Paying attention to the big picture.
I’m writing this post after a Skype conversation and photo review from a photographer that’s taking my mentoring program. Like others, she took my online classes with the BPSOP, and to date, has joined me on two of my personal workshops I conduct all over the place.
Our conversation was based on my 15 Point Protection Plan, and how valuable it is as far as taking her level of photography what I refer to as…Up a Notch.
What it eluded to was her focusing in on small parts of the composition, the subject, and highlights that were so blown out as to distract. Now, ordinarily, I love to blow out the highlights, when in doing so I make them the subject or at least a secondary subject.
Btw, don’ t ever let anyone tell you to never do that (clip the highlights) because all they’re really trying to do is to take you down a one-way path to mediocrity.
I digress.
It’s not just about a subject or mulitple subjects and/or centers of interest. It’s important to pay attention to the Bigger Picture as well.
It’s like a recipe. Ok, you’re having a dinner party, and you spend the morning shopping. You finally begin to cook, and your’re reading down the list of ingredients and one of them isn’t measured right or left out entirely; that will impact the finished meal.
My guess is that you were having a glass of wine and excited that good friends were coming over, and weren’t paying close enough attention. You won’t realize it until you sit down and start eating. By then it’s too late.
The analogy I’m drawing is similar: You get up all excited, because you have the day to go out and shoot. You gather all your gear, and head to that location you’ve been dying to photograph.
You’re so excited because the light is great that you have forgotten to use your 15 Point Protection Plan, your Border Patrol, and the four corner check.
Yes, I realize that you can fix things in post-processing…but NOT all the time. Don’t count on it, especially when you try to darken a really distracting blown out highlight…that ain’t happening.
So, my fellow photographers, when you go out next time think about The Big Picture and not just your subjects (s).
Visit my website at: www.joebaraban.com, and check out my workshop schedule at the top of this blog. Come shoot with me sometime. I just announced my New York, New York Workshop beginning September 17th ,2019 and ending at noon on the 23rd. This will be my second workshop there and this time we’ll be shooting in all the five boroughs.
JoeB
