Be Selective

Driving by the KFC in Clawson my eye was first attracted to the beautiful landscaping that had been done at curbside in front of the restaurant. On a second pass, I was amused at how the Colonel seemed to be peaking out from behind the flowers and knew I had to photograph the scene. Stopping by early one morning before there was much traffic in or out I made a couple of exposures. Using selective focus to emphasize the sign, I made sure the Colonels face was sharp. A wide aperture setting of 5.6 helped throw the foreground flowers out of focus. The soft red of the flowers, echoed by the red of the sign adds another visual hook. After reviewing the image at 100% on my computer monitor I felt the flowers appeared softer than I would have preferred. If I were to re-do the shot I would stop down to an aperture setting of 8 to help sharpen up the flowers a bit. Sounds like an assignment for another day.

The digital SLR. To know it is to love it.

This fast moving sting ray in low light conditions is the type of shot that
would have been tough to capture with my point and shoot.

Last time around I wrote of the convenience of point and shoot cameras, and as improvements continue to be made it makes a lot of sense for the average picture taking individual to stick with that type of camera. Even though I was pretty satisfied with my point and shoot I have to admit it never felt like a real camera to me. Maybe it is a generational thing, after all I was born in the middle of the last century (can you hear my bones creak as I type?). I've worked with 35mm, 2-1/4 and 4x5 film cameras - they were black and silver, sometimes bulky and very often heavy. Point and shoot cameras come in a rainbow of colors, are small enough to fit in your pocket, and are as easy as pie to operate. Any yet I jumped at the chance to buy a digital SLR. The SLR looks like my old 35mm, it feels like my old 35mm and it handles like my old 35mm. You even look through a viewfinder not an LCD screen to compose your shot. When I feel really daring I switch the camera to manual and handle focusing and the exposure settings all by myself. This is a real camera!

Point and shoot

My entry level point and shoot camera yielded good results in daylight with a stationary subject.

We are a picture taking society. Cameras are everywhere, even on your phone. Admit it though, your phone may provide crystal clear communication with family and friends but it takes lousy pictures. If you prefer to leave the phone for talking or texting, then you need a stand alone camera. During the years in which I transitioned from film to digital I used a couple of different point and shoot digital cameras with relatively pleasing results. Eventually though I wanted to expand my capabilities and made the switch to a digital SLR (single lens reflex). The great thing with a point and shoot camera is largely one of convenience. Small and unobtrusive, with flash, focusing and exposure all on automatic, you are ready to take pictures whenever the whim strikes. However, there were drawbacks with my point and shoot that resulted in less than satisfactory pictures in low light conditions and action situations. Obviously each camera is different and improvements are always being made. Research your options and if convenience and ease of handling are important to you then a point and shoot may be just the ticket.

Joy of Photography

My pal, and frequent model, Hurley shares the joy of photography in his own way.

In the 1970’s, as photography was reaching new heights of popularity, a book entitled “The Joy of Photography” was published. Even though it was written during the heyday of film and the traditional darkroom, I still like to flip through it for inspiration. In my own simple way, I hope this blog will impart some of the inherent joy in the process of photography - from taking a picture, enhancing it on your computer, and ultimately sharing it in printed or electronic form with others. This is not intended to be a technical guide since there are plenty of sites covering that ground already. Hopefully I can provide links to a few of them in the coming weeks. And though some geek speak may creep in here and there, the main intent is to discuss and show examples of photography and the enjoyment and challenges it can provide.

The Eyes Have It!

The marina's dark, dank underground walkway was hardly the ideal spot for picture taking. Then a shark met me nose to nose for a quick portrait. The mixed lighting adds an eerie effect to the photo.


What is the most important component in your photographic arsenal? Is it the lens, the flash, the camera body? How about none of the above? The single most important piece of equipment comes to you at no cost and is with you all the time - your eyes! Train your eyes to truly see the world around you. Walking down a city street or along a wooded trail, whether you have a camera with you or not, be on the look out for “the shot”. Seek out patterns, colors, and contrasts. Compose pictures in your minds eye. Begin thinking and seeing like a photographer. Anyone can take a picture. The trick is to capture images that will engage the eye of the viewer. Someone with a good eye can take terrific photos even with an elementary point and shoot camera. Good equipment may expand your capabilities but ultimately it is your vision that will make you a successful photographer.

Image Inspirations.

I love pictures! As a kid I pored over the pages of every comic book I read, drinking in the colorful imagery (the digitally enhanced image of a classic Sting Ray shown here was inspired by the dynamic drawing seen in comic book art). As a college student I studied books on illustration, absorbing the work of favorite artists. Eventually my path took me into the world of photography. For years I subscribed to magazines like Popular Photography and American Photographer, not for the equipment reviews or the “How to” articles, it was the examples of creative picture taking that kept me coming back each month. Viewing the work of other photographers and artists can encourage development of your own vision. And it can help motivate you for continual improvement in your photographic pursuits. Hopefully we can share some of the passion of the picture making process and you will be inspired to pursue your individual vision.