The Decisive Moment - Ideas please

[WhisperingTurtle]

I don't ask permission if its something that I can take without them really noticing or without my getting too close - I took a picture of a utility worker on a pole the other day. I didn't see any reason to interrupt his job just to ask if I could snap a quick picture.

The girl on the swing, I did have to walk up and pretty much be right there so I asked her before I started snapping photos.

I saw a man on a riding mower the other day mowing the grass in front of an old country church - I love the look of churches like this. I thought he had a good form and I liked the church in the back ground. I got out of the car, camera in hand and he immediately stopped what he was doing and asked what I was doing. I told him about my class and my assignment, promised the pic would not be used anywhere besides my class and he said "please don't take my picture". So I got in my car and left.

 

[WhisperingTurtle]

At the park the kids are all big hams, the kids aren't as self conscious as the parents but I am trying to get a bit of variety, not all kids on swings.

 

[Derrel]

Every camera has its own lag time. Modern cameras are mostly quite fast. You get used to your camera's exact lag time, and then start refining your timing and reflexes. Here's an easy way to hone your timing and reflexes. Spend about 10 minutes a day, shooting photos where a subject is visible through an opening of some type: chain link fence, window, the space between two parked cars, whatever. Shoot single-frame advance photos, where any subject appears in one,single,small,specific location in the frame. The easiest example is the parked cars, shooting people as they are visible in between parked cars.

A more common, real-world issue is "heel lift"; when you shoot walking people, if the rear heel is off the ground, they look as if they are walking, moving, in motion. When both heels are flat on the ground, they look "stopped", in manner of speaking.

The kid on a swingset at the top of her arc...yes, that is a decisive, defined moment. So is the very top of a jump, like at the tip-off in basketball.

 

[Vince.1551]

Try finding a phone booth Vince! lol not a bad idea though. Gary you might be good at zone focusing, I can't guesstimate distance worth a nickel! (well I can if it involves an inch or a yard since I do needlework).

I agree with Leonore, do some watching. It doesn't have to be people, it could be birds, etc., I was shadow watching the other day, a pattern on a brick wall, and watched and waited as it moved til the 'lightbulb' goes on that tells you, that's it! - that's a moment to capture.

I've done sports, mostly hockey, and that involves some watching and waiting, getting set, waiting til they skate into my viewfinder then adjusting framing and focus and watching for something interesting to happen.

I think out and about with people if they ask not to have their picture taken it's better to respect that and move on, seems understandable that people have concerns about where their picture might end up or how it will be used. You could look at American Society of Media Photographers they have a 'pocket' release and an app depending on how you think you may want to use the photo someday.

They don't make phone booths anymore? [emoji33][emoji16][emoji13] ok skip the phone booth lol


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[limr31]

They don't make phone booths anymore? [emoji33][emoji16][emoji13] ok skip the phone booth lol

No, and it makes me sad. What's Superman supposed to do now?

 

[CameraClicker]

They don't make phone booths anymore? [emoji33][emoji16][emoji13] ok skip the phone booth lol

No, and it makes me sad. What's Superman supposed to do now?

Cell phones killed the phone booth market before killing the P&S market.

 

[limr31]

Cell phones killed the phone booth market before killing the P&S market.

Yes, I know. I watched it happen.

 

[gsgary]

Lovely colours in that first shot

 

[vintagesnaps]

I don't know, but I think Superman is going to have a hard time squeezing into a smartphone case.

It's not so much taking a picture, it's a matter of how recognizable the subject is and how you want to use the photo. I think it takes knowing how to interact with people you encounter and figuring out what to do in various situations.

With the church it's probably private property and up to them. Some things don't work out so it takes finding another opportunity (which can sometimes be disappointing but so it goes).

 

[Designer]

I seem to struggle with figuring out what looks like a good photo. I never would have thought the geese worked for this assignment but he really liked it.

The photo of the geese is not very good, but it has the fourth goose just leaving the frame, which is probably the thing that he likes.

Remember; there are other elements that comprise your photograph, such as form, line, balance, etc. which all have something to do with how successful you photo is.

Now to me, the ball rolling down is going to enter the decisive moment just as the ball touches the very last bit of slide and in the next split second will fly off into the air.

I guess if I were going to try to capture that moment, I would get the camera down to the level of the slide, and closer, and keep rolling the ball and shooting until I got just he exact instant that it was at the end of the slide.

 

[Vince.1551]

They don't make phone booths anymore? [emoji33][emoji16][emoji13] ok skip the phone booth lol

No, and it makes me sad. What's Superman supposed to do now?

Cell phones killed the phone booth market before killing the P&S market.

What if I can't afford a cell phone and needed to make a call on the streets?


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[limr31]

What if I can't afford a cell phone and needed to make a call on the streets?

SOL, I guess

There ARE still pay phones. But I haven't seen a full-on phone booth in ages. Just the half ones.

After Hurricane Sandy, cell phone reception was almost impossible for many people, or they couldn't charge their phones, so there were lines at the pay phones on the street. The problem was that people under a certain age had never used them and had no idea how to make a call.

 

[Vince.1551]

What if I can't afford a cell phone and needed to make a call on the streets?

SOL, I guess

There ARE still pay phones. But I haven't seen a full-on phone booth in ages. Just the half ones.

After Hurricane Sandy, cell phone reception was almost impossible for many people, or they couldn't charge their phones, so there were lines at the pay phones on the street. The problem was that people under a certain age had never used them and had no idea how to make a call.

True true

There was a time I was distributing portable mobile chargers for phones and the response I've got from people was, "why do I need one? I could always charge my phone in my car or at home"

Point is you'll never know when you needed
it. Well, that was history


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[CameraClicker]

What if I can't afford a cell phone and needed to make a call on the streets?

SOL, I guess

There ARE still pay phones. But I haven't seen a full-on phone booth in ages. Just the half ones.

After Hurricane Sandy, cell phone reception was almost impossible for many people, or they couldn't charge their phones, so there were lines at the pay phones on the street. The problem was that people under a certain age had never used them and had no idea how to make a call.

There used to be a pay phone at the local MacDonald's, but it was removed. I have no idea where there is a pay phone now.

 

[limr31]

We have one on campus but it doesn't work.

Hang on, let me see if I can find something...