42 12 October 2019 I http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk I subscribe 0330 333 1113
Technique TIPS AND TRICKS
Documentary&street
10 5
Track
When shooting moving
subjects set your focus setting to the
tracking feature to ensure they stay
pin-sharp. Predicting where they might
move into the frame and composing
before they do will guarantee a winner! AP
10 6
A smile goes
a long way
Don’t forget if you get caught shooting an
image on the sly then simply smile and
apologise. A smile can go a long way,
and remember people don’t want to feel
threatened by you or what you’re doing. If
they do get annoyed delete the image and
move on. You can always try to rescue it
later using recovery software. AP
107
Change your
perspective
If you take all your images at eye level
they’ll look basic, as we’re all used to this
perspective. To stand out, go and stand on
something to gain a higher perspective or
lie on the ground. You’ll get used to the
weird looks. Another option is to take a
wideangle lens (I like to use a 24mm)
and shoot without looking through the
viewfinder. Just use zone focusing and
hold your camera high and low.
Maarten Mellemans,
http://www.maartenmellemans.be
108
Spare batteries
Carry plenty of memory cards
and spare batteries. If your camera has a
double card slot use it as extra backup.
To save battery power avoid ‘chimping’ –
reviewing every picture immediately after
shooting it. AP
109
Speed it up
Often when we shoot the
documentary genre we take a lot of images
in the space of a relatively short period of
time. It can take an age to edit them all if
you’re doing them one by one, so a program
such as Lightroom or Adobe Bridge to sort
and rate will help speed up the process. It’s
better to edit all your images in one go, or
over a short space of time so they feel
more uniform and work as a set if that’s
your intention. AP
110
Shoot at midday
Midday is thought of as a
photographer’s no-go zone. The magic hours
at sunrise and sunset are the best times to
shoot outdoors, so what’s the point of going
out when the sun is high and the light
seems uninspiring? Midday is certainly a
challenging time to shoot, but look for the
right pockets of light or angle the subject
so that the light from directly above falls
on them in a pleasing way; it doesn’t have
to be siesta time for our cameras.
James Paterson
http://www.patersonphotos.com
The benefits of black & white,
the importance of creative
composition, and the art of
editing are all explored99
Go black & white
When it comes to telling a story
with an image, colour can often (not in every
circumstance) be a hindrance and distraction.
By switching to the monochrome medium the
elements in the frame are easier to see and
shape, and lines leading the eye through
become key. This image is about a village by the
beach and a connecting road that is dominated
by the sea and erosion. The sea defence plays a
key part in keeping the village safe. AP100
It’s all about
the moment
Although we think the moment just happens
(and to some degree it does) we can also
predict what might happen when we start
to people watch. This photograph was taken at
Sea Change Festival last May in Devon, and was
taken by the photographer about a minute
after spotting the girl in the crowd and watching
her movements. AP97
Don’t worry about noise
When you’re shooting quickly and on
the go you won’t have time to set up lights, so
when it’s dark simply push the ISO up on your
camera and embrace the noise! By converting
your image to black & white at the editing stage
you can stylise your picture with the grain. This
image was taken at ISO 2000. The textured
noise coming in through the background actually
adds another element rather than existing as
an unwanted fl aw. AP98
Picking the right frame
Editing in itself is a true art form. At
the end of the day there are no right or wrong
answers, only a difference of opinion. Often we
have an emotional connection to our images
that can be a good thing but can also blinker our
ability to see. A good way to gauge which images
are working well is to get a range of opinions.
Sharing on social media sites is useful for
feedback, but also sharing with people you trust,
and whose opinion you value, is vital. AP© CL AIRE GILLO
© CL AIRE GILLO