You better think...Rule 5...Think about it.

Carnival in Lincoln Park, MI

Ok, it seems almost too easy, but how many times have you just picked up the camera and fired away...only to think later I just wish I had done this or that afterward.  How do I know that this can be a big issue...I've done it too.

Bear and Butterfly at the Detroit Zoo

Royal Oak, MI

The boy scouts have it right..."Be Prepared."  It is so important to taking great shots.  I don't go out into a situation with out considering what I can be shooting.  I go to the Detroit Zoo with both my standard portrait zoom (35mm-80mm) along with my big zoom (70mm-300mm) that I use for big exhibits, such as the bears.  This allows me to shoot everything from a bear 70+ feet away but seemingly just he's almost on top of you or a butterfly not an arms length away.  Its important to plan ahead, then your not going to be regretting it later.  I carry my portrait lens for most family gatherings alone, because I know that I won't be in need of the bigger zoom.  If I have an event where I cant get close, such as a kids performance for church or school I will get the big zoom out and plan to be further away with a clean, unobstructed view.  I can actually end up with pictures you would swear I was in the front row, if you didn't know better.  Just take the time and be properly prepared.

Only on Labor Day...Mackinaw Bridge

Between Mackinaw City & St Ignace, MI

Skidway Lake...Skidway Lake, MI

The third faze of the Trillium

Along the Rifle River in Aranac Co. MI

A Sail boat and The Benton Harbor Lighthouse

Ok, when I think about prepping for a shot that sometimes means thinking months in advance, like for certain times of the year where certain flowers or events happen.  You need to do this some times.  There are other times that the shot is just there, so keep a camera ready.  This is much easier than it use to be with cell phones.  Either way the picture comes to you take advantage of it.

Looking for those that died the day I was  born on the Vietnam Memorial

Washington DC 10/2001

the Washington Memorial from The Lincoln Memorial

Washington DC 10/2001

The other thing you should be thinking about is what you see & how you can make it as interesting as possible.  I like to sometimes alter the point of view of the camera to make it more interesting than the standard shots.  I have taken more than one self portrait in a subject, just to make the viewer think, too.  I like to turn some subjects on their sides...almost.  I like to make people look at the world different, sometimes.

The Pointe Aux Barques Lighthouse

Port Hope, Michigan

A 52 year old Christmas ornament of my parents.

A Chevy pick up parked in Wyandotte, MI

I just ask you to think about your shots and how your using your camera.  It doesn't need to be much... move a step right or left...zoom in or zoom out...shoot only part of the subject...choose when to shoot the the picture...taking the subject out of focus intentionally...or just turning the camera for a unique point of view. 

A Forest of lite trees Bronner's CHRISTmas store

Frankenmuth, MI

So don't be afraid to think...out of the box.  That is what will make your pictures yours.

Reed City MI barn Windows

Thank you again for stopping by...
Dan Thompson

Night Lights...Rule 4 continued into the low light of the night.

Mackinaw Bridge from St Ingnas, MI

Shooting in low light of night isn't as hard to get those great motion shots as you might think.  You just need the right equipment and the time to do it.

The Dancing waters of Las Vegas

The real key to begin with is to think of what you want in the shot, what you are shooting and what your shooting with...the camera.  What I mean by this is the times when we go to concerts or other night events where everybody thinks that their little camera's flash will make it all the way down from the bleachers to the center court or the concert stage.  It wont.  If your lucky it may get 20...30...or a real powerful flash 50 feet.  after that its just darkness.  Better to know your camera, and how to use the big 3 of night photography...ISO("film" speed), Aperture (f-Stop), and speed settings.  With these...of which the last 2 are more interchangeable wth slr & Dslr cameras.

A Carnival ride in Wyandotte, MI

If you have a digital Point &Shoot have a special mode called Fireworks that does manipulate these areas to create a motion picture...moving traffic, waterfalls and fireworks.  Personally I like that your not as limited, but having to live with the outcome of the camera's decisions bothers me too much not to bring a Dslr & tripod to the event.  That's just me, but if its all you have grab your beanbag or tripod and shoot away. 

Iargo Springs in Huron National Forest

Between Hale & Tawas MI

When I go out to shoot night or low light pictures I always have my tripod.  I also will be shooting most of the pictures in the A-mode set to the highest f-stop available.  The reason is that I am seeking depth of field...as much as possible in focus...for the picture is to make it as spectacular as possible.

