Monthly Archives: July 2009

On Photography

★ Posted on at 09:20 pm ★

piano keys

A little more variety in the pictures I’ve posted this month. Heh, something not related to food. Trying to get out of my comfort zone and take more types of pictures.

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Took the day off to go be a witness at my friend’s marriage registration today. Heh, happy that he’s getting married. No pomp, just a simple ceremony with a few people. I took the opportunity to take some photos, and it’s a lot of pressure, if you were to do this professionally. I was half fiddling with my camera today, as it seemed I suddenly didn’t quite know how it worked. Pictures were not quite focusing, so the shutter button won’t release, the flash was too bright or uneven etc.

I was getting reacquainted with my camera last night, as I felt I had grown too comfortable with what I already knew. The shots I am used to taking are those of static objects, where you have time to think about the subject matter and if it’s something small, move around as well. With people, I’m starting to get more comfortable with asking them to move around to get a better shot. I still don’t have a keen eye on what would make a good shot, but post processing after the shoot helps me identify things to repeat or not to do again. Heh, it’s also a little more difficult with a 70-200mm popped on the camera with a flash (that’s about 2kg of camera you need to hold still and take pictures with). I’m still not very comfortable with flash as a light source. Shooting in RAW helps me to fix problems later, but I still believe that nothing beats getting a well lit picture out of the box.

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Faxed in the form for the CPA exam yesterday. Heh, couldn’t hold off on the decision any longer as the fees would be an extra $100. Still not very sure I want to do accounting for life, but as they say, a rolling stone gathers no moss. You are only really proficient at doing what you experience on a daily basis, and it’s accounting for me as I have things I need to learn and issues to resolve constantly. Photography is something I try to sneak in every now and then, with whatever opportunities I can present myself with. I’ve been comparing shots between what I’d consider professionals, with shots from friends, and it’s giving me an idea on where I am in between all this. Heh, so many people are picking up digital SLRs these days as they’ve become more accessible to most people. I’ve become more familiar with the technical aspects of it, but need to break free of the mould that compels the average person to take pictures as you see them, and not as how it should be interpreted to fit the setting being photographed.

Starting July

★ Posted on at 10:41 pm ★

storytelling

Probably not very apparent, but the larger image would reveal a lot more going on in the background. I was drawn more towards the sun rising behind the clouds, the powerlines at the back and the construction vehicles. There’s a plane landing in the background so there’s this whole story going on.

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Half the year is gone. The weather in Melbourne hasn’t been that cold in the last couple of weeks, which is a bit weird considering it’s pretty much smack in the middle of winter now. Knowing Melbourne of course, the weather is subject to being random and can change at any time.

Looking forward to some warm pots of food and stuffing my face with it when I’m frozen allover. Heh.

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Taking the effort to offer photo sessions with friends. I know I can take good pictures with static objects, and arranging them to fit my needs. I am also pretty good with it when I actively think like a photographer. I’d get people to move their face forward into view, or getting them to stand in a place with a more appealing backdrop. When I revert back to my old self of just holding a camera, I don’t get the best shots that I could.

I’ve been reviewing the thought processes when taking events. I remember the tips I tell myself to do each time but again, I need to be actively thinking that I’m in a photographer’s role before I approach it properly. I need to mash the buttons for some shots, especially portraits, as people have a tendency to blink or change their expressions. Taking a few extra pictures is worth it as it’s not as easy to ask people to stay still as it is to prop a cup of coffee to fit your creative discretion. I find I’m still very poor at utilising flash for indoor portraits. I’ve been overexposing/underexposing shots at times and I do know how to overcome this problem, I just need to do it more often to get it into a habit.

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I guess I really want to do something else with my life. A person needs conviction to choose and follow a path they’d be pleased with doing. I have followed the steady flow of where life has taken me all this while but I really do feel the urge to break from the norm and try something different.

I’ve resisted change for long enough. Time to go out there and make something for myself.