I thought about this for a while, why the posting is going up so late. The question is very simple, how do folks vote to say whether they like your photograph or not? We could belabor the point of focus or exposure. These are always very popular reasons that photographers give for liking or not liking their photographs.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/Alabama Hills 0888.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
We could go on and talk about subject matter or placement. The Rule of Thirds always gets a good beating during that discussion. It normally deteriorates though back to exposure and depth of field. If you’re lucky, color might come into play at some point.
The discussion could elevate to a higher level and talk about light. Now we’re takin photography when we start talking about the light in a photo. There is no arguing that great light makes a great photo so using that as a measuring stick for voting would seem to make sense how folks vote.
But really, why do photographers think folks look at their images through those glasses? I guess if you only take your photographs to only please other photographers, that would be the criteria I guess the audience would use to vote rather they like your photo or not.
[swf]http://www.moosepeterson.com/swf_imgs/Half Dome 4411.swf, 585, 473 [/swf]
But how do the folks we should be shooting for, those not as fortunate to venture out and see the wonders of the world as we do, vote where they like a photograph or not? It’s real simple, they either look at it or they don’t.
Sure, we could debate all that stuff up above and a whole lot more that goes into making the general public like a photo. And while that’s true, doesn’t that debate take us away from the fun and passion that should be going into our images? I’ve yet to see a crowd around a magazine rack looking at one photo debating the merits of any photo. I’ve just seen smiles when they found something they like. I know when I really like a photo, I just smile and shake my head yes. That’s all it should take.
There is no mental debate about exposure or focus, placement of the subject or the light because they don’t know anything about that. They simply know what they like and don’t like. Perhaps putting that simplicity into your shooting might just improve your photography so, folks just simply like them.
I received an email a while back that basically said my aviation photography would improve if I got a pilot license. It made me think. I texted another friend and asked him if he thought that was true, if I got my pilot license, if he thought my aviation photography would improve. He texted back the worst answer, “What is it you tell people?” When I’m asked this question about knowledge, I typically say that knowing your subject is a very important part of wildlife photography.
Knowledge is such a powerful tool in whatever endeavor you might tackle in life. This is especially true in wildlife photography. The knowledge starts with the basics of f/stop and shutter speed and advances to the knowledge of light. It’s from light that all our images are born. This then progresses to applying this knowledge to our subject. With wildlife, we commonly start and are pleased with just finding the critter and getting a sharp image. But as we all know, that’s not the end all of critter photos. What gets you to the end all is, knowledge.
Jake & I made a suicide run to Chino on Saturday, to the Planes of Fame flying event. These are really cool because they bring in pilots who actually flew the aircraft and in this case, it was the TBM Avenger. One of the presenters was Charlie who was aboard the USS Franklin during WWII in the Pacific which was bombed by the Japanese and over 700 were killed. While a B&W film was being played of the Franklin burning and the rescue efforts during the event, it was quite something to think that for Charlie, it wasn’t a B&W film but his memories because he was there. Jake & I now had a little glimpse into history, into what it was like being a pilot of the Avenger with two Zeros on your tail trying to bring you down.
Just how much knowledge of the subject do you need to improve your photography? The real answer is, we can never have enough knowledge. But the question at hand for me is, do I need a pilot license to take better aviation photographs? I have always said that knowing basic biology is very important to be a successful wildlife photographer. At the same time, I don’t think you need a PhD. Personally, I’ve never taken one class in biology. Rather, I’ve learned in the field from the best which has served me very well. So getting a pilot license in my mind is no different than a PhD and I don’t think either would change my photography. Doesn’t mean for a moment I won’t continue my education with critters and planes, but I’m a photographer not a scholar and the knowledge I seek, it’s just part the photograph, not all of it. Seek the knowledge that in the immediate future will answer your questions and if your continue to do that, you can’t help but to improve your photography!
Yeap, basically everyday when I’m home and not shooting, Rocky here is my exercise partner (a Douglas Tree Squirrel). I’m still amazed how many folks really wonder and ask me, “Do you really handhold those big lenses?” Not only do I really do that, but here’s an example of doing it and getting a sharp image at 1/30 f8. It doesn’t come by accident, VR technology isn’t getting the sharp image (because I’m not moving, it ain’t active) but good old fashion proper handholding technique and lots of practice.
No I’m not out to make gallery images when I exercise, just simply get proper handholding a second nature response. In this case, I got so close to Rocky that I had to manually focus because I was inside the realm of the 200-400VR2’s AF MFD. At the same time, Rocky like usual is eating. When small mammals and birds eat seed, their lower jaw/mandible which is controlled by a muscle connected up by the ear can cause the eye to not be sharp. So when shooting at 1/30 (1/125 or higher is required to freeze this action) I work on not only my handholding but also peak of action to freeze the eye. It sounds really silly, but it’s what I do because bottomline, image quality is everything and it starts with a sharp image. (And no, not every image will be tack sharp even with practice)
Photo captured by D3x, 200-400VR2 on Lexar UDMA digital film
I mean really, if you’re like me, this reality is something you’ve known since high school (though I lucked out). At our Base Camp, we have a lesson on photographing the “Beautiful People.” The reason is simple, no one wants to see a photograph of an ugly eagle, and they are out there. The photographs that have been squelched from the gulf of oil stained birds is in part because people don’t like seeing beautiful birds turned brown. Well, now biologists have found biologically, birds think the same way and it’s pretty darn interesting. Though this knowledge doesn’t help my situation in life.
