Imagination - I seem to lack it
Discussion
Simpo Two said:
OK well this is quite easy....
Castle: Flat lighting makes for a flat photo. This needs 'post' - a quick fix would be to increase contrast and crop out some of the very dull lawn.
Castle: Flat lighting makes for a flat photo. This needs 'post' - a quick fix would be to increase contrast and crop out some of the very dull lawn.
Simpo Two said:
Seascape: First, horizons should be level, so take more care when shooting. Try enabling the viewfnder grid if you have one. Second, there's really nothing there to make a photo... not every scene makes a worthy photo. Walk on!
is sort of my concern - but agree.Simpo Two said:
Flower: Almost! Exposure, composition and colour seem fine but the focus is wrong - the middle bit needs to be sharp. Maybe the flower moved in the wind after focus lock - if in doubt, zoom in after taking and check. If it's wrong, take another.
Those sort of photos are not normally my thing but I do like the colour. Thanks for your thoughts.
I am a bit late to this - first of all, good choice of camera. It certainly should like you have got the "kit" aspect sorted, and you have got a bit of time to work on the other aspects.
First of all, you need to work out if it is a "photography" trip or not, as traveling companions may not be as keen as you on the "faffing" needed to get good photos and itineraries may not always match with the best light etc. My advise is to research in advance and pick a few key locations. I have only ever done the second part of your trip, and it on my honeymoon, so photography was low down the priority, but still got enough photos to do a decent book.
Challenger in Death Valley by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
Death Valley: You are likely to be here in the middle of the day, so not in the best light. Badwater Basin is one of those places that it is best to experience rather than photograph, although you need to get the mandatory photos with the sign, and a photo of the thermometer in the car. Artists Drive is more scenic, but again is probably better with nice light. Maybe one to timelapse with the action camera.
Tunnel View by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
Yosemite: You are more likely to be here at better times of the day, but even so, it is a well photographed place. You should be able to get a good shot at "Tunnel View", but millions of people also have that shot. I stopped by each time I drove past just try and catch some good light, but when I had good light, "El Cap" was in the clouds.
McWay Falls by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
PCH: You have a lot of options here, depending on where you are staying in the evenings. McWay Falls is a good place to stretch your legs and get an "easy" photo, like "Tunnel View" it is well photographed, but for a good reason. You can get some pretty scenic views by just stopping along the coast though.
I'm sure that there are various guides and videos with loads of "must photograph" spots along your route though, and it pays to have a few locations near your hotel identified if you end up with great light when you wake up early due to the timezone shift.
The actual creative bit is harder - I am more of a technical photographer than a creative one, but I find getting out there is the best way to get your creative juices flowing. It also helps you to feel more confident with the technical aspects, so that you can nail the shot when you need to. I have a few go-to locations near me, where I can go if the light looks good and I can shoot them in various ways high/low or wideangle/telephoto etc and see what works - it is better to do that before you go away. You can learn all of the theory from YouTube etc, but getting outside and putting it in to practice helps me more. Also, it may be worth considering a photography workshop, I know Fuji run them, but there are loads, all over the country. In the past I have found it helpful to be able to set up a shot myself, then be coached through improving the shot, particularly the composition, which is much easier to do when you are on location.
First of all, you need to work out if it is a "photography" trip or not, as traveling companions may not be as keen as you on the "faffing" needed to get good photos and itineraries may not always match with the best light etc. My advise is to research in advance and pick a few key locations. I have only ever done the second part of your trip, and it on my honeymoon, so photography was low down the priority, but still got enough photos to do a decent book.
Challenger in Death Valley by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
Death Valley: You are likely to be here in the middle of the day, so not in the best light. Badwater Basin is one of those places that it is best to experience rather than photograph, although you need to get the mandatory photos with the sign, and a photo of the thermometer in the car. Artists Drive is more scenic, but again is probably better with nice light. Maybe one to timelapse with the action camera.
Tunnel View by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
Yosemite: You are more likely to be here at better times of the day, but even so, it is a well photographed place. You should be able to get a good shot at "Tunnel View", but millions of people also have that shot. I stopped by each time I drove past just try and catch some good light, but when I had good light, "El Cap" was in the clouds.
