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04/01/2013 10:28:23 PM · #1 |
One of my frustrations is I miss small details when I'm photographing. I try to make mental notes of certain things and it has helped me to some degree. Regardless I feel like I'm still missing the small details and don't see them until I upload my images. Does this happen to anyone else? How do you go about making sure you don't miss the small details?
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04/01/2013 10:30:52 PM · #2 |
You know how pissed off you feel when you notice that big green waste bin behind grandma?
Or how embarrassed you are when you see a tree seeming to sprouting from little Billy's head?
..
That. That is what will drive you to look at the scene obsessively for anything that is distracting or wrong.
It's honestly the first thing I do after deciding that I would like to think about taking a picture of something or someone. I look at the scene, decide if I should shoot wide or tight (tight shots don't show as much of the background in relation to the subject) often this decision is driven by the need to avoid distractions. Then I look for anything that is either bright or colorful. Next, I'll look for distracting patterns of light, and examine the scene for existing light. Of course, then you'll want to make sure that there are no big ugly branches, or strange looking rocks in the background, and follow that up with a careful scan for any trash.
Hell, I think the people passing thought I was mad when they saw me shooting this one:
I really wished I had brought gloves and a shop broom.
Message edited by author 2013-04-01 22:34:51. |
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04/01/2013 10:32:40 PM · #3 |
Originally posted by Cory:
You know how pissed off you feel when you notice that big green waste bin behind grandma?
Or how embarrassed you are when you see a tree seeming to sprouting from little Billy's head?
..
That. That is what will drive you to look at the scene obsessively for anything that is distracting or wrong. It's honestly the first thing I do after deciding that I would like to think about taking a picture of something or someone. |
I have been embarrassed many times, and I feel like I'm thinking it through, but I swear there is always something really stupid that I just did not see.
I also find that I suck at image selection. I can never pick the right one.
Message edited by author 2013-04-01 22:35:13. |
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04/01/2013 10:38:43 PM · #4 |
It's a constant struggle, for sure. One advantage of having spent so many years as an architectural photographer is how detail-noticing gets sort of engrained, but even so I manage some glaring compositional errors with embarrassing regularity. One thing that actually helps, amazingly, is to chimp your shots with the camera upside down. Amazing what you'll see that you missed, that way.
Another thing it's VERY helpful to be aware of is that as a rule you have a LOT more DOF in the finished image than you see through the viewfinder, because you're composing wide open. So locate your DOF preview button and make a habit of using it. It's not all that great for telling you if you have enough DOF, but it's great for warning you that you've got too much :-) |
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04/01/2013 10:43:16 PM · #5 |
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
It's a constant struggle, for sure. One advantage of having spent so many years as an architectural photographer is how detail-noticing gets sort of engrained, but even so I manage some glaring compositional errors with embarrassing regularity. One thing that actually helps, amazingly, is to chimp your shots with the camera upside down. Amazing what you'll see that you missed, that way.
Another thing it's VERY helpful to be aware of is that as a rule you have a LOT more DOF in the finished image than you see through the viewfinder, because you're composing wide open. So locate your DOF preview button and make a habit of using it. It's not all that great for telling you if you have enough DOF, but it's great for warning you that you've got too much :-) |
Thank you for the advice, I will be trying it. |
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04/01/2013 10:47:36 PM · #6 |
| I'm a big believer in "moving your feet" in order to compose the scene to include interesting elements of interest and exclude distractions. A few seconds of composing through the viewfinder saves hours of postprocessing. Also, I look at the histogram of an image capture before I look at the image itself. I shoot 99% of my images on tripod. The tripod mount forces me to square things up, slow things down and compose and pay attention to focus and DOF. Believe or not, this approach works for both wildlife and landscape images. |
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04/01/2013 11:32:15 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
Another thing it's VERY helpful to be aware of is that as a rule you have a LOT more DOF in the finished image than you see through the viewfinder, because you're composing wide open. So locate your DOF preview button and make a habit of using it. It's not all that great for telling you if you have enough DOF, but it's great for warning you that you've got too much :-) |
It never ceases to amaze me how much I learn from you.
