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| Still Life (click to enlarge) X-T2, 16-55mm f/2.8 lens @ 17mm; 1/250th sec. @ f/5.6; ISO 800 |
You have been out photographing your usual scenes, say landscapes, nature, people, or you are just out riding in your car (and you always have your camera with you) when all of a sudden something unexpected appears, like a bear, deer, extraordinary light falling on a unique subject, etc. You immediately stop your car (or stop if walking) and grab your camera to quickly make an image of this unexpected happenstance before it disappears. Unfortunately, whatever just surprisingly appeared requires totally different camera settings than you have been using.
Your problem is that your camera is set for what you were previously photographing, which will not do for this now almost out of sight creature or fast changing scene (the light is quickly going) that just came your way. You fumble to try to, as quickly as possible, reset your camera to the proper shutter speed, aperture and possibly ISO in order to capture it before it is gone. Unfortunately, you don't remember to what you had set your camera and, darn, the bear or beautiful light is gone.
I certainly learned that lesson many times over the years so to compensate I developed and strictly adhere to the habit that when I am done photographing in a particular area or finish with a particular subject or anytime I put my camera back in its bag, I reset all my camera controls to the exact same place each time. Then, if an exigent circumstance occurs, I know exactly what needs to be changed and how to change it. I waste no time and don't fumble. Again, I've learned this lesson many times over the years until I decided to figure out a method to try to not miss images I really wanted to make.
Decide on what standardized settings best fits you and your work then you know in your mind that if something unexpectedly appears that you want to photograph, which settings need to be changed and how much for that particular circumstance.
For example, I normally photograph for travel, nature, landscapes and wildlife. Since those subjects are the majority of what I photograph, I settled on ISO 200, aperture priority set to f/5.6, shutter dial set to A, RAW + Fine JPEG (Provia simulation since I use Fuji cameras), bracket set to 3 shots—2-stops apart, 5 frames per second, single focus point (in the center of my frame) with focus on single (as opposed to continuous), etc. I know that whenever I pull my camera out of my bag those are the settings.
If all of a sudden a bear appears and walks across a field, I know that I need to change settings and which settings I need to change based upon the bear's distance, speed, the light, etc.
This developing habits works in all aspects of life. For example, I always put my car keys in the exact same place. I always clean and put my tools away in the exact same place whenever I am done with them. Then, I always know exactly where they are the next time I need them. Unfortunately for my children, I've drilled that concept into their heads over the years.
If you develop habits and stick with them, they can be very beneficial in relieving anxiety over things such as "did I lock the door on the way out?", or "where did I leave my phone?", or "did I take my medicine this morning?"
As life gets more and more complicated, habits can be a good strategy to help you not forget things and keep you from stressing out over what you may or may not have lost or forgotten to do. Try it.
Thanks for looking. Enjoy!
Dennis A. Mook
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Hi Dennis,
ReplyDeleteSuch an apropos post. You must have been sitting on my shoulder this morning while I photographed some landscapes. I, too, try to anticipate my settings before I take my bag out. So this time, with a non-movable scene, it was just perfect.
Then I noticed down in a tiny glen there was a shadowed bench in a grove of trees. All it needed was a person there to make it livable. Just at that time a woman with her two pet dogs wandered into the glen and sat down. I collapsed my tripod and hurried down to set up. I tried to blend in while trying to figure out just what my setting should be (I shoot manual, spot, @100 ISO).
I forgot what my setting were previously. So I shot anyways, after asking her if I could take a few pictures. Over blown! (Thank heavens for Preview buttons.) And my camera was on bracketing (not my usual habit). It seemed like a very, very long time, but it was only 15 seconds later that I found my right settings, and another 15 sec to get best shots, ending with a less than 2 minute portraits shoot transition from landscape photography. Luckily, my “bear” was cordial, and I was able to small talk to have time to figure things out.
So habits are good, but experience and executing a plan B when the habit doesn’t save you, is also good.
Thank you for the story. It has happened to all of us at one time or another. The trick is to put a procedure in place to keep it from happening again!
DeleteDennis, I really like the new look of your site! The only kink I noticed was that the Classic screen did not contain the menu choices below the title bar, so there was no way to get to the other screens. (This could be an issue on my end? I was using the Safari browser on an iPad)
ReplyDeleteJohn, thank you. I started the blog with this layout, then decided a change was needed about two years ago and migrated to the Classic version. I thought maybe another change would spark some interest.
DeleteI think the menu choices are a function of Blogger. I can't seem to find any controls that enable nor eliminate them. If anyone knows, please pass it on.