McWay Falls by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
PCH: You have a lot of options here, depending on where you are staying in the evenings. McWay Falls is a good place to stretch your legs and get an "easy" photo, like "Tunnel View" it is well photographed, but for a good reason. You can get some pretty scenic views by just stopping along the coast though.
I'm sure that there are various guides and videos with loads of "must photograph" spots along your route though, and it pays to have a few locations near your hotel identified if you end up with great light when you wake up early due to the timezone shift.
The actual creative bit is harder - I am more of a technical photographer than a creative one, but I find getting out there is the best way to get your creative juices flowing. It also helps you to feel more confident with the technical aspects, so that you can nail the shot when you need to. I have a few go-to locations near me, where I can go if the light looks good and I can shoot them in various ways high/low or wideangle/telephoto etc and see what works - it is better to do that before you go away. You can learn all of the theory from YouTube etc, but getting outside and putting it in to practice helps me more. Also, it may be worth considering a photography workshop, I know Fuji run them, but there are loads, all over the country. In the past I have found it helpful to be able to set up a shot myself, then be coached through improving the shot, particularly the composition, which is much easier to do when you are on location.
ill add,
Dont be afraid of converting a dull daytime image into a black and white one
Not all pretty views make good photographs, enjoy the views and just take a snap of you and your companion instead
Always consider what the focus of the photo is/ what caught your eye in the first place, then work the composition around that with leading lines where possible
Ultimately are you after memories, wall art or a video? Chose maybe 2, not all 3 it will be too much
Restrict your gear as much as possible, however if your bring a dedicated camera (not iphone) then your need a tripod, all the best photos are dusk, night and dawn, especially true in the US with all the neon signs in towns, epic landscape sunsets and sun rises in the country as well as starry nights
Put your journey first and photos/ snaps/ video second imo
Enjoy the experience and don't worry that you didnt get the shot!
Dont be afraid of converting a dull daytime image into a black and white one
Not all pretty views make good photographs, enjoy the views and just take a snap of you and your companion instead
Always consider what the focus of the photo is/ what caught your eye in the first place, then work the composition around that with leading lines where possible
Ultimately are you after memories, wall art or a video? Chose maybe 2, not all 3 it will be too much
Restrict your gear as much as possible, however if your bring a dedicated camera (not iphone) then your need a tripod, all the best photos are dusk, night and dawn, especially true in the US with all the neon signs in towns, epic landscape sunsets and sun rises in the country as well as starry nights
Put your journey first and photos/ snaps/ video second imo
Enjoy the experience and don't worry that you didnt get the shot!
Don't worry too much about editing. I did a similar trip last year and whilst I did have a DSLR with me, the majority of pics were with my Galaxy A52 phone which I made no effort to edit at all. I shot about 600 pics on the DSLR and edited 100 of them.
The vast majority of what I shot was just simple moments, a bowl of food, a view from a hotel balcony, loads of selfies and just simple candid shots of the missus standing in a landscape. An important point here as well is to teach whoever you are with to take pictures of you. As photographers, we are able to create fabulous memories of our travels which don't include a single picture of ourselves.
It took a little coaxing but eventually Mrs Jurbie would remember to snap candid pictures of me as I clambered around on some rocky outcrop overlooking the Grand Canyon trying to find the perfect angle for my own shot. Those were some of my favourites from the trip. We also have a standing joke about needing a human for scale and interest. This came about after she got drenched next to a waterfall in Iceland, but the point stands.
Regarding your actual picture taking, just get to grips with the basics of composition and lighting as already mentioned. Rule of thirds, lead in lines, foreground interest will all help. Try and change your viewpoint, we all experience the world from between 5 and 6 feet up, Shoot something from 2 feet up and you'll have an entirely different picture. Obviously this doesn't work so well with landscapes and big things but then chuck in some foreground interest or other composition trick and it'll come together.
