"Things You Wouldn't Know If We Didn't Blog Intermittently."
06 September 2023
Autumn foliage in farm country
I snapped this photo from my car while running an errand today. Those who live in the upper Midwest will recognize that this is a field of soybeans. The scene reflects a pragmatic reality rather than a bliss-ful one.
Half the art of being a good photographer is knowing when to be where.
The other half is all the stuff you hear about: framing, technique etc.
I once had a single day in Yosemite. This was my second time in the US at all. We drove around, all in awe, and mesmerized by the fact that it was lovely weather in San Fran yet half of Yosemite was closed due to snow. Towards the end of the day, we came by an overlook that was stuffed with photographers all with their full gear out. We got out, and figured out why: the sun was perfectly setting on the El Capitan. We snapped our pic and got off, cuz we had places to be.
Years later, I got a postcard from someone who went to Yosemite. It was the exact picture I had from my minute visit to that dome. Down to the details of the trees and other stuff in the picture. Only then I realized we beat all the photographers are their own game: We got there just at the right time, and got the picture they all be waiting for for hours or days.
Lesson learned: If you see a lot of photographers somewhere, check it out. It's probably about the perfect time for a picture.
Annoying side-bar: The reason why influencers, and especially travel influeners, are so popular is that because they can monetize their images quickly, they have the time to go wait for that perfect moment. Their work is killing pro-photography work.
Here in New England, it is fields of corn, slowly turning from golden green to dusky brown, destined for silage. Usually, you can hear the breezes rustle the stalks, except in the fields down the street. The farmer makes a corn maze and you can hear laughing voices in there, but never see anyone.
Half the art of being a good photographer is knowing when to be where.
ReplyDeleteThe other half is all the stuff you hear about: framing, technique etc.
I once had a single day in Yosemite. This was my second time in the US at all. We drove around, all in awe, and mesmerized by the fact that it was lovely weather in San Fran yet half of Yosemite was closed due to snow. Towards the end of the day, we came by an overlook that was stuffed with photographers all with their full gear out. We got out, and figured out why: the sun was perfectly setting on the El Capitan. We snapped our pic and got off, cuz we had places to be.
Years later, I got a postcard from someone who went to Yosemite. It was the exact picture I had from my minute visit to that dome. Down to the details of the trees and other stuff in the picture. Only then I realized we beat all the photographers are their own game: We got there just at the right time, and got the picture they all be waiting for for hours or days.
Lesson learned: If you see a lot of photographers somewhere, check it out. It's probably about the perfect time for a picture.
Annoying side-bar: The reason why influencers, and especially travel influeners, are so popular is that because they can monetize their images quickly, they have the time to go wait for that perfect moment. Their work is killing pro-photography work.
Here in New England, it is fields of corn, slowly turning from golden green to dusky brown, destined for silage. Usually, you can hear the breezes rustle the stalks, except in the fields down the street. The farmer makes a corn maze and you can hear laughing voices in there, but never see anyone.
ReplyDelete