My Photographic Tips

A personal collection of tips learned through the years

26 COURTESY - WHEN GIVING ADVICE, REMEMBER WHAT YOU MAY SAY MAY CHANGE THE PERSON FOREVER.

27 CREATIVITY - DON’T GET HUNG UP IN TECHNOLOGY BUT IN CREATIVITY.

28 FILM - CARRY LOTS OF EXTRA FILM-- MORE THAN YOU NEED. CARRY SOME 800 OR 1600 JUST IN CASE! TAKE THEM OUT OF THE PAPER CARTON.

29 FILM - NEVER LET IT GO THROUGH THE X-RAY, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THEY SAY IS SAFE, KEEP IN CLEAR ZIP-LOCK BAGS. ASK NICELY FOR A HAND INSPECTION. IF NO, GO TO ANOTHER INSPECTOR.

30 FILM - STORE FILM IN COOL DRY PLACE OR CARRY A COOLER WITH THOSE FREEZER CANISTERS WHEN SHOOTING IN HOT WEATHER. HEAT DESTROYS IMAGES.

31 FILM - TRUNK CAN GET VERY HOT FOR CAMERAS AND FILM

32 FILM - TENDENCIES FOR COLOR FOLLOW COLOR OF BOX - FIJI -GREEN, KODACHROME - RED, EKTACHROME - BLUE

33 FILTERS - ARE GREAT TOOLS, ESPECIALLY FOR BLACK AND WHITE. ALSO, USE A FILTER WHEN SHOOTING IN B/W SO THAT YOU CAN "SEE" YOUR IMAGES IN MONOCHROME THROUGH THE VIEWFINDER.

34 FILTERS - USE FILTERS, VASELINE (ONLY ON FILTERS) FOR SPECIAL EFFECTS, TRY OTHER MATERIALS TO SHOOT THROUGH.

35 FLASH - LEARN TO USE FILL FLASH OUTDOORS, ESPECIALLY WITH PEOPLE TO FILL IN THE EYE SOCKETS AND GIVE A CATCH LIGHT IN THE EYES. WHEN IN DOUBT USE FLASH.

36 FOCUS - FOCUS ON THE EYES, IF AT ANGLE, THE EYE CLOSER TO YOU.

37 FOCUS - FOCUS QUICKLY WITH CONFIDENCE - PRACTICE.

38 FOG - BREATHE ON YOUR LENSES, SHOOT BEFORE IT EVAPORATES, FOR A FOG EFFECT.

39 GOOD PHOTOGRAPH - USE THE LIGHT YOU HAVE, EFFECTIVELY.

40 GOOD PHOTOGRAPH - ASK - "IS THIS A PHOTO THAT ANYONE EASILY DUPLICATE?"

41 GOOD PHOTOGRAPH - BE CAREFUL ACCEPTING "CLUBS" AS THE FINAL JUDGE = MEDIOCRITY. ASK WHY THEY SAID THIS OR THAT. PUSH THE ENVELOPE!

42 GOOD PHOTOGRAPH - GET ADVICE FROM ONLY COMPETENT AND QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS.

43 GOOD PHOTOGRAPH - DEFINITION - DIFFERENT FROM A "PICTURE" AND WORTH KEEPING AND LOOKING AT IT OVER AND OVER - HAS IMPACT!

44 GOOD PHOTOGRAPH - DON’T EXPLAIN YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS, IF YOU NEED TO, YOU FAILED, YOU DID NOT DO THE JOB.

45 GOOD PHOTOGRAPH - DON'T BE OFFENDED WHEN SOMEONE SAYS "ITS GOOD, ITS LIKE A PAINTING'' (IT’S A COMPLEMENT).

46 GOOD PHOTOGRAPH - FLIP A PHOTO, LEFT TO RIGHT, AND SEE IF IS MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

47 GOOD PHOTOGRAPH - GO OUT IN BAD WEATHER, GREAT PHOTOGRAPHERS DO. FOG , RAIN, SNOW, BLIZZARD CREATE GREAT IMAGES. LEARN HOW TO PROTECT YOUR EQUIPMENT.

48 GOOD PHOTOGRAPH - GREAT LOCATION? - GO BACK AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF DAY OR NIGHT.

49 GOOD PHOTOGRAPH - TRY TO COME BACK WITH ONE GOOD IMAGE FROM EVERY SHOOTING EFFORT. IF YOU HAVE 23 GREAT IMAGES ON A ROLL OF 24, YOUR THRESHOLD IS TOO LOW!

50 GOOD PHOTOGRAPH - GREAT SUBJECT/OPPORTUNITY? - SHOOT AN ENTIRE ROLL, OR EVEN MORE, IF NECESSARY.