Miners Falls in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Munising, MI 

I do let my camera control the speed setting for the picture when I am in a set situation.  The systems today do a pretty good reading of the light levels, so you can feel pretty comfortable in the calculations that way.  It can leave you with amazing shots.

Lisa Loeb in concert 7/3/2006 at Suncoast Casino Las Vegas, NV

www.lisaloeb.com

Some Night pictures are a matter of knowing to mess with the ISO settings.  I was at an outside concert late at night that said no flash photography, and I happened to be close enough to the stage to be able to get some nice shots.  I just boosted the ISO setting to 400+ setting, and locked in the speed setting to 1/45 second and then didn't push the button till I got a f-stop reading other than low.  It worked.

A carousel pony while in Lincoln Park,  MI

If you can use a flash at night just keep in mind what you are shooting, and how it sits in the overall picture.  by not keeping this in mind when you are using the camera can leave you standing, many times in front of a bunch of black night instead of the  real background you are in front of.  This is when you add the flash to your night setting...have a tripod or beanbag handy...because many of todays cameras will keep the shutter open to catch that backlight. Use these modes, when you can. 

Freedom Festival Fireworks from Windsor, ON

For me, and may photographers the true test of your skills as a camera person is the fireworks photo.  The reason is that it takes time, talent, planning, hope, and some basic knowledge...sorta like geometry or algebra...sorry dad for the comparison.  The photography isn't the hard part.  The equation isn't hard... f-22+ @ 30 seconds for one blast area and subtract 10 seconds for every other blasting zone...leaving a minimum of 10 seconds for the shot no matter the number over 3.  USE A TRIPOD for this.  It makes the shot possible.  The rest is up to you.  You need to know where they launch from.  You need to be aware of other lights.  You need decide if you want the full shot or just the boom.  Thats you.  I have given you the numbers.  Now it is your toy to enjoy...

Wyandotte's last fireworks :-( ...per the Torrey city council...boo

Wyandotte MI 2011

The Detroit People Mover & the Freedom Festival Fireworks

Reflected Freedom

Cobo hall Detroit, MI

Exploding Oak St

2007 Wyandotte, MI

So it is possible to shoot a good picture in the dark.  Just need to use what light you have, and be patient in its crafting.  Now get a tripod and a reflective vest and enjoy the Dark...

Merry Christmas...HE HAS COME!

Carnival Carousel

Lighting up my life...Rule 4...Use the flash...and the sun.

Rule 4...Use the flash...and the sun.

Sunset over the Grand Haven lighthouse...Grand Haven, MI

The use of light is what makes a photograph even possible.  How we use it can dramatically influence what we see, and how we see it.  Remember the optical illusions we all grew up with.  All a matter of how we manipulate it determines what we see.

Flowers at my Aunt's home near Bay City, MI

Its easy to decide on what to shoot, but understanding the  lighting aspect can either make it a shot to remember and take great pleasure in, or just another gee the camera didn't really capture it...moment.  Where the sun is, or isn't can dramatically effect the image. 

A Monroe Co. MI barn window...from the inside.

When you shoot into the light...back lit...can create a silhouette.  Some cameras actually have a mode for this, to help you create this image.  Its popular for sunset and travel pictures.  Its not so for most people shots. 

Leaving Elbow Lake

Skidway Lake, MI

The issue arises because many, if not most or all cameras read the total light levels, not where the light is coming from.  It doesn't think...You need to do that, and to remember to set the fill flash on these shots.  Yesterday was my family get together.  I never turned the fill flash off.  Too much light pollution.  I needed to control the source of the dominate lighting...besides, most cameras today calculate these inputs unto their settings for the shot.  Yea.

Tricia & our nephew Alex...

sorry an older pic that was scanned in. 

Big window w/lots light...flash used.

Sunset over M33 @ Maple Ridge rd Aranac Co. MI

When I have side light or shadows I have to decide on what I think will be a better picture.  That is, does the sun & shadows make the subject more interesting, or do I want to eliminate them. If you like the shadows and the way the light is coming into the subject, then just shoot.  If you like the shot, but don't like ut, but still want the background and the overall image add the flash.

