Some Musings on Picture Taking

Our model Julia (SOOC)
© Marie Otero

Clearly going on a rather expensive photography trip and learning how to use your camera in the company of professionals gets you thinking a bit about how and why you take your photos.

I have always been a kind of point and shoot gal, coming to the world of photography from the back end via my experiments in mixed media and photoshop.  Pictures were always a means to another end for me and I never worried about what was in the frame, the camera's shutter speed, aperture or any of that kind of "techie" stuff.
As my friend Nancy can attest, it was always about grabbing some sort of snippet that could be crafted into something fabulous in Photoshop.

Now after spending a week with a bunch of crazy A**ed pro' photographers, learning lots more about my camera and how it can take really rather nice pictures :-) .... I am beginning to see the other side of the equation, where a nicely framed shot (yes I'm watching my edges Gerri!), properly set exposures and some nice depth of field, generated by well thought out aperture and shutter speed settings can be quite rewarding to look at.

I can't say that I've achieved any miraculous level of expertise at taking pictures, I still have a lot to learn but I'm thinking that there is going to be room in the future for some "perfect" pictures now, as well as the on the run "auto" shots.

I can play with them ALL, regardless, in Photoshop - right?

 ..... and here's the creative version! :-)

So what about you? How do you like to snap your shots?  Are you a manual maniac or an auto baby?

Comments

[mary bailey]

LOVE the PS version!

[Chris]

So gorgeous. LOVE what you do with the shots afterward. Thanks for showing both.

When I wanted to be a portrait photographer, and had my own darkroom and lights and blah blah, I was a manual maniac, for sure. I loved bracketing and burning-in and it still holds quite intrigue for me and I'm occasionally tempted to ride those waves again, but I know that my focus (haha) and passion are now with learning to put onto paper the odd permutations of my mental imagery. But I tell you... your photographs are always inspirational and eye-opening. And your photoshop class brought me to a greater appreciation of what you do and a launching pad for what I can do with my own images, beyond the F-stops, filters, frames, and even the textures on the canvas.

I hope you feel better soon.

[karen burns]

Gasp and drool at the creative version!!!!!!!!

~k

[grrl+dog]

After dropping mine on a gallery floor and discovering it would be more than half the cost to fix it,

I am starving without it.

But you got the depth perfectly, so clear!
Must master that one.

[Joanne Thime Huffman]

I am a slave to auto and keep thinking I should learn to use the manual settings. I love the original photo and I love the Photoshopped versions.

[Chantal]

I love the creative version best

[Dori]

I used to always be in auto mode but have very recently been playing around with aperture priority. Tons of fun!

[tina]

Your photos are awesome both pre and post processing. I am definitely a point and shoot but I do try to experiment and so desperately want to learn how to take great photos. Venice is definitely been on my bucket list forever and now I will add go go at Carnivale time. So colorful!!

[Marcie]

I can only imagine what fun you're going to have with the images you amassed in Venice. Can't wait to see!!!

[Sherri B.]

You have described me to a "tee"...I'm also a point-and-shoot girl who thus far uses the camera as a means to an end. PSE and editing is where I have all my fun, but like you I hope to change that with time as I learn more about photography. It looks like you're learning a lot - your photo proves that. It's spectacular! And the creative version is fantastic!

[Jane]

Both renderings are solid. I would have to say that I'm pretty much an auto baby, especially when photographing children who are constantly in motion. Having said that, it seems I'm paying more attention to light and shadow. At the moment, though, it's more important for me to concentrate on content and composition, because I always paint my images. I definitely would love to take one of those trips.