MJDick Photography Misc

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous pictures that don't have their own web page yet, and photo tips that I've learned and would like to pass on to whomever may need them or find them helpful.

A picture of my family and I minus one brother. My dad is restoring some AMC Gremlins and I got a picture of 5 of his now 6 part cars in a row. I hope to eventually make a web page for him and his restoring efforts, and hopefully even be able to use some of them in my pictures once he is completed.

Cropping can help change the lay of a picture. Sometimes it's not the picture that matters, but what you really see. As long as the composition is good, a simple turning and cropping can be what makes your picture go from woops to wow. In this example, the fireworks went up, but there was heavy winds carrying the light to the right of the picture. By turning the picture so the right looks like it's down, cropping the mortars path out a little and centering the picture in a little better and the picture that seems a little off now appears to be a much more impressive burst.

Panoramic Pictures can also be a good cropping feature and can often add a lot of added interest, . Sometimes it's a simple picture that has too much top, too much on the bottom or open area on the sides. If you compose your pictures correctly, and have a good knowledgeable photo lab with the correct equipment, a simple touch of a button can make your picture focus on exactly what you are wanting to see. Plus many people do not display panoramic pictures as they are often looked at as amateur photographers or cheap camera tricks. I hope to have my Panoramic Gallery up on the site soon, so check back and enjoy the site.

These are some various pictures I took while on my recent trips. I went with my brother first to Las Vegas, Nevada (pictures on the Las Vegas page) then up to northern California, then to Silverdale/Seattle Washington. Saw many things and got several new pictures to share. I may not get them up all at once, but should have them up soon.

Sometimes a simple angle change can change a complete perspective. If a tripod is used, changing the angle without moving the angle is simple, and you can have a different version of the same shot. As one might be used for a calendar, the other may make a better magazine cover, or things to this nature.

Fireworks are not as difficult as one might think, and can make an amazing picture. It takes a camera with bulb or lock feature, a good sturdy tripod, cable release, a general knowledge of the area, and where the firework will happen. If the explosion will be over a bright light source, it will be more difficult, as you will need to find somewhere to lose as much of the light as possible. As I did it, I setup the camera, shot one shell off and had someone aim the camera for me to make sure the camera was aimed right and then hit the cable lock. Since it was a unlit field, there was no light to interfere.

If you are around a lit area, I might suggest a piece of black construction paper. Wait for the first shell to go off so you can get your aim and focus, then lock the shutter open and block the cameras line of sight as close as possible without touching. Each time another shell goes up, move the paper, let the camera see, and then put it back. I have not really done it much, so I can't say for sure, but like all pictures and special photography shots, it's always a trial and error.

Often you can redirect light to change the appearances of your subjects. These pictures were the same setup, nothing changed, except that the second picture had a red reflector held under it to reflect the sun. Since it was bounced off the red surface, it gave a red reflection and causes a slight change. This can be used with most materials and can add some life to a simple picture.

Sometimes it's the fading or brightening of the light that can capture the most feeling and emotion in a single glance. Sunsets are part of natures grand opening, or grand finale for the day, so if it's there, see if you can make sure it's noticed.

Some people think that to get good pictures you have to know exactly what you are doing, have the best equipment, or the best timing. These things will help, but sometimes even the cheapest cameras, fastest setups and just luck can get the pictures that can really say something. This picture was taken with a Nikon auto focus, auto winding camera. The location was across the street from a place I used to live and had returned to see again and remember.

When trying to retake a picture, it's sometimes very hard, and often impossible. Sometimes it's the lighting or maybe the season. The same barn was used in the previous picture, but this time with a Cannon AE1 Prog. The second picture taken was 3 years later.

Polarizers can help add color to your pictures. It can enrich the color of a blue sky, or take excess light out of your picture and that in turn can bring more to the picture. A picture doesn't have to be anything in specific, but too much background can also take away from your main subject. For the most part, the eyes with focus on the first and brightest color it sees. Typically happens with a darker picture and a bright red slightly off to one side, but if you can get a good balance, it can bring so much more to your picture.

A few things to remember about night photography. Lights always react different then we see them, but neon is about as close to the camera as it is to your eyes. If there are heavy winds, it very well could be adding duct to the sky, and this will again change the way your picture will turn out. One of the the very important tings to remember in night photography is to try to get as many of the unimportant lights in front or behind your main subject as possible. Even lights that seem dim at the time can pop up and cause your picture to look off centered or even lose the effect you were going for.

Tips:

Always Keep Your Eyes Open. You may never know what you are passing by day after day, and you might be passing by a photographic landmine and never know it.

Always have extra film. No film normally results in no pictures.

Photographing people conveys more emotion to most pictures.

Scenery is normally a good place to start out. This gives you a chance with different shadows, hues, angles and lighting.

Try new things and never try to guess the shots that you have taken until you develop them. Even if you think that something may have been wrong, it could make the finished product more interesting. Whether its a bad angle, bad lighting, maybe a camera jiggle or even the police disturbing you. It's not what you think when you take it, but what you think of it when you are done.

Most importantly, people make good shots, but barns or trees never laugh at you when you forget to wind the camera.

Remember, a picture is worth a thousand words, so try to make your photos a speech that people will remember.

Some thanks to be given are, Brad Tull and Ron Braun, for getting me back into photography and teaching me some of the finer points to the trade, and Susie Smith for getting me into web design.

Thanks all and may the film be with you