Taquanama Falls near Paradise MI

If you are planing on taking pictures of landscapes and still life nature plan for it.  Find out if the place you want to shoot is facing east or west, so you can plan on having the sun in the right place so it is backing you up...not standing in the way of your shot.  east facing subjects in the morning, and west facing in the afternoon.  Also waterfall pics you want either near sunrise or sunset or overcast sky's.  The reason for this is that you want to set up your tripod (or beanbag) set it to A-mode (aperture) to the highest lens setting (f-22 or higher) with the goal of 1/8 of a second or more for that moving water effect. 

Trenton MI  Flower

Most outdoor pics i will set it to S-mode (speed) and set it at either 1/45 or 1/60 of a second.  The reason is that it will maximize the f-stop (aperture) to give me the best depth of field for the picture.  For close-ups and portraits you want to either use the portrait or close up mode on the camera, if you have it.  They are good for this...use it.  If you just want to play around...take the f-stop down, in A-mode, to the point where the speed reads too high, then bring it back to a numbered speed level...the fire away.

Elbow Lake post

Skidway Lake, MI

I will do another blog on night shots sepratley.

Sun through a tree on Hidden Lake

Prescott / Skidway Lake MI

Carousel Horse at a carnival in Lincoln Park, MI 

Light Speckled Road

Prescott / Skidway Lake Area, MI

Please answer the poll questions. They are designed to show me where I should be going in future postings. Thank you again for stopping by...

Dan Thompson

Loose those photo 10 lbs...add on to Rule 3

Ok, its not a diet.  Just a quick tip for not looking bigger then you, or they are.  Turn the body of the subject...I like 25-50 degrees...even if its just the shoulders. This creates the illusion of depth, but also reduces the withe of the subject.  This gives a more natural feel to the picture and also allows you to bring more people into the frame.  I  also like to group people in a manor as to form triangle diamond and or mountain range spacing in groupings of individuals.

My Tricia, by her mother...we think...I learned alot from Judy Reynolds

Rest in HIS Peace...Both of you...

Ms. Khaili Conway

www.khaili.com

Teri, Dale, Me, and Rick...my Chosen family

Tricia & me

You can add that same sense of perspective with a face on photo by using the background angling...see my self portrait above.

Please answer the poll questions. They are designed to show me where I should be going in future postings. Thank you again for stopping by...

Dan Thompson & the advertisers.

Happy Shooting...
Happy Holidays.

Great Shots begin now...Rule 3 - Fill the frame...

Fill the frame.
 Ok that was a hard lesson.  Fill it.  Fill it with something or nothing.  Just don't over fill it.
You can fill the frame with either positive space...that is the main object of the picture.  This can take up some to all of the picture.  I suggest that if it is the main part of the intended picture, then fill the frame with it.  Zoom in,  or out to fill the frame.  That's why you have a flash, and/or move closer to the subject of the picture...all the parents snapping pictures at their kids activities.  Do it.  Sometimes zooming out is as important...like a field of flowers, compared to just one.

Trillium Cross Aranac Co MI

Post and flowers in Trenton, MI

Now its time to go negative.  This is the non subject space of a picture.  I have used brick walls that are 70% of the picture as negative space, because i liked the interplay...its a big part of my self portrait on top of the page.  Its the context giver to a photo.  There are many times that the negative space is the picture.

Wall & window in Wyandotte, MI

Moffit Bridge over The Rifle River in Aranac County from Campfire Trail

Now to .positioning for a great shot is never an accident for me.  I put myself in the best possible It isn't hard...find the view you think you want and shoot it.  I have thought of pictures I plan to take for weeks and months, just waiting for the right shot & time.  I have also had great snap-shots, but even those were not luck.

Nephew Nate Shooting me...

Think before you shoot.

Here is a pre-CHRISTmas gift...
The rule of 3rds and triangles.

With a good number of digital cameras I have seen a 9 box grid that is designed for you to line up your pictures.  Use It!  Most great pictures have a either a strong connection to triangular spacing and/or  thirding of the picture...like  folding paper.  If you can keep this in mind, your pictures will be so much better off for it.

Elbow lake in the community of Skidway Lake, MI

Sunset over the Field of Dreams in Iowa

trees along The Rifle River in Aranac Co. MI

Please answer the poll questions. They are designed to show me where I should be going in future postings. Thank you again for stopping by...

Dan Thompson & the advertisers.