Shooting for Moments
PHOTO CHALLENGE |
Capturing real moments. What does that even mean? It’s about connection. Then how do you connect to a moment? Mostly, it’s about anticipation, which is a skill that all great photographers draw on when searching for the right moment to press the shutter.
Writing about creating a strong image or connecting with your subject is a completely different story to technical aspects. Composition, editing, white balance, it’s all relatively black and white. It’s difficult to put into words what all goes through a photographer’s head when a moment happens. A great photographer is someone that has a natural ability to see moments and compositions, but also has the necessary skill set to execute the moment in whatever way they see fit.
If you have a great eye for photography, but still shoot in ‘Auto‘, your creative vision is being choked out because you have less say on how that image will turn out. Ultimately, you’re limiting yourself, you’re creativity, and the potential in front of you. Alternately, if you are a technical photographer, but have no eye for it or are awkward with people, you will have technically perfect images with absolutely no feeling or emotion to them. You might be able to talk the talk, but the execution, though technically perfect, is lacking.
A lot of the time, connection comes down to time. Time to invest in your intention to create and make a photograph. This can still be a rather quick, fluid process, but having a sense of what you’re doing and how you can tell a story can make all the difference. Or, if you simply have no idea, then it’s observation and instinct. Look for those moments that speak to you, don’t force it. Of course candid or ‘in the moment’ can include people or be landscapes. Be sure to ask yourself, does this feel like that moment? These opportunities must be earned through patience, trust, and perseverance.
Here are some tips to capturing that decisive moment:
Be prepared to shoot quickly | Some photographic moments are memorable because they are so unlikely. A decisive moment can last for a few seconds and be gone forever. Take a few test shots to get your settings in place and be prepare for any moment. Street photography, or an area with movement or wildlife can help with feeling in the moment. Seek potential scenes in time and develop the instinct to shoot before something interesting happens.
Get in the right mindset | If you aren’t mentally set up for quickly documenting a moment, then you’re likely to overthink and miss opportunities. Light, people, and weather change quickly. Remember that some of the best moments happen behind the scenes, before or after the main event, and being prepared for that will ensure success.
Prepare for composition | A good image can lost its potential in a bad composition. Focus your shot, quickly adjust (rule of thirds, wide, move in, shift left or right), and click that shutter. In situations that are active and thrilling, surprisingly quiet moments can take place, frame the shot and wait for the right moment. Don’t forget about small details, including light, that can lend to intimacy and complete a scene.
Tonal balance | This is so important to me, and right up there with composition. If you under or over expose an image and feel like you lost the shot or are going to work with it anyway, take the time to work with it when editing. Balance out your lights and darks, get the contrast to feel natural, and don’t let color be distracting. I’ve seen too many potentially good photos lose all hope because quality wasn’t give enough consideration. Tonal balance often means a good quality shot.