“Drop and give me 3″ …tips for holiday photos!
by Michael Spikes,
Operations Manager
It probably comes as no surprise to those that know me that I was never in the military. Although, I admire those that have been, currently, or are planning on serving and the discipline that the service instills. The preparation for battle I feel fits well with an upcoming skirmish, the holidays.
Below is a photographic field guide to getting the best shots for this season. Hopefully, you will be able to get in and get out and be no worse for the wear.
- Be prepared - I know that this is the motto of the Boy Scouts, but this is the holidays. As far as I am concerned, the holidays are like the Boy Scouts in that it requires paramilitary style preparation. Make sure your batteries are charged, you have plenty of memory cards (or film), and you know what is going to be taking place as far as events go. Knowing where to be and when is half the battle.
- Know your surroundings - Knowing what type of light you have and are going to work with can be of real value. Take some test shots if possible. Experiment with flash and no flash beforehand to get an idea of the lighting. If that seems like overkill, then at least watch your foreground and background for things that might be distracting or in the way. Also, when you are taking photos, experiment with different angles and compositions. The more images you have to choose from the better.
Know your gear - Make sure that you are familar with the camera’s menus and operation before the holidays. It seems like a good idea to use the camera you just got as a gift to take holiday photos, but good luck getting those spontaneous shots. You can easily get lost trying to figure out how to manuever through menus and fumble with controls. Meanwhile, all those moments are passing by. Get comfortable with your camera and you can focus on the moment. By the way, why not take the owners manual from underneath the dining room table leg it’s supporting and give it a read? You might find something useful in there.
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