I failed today

table1349 · Jun 24, 2017

Shooting a parade is no different than shooting a football game or other sport. You have to learn the sport and the participants. Parades are not that much different.

Parades have to have a starting point. The starting point is usually not nearly as populated as the main route. Most participants want to start the parade off right. They floats get fired up, the band(s) play etc.

Many parades have a reviewing stand. Along the edge of the reviewing stand gets you right up to the street and can often give you a clear view. You may have to ask permission first. Being early helps as well. Get there early and snag a good spot to shoot from. Going into or coming out of a corner can be good.

That's the thing, you have to look at the entirety and the event and see what works for that particular event.

Overread · Jun 24, 2017

In general if I'm out with family I'm happy if I get 1 good shot.

No seriously 1 good shot not just snaps because being out with other people means you're kinda out with them and that distracts and takes time. The photography takes a second seat. Even if its not they are a distraction unless you totally ignore them (which is fine if you're all off doing your own things; but rather rubbish if you're with them socialising).

Heck sometimes I just leave the camera behind; it will only geti n the way of spoiling enjoying the moment/event. Sometimes you have to enjoy what you're in for what it is without the camera.

nerwin · Jun 24, 2017

gryphonslair99 said:
Shooting a parade is no different than shooting a football game or other sport. You have to learn the sport and the participants. Parades are not that much different.

Parades have to have a starting point. The starting point is usually not nearly as populated as the main route. Most participants want to start the parade off right. They floats get fired up, the band(s) play etc.

Many parades have a reviewing stand. Along the edge of the reviewing stand gets you right up to the street and can often give you a clear view. You may have to ask permission first. Being early helps as well. Get there early and snag a good spot to shoot from. Going into or coming out of a corner can be good.

That's the thing, you have to look at the entirety and the event and see what works for that particular event.

Not in my small town! Haha

weepete · Jun 24, 2017

Yeah, I have days like that too mate. Sometimes I can get too involved in a scene, other times not involved enough to get the good shots. On the days I don't get anything I remind myself that you can't catch fish with a dry line.

nerwin · Jun 24, 2017

weepete said:
Yeah, I have days like that too mate. Sometimes I can get too involved in a scene, other times not involved enough to get the good shots. On the days I don't get anything I remind myself that you can't catch fish with a dry line.

I'm not good with fishing terminology. Forgive me lol.

nerwin · Jun 24, 2017

Overread said:
In general if I'm out with family I'm happy if I get 1 good shot.

No seriously 1 good shot not just snaps because being out with other people means you're kinda out with them and that distracts and takes time. The photography takes a second seat. Even if its not they are a distraction unless you totally ignore them (which is fine if you're all off doing your own things; but rather rubbish if you're with them socialising).

Heck sometimes I just leave the camera behind; it will only geti n the way of spoiling enjoying the moment/event. Sometimes you have to enjoy what you're in for what it is without the camera.

I can understand that. Just a couple good shots to remember the good time you had is all you really need and much more important than snap shots that don't mean a thing!

zombiesniper · Jun 24, 2017

I will preface this post by saying I only read the initial post because I wanted to address this post without being influenced by others.

I have had days where I have gone to shoot what should have been a piece of cake however I was not in the appropriate mood. Didn't want to be there, angry, annoyed, etc.
Not one of these shoot did I enjoy or shoot at what I would see as my normal level.
So knowing that I can't shoot when in these types emotional states I have two options. Find a way to put the problem behind me and get in a better mood PRIOR to picking up the camera or just not doing the shoot.
If you walk into anything with a poor outlook then it will show in the results.

nerwin · Jun 24, 2017

I guess we all have bad days from time to time.

vintagesnaps · Jun 25, 2017

Sounds like you may have had a lens that was too long for your vantage point and distance from the parade. Next year go out ahead of time (to the friends' house/street if that's where you'll be) and figure out where would be some spots to shoot from. Take test shots of, I don't know, the gutter? the curb? yellow lines down the middle?? where the parade will be passing by.

Sports involve the timing too. I can shoot hockey because I learned how and spent hours at practices and warmups learning. However my dinky town every year has Santa go by in a fire truck to the station where they have a party for the kids. I haven't always been home but when I've tried, let's just say hockey is easier to shoot than Santa. I should say photograph, that doesn't sound right...! I don't do parades so a less than once a year one shot chance doesn't exactly produce great results. In the dark with flashing lights and a split second opportunity...

Either just have fun with it and don't be too concerned about the results or get out there ahead of time next year and figure out how to prepare for it.

nerwin · Jun 25, 2017

I heard this like three times yesterday "Do you do photography professionally or for fun? You have a nice camera! It must take good pictures" Haha.

Isn't it strange how some people just say it right out of the blue?

smoke665 · Jun 25, 2017

Something I haven't seen stated in your OP or following posts was why were you in your words, "not okay with" your shots. Was it technical or creative? Was it lack of concentration on the photographs or guilt at not spending time with family and friends? Are you just being overly critical of the shots? And lastly, sometimes there just isn't something to shoot for whatever reason.

From someone who still has more "I'm not okay with shots", then good ones, I appreciate every "bad" shot I take because I learn from each one. I study the "why" behind each image, the reason it's bad (or good) and make notes in a little ring binder that I refer back to, before I go out to shoot. I've found that many times success or failure is determined by the ability to not repeat the same mistakes.

nerwin · Jun 25, 2017

smoke665 said:
Something I haven't seen stated in your OP or following posts was why were you in your words, "not okay with" your shots. Was it technical or creative? Was it lack of concentration on the photographs or guilt at not spending time with family and friends? Are you just being overly critical of the shots? And lastly, sometimes there just isn't something to shoot for whatever reason.

From someone who still has more "I'm not okay with shots", then good ones, I appreciate every "bad" shot I take because I learn from each one. I study the "why" behind each image, the reason it's bad (or good) and make notes in a little ring binder that I refer back to, before I go out to shoot. I've found that many times success or failure is determined by the ability to not repeat the same mistakes.

I didn't really have any problems with technical aspects. But more so with the creative process. The parade was moving fast, there too many people around me and I didn't want to be in their way blocking their view of the parade and all these things just made me feel overwhelmed if they makes any sense which in return got me snapshots moreless. You know, you are probably right that I'm being over critical. I should have went into it having a good time and not worrying about if I got the shot or not. But I woke up on the wrong side of the bed yesterday, I coulden't even edit the photos. I just wanted to delete them all. But I feel better this morning and so I'm going to process them and maybe I'll share a few of what I think are good shots.

DanOstergren · Jun 25, 2017

I have days like that, even when shooting something I'm very familiar with. I think we all have bad results sometimes, but I also believe that even just one photo that you like is a success, not a fail.

smoke665 · Jun 25, 2017

nerwin said:
. But I feel better this morning and so I'm going to process t

Sounds like you might have started the processing while you were still in a bad mood. As you've discovered the state of mind can wreck havoc even after the event.