The Photography Tip of the Week #049
049 Photography Tip of the Week (audio)
Make Photos Part II
Last week I pointed out the virtues of making photos, not just taking pictures. You need to observe, anticipate and visualize the scene set before you. Doing these things will allow you to make the most out of the photos when you have no control over your environment. There is another aspect to making photos, and that is when you have a studio and control every piece of your environment. In a studio you may not need to observe as much, since you are creating every aspect of the scene. However, you still have to watch out for stray cords, props, equipment and little children, yet all-in-all you know the place very well. Everyone has an indoor studio, even if it’s your living room. But is there such a thing as an “outdoor” studio? Certainly, and everyone has them. An outdoor studio is a place you visit often. Some place nearby that you enjoy photographing or using as a backdrop for your photography. You may grow bored with them over time, but look at these places as your secret locations. Your outdoor studio where you make photos.
The things to keep in mind for making photos in your outdoor studio are very similar, however the priority changes. Since you already know the nooks can crannies of the area, you don’t need to worry about the observation phase. You already have a good idea what the conditions are like and how the setting will look over time. So the big aspect of making photos in your outdoor studio is visualize first. This is where your creativity can shine.
I have a couple of locations near me that I like to use. One is the old train depot and the other is an old gas station. They are especially nice for senior portraits. The contrast between history of the region and rising seniors make for memorable portraits. I know these locations well enough to know when the light will be good and what angles make for nice photos. But more importantly I have an opportunity to experiment and keep my photography fresh. In some cases I even amp up the grunge.
The final thing to note about your outside studio is that you know what you need to bring. I’m not talking about camera equipment, even though you do need to bring your camera, but what props would work well for the vision you want to create. I like to add some form of contrast in all of my photos. Contrast is something that your mind attaches to and helps create a memory. So adding a prop like a picture frame and using it to define the boundary between color and black and white makes for an interesting contrast.