The vast majority of what I shot was just simple moments, a bowl of food, a view from a hotel balcony, loads of selfies and just simple candid shots of the missus standing in a landscape. An important point here as well is to teach whoever you are with to take pictures of you. As photographers, we are able to create fabulous memories of our travels which don't include a single picture of ourselves.
It took a little coaxing but eventually Mrs Jurbie would remember to snap candid pictures of me as I clambered around on some rocky outcrop overlooking the Grand Canyon trying to find the perfect angle for my own shot. Those were some of my favourites from the trip. We also have a standing joke about needing a human for scale and interest. This came about after she got drenched next to a waterfall in Iceland, but the point stands.
Regarding your actual picture taking, just get to grips with the basics of composition and lighting as already mentioned. Rule of thirds, lead in lines, foreground interest will all help. Try and change your viewpoint, we all experience the world from between 5 and 6 feet up, Shoot something from 2 feet up and you'll have an entirely different picture. Obviously this doesn't work so well with landscapes and big things but then chuck in some foreground interest or other composition trick and it'll come together.
Edited by jurbie on Monday 6th May 14:08
Just take your time.
Unless you are racing the light changing, or need to capture something that's happening RIGHT NOW, then don't let yourself raise the camera to your eye for a good long spell after you arrive somewhere.
Instead just breathe the place in a bit - walk around, think about what's interesting to look at, think about what bits of the scene would look like in a 4:3 frame. Notice how much more or less interesting the scenery (or people) look depending on where you stand - your perspective will make a big difference to how backgrounds fall into place, how colours / shapes / light & shade etc etc relate to each other.
Once you've done all that for a while (& forgotten about the hassle you had parking, or the 3 hour dead straight road you've just driven down, or the bit of your breakfast that's still stuck between your teeth, or whatever) start taking some photos, IF any of what you're now seeing seems like it might be worth looking at again at a later date.
Unless you are racing the light changing, or need to capture something that's happening RIGHT NOW, then don't let yourself raise the camera to your eye for a good long spell after you arrive somewhere.
Instead just breathe the place in a bit - walk around, think about what's interesting to look at, think about what bits of the scene would look like in a 4:3 frame. Notice how much more or less interesting the scenery (or people) look depending on where you stand - your perspective will make a big difference to how backgrounds fall into place, how colours / shapes / light & shade etc etc relate to each other.
Once you've done all that for a while (& forgotten about the hassle you had parking, or the 3 hour dead straight road you've just driven down, or the bit of your breakfast that's still stuck between your teeth, or whatever) start taking some photos, IF any of what you're now seeing seems like it might be worth looking at again at a later date.
Craikeybaby said:
First of all, you need to work out if it is a "photography" trip or not, as traveling companions may not be as keen as you on the "faffing" needed to get good photos and itineraries may not always match with the best light etc.
A very good point. I was fortunate to spend a month in NZ. I borrowed an Andris Apse book and had the ambition of matching his shots. This was when I discovered I'm not a landscape tog. His shot of Nugget Point - lovely. But when I got there it was overcast and raining. As a tourist you're just not in the right place at the right time with the right weather - you have to make do with the opportunities you find and wring the best out of them.But when you're not going for the coffee-table shot, just record the trip - what you do, where you are, everyday stuff. It will be a great reminder of the holiday.
satans worm said:
Dont be afraid of converting a dull daytime image into a black and white one
Yes indeed; we're used to having colour as part of an image. A red flower, lovely. A grey flower, not really. But some scenes work on tones not colour. With practice you'll learn to see in tones and think 'Will this shot work in b/w?' Some shots need monochrome to work, others need colour to work. Sometimes colour can be a distraction.(Maybe this is less specific to the OP’s upcoming trip but more how you might want to think to unleash your creative side longer term!!)
I do think everyone is, and can be creative. Believe me, practising and training the eye takes a lot of time, but you’ll get there’. You might be spending hours on YouTube learning? But are you spending 10x that taking photos? I don’t mean just ‘spray and pray’, but getting your head in the moment to think about what it is you enjoy about the particular view / moment?
