PhotoWalk|PhotoTalk

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Aiming For Your Killer Shot


Fishing By The Bay - May 12, 2013, Harbour Square, CCP Complex.  Men fishing set aside the hazards of Manila Bay's dirty water.  Photo taken during a 1 on 1 Digital Photography Tutorials about basic camera operations.
When I was teaching Jeff, a client who wanted to learn how to operate his dslr, he asked me tips about street photography.

"Paano ba kumuha ng street photography? magagamit ko ba yung 55-200 lens ko? kailangan ba candid? Yung hindi ka nakikita ng tao?"

Well, there are lot of styles when capturing images in the streets: camera on waist level, shooting with a long or short lens, sneak a pic or try to get invisible.  Invisible?  Okay, okay.  When someone ask me how to be invisible on the streets I say, stay long enough in the scene until you get comfortable and people around you will get use to you, the person with the camera.  Then start shooting.

On Location Study

Jeff check out his shots.
I've been to Harbour Square in CCP Complex many times.  It is one most photographed place in the Philippines  where you can see Manila de Bay, Manila Yacht Club and Manila skyline.

Study your location.  See where is your main light,  the sun in this case.  When we was hanging around Harbour Square, it a was cloudy 3PM.  Fortunately the sun make through the clouds at around 4PM until sunset.  It is the best time for the bay area, where there are possible sunset  and silhouette shots.

Sample test shot for preferred exposure and enough shutter speed set
to freeze the action.
Set you camera.  Get ready to take the shot.  Set your camera to different scenes or action.  It is important to keep in mind what camera settings to use; aperture, shutter speed, focus mode, composition etc.  Take sample shots of every scene you want to photograph.  Now it is more easy to anticipate the shot when you are all set, all you have to do is to press the shutter when the action comes.

Shot list.  Now you've planned ahead, create shot list in your mind.  What are possible shots you can create?  For this photo walk, here are some basic shots we had in mind:

Sunset, silhouettes, portraits, the Manila skyline, fishermen in action, candid shots, behind the scenes, long exposures.

You can also include small and big detail images in your shot list.

All You Need is a Little Patience

Every thing is now ready; the scene, camera settings, shot list, now we need is a little patience.  Most of the time a lot of patience.  Photography is time concept.  Everything should set at the perfect moment, light, action, and time of the day.

Take several shots of the scene and wait for actions of people, animals, or eventualities. Stay at least five to ten minutes in one scene and see what happens.

One out of 15 images taken for comparison of composition.



  
The Killer Shot!

How do you determine your killer shot for the day?  Your killer shot is one of the photo who stands up among your images is the photo with the complete story.  

  


Saturday, May 4, 2013

Parade on Sea


May 4, 2013, San Narciso, Zambales - During the town feast, San Narciso local catholics parade religious icons on fishing boats.

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Rizal Park Switched Off Non-Essential Lights During Earth Hour 2013

Rizal Park, minutes before Earth Hour 2013.
March 23, 2013 - Rizal Park, Iconic landmark of the Philippines, supported Earth Hour 2013 by switching off some of its park light posts and left solar powered lights on for security purposes.  The Philippines is expecting to be the hero country for Earth Hour 2013.

Rizal Park at 8:30 PM leaving 25 % of light post on including solar powered lights for security purposes.


A family huddled under a solar powered light post during Earth Hour 2013 lights off.







Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Slow Shutter, Fast Cars


Jon Sarmiento of Blanche Racing speed up and took sets the front wheel best time.

























Last March 17, 2013 at Robinson's Novaliches parking lot, Shell Helix once again burned tires for its slalom event.  I brought some friends for a PhotoWalk PhotoTalk about how to create panning shots.  Here let me share some camera settings we used.

First Time Pan - Photo: John Aquino

Get Ready, Get Set!
It was a sunny Sunday afternoon so we had the chance to set ISO to 100, 50mm prime at f 16 and shutter speeds from 1/30, 1/40 and 1/50.  I used a manual lens, but for my friend John Aquino who used auto focus, he set focus mode to AF-C for his Pentax.



























Better late than never, Dan Panesa arrived the venue at 6PM.  On a higher vantage point Dan set camera for a low light panning shot: ISO 1600, aperture to f2.8 and shutter speed to 1/30 sec.  Focus point is moved to the upper left corner of the screen and focus mode to AF-C for continuous focusing.

Friday, March 15, 2013

PhotoWalk PhotoTalk Shell Helix Slalom


About two weeks ago when I'm on my way to the grocery I heard sports car engines and squealing tires.  Luckily, I always have my camera with me.  Unfortunately it was already dark but I still tried to shoot.

This coming Sunday, March 17, 2013, Shell Helix is going back to Robinson's Novaliches for some slalom action.  I am organizing a photo walk for this event.  If you want to join come and sneak some photos with me and the rest of the gang.  Text me for 09274685324 or join the online discussion on PhotoWalk PhotoTalk Facebook page.