{"id":133984,"date":"2019-03-15T07:33:18","date_gmt":"2019-03-15T14:33:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=133984"},"modified":"2019-03-15T07:37:03","modified_gmt":"2019-03-15T14:37:03","slug":"15-everyday-photography-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/03\/15\/15-everyday-photography-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Everyday Photography Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I often like to photograph things because things look different photographed!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

1. Flash vs no flash?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Let me give you an example. Here is a photo I shot on JPEG on RICOH GR II, positive film preset, max contrast and saturation, with -1 exposure compensation. Then with some further processing in Lightroom (increased blacks and contrast):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Natural light<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Then the same exact photo (and settings) except I shot it with a flash. I processed the photo similarly. Note how different it looks:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Flash<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

To me, it is incredible that the photo looks so different! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is why I love shooting with a flash<\/a>: I’m always curious how the flash transforms the photograph.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Macro mode<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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RICOH GR II x Macro Mode<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Another fun thing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What do things look like photographed in macro mode?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

For example my lovely espresso in macro<\/a> mode. I never notice these lovely ‘micro’ bubbles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thus photography is great, because the camera becomes ‘vision augmentation<\/a>‘ — I see MORE things with the camera. Because generally speaking, nobody holds an espresso that close to your face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Composition experiments<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Composition with woman in foreground. RICOH GR II<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Whenever I see a scene, I always try to ‘work the scene<\/a>‘– experimenting with different compositions. Sometimes the photo has more people in the foreground; sometimes the compositions are more simple with fewer elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Simplified composition, shot at a closer distance. RICOH GR II<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

4. Subject looking in different directions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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What makes a better composition<\/a> — with your subject looking down, or in a different direction? This is why it is good to ‘linger<\/a>‘; to wait for your subject to move, and to ‘work the scene’, in order to keep shooting, to later choose a better composition:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I think the second photo is stronger, as there is more drama of the guy looking to the right of the frame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Distance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Which photo works best of this Chuck Close portrait of Bill Clinton:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Super far<\/li>
  2. Close<\/li>
  3. Super close<\/li>
  4. Hyper close?<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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    This is why it is good to ‘work the scene’ of the same at different distances, because different distances change the effect of the image.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    6. Variations of the same visual motif<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    If I see an interesting visual motif (like this red cup of coffee decal), I like to ‘work the scene’ to figure out which subject best complements this visual element:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    7. Different variations of selfies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Whenever I want to shoot a selfie<\/a>, I always shoot several images of my selfie, and later choose the photo I best prefer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    This means:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. Shoot different compositions of your selfie (place your camera to cover up your face in different variations)<\/li>
    2. Frame your scene differently<\/li>
    3. Shoot some selfies with a flash, some without a flash<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      8. Lots of photos of your food<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Shoot more photos of your food! I love Ethiopian food (beef tibs, lamb stew). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Make photos of your partner, then photos of your plate, then macro\/flash photos of your food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      To me, I love photographing my food<\/a> because it conjures and sparks lovely memories associated with those meals, with people I love and care about (Cindy<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      9. Photos in uncommon places<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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      Shoot in uncommon places, like on a plane. I’m surprised how few<\/em> photos are shot inside a plane (besides photos looking out of your window):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      For example I’m not used to seeing photos of people cramped inside an airplane. This is the benefit of having my RICOH GR II<\/a> in my pocket with ERIC KIM Wrist Strap<\/a> (I can quickly pull out my camera, and shoot interesting photos in unusual situations).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      For example an interesting thing about shooting in a plane: the backlight I get from the other side. Sometimes I will try to shoot with a flash to balance out the backlight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      10. Photographing my workplace\/desk<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      For fun personal documentation, shoot your own desk, or your (intermittent<\/a>\/nomadic<\/a>) workplace. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      I like these photos because they are more ‘real’ (I don’t like to show a photoshopped\/false version of reality — like people placing things in a perfect arrangement for Instagram).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      11. Museum photography<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Lots of fun to shoot inside a museum! Some photos from the National Portrait gallery in Washington DC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Tips:<\/p>\n\n\n\n