity memory cards, we can shoot without guilt. If in doubt take the shot. And with tools like Lightroom and Aperture, it has become practical to review, prune, edit, and catalog hundreds or thousands of images. Continue reading “Trite but True #7: Take lots of pictures”
Trite but True #6: Make the subject pop
In some ways this is Rule Zero of photography. If the subject of a photograph fades into the background, is it really the subject? Without a subject, do you really have a photograph? If a tree falls in the woods …. Continue reading “Trite but True #6: Make the subject pop”
Trite but True #5: Be polite
I’m not sure whether “Be polite” is photographic advice or life advice. I’ve noticed a lot of photographers are loud and self-centered. However, the really good photographers tend to be soft-spoken, courteous, and really good listeners. Continue reading “Trite but True #5: Be polite”
Trite but True #4: Shoot in the early morning or late afternoon
I’ll bet that 90% of the great outdoor photographs you’ve seen were taken within half an hour of sunrise or sunset. Photographers rhapsodize and coo over the subtle hues and tones of the golden hour. Here’s a photo of Sunrise from the Dallas Divide in Colorado. Continue reading “Trite but True #4: Shoot in the early morning or late afternoon”