Take photos of what you enjoy. Work out what turns you on : Moments, places, pattern, action? Follow what you enjoy, you will find comes more naturally.
Ask yourself with every photo - what is it you are trying to say or show? Use that to add or cut out things that are distracting or superfluous to the story.
Also when you take a photo, imagine It was shown on national TV as part of a documentary? What would the voiceover be? And here is the castle which I think has a tower or turrets and a bit of a unkempt front garden? Or would it be….. the majesty of the main tower dominates the sky towering above the crumbling 500yr old walls.
If it was the latter you might want to get closer, point the camera upwards slightly to exaggerate the perspective of the tower and show a bit of detail of the main walls below it, ignoring the boring front garden area.
Photography is hard. Sometimes it is very challenging to see anything!
And finally ? Hope you have a wonderful trip - and don’t stress about the photos
I do think everyone is, and can be creative. Believe me, practising and training the eye takes a lot of time, but you’ll get there’. You might be spending hours on YouTube learning? But are you spending 10x that taking photos? I don’t mean just ‘spray and pray’, but getting your head in the moment to think about what it is you enjoy about the particular view / moment?
Take photos of what you enjoy. Work out what turns you on : Moments, places, pattern, action? Follow what you enjoy, you will find comes more naturally.
Ask yourself with every photo - what is it you are trying to say or show? Use that to add or cut out things that are distracting or superfluous to the story.
Also when you take a photo, imagine It was shown on national TV as part of a documentary? What would the voiceover be? And here is the castle which I think has a tower or turrets and a bit of a unkempt front garden? Or would it be….. the majesty of the main tower dominates the sky towering above the crumbling 500yr old walls.
If it was the latter you might want to get closer, point the camera upwards slightly to exaggerate the perspective of the tower and show a bit of detail of the main walls below it, ignoring the boring front garden area.
Photography is hard. Sometimes it is very challenging to see anything!
And finally ? Hope you have a wonderful trip - and don’t stress about the photos
Some great advice above.
I'm (like Craikey) technically competent but creatively more limited - I know when something looks good afterwards, but seeing the potential in a landscape or event is still tough. For me, practice and more practice has been the key, plus going to some very inspirational places.
If I was doing what you're doing (having done much the same when we started travelling the world 20 years ago, albeit with a lot less advice and not-as-good kit), I would:-
- Buy or borrow "Understanding Exposure", and have that as your bedtime reading. You could get lost in book after book of advice, but this distils stuff down better than anything else I've read. (you can get 3rd Ed. second hand quite cheaply)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Understanding-Exposure-Fo...
- Practice as much as you can with your camera beforehand so adjusting the controls is instinctive.
- Be confident in understanding the key points of where to use e.g. Shutter Priority / Aperture Priority, when/where/how to adjust depth-of-field, and the rule-of-thumb relationship between shutter speed and focal length for 'sharp' photos. Get these right and you'll increase the % of 'keepers'.
- Look at your itinerary - see if you can work out ahead of time where you'll be for the early/late daylight hours and whether that ties-in to any photogenic locations. Some of them may really benefit from this (Death Valley, as above), some may be more flexible with light (Monument Valley springs to mind - long-shadows from the mesa's would be great and a sunrise/sunset shot would probably be spectacular, but equally the "big landscape / big blue sky" shot would also work well because you'll still have foreground interest).
- Remember it's a holiday first and foremost - have the camera to hand as much as possible, but (a few key points probably excepted) try not to let it drive the trip.
- Think about photo opportunities outside of the landscape and sights. Random wildlife, evenings out, quirky shops or signs or people. The memories from the holiday are often as much about this.
- Don't ignore video, even if it's just off someone's phone. Driving through somewhere like Monument Valley or Yosemite deserves some video.
I was out in CA last September - did Yosemite and PCH.
- Sunsets in both areas can be disappointing - PCH because there's often a haze over the Pacific, Yosemite because you start losing light over the foreground early, there's no horizon to start from and because it's at altitude - even when I set a stupid-o-clock alarm and drove up to Glacier Point pre-sunrise, the actual event wasn't what you'd get in the Med or the tropics.
