Learn From Your Goofs
Back from my vacation in Colorado. Man what a beautiful place. I have every intention of finding a house to buy there and moving within the next year. The beauty of nearby Rocky Mountain National Park is unimaginable. So are the photographic opportunities that lie within. I can easily see myself slowly morphing from a portrait guy to a landscape and wildlife guy living there.
But back to the business at hand. Sometimes you slip up when taking photos. Usually those photos end up in the trash, but every once in a while you discover a winner and actually learn a technique that you might like to mimic in the future.
This photo is just such a mistake. It certainly won’t appeal to everyone, but I like it. First, I’m usually the one behind the camera, so I don’t have as many photos of my son and me. Second, I love the way the rays of the sun streak into the frame and flare into the lens. It really accentuates the fact that we’re out hiking in late afternoon at sunset.
My wife took this photo, and the flare was a complete mistake, just a fluke. But you’d better believe we’ll be pulling this technique out once in a while from now on to get similar results.
Do I look tired? This was at the end of a four mile, two thousand foot vertical hike with a 30 pound pile of baby strapped to my back. At 8,000 feet. No, I wasn’t tired. Not me.
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October 3rd, 2007 at 12:48 pm
Hey Tim!
I’ve been away and reeaaalllly busy lately, and missing this place. I hardly get by to talk.
Funny you put this article up. I was shooting a church concert and had a similar experience. The lighting was terrible. Overhead were fresnels (movie lights!). On the walls were energy saving eco-friendly bulbs. Behind were flourescents. Stained-glass on the other side brought in some goofy ambient. I hate dthe light.
I shot on burst, so there’s about five or six of each shot. I got a few shots where the artist walked right in front of the energy-saving bulbs and it caused a flare in the shot and I wasn’t too thrilled with it. When I got back and dumped the bums I noticed a few gems from the mess. Take a look!
http://homepage.mac.com/giantklr/sublimelight/marva.jpg
and
http://homepage.mac.com/giantklr/sublimelight/marva2.jpg
I’m telling ya, Tim, I’m glad you have this website. You’re really helping us photogs out!
-Scott
October 3rd, 2007 at 12:51 pm
Basically, the accident was shooting the artist in front of such obvious lighting, which was right in front of the lens. Bad move, but I see that I can save the shot by having theem mask most of the light. I like this serendipitous “technique”, and I’m gonna use it some more!
October 4th, 2007 at 11:42 am
I’ve missed you Scott! Been wondering where you ran off to. Glad to see you’re still with us.
Only one of those shots works, the first one. I like it. Looks like something that should be on a movie poster for Dreamgirls or something
Sounds like the lighting was a nightmare, but you made it work for you. You can always make the light work for you if you think creatively. Nice work!
October 4th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
Oops. The second one should work now.
Yes, it’s been busy and I haven’t been out to play much. I missed this place and had to come back for a peep.
LOL, I like the Dreamgirls reference.
Now your shot: it’s great to see the contrasting facial expressions. Yours is smiling, denying the fatigue. Your son’s says “Daddy, I’m pooped!” GREAT rim lighting. Love the repeat angularity in the composition.
Talk to ya soon.
Scott
October 5th, 2007 at 11:56 am
I see it now Scott. Nice work. I really do like that back lighting look. Pretty cool.
My son was definitely pooped. I spent the second half of the trip hiking bent over at the waist so that he could lean his head forward on my back and fall asleep. Poor little guy was tired on that trip, as traveling is always hard on the little ones. But man did that make it even harder for me. That’s what I’m there for I guess!