Okay. I HAD to go back to the Rose Garden one more time but this time it was to see what effect a light rain would have on the soft petals. (See images from my previous visit). I made sure to bring the appropriate gear: camera, lens, tripod, reflector, remote release, Gary Fong diffuser and a few closeup filters.

For this session, I wanted to get a lot of good detail of the roses: petals, moisture, color, etc. So I shot most of these at very high aperture settings which meant relatively slow shutter speeds. But that was okay since I had a tripod and remote release cable.

1/40 sec / F25.0 at ISO 100 (300mm)

Moving quickly before the water evaporated, I chose different angles, various heights and zoom/cropping to show these roses from perspectives that people may not be often view roses.

1/50 sec / F20.0 at ISO 100 (227 mm)

Okay, so maybe the image above is a bit out of place. The shape of the walking path in the garden caught my eye and symbolizes a way in and a way out of this beautiful and tranquil haven.

Here are a few tips if you want to produce images with deep, vibrant colors and uncommon detail. Who knows, maybe you will be so pleased that you frame a few for that special spot at home.

A Few Tips to Consider

1. Always use a tripod
2. Pick a good time to shoot: either early in the morning or late evening. Otherwise, wait for an overcast day. Just avoid the middle of the day when there is plenty of direct sunlight
3. Use a flash (preferably with a diffuser)
4. Experiment with different heights and angles
5. Keep notes of what you did so you can repeat what works and avoid what doesn’t

After my first trip to the Rodeo a few weeks ago, now I’m hooked!

I do have a new found respect for the skill and bravery of these cowboys. Not enough to make me change my position from behind the camera though!

Check out these images:

Here’s an amazing dismount… he was thrown at least 10 feet in the air!

Wonder what’s going through his mind right now?

Putting it all together on this ride!

Picking up what’s left behind!

Since there was so much traffic, we ended up finding the first empty parking spot available and made a mad dash to setup the camera and tripod just in time for the fireworks to start!

I started shooting with a 50mm to get some relatively close shots of each firework as it exploded, as shown in the next two images.

I then switched a wide-angle lens to record more of the surroundings as shown in the next set of images.

I set the shutter speed to the ‘bulb’ setting operated it manually to record a few ‘bursts’ in each shot. These fairly long exposure times resulted in creative rendering of the car headlights as they passed on the road. This was a welcomed bonus.

What a great time. It was fast, nonstop action that ended as abruptly as it started!

That was fun.

Like any other type of photography, one should to take the time to find a location that increases the odds of getting those memorable shots; those images that are different from the “run of the mill” ones.

I captured these images during a road race in Greensboro, North Carolina and their impact is partly due to some work in Photoshop but mostly because of a few steps I took before shooting:

1. Setup a short distance from the side of the road.

2. Knelt down so that I was no more than two feet above the ground.

3. Positioned half-way down the straight-away from the nearest corner or just around a bend and close to the finish line

4. Waited for the “right” time to shoot (i.e. until all riders came out of the shade, etc. )

That’s it. While photography is clearly subject to personal taste, we might agree that the images that have the greatest impact on us are usually those that show things in a different light… from a different angle or perspective. Let’s take the time to scout out those uncommon spots that show the common activities in an uncommon way!

So, don’t just stand there: go find a good spot, change your level and start shooting!

Share with us. What are your favorite spots to shoot from?

Well, if you just want to document the match to show what happened, then those pictures are okay, but… That’s the gist of the response I got from my longtime photography instructor, Dick Cicone. I had asked for his opinion on some wrestling pictures I took a few years ago. He then pointed out that I would need to change some things in order to show the action, feelings, and athleticism of the sport. I had to change my approach, attitude and the very nature of what I shoot.

I needed to start showing wrestlers with arms locked in “battle”; legs and arms intertwined; faces showing strain and effort; bodies sweating; and wrestlers flexed muscles… yes, the goal is to put the viewer on the mat beside the wrestler!

Having grown up in Jamaica, soccer has always been my number one sport. However, over the last few years, I have watched the positive impact wrestling has had on our son’s development both as an athlete and in becoming a responsible, disciplined young man. Wrestling is now a close second and I have become one of the sports’ biggest fans. To me, it elevates the ideals of discipline, self control and sportsmanship. Coaches and referees expect this from its athletes who are taught how to win with grace, lose with dignity and to keep their poise.

