The world around us is constantly changing, leaving photographers scrambling around trying to get the perfect picture. But we only see the frame, we only see what the photographer took, not what they overcame to take that picture. A young adult walks around the streets of a bustling city, scoping out the landscape and imagining all photo opportunities they might come across. As they cross the street, they suddenly stop as the perfect idea runs through their head. Their hand quickly reaches towards their shoulder bag, quickly pulling out their camera and kneel down. With the camera pressed against their face, people pushing their way around them, honks fill the air. They hear a few clicks and release the breath they had been holding. They are suddenly yanked up and someone tells them to move along. As they continue to walk down the street, they fiddle with the small buttons on their camera, hoping the picture wasn't blurred, the shutter speed was right, the aperture was at the correct number and that no one was in the way. They scroll through the pictures until they reach the one photo. It wasn't perfect. The lighting was all wrong, the colors were dull, and the photo was skewed to the side, but those could be fixed in the editing process. All they needed was to imagine what it could be.
SCENIC PHOTOGRAPHY
a photograph that captures the presence of nature but can also focus on man-made features or disturbances of landscapes
TIPS AND TRICKS
from a high school photographer
1. You don't need a professional camera.
A common misconception is that you need to have a professional camera (like a Nikon or Canon) in order to start doing photography. The reality is that you can take amazing photos on an iPhone, Samsung, or whatever phone you have as long as you know how it works, which brings me to..
2. Know your way around your photo taking device.
Before you start clicking away and taking photos, sit down and get to know your camera first. What kind of setting are there? Can I adjust them? Is it better for portraits or landscape photography? How much battery does is have? What kind of tools does it have? Does it have flash? Knowing the answers to these and any more questions you have can make all the difference in your photos.
3. Make sure you have some type of a plan before you take your photo.
This step is especially important if you're going to be shooting outside. The smallest thing like not checking the weather, or not asking for permission in a public space can ruin everything. Imagine standing in the middle of a large open space with no shelter and it starts pouring rain. Yeah it can be fun, and you might even have the opportunity to get some fun rain photos but at the end of the day, you should've checked the weather. If you want to take photos in a museum or public space, make sure to research before hand is there are any rules with photography (such as no flash) or ask a worker if you can take photos. Many places generally allow it but will kick you out if you didn't have permission.
4. Have fun and let your creativity flow!
Seriously, the best photos are when you. and your subject just let go and have fun. Don't be afraid to try new things like jumping into a river or playing with color. If you're like me ( a broke high school student) you need to think outside the box. Places like local parks, cafes, and even stores like Target or home depot can give you amazing photos. I did a photoshoot in Michaels one time and had so many amazing photos come out, so don't be afraid to be creative.