Some shots are just good luck...being at the right place and right time.

Taking good pictures (proper framing, exposure, perspective) is crucial to getting good pictures.  Once in a while, a good picture becomes a great picture, just by being in the right place at the right time.  Here are a few from my early digital catalog that are examples of this principle of photography.

                       Exif:  Canon Powershot A95, f/3.2, 0.6s (with very slight post contrast enhancement)

The shot above is of Michelangelo's Statua del Redentore at Rome's Basilica Santa Maria sopra Minerva ("right place").  The mid-afternoon time in September placed the sun perfectly in the Southwest ("right time") and I set up to appear as if the light was shining on the Christ statue (another "right place").  I took a half-dozen shots and this one was cropped the best in the camera, using the "rule of thirds". As an aside, the shots I took in a vertical orientation didn't seem to look right, even though it showed the whole statue...sometimes less is more, which this horizontal orientation demonstrates.  This shot could have been a little sharper (0.6s exposure) if I had been using a monopod or tripod (but some public places don't allow tripods, due to trip hazards), and I was traveling light at the time.  If I don't have a tripod, I'll try to steady on a wall, column or table which helps immensely to reduce motion blur.

Another example of "right place, right time" photograph was taken on my way to an early morning Pacific deep-sea fishing trip back in 2002.  Walking to the pier at dawn revealed some fantastic colors and reflections in the still waters of the San Diego's Shelter Island harbor.  I took multiple shots, and only one turned out "great", the others were below average in composition and clarity.  Lesson there: take LOTS of shots, remember digital "film" is free...

                                Exif:  Kodak DX4900 (4MP), f/3.4, 1/90s (no retouch)

Have fun, and schedule yourself to be somewhere at the right place and the right time and make your own "good luck"...

Matt

The Photography Master Henri Cartier-Bresson

Even back in my 35mm days, I tried to think of photography different than "snapshots"... but what is the mind-set for taking photos in that way?  How does a photographer think different about composing the light, the geometry before clicking the shutter?

One of the masters of photography going back to the 1930's was Henri Cartier-Bresson, and in 1973 he was interviewed on his style and methods, which is the basis of the video I have linked to below.  He was first an artist (sketches, etc.) and then took up photography, which he describes as an "instant sketch", and his artistry shows.

Watch the video and not only here from Mr. Cartier-Bresson himself, but watch a menagerie of his brilliant and beautiful photos as he talks about his art.

"Photography is like 'Yes, yes, yes!', and there are no maybes, or the maybes should go to the trash.  It's very instant, it's a presence, its an affirmation of the moment."

Video:  "The Decisive Moment" (c) 1973, 2007 International Center of Photography

Amazon link to the many books and biographies.

First Light!

  Welcome to my photography blog.  I'll be posting my favorite pictures, and links to gear and techniques.  

  I've been using a borrowed Nikon D70s body and Nikon 18-55mm DX  f/3.5-5.6 GII ED lens.  I've been away from SLR's for about 15 years.  My first SLR was a Yashica FR-1 with a 50mm f/2 lens, and a 200mm lens, with a motor drive.  Fun camera, and a nice light meter built inside.  My next 35mm was a Canon Rebel back in 1995, which we used only for a few years until the digital point-n-shoot craze.

  I've grown tired of the point-n-shoot (PnS) experience, and have been yearning for the SLR experience again, so have jumped back in with the borrowed D70s.  I have an old 1GB Compact Flash memory card that will hold about 300 Jpegs or 180 RAW format shots.  Ken Rockewell's website has been a great place to learn just what this great 6MP camera can pull off fantastically (and yes, 6MP is plenty for some great photos!).  Ken's website is also good to do some comparing for purchasing something a bit more modern (D5300 ?) and some lens recommendations.  Reasons to upgrade?  Bigger LCD for these presbyopic old eyes of mine!  The Wifi is pretty nice, too, for uploading immediately to Instagram or Facebook.

  Here's to some fun years to come!

Barrington Hall Ice House

Roswell, Georgia