I’ve been working hard to revamp all our student photo galleries, and while they’re not all done, I hope you will enjoy the new look. Go to www.BCphotoadventures.com and click on the Student Galleries in the menu at the left. You’ll see the latest ones from Savannah & the Lowcountry as well as our most recent Springtime on the Outer Banks. We were really pleased with the strides our participants made in seeking their own vision. Both were eager groups, and we all laughed a lot and had a great time while they refined their vision and learned how to make better photographs!
The Vision behind the Photograph – Cropping in Camera
Arnie and I were reflecting on the progress our students have made, both first-timers and alumni, and talking about how some participants have a tougher time seeking their own vision than others. We do not subscribe to the “pay me and watch me take the best position to do my own photograph” approach of some workshops. That said, after talking with some alumni friends, we thought it might be useful to talk about the thought process that led to some of our images — the before and after.
We’ll start with our recent Outer Banks workshop. In a workshop, we do not get to photograph much, since we are there for our students. Occasionally, though, we get to compose and make our own images. So often, we all shoot the straight scene, but Arnie and I wanted to push our participants beyond the norm. While showing them approaches to the classic view, we also showed them what a different perspective could produce. Both of us love abstracts, so we concentrated on them this time, as we always like to stretch our own boundaries and imagination.
Being a sailor, I am always attracted to the water and boats. We were at one of our favorite local areas, puttering about and showing our participants possible things to pique their interest.
One of our students came up to me and showed me something that had caught her eye. Her shot showed a broad scene, and in trying to explain how she might have made the image more arresting, I did the single, quick shot above to show her. I homed in on the reflections which, to me, were the important element. Then I quickly but carefully checked around the edges to see potential hazards — the dock on the left, the bit of flotsam in the foreground, the too-bright light off to the right, and, hmmm, that pesky waterline at the top (see below).
Because our cameras have the common 2:3 aspect ratio, I knew I would have to crop that fourth side in post production, as shown above. The other three sides, however, I cropped in camera. No point wasting all those wonderful, expensive little pixels I paid for! We always try to crop in camera to maintain the highest quality in our images.
This shot shows the “before” photograph, but what a difference that subtle cropping of the fourth side made.
In our visit to the newly repainted Hatteras Light Station, Arnie was fascinated by the abstract patterns of the stairs. In working the scene, he had to turn his camera this way and that to get the angle he wanted. He also was playing with focus. This is the first horizontal he did, and as he studied what he had done here, he saw distracting elements, from the hot spots to the metal braces at the top.
By adopting a slightly different position, however, he was able to crop out the distracting elements in camera as you can see here. Sometimes only an inch or two can make just the difference.
So, in both scenes, we each worked to crop in camera. I was limited by the tightness of the scene, so I could not change my angle or move to get what I wanted. That fourth side had to be clipped later, albeitly only slightly. On the other hand, Arnie, by moving his body only a little bit and twisting the camera a hair, was able to totally avoid the undesirable elements in camera. By being careful and thoughtful in our compositions, neither one of us wasted those wonderful, expensive little pixels we paid for.
We will revisit our vision behind the photograph in future blogs.
Meanwhile, we are getting ready for our Cascades & Wildflowers of Virginia and Maine Coast & Lighthouses workshops. We love both these areas, but for me, Maine is like going home. I grew up sailing the coast around where we will photograph, and I always enjoy returning to favorite haunts, fish shacks, and scenes that I have photographed so often over the years, always coming up with something different.
Upcoming Workshops
With all the great deals on airfares, we are also excited to announce that we have added Spain’s Catalonia & Barcelona (June 21-28) to our workshop roster. This comes right after our French Wine Country workshop that runs June 12-19.
We love Spain and were delighted when this opportunity presented itself.
While you’re at the website, check out our other offerings. If you are considering joining us, do as others have already done … make your room reservations. Rooms go quickly at all our locations, but particularly for Canyon de Chelly & Navajoland, where there are few hotels and New England Fall Foliage, because of reunions, leaf peepers, and football games. Remember, you can always cancel later if necessary and not pay any penalty! If “our” inn or hotel is full, or if you prefer to stay elsewhere, we always have links to other choices.
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Monthly (ish) Newsletter
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Sandy,
Thanks for your comments.
As I say, “Remember what attracted you to the scene and make sure that is your only subject.” Then do as Arnie says, “Simplify and isolate.”
You are not alone in often getting more than you want in camera. That’s one of the reasons we encourage the use of a tripod. It helps slow you down so you can really look at what the lens sees and make sure it is what you want it to see.
Working on a tripod also allows you to try different lenses or zoom in or out and see what works best. That way, you don’t have to use the Crap Croppers in post production!
Take care,
TBC
“Cropping in camera” was a new concept for me when I attended TBC’s workshop in Maine last May. When I took the picture of the boat’s name and it’s water reflection at the Outer Banks last month, I did not have a clear vision of what I wanted….sometimes the desire to “record” takes over and is louder in one’s mind than creating an interesting image. I learned, when Margo took me back to the boat and showed me another way to look at the boat’s name, that I really didn’t need the name on the boat and the reflection, too, and with just the reflection, it was a much better, more interesting image. Sometimes, there just seems to be the momentary panic before the shutter is clicked, and you end up with more than you want. The whole idea of cropping in camera slows you down, makes you think about what you are actually seeing and which of it matters. This, of course, also goes along with Arnie’s mantra to isolate and simplify.
I’m trying to keep the voices of Margo and Arnie in my head before I click the shutter.
Arnie,
Will do. We’re slated to do Charleston and the Lowcountry Sunday, July 26- Wednesday, July 29 or 30. The Blue Ridge will be mid-October, between New England Fall Foliage and Lighthouses of the Outer Banks. Those pages will be uploaded soon. We look forward to seeing you again.
Take care,
TBC