Senta S.'s Blog at WyzAnt.com

Try something new today

posted by WyzAnt tutor: Senta S.

We are all creatures of habit. We go out for a day of photography and we tend to make the kind of pictures day in and day out. Perhaps it is people on the street or beautiful landscapes or buildings and cities. We might have our own style to them, but we use the same aperture and shutter speed. We stand with our cameras up to our eye and press the shutter.

Try going out and if you are right eyed use your left eye when making pictures for the day. If you always make pictures straight on including the whole person, try making a picture of a person from behind, or just their hands, or even feet. Experiment with different modes. Spend a whole day just focusing on one small part of a person, or building. Make photographs of just door knobs or staircases. If you have never photographed animals try to make as many pictures of animals as possible, maybe sitting in the middle of a park on the grass, from the level of the dog's perspective.

A few months ago I was overseas and I went to a park. I sat down in the middle of the playground with my camera placed on my tripod. After about 5 minutes I noticed that people stopped paying attention to me. This gave me a good opportunity to make pictures of children being children. They were playing tag or chasing each other laughing and smiling. Being down low gave me a wonderful opportunity to get up closer and capture their expressions which would have been lost if I was standing.

Take your camera out on a rainy day and make photos of raindrops, or puddles. The reflections off a window can be very lovely. Yes, of course protect it with plastic wrapped around it just exposing the lens. I also take an umbrella stick it in the back of my jacket (yes, I do look a little strange, but most photographers look strange anyway) I then take a large plastic baggie and wrap it around the body of the camera and cover everything except the lens. Secure it with a rubber band or tape. Of course you can buy professional wraps, but I find that this works out well for me, because sometimes I want to use a different camera or lens. But I caution you make sure that your camera is really protected especially if it is a digital camera which is much more delicate that a film camera.

You will be surprised at your work. I hope this will give you some ideas for a pleasant day of picture making.

Get out of your comfort zone - Use a different camera and try film!

posted by WyzAnt tutor: Senta S.

Using the your same old camera day in and day out can put you in a rut. You become so comfortable that you lose that excitement that you had when you first started. Suggestion: borrow another camera one that you have never used before, perhaps a Rangefinder if you always use a SLR camera, or try using a film camera when you always use a digital camera. You will find it sharpens your senses and you will get that excitement back. Besides you will might find out some new ways of shooting.

A rangefinder is a very difficult camera for me to use although a lot of famous photographers swear by them. The lens is very close to the body of the camera making it somewhat more difficult for adjusting the focus and shutter speed with your fingers. But using this camera makes you have patience, first you must compose your picture slowly, then focus and, yes, wait until I like to say is that "magical moment." Henri Cartier-Bresson called it "the decisive moment," but for me it is when it feels like, "Yes ... this is it!"

Photography is magical and using film makes it even more so. There is no instant view or a delete button, you get only 24 or 36 chances. Then you have to wait until they are developed. But you do learn to have discipline and to be exact and precise. Besides you won't end up with thousands of digital files that you have to edit, or maybe you never get around to the edit job but they end up clogging your computer memory anyway.

Get out of your comfort zone, try a SLR or Twinlens Rolleiflex, or a rangefinder. Do something different that makes you feel uncomfortable and you will be amazed at your results.

My last suggestion - turn around. I learned this when I attended a travel seminar a few years ago from a world famous photographer. Sometimes what is behind you might be better than what you are looking and aiming your camera at. I have a number of my "turn around pictures" that have become some of the best pictures that I have taken.

Always check your equipment

posted by WyzAnt tutor: Senta S.

Went out on Monday to make some pictures of Coney Island for a freelance magazine article that I was submitting some of my photographs. Beautiful day, sunny clear not cold, I thought wow a great day for making pictures. The Cyclone and Wonderwheel were looking good.

I developed the pictures myself after I returned using a changing bag (darkroom technique) and finally they were ready. I noticed that my close up pictures were nice and sharp, but it was strange that all the distance (taken to infinity) pictures were not sharp. I then had a talk with a friend that had borrowed this 24mm wide angle lens a few months ago. He told me that he thought that he was not having a good day and he had the same problem. I must add that he has been making pictures for over 40 years so he does know about cameras and all the settings.

I am a take your time wait for the magical moment photographer, not on the fly, quick and fast. I photograph ancient and sacred places, architecture, and specialized people (fisherman, street cleaners, working-class, artists etc) not action pictures.

Well the conclusion is that the lens is defective and it will be in the dead camera box along with my dead digital camera I had years ago that got caught in a thunderstorm. Thankfully, when I was in Istanbul this past December, I had two cameras with me, my never let me down Rolleiflex and the Nikon f2 (with two different lens).

The good news is that I can go back to Coney Island, which is just a 30 minute subway ride, going back to Istanbul would be a 10 hour flight. So always makes sure you come prepared with a backup camera (lens) and a big ZIP UP PLASTIC BAG, for protection when there is any chance of rain. Of course do not keep your camera in this plastic all the time, it will cause mold, but only when you are out shooting.

Be prepared always and make sure you have enough film, digital cards, and your batteries are charged! Take it from one who knows.