Angela, it helps to take your time. Unless, of course, you're taking action shots. Before even lifting the camera to your eye, look at the scene. Make it a point to look for bins, cans, trash, harsh shadows, etc. Walk back and forth in front of your background to make sure you have the best angle. And eventually you will notice these things through the viewfinder as well. |
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04/02/2013 12:34:29 AM · #8 |
Or, if you're just a casual snapshot artist, you can relish those odd trash cans, trees growing out of people's heads, stray arms and such. Granted, it's not great photography, but I'm just weird enough that I sorta relish those little details that don't show up until you've taken the shot and look at it later.
In my In a Row shot, Robert ( Bear_Music) caught the tiny little sailboat out there (which I did know was there and wanted in the shot) but it wasn't until I got home that I noticed the couple walking near the water (kind of in line with the boat).
I did, you'll be proud to know, recognize that there was an annoying sign in my way. I cropped most of it out and cloned the rest. You *CAN* teach an old broad new tricks. It just takes many tries, a lot of repetition, and some prodding.
Anyway, you've got great advice from people who actually know what they're doing - listen to them! But if you do miss a little thing now and then, you can relish having it in your picture, crop it out, or if it is minor enough (or you're not entering a challenge so not worried about the rules) you can clone it out.
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04/02/2013 02:49:48 AM · #9 |
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
It's a constant struggle, for sure. One advantage of having spent so many years as an architectural photographer is how detail-noticing gets sort of engrained, but even so I manage some glaring compositional errors with embarrassing regularity. One thing that actually helps, amazingly, is to chimp your shots with the camera upside down. Amazing what you'll see that you missed, that way.
Another thing it's VERY helpful to be aware of is that as a rule you have a LOT more DOF in the finished image than you see through the viewfinder, because you're composing wide open. So locate your DOF preview button and make a habit of using it. It's not all that great for telling you if you have enough DOF, but it's great for warning you that you've got too much :-) |
I wonder if 90 degrees is better? I found it to be more sensitive for radiological images for the purposes of diagnosis - but then the 'scene' (anatomy) is known and is consistent... |
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04/02/2013 07:08:55 AM · #10 |
Never used the DOF button a day in my life. Always just went on aperture and distance to focal point. Maybe I should try it sometime.
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04/02/2013 07:14:53 AM · #11 |
Originally posted by Paul:
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
It's a constant struggle, for sure. One advantage of having spent so many years as an architectural photographer is how detail-noticing gets sort of engrained, but even so I manage some glaring compositional errors with embarrassing regularity. One thing that actually helps, amazingly, is to chimp your shots with the camera upside down. Amazing what you'll see that you missed, that way.
Another thing it's VERY helpful to be aware of is that as a rule you have a LOT more DOF in the finished image than you see through the viewfinder, because you're composing wide open. So locate your DOF preview button and make a habit of using it. It's not all that great for telling you if you have enough DOF, but it's great for warning you that you've got too much :-) |
I wonder if 90 degrees is better? I found it to be more sensitive for radiological images for the purposes of diagnosis - but then the 'scene' (anatomy) is known and is consistent... |
back in high school when i dabbled with drawing comic book art, i learned early on to look at artwork upside down to check it. flaws become glaringly obvious that way. funny i never thought to apply that technique to my photographs. |
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04/02/2013 07:48:20 AM · #12 |
| Interesting -- one trick proof-readers use is to read each page of text backwards ... |
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04/02/2013 08:03:58 AM · #13 |
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Interesting -- one trick proof-readers use is to read each page of text backwards ... |
lol, i do that too! |
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04/02/2013 11:51:36 AM · #14 |
Originally posted by mike_311:
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Interesting -- one trick proof-readers use is to read each page of text backwards ... |
lol, i do that too! |
Me 3 |
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04/02/2013 11:58:32 AM · #15 |
Originally posted by hahn23:
I'm a big believer in "moving your feet" in order to compose the scene to include interesting elements of interest and exclude distractions. |
What he said. In this day of ubiquitous zooms, it's WAY too easy to get lazy and just twiddle the zoom; but lots of times, you';ll find the exact same flaw/distraction in every damned exposure of the scene. Walking around, on the other hand, even if only a little bit, moves different scene elements into different relationships with each other and tends to accentuate in your visions the elements that need watching.
