Several adjustments and a couple of variations later
I’ve been a photographer for fifty-three years and in all those years I can count on my hand the number of times I took just one shot…of anything. The times that I did were when I was street shooting and I had one chance to get it before whatever I was going for had either changed or was gone altogether.
I virtually never take just one shot, it’s always a series of either adjustments or variations. It’s what I ‘Preach’ during my online classes with the BPSOP, or when I’m standing next to someone in one of my “Stretching Your Frame of Mind” workshops I conduct just about everywhere on Earth.
As I’m shooting, I look all around the frame. I’m doing my Fifteen Point Protection Plan, my Border Patrol, and the Four Corner Checkoff. Each time the shutter opens and closes I’m making adjustments, Shoot adjust, shoot adjust, shoot adjust, etc., etc., etc.
An adjustment can be nothing more than taking a step back to include all of the subject’s hand or foot, the rest of a tree, sign or car. It can also be moving in a step to exclude an unwanted hand or face coming into the frame, getting rid of a sign that has letters missing or some of the letters burned out on a sign; what about a streetlamp that should be on but isn’t?
The digital age has had a profound effect on photography. some good and so many not so good. One good thing that has come about is the ability to shoot a photo and immediately look at the back of your camera to check it out
The reason for adjustments? To achieve what I want in the camera, and not have to rely on a computer to fix the problems I could/should have done prior to clicking the shutter.
A variation is a different animal. The reason for a variation is to increase your chances of going home with one of those elusive ‘wall hangers’, and variations come in all types of reasons.
For example, If you’re into getting the right light, then you’re shooting from different points of view and thinking about my clock. Shoot then moving around to see how your subject looks lit from the side perhaps to bring out the texture, then decide on another variation by placing the sun behind your subject to backlight it.
I’ll occasionally (depending on how much time I have) completely change my position and lens. I’ll add or subtract people or objects, get on my knees or stomach, and anything else that comes to mind at that moment. Btw, at my age, it has to be a really good idea for me to get on my knees or stomach!!
Visit my website at www.joebaraban.com, and check out my workshop schedule at the top of this blog. Come shoot some variations with me sometime.
JoeB
