Do you have a "warm up" ritual ... list here

[quiddity]

Basketball players might warm up with layups, free throws etc.
Sprinters might warm up using active stretching, sprints, etc.
Painters might grab a brush, colors and canvas and just paint colors.
Pianists might run through some scales.
Writers might spend time journaling.

Anyhow you get the idea ... what do you do to "warm up"

 

[gsgary]

I turn my camera on and shoot off a few frames in one shot then up to 4 fps and then 8.5fps to get the shutter warmed up and format a few cards, but i usually get pissed up the night before can't beat shooting with a hangover

 

[Stradawhovious]

Three fingers of Basil Hayden usually does it.

 

[rickabobaloey]

Depends on what I'm doing.

If I'm just out for a walk I always bring my camera along and shoot a bunch of random things whichever strikes my fancy. I use a bunch of different settings, angles, subjects, etc. This is where I do the primary experimentation/learning. 90% of what I capture isn't that great, but I learn from it and once in a while will stumble on one that really came out well. I usually fill up my 2GB and 512MB SD cards this way.

If I have a particular theme I'm going for, such as one that I'm working on now called The Death of Small Town America I have a little bit of a different practice. I will drive to various small towns I park my vehicle and I walk around. Surveying the area. Usually a few hours before sunset. I write down any noteworthy structures. Closed factories? Collapsing houses? Empty playgrounds with rusted swings, merry-go-rounds, etc. Then when I know which subjects I'm intrigued about I go about composing a scene and paying careful attention to settings (usually shoot in full manual mode to give me the most control) and after each capture I review it on the LCD and either recompose or tweak the settings here and there. This usually nets me a smaller amount of photos but a lot more keepers.

 

[ghache]

With models i usually get a some random shots before shooting.. , its more of a warm up for him/her.

 

[e.rose]

By formatting the cards I didn't format after uploading the images to my computer If I'm shooting a show, I "pre-set" my camera to my "default" show settings, and if I'm bored while the band is setting up, I'll shoot some insignificant sh*t that will never make it to the editing window.

 

[mishele]

For me.....it's more about, do I have all my **** w/ me then a warm up....lol
Did I put a chip back into the camera....lol
Battery good?
What did I have the settings at the last time I shot.

 

[MichiganFarts]

I normally take a picture of myself, then kiss my camera's LCD.

 

[kundalini]

Empty the bladder.

 

[Kombinat]

Thanks for making me laugh

I turn my camera on and shoot off a few frames in one shot then up to 4 fps and then 8.5fps to get the shutter warmed up

Three fingers of Basil Hayden usually does it.

 

[myfotoguy]

I pre-set the setting to where I think I will need them, based on past experiences.

Then I'll take a couple test shots, sometimes (for some situations where I am short on shutter speed), I'll try a few near my limit for hand holding.

I'll also try random exposures for different parts of the scene to see how easily things are overexposing, etc. Most of these warm-ups are for stage performaces, and often everything changes once a performer is under a spot light. But it still helps to take a few ahead of time at random spots. It helps remind me the key settings I will need to pay attention to.

For most other things, I just take a couple shots to make sure I have not set something and forgotten about it, and I run through settings and see where they are , things like ISO, WB, Focus mode, Focus point, metering mode, etc.

 

[RauschPhotography]

Before going out, I make sure both batteries are charged and my cards are empty and ready to go. If it's an event, make sure to do lighting tests, test shots.. check my ISO (just in case! it's happened before..) and I'm good

 

[MarkCSmith]

If I'm on location, I'll usually stretch a bit for when I'm crouching/kneeling/etc.

Other than that, nothing really. Like somebody else said, maybe a few "fun" shots just to get me and the model into the shooting mood.

If I'm just shooting random stuff on my own, nothing comes to mind. It's usually when I have plenty of time so I, consequently, take my sweet time and enjoy it.

 

[Ron Evers]

Maybe I should have, as I usually foget to change settings from the last shoot. Memory? What's that?

 

[altitude604]

- review settings upon power up
- test meter a couple different parts of the scene just to get a good handle of the light available to me.

that's it! nice and simple.