Rookie Mistakes

[PJM]

Does anyone know of a compendium of rookie mistakes for photography, preferrably enumerated? Having made several in the past couple of week I would like to be able to humor myself when I do. “Yep, rookie mistake #13!” For instance, focusing so hard on the bird and then finding him camoflauged in the trunk of the tree in the background could have been RM#3. Or, getting to the shoot site and realizing the camera battery was home in the charger could have been RM#7 and #8, make sure you have it with you and make sure you have a spare. (No, I didn’t really do that. Honest! )

If there is such a list I’m sure I can get each one checked off.

Pete

 

[Dean_Gretsch]

I have at least 4 spare batteries for each camera...when I bring the bag

 

[snowbear]

19. Check the ISO (real important for film)
23. Check the aperture
24. Check the shutter speed
32. Check background and sides of the viewfinder for unwanted people or scenery.

I went from DC to San Diego and discovered the camera battery was at home on the charger as soon as the plane was in the air.

 

[TreeofLifeStairs]

19. Check the ISO (real important for film)
23. Check the aperture
24. Check the shutter speed
32. Check background and sides of the viewfinder for unwanted people or scenery.

I went from DC to San Diego and discovered the camera battery was at home on the charger as soon as the plane was in the air.

I’ve done that too, leaving it behind at the hotel when on vacation. At least batteries aren’t the most expensive pieces of gear we own.

 

[InFlight]

Worst that I have done:
After convincing a farmers daughter? Girlfriend? Who was in a bikini...
And after convincing I was not a pervert, or someone that was all about getting in their business, etc etc...

All I wanted to shoot was their broken down old barns..

I did not have a SD card, then had to convince to come back...

 

[PJM]

I have at least 4 spare batteries for each camera...when I bring the bag

I’ve only recently started getting back into photography and have only had the camera since August. I just hadn’t gotten around to getting spares. I’m enjoying it and using the camera more than I expected. You can bet I’ll go get those spares now.

 

[tirediron]

#1 Rooking mistake: Buying a camera!

 

[snowbear]

19. Check the ISO (real important for film)
23. Check the aperture
24. Check the shutter speed
32. Check background and sides of the viewfinder for unwanted people or scenery.

I went from DC to San Diego and discovered the camera battery was at home on the charger as soon as the plane was in the air.

I’ve done that too, leaving it behind at the hotel when on vacation. At least batteries aren’t the most expensive pieces of gear we own.

In my case, the camera was ten years old (D40) so trying to find one was not easy. I ultimately just used the phone.

 

[PJM]

#1 Rooking mistake: Buying a camera!

Ha! For sure. I had a long wish list for Christmas.

 

[lta_ollie]

Put SD card in computer to delete photos.
Packed up gear and drove ~40 minutes to place I was going to shoot.
Didn't take SD card out of computer.

 

[Dao]

Packed light and just took the camera in a small bag and notice CF card was not in the camera in a New Year count down event.
Brought the tripod and found that the tripod plate was still at home.
Took some macro photos of a bee and turn out that was not a bee later (a Hover fly)

 

[Strodav]

This is a good read for common rookie mistakes:
10 Most Common Mistakes Made by New Photographers , but probably the best place for online learning is:
Cambridge in Colour - Photography Tutorials & Learning Community

 

[PJM]

Thanks everyone for chiming in. I might start a list and see where it goes.

 

[SquarePeg]

These are the rookie mistakes I’ve made or have noticed others frequently make.

1. Forgetting the sd card/full sd card - nothing worse than trying to selectively delete when you’re in a hurry.
2. Forgetting to charge the battery/not having spare/going on vacation without the charger - ugh.
3. Failing to adjust ISO, aperture and shutter speed for the current situation (especially after using high ISO the shoot before). This is especially an issue if you shoot Aperture priority as you may not notice the other settings.
4. Failing to check to make sure you got the shot before moving on (beauty of digital is you can review on the spot).
5. Owning the right lens for the situation but it’s at home - ultimate ugh but it happens all the time.
6. Accidentally deleting photos from sd card that you haven’t downloaded yet.
7. Not enough editing/enhancing in post - believing straight out of the camera is some type of quality measurement.
8. Too slow shutter speed!

 

[PJM]

4. Failing to check to make sure you got the shot before moving on (beauty of digital is you can review on the spot).

This made me think of another.

Failing to take the shot at all.

A number of years back I was scuba diving in the Socorro Islands. I had been hoping to see a hammerhead shark. Well sure enough, on one of the dives, I saw one. I had been lagging behind a group of divers who were in a hurry to get somewhere else when the shark came slowly cruising by me. He came within about 5 feet of me and I was so mesmerized watching him that I completely forgot to get a picture.

On the other hand, maybe experiencing that in the moment was more valuable than any photo.