- Make time for a whale-watching cruise (out of Moss Landing if possible) - I did a 3-4 hour trip one morning and it was amazing - one of the highlights.
- Check ahead of time if PCH has reopened between Carmel and Santa Barbara - it was closed all last year.
* If you can, head back into the park after dark IF there's been a clear sky - it's a proper dark-sky location and even with a mini-tripod you could probably get some great star shots. Death Valley potentially also. I failed 3 nights running last September as each afternoon a haze of light clouds blew over!
I'm (like Craikey) technically competent but creatively more limited - I know when something looks good afterwards, but seeing the potential in a landscape or event is still tough. For me, practice and more practice has been the key, plus going to some very inspirational places.
If I was doing what you're doing (having done much the same when we started travelling the world 20 years ago, albeit with a lot less advice and not-as-good kit), I would:-
- Buy or borrow "Understanding Exposure", and have that as your bedtime reading. You could get lost in book after book of advice, but this distils stuff down better than anything else I've read. (you can get 3rd Ed. second hand quite cheaply)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Understanding-Exposure-Fo...
- Practice as much as you can with your camera beforehand so adjusting the controls is instinctive.
- Be confident in understanding the key points of where to use e.g. Shutter Priority / Aperture Priority, when/where/how to adjust depth-of-field, and the rule-of-thumb relationship between shutter speed and focal length for 'sharp' photos. Get these right and you'll increase the % of 'keepers'.
- Look at your itinerary - see if you can work out ahead of time where you'll be for the early/late daylight hours and whether that ties-in to any photogenic locations. Some of them may really benefit from this (Death Valley, as above), some may be more flexible with light (Monument Valley springs to mind - long-shadows from the mesa's would be great and a sunrise/sunset shot would probably be spectacular, but equally the "big landscape / big blue sky" shot would also work well because you'll still have foreground interest).
- Remember it's a holiday first and foremost - have the camera to hand as much as possible, but (a few key points probably excepted) try not to let it drive the trip.
- Think about photo opportunities outside of the landscape and sights. Random wildlife, evenings out, quirky shops or signs or people. The memories from the holiday are often as much about this.
- Don't ignore video, even if it's just off someone's phone. Driving through somewhere like Monument Valley or Yosemite deserves some video.
I was out in CA last September - did Yosemite and PCH.
- Sunsets in both areas can be disappointing - PCH because there's often a haze over the Pacific, Yosemite because you start losing light over the foreground early, there's no horizon to start from and because it's at altitude - even when I set a stupid-o-clock alarm and drove up to Glacier Point pre-sunrise, the actual event wasn't what you'd get in the Med or the tropics.
- Make time for a whale-watching cruise (out of Moss Landing if possible) - I did a 3-4 hour trip one morning and it was amazing - one of the highlights.
- Check ahead of time if PCH has reopened between Carmel and Santa Barbara - it was closed all last year.
* If you can, head back into the park after dark IF there's been a clear sky - it's a proper dark-sky location and even with a mini-tripod you could probably get some great star shots. Death Valley potentially also. I failed 3 nights running last September as each afternoon a haze of light clouds blew over!
havoc said:
- Practice as much as you can with your camera beforehand so adjusting the controls is instinctive.
- Be confident in understanding the key points of where to use e.g. Shutter Priority / Aperture Priority, when/where/how to adjust depth-of-field, and the rule-of-thumb relationship between shutter speed and focal length for 'sharp' photos. Get these right and you'll increase the % of 'keepers'.
And before that... I see the photo I want in the scene in front of me, then adjust the camera and my position to achieve it. With the instant feedback provided by digital cameras you quickly get to learn what works and what doesn't - so you get more keepers and less time wasted. Of course, you have to see the photo you want first, and that might be the issue here.- Be confident in understanding the key points of where to use e.g. Shutter Priority / Aperture Priority, when/where/how to adjust depth-of-field, and the rule-of-thumb relationship between shutter speed and focal length for 'sharp' photos. Get these right and you'll increase the % of 'keepers'.
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