Just Take The Shot
Posted on 08. Feb, 2010 by Thomas in Articles, Blog, Photography Tips
I made it out first the first time in a few weeks the other day (I’ve been battling a bad chest infection) and as always I brought my camera with me. (My trusty D90 and 18-200 lens for anyone who is interested!) Having been cooped up inside for some time it was good to get some fresh air and it was good to get the feel of a viewfinder again. I hadn’t gone out specifically to photograph but some interesting things caught my eye. It got me thinking though. I realised that I have a particularly bad habit when it comes to being out and about with my camera. I have a tendency to see something interesting, but for some reason I won’t take my camera out to take the shot. Usually it’s because there’s some distracting element, or I think to myself, I’ll come back and get it later. But the words of a recent interview I saw with a well known photographer were ringing in my ear: “take a lot of photographs”. They had gone on to explain that they didn’t just mean, take lots of shots of different things, but to take lots of shots of the same thing. Try different angles, different framing. I realised that there was one more thing I could add to that. Take the damn shot to begin with. It doesn’t matter if it’s not perfect. It’s still good practice.
Here’s an example. This isn’t a great shot because the bollard behind the bike is throwing off the composition. I could try and Photoshop it out but it’s a fairly complicated job and not really worth it. I could have just not taken the shot. After all, it’s not perfect and I’m sure lots of people online would be quick to point that out (using far less friendlier language) Instead though I decided to see what I could make of it.
Here are some shots from different angles, different framing, close-up, wide, portrait and landscape. It’s all good practice to help you see subjects in different ways.
I think people have this idea that pro’s turn up to take a shot, take one and it’s done. That’s not the case at all though. I remember a few years ago I was at the Apple Expo in Paris and they had a fashion shoot in the middle of the floor. I was amazed at how much set up and test shots the Photographer did before he got the look he wanted and before he even started. If you read a lot of forums and certain blogs online you might get into the habit of thinking you’re a terrible Photographer if every shot isn’t perfect first time, or if you spend too long trying to get the shot. I think this is also a problem when you work or shoot with friends who aren’t photographers. I can’t count the number of time’s I’ve been asked to hurry up, or “why are you taking so many pictures”. This can lead (for some) to disenchantment and not taking the shot at all. It’s ironic, because the reality is the exact opposite.
But it’s worth it to take lots of shots. Move around. When you think you’ve got it covered, try one more thing. Be constantly trying to get out of your comfort zone. Here I saw this nice shot of some flags that were being back-lit. I tried a few different angles. Eventually I was about to move on but instead I got up on the path and right in against the wall (and in the way of a none to pleased busker) and took it again from a different angle
Here’s some of the cool multicoloured building behind.
Again, these aren’t spectacular images, but at least I took something, and it helped me think outside the box.
Sometimes too you’ll see a shot that might look a bit interesting but you think it will be fairly bland and you’ll think to ignore it. But don’t. Even if you don’t like it you can always try different versions in post production. Sometimes what looks dull and bland in colour can work really well as a black and white. Doing this can help you see texture and depth beyond the colour you normally see.
Not that interesting in colour, but here’s the same shot in black and white and it’s much more interesting.
At the end of the day, especially if you’re shooting digital, remember that if a shot’s not perfect it doesn’t matter as long as you have it. You can always throw it away later if you don’t like it. You can’t though if you never took it in the first place. And, when you do take the shot, take a few more while you’re at it. We all hear the suggestion, but it’s easy to forget to do it. If take just one thing from this rambling hodge podge of suggestions let it be this. The next time you are out with you’re camera and you see something interesting but don’t think it’s worth taking you’re camera out for – take the it out anyway, and before you move on take at least one extra shot of it from a different angle or a different framing.
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Thanks for sharing. I think that is a mark of a good photographer: to just experiment with everyday common objects and taking pictures where ever. I throw away quite a few more pictures than you do because I am an amateur with a point-and-click. However, even in my collection there are quite a few pictures that I am proud of. So, I think you hit it on the head: just take the shot. I guess this is true with an amateur and a professional alike. The only way to get better at photography is to keep taking pictures.