Cheap Indispensable Gems
Nov 6, 2011 16:16:10 #
All of us who have been shooting for some time have little gems we carry that cost virtually nothing but are indispensable when needed. I'll start this thread with 3 ideas
1. Wooden clip clothespins. You find this perfect nature shot of flowers but there's a weed or leaf intruding on the composition. The clothespin neatly and temporarily clips it out of the way.
2. A small spray bottle with water. Almost everything looks more attractive with water droplets on it.
3. A white business card. Not as effective as a snoot, but in a pinch it will more effectively direct your flash.
The purists who insist that I am messing with nature with 1 and 2 are welcome to be wrong.
1. Wooden clip clothespins. You find this perfect nature shot of flowers but there's a weed or leaf intruding on the composition. The clothespin neatly and temporarily clips it out of the way.
2. A small spray bottle with water. Almost everything looks more attractive with water droplets on it.
3. A white business card. Not as effective as a snoot, but in a pinch it will more effectively direct your flash.
The purists who insist that I am messing with nature with 1 and 2 are welcome to be wrong.
Nov 7, 2011 11:06:55 #
Nov 7, 2011 11:36:58 #
Nov 7, 2011 11:45:46 #
Nov 7, 2011 12:53:02 #
lesdmd wrote:
The purists who insist that I am messing with nature with 1 and 2 are welcome to be wrong.
The purists who insist that I am messing with nature with 1 and 2 are welcome to be wrong.
I can see #1 - if you can't frame it any other way, and it improves the subject a WHOLE lot . . .
#2 I have a problem with (Esp. if it's in the desert where it naturally does not occur) - why would you pretend you got up & out while the dew was still on the roses - when you didn't? Also, a spray bottle produces almost identically sized droplets, which rarely happens in nature . . . so I'm wrong, but to me it's like taking your shadow out of the foreground because you can't / won't arrange your shot / subject.
Nov 7, 2011 14:19:46 #
hayuya
Loc: Glendale, Arizona
Ugly Jake wrote:
quote=lesdmd br The purists who insist that I am... (show quote)
Lesdmd is talking about tricks of the trade to help create a photograph. If you capture your image as is, then, you don't need the help any Cheap Indispensable Gems.
If it's the desert and you want to represent as such, then, you may not need the droplets. But, if you want to make a "dessert" of the desert, the droplets may help. Oh! You can adjust the sprayer nozzle and vary the distance to create different sizes of droplets.
I mean no offense, Ugly Jake. It's just to look at the positive side of the information shared on this posts that is of help to many of us. We, as creators of photographs, need all the help we can get.
Nov 7, 2011 14:33:58 #
Nov 7, 2011 14:54:51 #
I am not a purest nor do I seek absolute authenticity. If that were the case there would be little need for Photoshop, . . . . I found the tips helpful for the majority of shooters. The pros can fend for themselves.
Nov 7, 2011 16:34:32 #
If you don't have a bubble on your tripod a little mason's line level will help you level your camera. It can be had at your local hardware. Cheap too !
Nov 7, 2011 17:38:59 #
http://www.sz-wholesale.com/uploadFiles/Product_79/LED-POCKET-LEVEL-SZSP162879.jpg
I recommend a pocket level.
I recommend a pocket level.
Nov 7, 2011 18:25:13 #
I sell macro-photographs of insects (natural history museums & science centers) and close-ups of flowers (local botanic gardens).
My photos of flowers that have been "spritzed" sell 3:1 over the same flower, dry.
'Nuf said.
My photos of flowers that have been "spritzed" sell 3:1 over the same flower, dry.
'Nuf said.
Unfurling California Poppy
Emerging Mediterranean Poppy
Blossom of the Blue Butterfly Bush
Two-Tone Rose
Nov 7, 2011 19:37:49 #
Nov 7, 2011 19:44:44 #
lesdmd wrote:
All of us who have been shooting for some time hav... (show quote)
Great Topic, and will be fun to hear the answers... Since it hasn't been mentioned yet, and for me it is VERY important living in Oregon... (We have something here called "rain"...)
"Plastic Bags."
I have several types & sizes; large leaf/garbage bag, White trash liner bags (can be used as reflector in a pintch), several sizes of Zip Lock Bags. All good for a variety of uses from quick rain protection for gear, to putting things I might find to take back for images at home. They all fit very compactly in my photo vest or bags.
I'm looking forward to others ideas too.
Nov 7, 2011 20:35:07 #
Question for Ugly Jake...... Do you ever use photoshop or any other editing program??????? If so you are practicing an infraction of your own philosiphy. Why is it wrong to set up a photo in the field but so right to set it up using photo editing? Why would you pretend that the sky was bluer than it really was. Why would you pretend that the colors were really that vibrant????? And so on and so forth...
Ugly Jake wrote:
quote=lesdmd br The purists who insist that I am... (show quote)
Nov 7, 2011 22:09:38 #
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