A good example of this is overhanging tree branches used to frame a scene. A lot of times, if they're not actually obscuring the subject, we tend to get tunnel vision and ignore them altogether, often missing a chance to reframe for optimal composition. On the other hand, if you move around so they are actually IN the way, then those branches suddenly become a major element in your mental composition, and you'll find yourself acutely aware of how they are interacting with the subject and its immediate surroundings even when you have re-positioned yourself so they are no longer blocking the primary subject. |
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04/02/2013 12:46:22 PM · #16 |
Originally posted by mike_311:
Originally posted by Paul:
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
It's a constant struggle, for sure. One advantage of having spent so many years as an architectural photographer is how detail-noticing gets sort of engrained, but even so I manage some glaring compositional errors with embarrassing regularity. One thing that actually helps, amazingly, is to chimp your shots with the camera upside down. Amazing what you'll see that you missed, that way.
Another thing it's VERY helpful to be aware of is that as a rule you have a LOT more DOF in the finished image than you see through the viewfinder, because you're composing wide open. So locate your DOF preview button and make a habit of using it. It's not all that great for telling you if you have enough DOF, but it's great for warning you that you've got too much :-) |
I wonder if 90 degrees is better? I found it to be more sensitive for radiological images for the purposes of diagnosis - but then the 'scene' (anatomy) is known and is consistent... |
back in high school when i dabbled with drawing comic book art, i learned early on to look at artwork upside down to check it. flaws become glaringly obvious that way. funny i never thought to apply that technique to my photographs. |
"Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" was a wonderful book I used when I was teaching art to my students...(back in the day)....no matter what age, the idea of turning an object upside down frees one from the preconceived notion of "how" something "should" look... in photography if you turn your image upside down things will pop that you haven't even noticed before...
with my photography I also use a simple trick (sometimes....lol) to see what is going on in my shot.....simply rotate the image, either viewing it in your camera, on the monitor or even when you frame your shot... slowly, 90 degrees at a time.. to see where the details pop, what the composition is.....you can also then flip it via mirror image and work on what the strengths and weaknesses (in YOUR opinion) are..... this works VERY well for human portraits.....
traditionally Westerners read left to right and our eyes go left to right...top to bottom.....this is primarily cultural.....study images shot by Eastern or Middle-Eastern photogs....see if you can find an immediate difference... Chinese and Hebrew text.....bottom to top....right to left.... you will find ALL sorts of surprises and inspiring ways to "see" details and composition if you leave the comfort zones we live in..... |
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04/02/2013 12:58:35 PM · #17 |
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
Originally posted by hahn23:
I'm a big believer in "moving your feet" in order to compose the scene to include interesting elements of interest and exclude distractions. |
What he said. In this day of ubiquitous zooms, it's WAY too easy to get lazy and just twiddle the zoom; but lots of times, you';ll find the exact same flaw/distraction in every damned exposure of the scene. Walking around, on the other hand, even if only a little bit, moves different scene elements into different relationships with each other and tends to accentuate in your visions the elements that need watching.
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not only that but it forces you to slow down, i shoot portraits almost exclusively with my prime and many times i need to back up or move in and when i reset i check my composition.
of course i usually focus so much on composition and lighting i forget small details. i recently brought my wife along on a shoot i did for a couple and she kept fixing little things on the woman i kept overlooking, was her ring straight, how was her hair, was there clothes bunching up, etc, things i kept missing looking at the big picture.
Message edited by author 2013-04-02 13:14:00. |
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04/02/2013 01:09:53 PM · #18 |
| definitely the DOF button! (sadly lacking on my old film slr). and the walking with the feet, mightily encouraged by the use of primes (and perhaps by the preference of some length on a zoom). I am not always rigorous in this wise, but I cannot imagine a better way to get to know the absolutes of aperture and focal length, and their varied blessings. |
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04/02/2013 10:49:54 PM · #19 |
| Thank you all for your responses. I truly appreciate it. |
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