Branching Out

Branching out from auto mode is scary.  I've been shooting pictures in aperture-priority (Av) mode lately.  It makes me feel like I have some control over the photos but really it's just one step from Auto mode.  I basically adjust the aperture to what I want for my subject and don't change anything else except an occasional change in white balance if I move around.  I let my camera choose ISO and shutter speed and don't really think much about things so I can focus on improving my composition.  I have noticed that my camera often takes the ISO all the way up to 3200 to keep from needing the flash.  I need to pay more attention to my ISO levels in the near future if I plan to photograph a family or something.  They may not be able to blow up the pictures if there's going to be a lot of noise in them. 

But for now I'm working on composition since I am not a naturally observant person and there are often things in the periphery of my photos that I don't notice right off and need to pay more attention to.  For example, at the Gallery Photography beginning photography class that I took last month, I thought I had an amazing photo of the teenage "model" only to later realize that the background was a fuzzy form of a car and its glaring windshield instead of the tree that was in the foreground.  And it wasn't going to be something I could just crop out to save the photo.  I was so concerned with his pose and the lighting that I didn't notice the background at all. 

The more I study about photography, the more I realize that I am SUCH a beginner and need to practice.  I need to be careful to not completely rely on my camera to figure out all the appropriate settings or I'm no better than being stuck in auto mode.  I am taking time to notice what I like about photos and trying to guess how the subject was lit.  I checked out a book from the library on posing and feel there's so much information that it's going to take me a long time and a lot of practice to understand and apply these principles and tips. 

I'm not sure how far into portrait photography I want to go since I do want amazing photos of my children but mostly want to learn about food photography.  I am not really interested in learning landscape photography although I do appreciate great landscape photos.  I tried looking up books on sketching and drawing but there wasn't a lot readily available in the short amount of time I had at the library this morning (due to two children with poopy diapers that wanted to type on the computer with me).  I will continue to learn and figure out what direction I want to go.

Tonight my friend Elle asked me to help her photograph her handmade jewelry for an internet ad.  This is the second photo shoot I've done for her and was very happy that she liked my first attempts enough to ask me back.  She made a point to thank me again this time and said she's received lots of compliments about those photos.  I am glad I am able to help her sell her jewelry and practice my skills.  I taught her about the rule of thirds and that alone has helped her feel more confident in her own picture taking.  If she only knew that I really don't know much more than the basics, she wouldn't be as impressed with my "work."  But I am flattered and happy to help.  It was fun to experiment with contrast, backgrounds, composition, color, and lighting as the sun was going down.  Some of the colors weren't coming out as vibrant as they should, so I need to work on saturation.  I think part of it had to do with the shadows we were making and how the sunlight was reflecting on the earrings.  We spent a good two hours shooting and talking.  Martin watched the girls so I was relaxed and not rushed.  We got some great shots and I hope it works well for her sales.