What? What?
YearningI know, I know, I promised something from me weeks ago.. still haven't really written anything new
*slaps self*
Bad Kurt!
All that said, I figured you out there in the interwebs might be interested in what I'm up to..
Ok, the big thing is that I'm looking for an apartment and a new full time job. My current one sucks up the whazoo, because it really isn't my thing (housekeeping).
The main reason for needing an apartment is that I'm not in school anymore.. and I didn't graduate
I need to take a year off and get my "priorities" straightened out before I attempt school again. :sigh:
As boring as all that sounds, I'm fairly happy with my life. Except for the lack of writing... GRAWR!
Oooooh, I just had an idea.. or, rather, you may have an idea which I want?
Post some story ideas if you have them, and I'll see if I can write up something from them!!!!
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THE SECRET TO GETTING PAGEVIEWS REVEALED! [link]
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People are like songs, it's true.
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People are like songs, it's true.
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Ralph
[link]
Mind if I ask where you took it?
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"Speak to me, with your heart..."
-Rocco Deluca & the Burden-
I watched until the sun moved far enough north so that it would rise over the right point on the horizon.
Once the shot was planned, it was just a matter of going there before dawn each morning that looked promising until everything came together.
Of course, on this and other mornings I shot hundreds of frames in the hope of getting a keeper or two.
The basic technique is: shutter priority @ 1/1000 or 1/1500 second with the lowest ISO that the lens allows.
Manual focus at the desired shooting distance and begin a burst before the subject reaches the focus point.
The alternate technique: Auto focus at the desired shooting distance. Then aquire your "target" well before your desired shot point, track it and fire off several frames at the best distance.
This second method doesn't work as well as the first because it's VERY difficult to achieve and MAINTAIN accurate focus on a fast moving object, even with the best cameras and lenses, because the light is very low.
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Ralph
[link]
Did you take several shots, over a few days before getting the shot you liked? You mentioned (I think I'm reading this right) 3 days worth of shooting, and I'm curious as to whether you went back each day until you had the shot you wanted, or took them over a series of days and then chose when you were done.
I really can't comment on shutter speeds.. the only camera I had with a shutter was stolen almost right after I received it as a gift a few years ago, and I can't afford (and don't dare ask) for another.
So basically, manual is better because it forces you to follow the target and put your efforts into taking a shot, as opposed to hoping one of your shots pans out in auto focus?
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"Speak to me, with your heart..."
-Rocco Deluca & the Burden-
I'm a lightkeeper on Machias Seal Island where there is a large Seabird breeding colony.
The featured bird is the Atlantic Puffin so during the breeding season I get to see them a lot.
I'm familiar with the location; in fact it's only 300 yards from the kitchen window.
I've watched a thousand dawns over this place and photographed some.
For this photo, I wanted the sun to be rising at a certain spot over the horizon and that only happens for about 2 weeks each summer.
During the desired time window, I watched for the atmospheric conditions that I knew, based on experience, might produce the red/gold lighting. On 3 potentially good mornings I set up 1/2 hour in advance because this opportunity window only lasts 5 minutes, at most, on any morning.
Then it's all down to shooting as many in-bound flights as possible and applying the techniques learned through study and practice.
The short answer: Every photograph that you ever take has been done before by just about everyone. Your challenge is to do it differently and/or better. Therefore, the more intimate your knowledge of the subject, the more able you will be to reveal the true character and feel of your subject.
Think about it: everyone has the lonely tree, the water drops, the window reflection et cetera but every day people find new ways to show the amazingly ordinary.
Critique every scene that you see.
Look at everything as a potential photograph.
Think in terms of angles, lightings et cetera.
Get beyond the superficial "pretty scene" thinking and recognize WHY it's pretty, WHAT could be better, WHEN can you get the best conditions.
Keep a mental catalogue of shots that worked well, not so well and what you would like to do again. Then plan to to be in the right place at the right time and be ready for the shot.
That might be as simple as carrying your camera on sunny days to catch the office lunch crowd in the park or travelling to the Mall by a different route, or at a different time to shoot a certain building when the evening light is just right.
Autofocus versus manual focus: neither is best. It's just that each has advantages in certain circumstances. I love AF and it works very well in most circumstances.
In this case, I was dealing with conditions that the autofocus couldn't handle well. My equipment just couldn't respond and lock fast enough make the shots. The result? Nothing happens when the shutter button is pressed because the camera is searching for focus lock. Missed shot!
Going to manual permits shutter activation regardless of focus.
Of course you don't keep spinning the focus. You set the focus and shoot the subject as it's stopped or, as in this case, start shooting as the subject enters the focus distance and continue shooting as it passes into and out of focus.
Then you cross your fingers and hope that you caught that sweet spot when posture, dof and everything else come together.
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Ralph
[link]
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In the end, the universe tends to unfold as it should.
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