How many times have you had a quick opportunity for that great shot, but when you grab your camera something just isn’t right?
Here’s a couple of simple ideas
1. Finish with a preset
I always preset my camera before putting it away. I pick what I think is an average setting and then I shut it off. If I grab the camera quickly I have a better likelihood of getting the shot. For me, I select an f-stop of f8.0, that seems to be a mid point . The shutter speed I select is related to point number two.
2. Use A.E.B. (auto exposure bracketing)
A.E.B. is a setting most DSLRs have that allows the camera to capture 3 exposures within a selected exposure range. I my case, I select 1 stop + and 1 stop -. I then set my shutter speed of 1/125sec. When I press my shutter button, I get 1/60, 1/125, 1/250sec exposures. I know from experience that I can hold a camera steady to 1/60th; below that I tend to get blur. This increases my chance of getting that shot.
3. Lens
Select the lens you use most, and put it on. For some that may be a 50mm, for others a 70-200m In my case, I select a wide angle lens. There is no wrong answer to this one.
4. Batteries/Memory
This seems so simple, but everyone has it happen. Sure you have an extra battery in your bag, and plenty of memory cards, but are they in the camera? When I finish shooting, I always change my battery for a fresh charged one, and make certain there is a card in.
Try these suggestions and the next time you need to shoot on the fly you may end up with a better quick shot.
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Dan Wampler
Dan Wampler is a digital artist from St Louis, MO. Having been interested in art and photography since childhood, he spent most of adult life working for Kodak and in the portrait photography industry. A student of the works of Ansel Adams, Any Warhol, and David Hamilton, Dan attempted to keep a wide range of artistic style.
As an early adopter of digital imaging, he found it gave him a way to completely incorporate art and photography. Began shooting Digital Infrared in 2004, and had first camera converted in 2006. His work has been seen in numerous gallery shows, is featured in an iTunes app. He produces Infrared and natural color digital art for sale and teaches his post-production techniques online.
Dan is LifePixel's Creative Director, social media manager, lead blog author, main workshops and training sessions instructor. His images appear in this gallery and throughout the website.
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These are good suggestions and I have lost more than a few shots because I grabbed my camera and it wasn’t ready to go. These are simple things, but they make a big difference.