The next time you visit an iconic tourist attraction, take a moment to watch other tourists’ photography habits. Stand with your back against the Great Wall of China. Rest on a bench and peer up at the Statue of Liberty. Sit on the steps of the Sydney Opera House. No matter which continent you are on, you will see people with cameras to their faces or with their eyes glued to a camera screen held out in front of them.
Many of us keep the camera up to our faces or our focus on the camera’s screen while we search for a good shot. This is a bad habit as it’s one that’s sure to limit your creativity. It was one of my mistakes too…
[Luxor Valley, Egypt – Temple of Hatshepsut 2001]
Mistake #3: I brought the camera to my face too soon.
It’s important to know your equipment well and to have it close at hand, but it’s not a good idea to walk around a subject with your camera in your way. Last summer I spent a glorious day shooting in Rome with retired National Geographic Photographer Tony Boccaccio (http://www.boccacciophoto.com). He coached me on this very topic and the lesson has made me both a better traveler and a better photographer.
Unless you’re shooting sports photography, I guarantee you you will miss something important by hiding behind your camera. This habit hinders your ability to see the scene before you; it makes you less likely to experiment with the angle and vantage point of your image. As you limit yourself to the tiny space of your screen, you force yourself to be solely an observer and not a participant.
See with your eyes. Be present in the moment and enjoy the scene. Watch people’s reactions to the site and think about what your own reaction to it is. Look and look and look until you start to see the shapes and shadows and highlights. Discover the story.
Think you see for yourself what you want to capture with your camera? Good. Now experiment by changing the position of your body and the angle of your head, then finally bring the camera to your face (or look into your camera’s screen) and verify that what is in the frame of the camera is what you envisioned. Then start taking photos.
Exercise:
Don’t wait until you’re in front of the Sphinx to develop the ability to see what is before you; learn to make powerful images today. Practice this ability by taking time each day to meditate on a scene. Look at the textures and colors before you. See the shapes and the shadows, the highlights and the reflections. Once you’ve done this, move around and around the subject until you see the story you want to capture, then and only then should you bring your camera to your face and shoot. Be sure to shoot a lot of photos so that you have enough that you can edit with fresh eyes on another day. If possible, come back to this place repeatedly – see it again in the morning light, on a foggy day, in the winter and again in the spring. Consider shooting a photo series (see previous post) of the scene. Most important – enjoy the moments you take to explore your world.
In joy,
Melinda
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