This past weekend I covered a regional High School wrestling tournament to see who qualifies to compete in the North Carolina State Championship. These images are from that competition. You can see the drive, intensity and athleticism of these young people.

So next time you go out to shoot sporting events, whether it’s pro sports or of your kid’s Little League games: look around, take the time to show their effort, their victories and yes, their defeat. Remember, it’s not just about winning it’s about capturing how they they play the game to keep as memories for years to come.

Here are a few tips to get you started:

1. Use your flash, even outdoors
2. Choose a relatively high film speed; ISO 800+ for indoors
3. Anticipate where the action will be next and be ready to shoot
4. Get close and shoot tight closeup photos
5. Keep shooting even after the action stops

Get out there and start shooting… differently!

You may also like:

• Documentary photography (Wikipedia)
• Sports Photography: Tips and Tricks
• Taking Spontaneous Pictures
  

That’s where photography can help tip the scales in the other direction! The image below is only possible at slow, slow speed.

30sec / F8.0 at ISO 100

By using very slow shutter speeds, from 30-60 seconds, I was able to create this dreamy effect. At these slow speeds water looks more like a mist! See the full image below… just a simple fountain.

15sec / F8.0 at ISO 100

Be creative. The next time you take pictures of a fountain or waterfalls, get your tripod out and start experimenting with slow shutter speeds.

Have fun with it.

You May Also Like

• Beginners Photography – Capturing Moving Water
• How To Take Pictures of Moving Water
• A Beginners Guide to Capturing Motion in Your Photography
• Slow Shutter Speeds and Long Exposure Photography

We seem so conditioned to encouraging that overused, wide-mouthed grin. Is the big cheesy smile really the most flattering way to show our kids? Well, maybe not. It often distorts the face and often comes across as contrived and fake.

What’s the goal?

Kids grow up so quickly and go through many subtle changes that we want to remember as much of it as we can. Yes, especially when they are small and cute. But, they are not only cute when they shout the c-word. Kids show such a wide array of emotion that it’s a shame to limit them to a big cheesy smile.

Look to capture their personality… in their world and on their terms.

How can we add creativity and excitement?

Of course our kids are not always smiling and some of the more memorable times are when they were busy digging through the pots and pans in the cupboard; grinning from ear to ear when they think they’ve done something special but you are left wondering how you are going to get those coins out of the DVD player!

Grab your camera and try some of these ideas:

1. Encourage them to play with their favorite toy
2. If they’re old enough, ask them tell you about their toy
3. Get them to pose their toy for the picture
4. Ask them to show you how much they love their toy (see picture)
5. Challenge them to teach “teddy” how to look happy, serious, funny, look like dad, etc.
6. Tell your toy a secret
7. Get a tripod, set the timer and be in the picture with them

Better Results?

See the world through their eyes to add a fresh perspective to pictures. Things look very different at their eye level instead of shooting down at them! Add toys and other props to show them engaged. Yes, these steps will help increase the warmth and originality of your pictures because they show: personality, energy and innocence.

Have fun!

You May Also Like

• Get Better Childrens Photos In One Step
• Photographing Children
• 10 Tips for Taking better Pictures of kids

I often have to force myself to reduce the size of the subject in order to photograph more of the scene. By stepping back, or zooming out, we can sometimes capture the subject twice: the image and the reflection. It’s really about getting the full picture.

Here’s the same image, but this time it includes the reflection. And what a difference!

1/200 sec / f5.6 at ISO 400

The impact of the seeing the image along with the reflection can be quite dramatic and has application for snapshots taken both indoors and outdoors. You can use a mirror from a closet door or any table with a mirrored top. Closet doors work really well because you can let your child play on the floor with a toy or something while you adjust the closet door.

The image below of Fish Oil tablets was taken on a table with a mirror for a table top shoot.

1/60 sec / f8.0 at ISO 100

So give it a try folks. Start looking for those opportunities to take pictures around water, mirrors, etc to shoot two pictures in one. The results can be really dramatic and a lot of fun!