Last week I forgot to mention a couple of things to you youngster photographers (under 35 years of age ) who take pictures with devices that fit in your back pocket. Did you know that shooting a prairie landscape or a Great Lakes freighter can be done using horizontal (‘landscape’) format instead of vertical?
Second observation: since 96.3% of your travel photos are ‘selfies’, why not include things other than blank walls, backsides of passing pedestrians, highway guardrails or the knees-down-view of three absolute strangers?
And now, back to the dwindling numbers of my kinfolk who still use real cameras, equipment that is black and silver (not pink, rainbow or plaid), devices that capture thousands of images digitally on SD cards that are smaller than postage stamps, rather than on film. Our hefty equipment is inscribed with all sorts of significant markings (hieroglyphics to the younger set) such as f.3.5-f.22; 28-250 mm; ISO/ASA 64-400; B, ½, 1/500; 1.5’– infinity.
Here are a few pointers that a few of you might need to be reminded of. Using a 28 mm lens with focus set mid-way between 10’ and infinity and a minimal aperture (f.22), everything between about 7’ and infinity will be in focus. Depending on lighting conditions and film speed, a long shutter speed might be necessary.
Want to make a truck, aircraft or sunflower appear gargantuan? Use the above technique, carefully positioning a person close to it, but in the far background.
Here’s the technical recipe for the opposite situation, where only something close to the camera is to be captured, devoid of distracting background clutter. Use telephoto lens (250 mm), set at maximum aperture (F3.5), and set ISO at minimal (100). Focus very carefully, with the subject as close to the camera possible. Result: item of interest sharp; close foreground and distant background will be as fuzzy as a drunk driver’s vision on a rainy night.
To some, all this will have been Greek. To others, a refresher, perhaps stimulated to say, “Oh yeah! Good reminders. Time to go travelling again and get back to doing some creative shooting.”
Cell phone camera or a real camera? Chacque un à son goût.
My passions, in alphabetical order: aviation, canoeing, dogs photography and travel. What dog? That spunky little one that was in my life from 1998-2010. Her name was Keesha, aka T.L.W.D.
