How do you take your shots?

[echoyjeff222]

Just curious ... I was wondering how you guys take the shots that you do take. Do you plan beforehand to shoot one particular subject that you've planned out already, or do you just go out and try to find something?

I'm just trying to learn how to "see" the photograph when I'm trying to do my photo assignments ... kind of tough as I have twelve compositional techniques I need to include in twelve photographs ... horizontal line, vertical line, diagonal line, zigzag line, curved line, texture, shape, groupings, silhouette, contrast, and motion.

 

[Kerbouchard]

I take shots I want to take or shots I am paid to take. Sounds like you have an assignment, so, in your case, there are a few I would have ideas for and would take the way I wanted to, and for the remainder that I find completely pointless, I would just randomly take shots that exhibit those characteristics.

It's frustrating that so many photography classes are so structured. Waste of time, IMO. I much prefer a good book. I can take what I want and flip through the pages that I deem worthless.

If I were you, I would pick one or two of them that I thought were interesting, come up with a neat idea, execute it, and would then turn in a half-assed attempt at the rest of them. But then again, I've always been a bit of a slacker when it comes to stupid assignments.

Now, that's not my recommendation for you. It's just what I would do.

What you should probably do is list out all of the categories, put it on the fridge, think about your daily routine and your surroundings, and as you come up with ideas, make a list of 3-5 examples of each. Narrow that down to 1 or 2 of your best ideas for each category. Go out and shoot those shots, have them printed or edit them(not sure if you are digital or film), and then submit your best work.

 

[tirediron]

Neat. Over ice if it's the cheap stuff.

 

[joealcantar]

Take a subject to a cool playground and fire away, believe you will be able to get most of those done.
-
Shoot well, Joe

 

[paul85224]

Just curious ... I was wondering how you guys take the shots that you do take. Do you plan beforehand to shoot one particular subject that you've planned out already, or do you just go out and try to find something?

I'm just trying to learn how to "see" the photograph when I'm trying to do my photo assignments ... kind of tough as I have twelve compositional techniques I need to include in twelve photographs ... horizontal line, vertical line, diagonal line, zigzag line, curved line, texture, shape, groupings, silhouette, contrast, and motion.

I typically take my shots with a camera....but that's just me of course.

Seriously, I usually shoot for lighting first, then subject, then composure. It is about 99% trial and error, and takes dumb luck sometimes to create the perfect image.

 

[480sparky68 67]

I don't drink.

jk. Actually, I study the subject, looking at all the different angles.

The best advice I've ever heard is to spend a day looking for photographs........... without your camera with you. Too many people 'see' a shot, take it then immediately move on. Without the camera, you end up looking longer and find more 'shots'.

 

[Derrel]

I like salt, lemon, then the tequila shot. Patron is my favorite shot. Cuervo is okay though.

As far as "seeing shots" when out photographing; at times, the equipment can drive the process, like if for example, you clip on a 300mm f/4 lens, there are many,many types of photos that simply can NOT be made, like close-range wide-angle vistas....not...gonna...happen....and so, it's necessary to look for "telephoto" pictures in which narrow angle of view and selective focus are the normal qualities that will come up when shooting at close to moderate ranges...and so, you might start thinking rather small-scale landscapes, like say, grasses and blossoms, or leaves or clusters of leaves, or things that are "small".

If OTOH, you clip on a 24mm wide-angle, then things that are far away become almost invisible to the camera...the magnification of the lens is so long, and the angle so wide that "scenes" and "relationships between areas" become a pretty easy way to exploit the equipment in use. If one has a whole gamut of lenses, then the approaches can be many, and varied if desired.

It is possible to seek out scenes that match the equipment, or to carry equipment that can be brought into play as needed for any scene.

"Whatever works for you".

 

[dots]

Just curious ... I was wondering how you guys take the shots that you do take. Do you plan beforehand to shoot one particular subject that you've planned out already, or do you just go out and try to find something?

Both probably. If i'm heading off to a location that's new, i plan in terms of lens choices with some mind's eye assumptions (guesses) about environment, weather (cloud/skies).

I'm just trying to learn how to "see" the photograph when I'm trying to do my photo assignments ... kind of tough as I have twelve compositional techniques I need to include in twelve photographs ... horizontal line, vertical line, diagonal line, zigzag line, curved line, texture, shape, groupings, silhouette, contrast, and motion.

I think you'll have to walk around a few hours in an urban area and 'find' these...but you could draw/paint them on paper/canvas and compose close-ups, in the viewfinder.


cheers,

 

[HomelessBoy]

Depends on what you shoot really...

Landscape - Explore an area and find a good spot then go back again and again at different seasons...
Product - Know your product. Find out what makes the product stands out from the rest, then photograph it.
Street - Explore and plan where you are going to go (almost like a date).

Conclusion is plan, explore and practice. More importantly, don't forget the SEX rule.

Simplify and
EXclude

 

[analog.universe]

Sometimes I have a shot planned, but most of the time I only have the equipment planned. If there's some landscape shot that I'm trying to get, I'll generally return to the same location more than once. So I have an idea of what focal length I'll be shooting, and maybe how it'll be composed, and on subsequent visits I'm looking for the right light, or the right type of clouds, etc... When I'm doing food photography, I have a pretty good idea of what kind of lighting I like and how I like to frame to things.

Most of the time though, I'll just go wander around looking for shots, and only bring one lens with me. That way all day long I'm just visualizing a single focal length, and it becomes second nature. After a while I can look at a scene and have a pretty good idea of whether or not I'll be able to compose it in an interesting way with the focal length I'm carrying. As far as doing the actual composing, a tripod is more helpful than you might imagine. Slowly setting up a shot on a tripod, and moving deliberately opens up compositional ideas you might not notice otherwise, and also allows you to fine tune much better. Once you're in the general area of your shot, move around slowly, but thoroughly explore the scene while looking through the viewfinder or live view. I say carefully, meaning not so quickly that you might whiz past a good idea. Be sure to take note of any compositional shapes and arrangements that look interesting, and combine them as you fine tune your perspective.

The context of this assignment is to get you to explore some of the tools available when building compositions, but I wouldn't take it as a model of how to shoot on a regular basis. 12 techniques in 12 shots is to ensure that you understand each on it's own. When out in the real world shooting, you'll combine many techniques within an image, and you won't know what any of them will be until you're standing in front of your subject. I'd approach this assignment one shot at a time personally. Just as I go out with one focal length trying to visualize it, I'd choose one of those techniques and walk around trying to visualize it until I see a satisfying shot that employs it, then move on to the next technique.

 

[Professional]

Easy, take photos of everything, later choose the best of those photos and think why you choose those over the rest and what make others less good choice for you, next time try to shoot very similar of your best chosen shots, within the time you will be there.
another factor that helped me is to look at the best photos of different categories of photography [landscapes, portraits, sports, still life, cityscape,.....etc] and try to simulate your shots to get closer to those, sometimes thinking too much how to do the shot will stop you to go out or indoor to take the photos.

 

[c.cloudwalker]

...I have twelve compositional techniques I need to include in twelve photographs ... horizontal line, vertical line, diagonal line, zigzag line, curved line, texture, shape, groupings, silhouette, contrast, and motion.

When working on an assignment such as the one you seem to be working on, there are only two ways to go:

1/ you go out and find a subject that matches your needs.

2/ you create what you need.

I do a lot of #2 because I work mostly in the studio.

 

[Compaq]

I try to get in the mood for certain shots. Inspiration can come from anywhere, but music really gets my own mind going. When I have an idea, I get out and look for good places, subjects and stuff like that.

That said, should I run into something awesomely awesome.... I'll shoot it....