goldengod

Restrain by Bob Lee

One of the hardest things for beginning digital photographers to learn is the art of taking good photos in stressful situations. The next time you’re out using your digital cameras, remember these helpful tips. I guarantee they’ll improve the quality of your photos. These rules can be applied to weddings, photojournalism, sports photography, and way more.

Experiment with these tips. Try different combinations of them and see what works best for you. Some people implement all of these strategies to get them through the shoot. Others need only two or three of these tips to walk away looking smokingly good at their jobs. It really varies from person to person.

Please keep arms and legs inside the blog at all times. Ready? Okay, here we go:

• Triple-check all of your photography gear and digital camera settings - This is the most basic tip for any photo assignment. It should probably even go without saying. But you know what? We can all think of at least one situation where we forgot to check our digital camera settings and risked blowing some great photos. Hell, I’d be hard pressed to think of *only* one situation where that happened to me.
• Think about the bigger picture - The temptation to forget yourself and frantically snap shots of whatever looks interesting can be dangerous. Try to keep in mind who your audience is and what your editor/client will want to see. If you can keep that focus, you’ll be comin’ home with that 180-lb prize photograph tied across the front of your scooter Land Rover.
• Don’t pet the sweaty things - The more you worry about something, the bigger a problem it will become. If it’s not a big deal, it’s not a big deal. Put it out of your mind and focus on the things that are important. Don’t get mired in the molehills, keep your eyes on the mountains.


• Talk to another photographer - You’d be surprised how much insight having a chat with another photographer can offer. Sometimes having someone else look at the logistics of your upcoming shoot can make all the difference. Without the blinders stress inflicts, they will often see things that you’ve missed. They don’t necessarily have to be a more experienced photographer, but it definitely helps.
• Always be professional - Remember the old US Marine axiom, “Slow is fast. Fast is slow.” The more you try and hurry, the more you’ll panic and lose your cool. If you’re calm and in control the whole time, it will pay immense dividends when you need to pose a group of people or get someone to help you. If you maintain the air of a professional, people will treat you like one and listen when you speak.
• Practice, practice, practice - Not used to dealing with stressful shoots? Assign yourself some! Do a photoshoot with minimal camera gear, use just ten exposures, or finish in less than fifteen minutes. How you practice working under pressure doesn’t even have to be related to photography. Dealing with stressful situations is the same, across all boundaries. Shadow a day-trader for a couple hours, play some hoops with $50 riding on it, or try explaining to your wife where you’ve been all night without lying. Anything can work, as long as it makes you sweat!
• Get your ’safe’ shots in the can first - There’s a big temptation to try something new and exciting on the fly when shooting on location. But if it doesn’t pan out, you *need* something to fall back on. Take the some standard photos and common poses first. This gives you something to fall back on. Having that safety net will take a lot of weight off your back. Then you can step back, take a deep breath, and let your creativity run wild for the rest of your time!

Emy & Teh by S. Affandi

Personally, I’m still struggling with not screwing up when stressed out myself. I’m a lot better than I used to be, but I still have a tendency to get flustered when working in a high pressure situation. The research that I’ve done for this post is going to keep me focused. I’ve started implementing some of these gradually over the last few months and I’ve already started to see a difference.

Got a great tip that I’ve missed? For gods sakes man, tell me! Don’t be shy, tell us your secrets for taking high pressure photos and we will love you for it.

I took some time to quiz my friend and fellow photographer Brian Larter on the subject. He’s a professional photographer in Halifax and he has considerable experience shooting protests and weddings. Here’s what Brian had to share with you guys:

When it comes to high stress photography situations like weddings, journalism and sports, it’s best to use your camera in burst mode. A fast burst of shots gives you greater potential to capture that “perfect” moment.

Ways to achieve a fast burst are: shoot with a higher ISO than normal. Using 200 or 400 ISO outdoors will allow you to use higher shutter speeds.

When it comes to stressful moments, always prepare for them beforehand. For a wedding, meet with the couple and explore the venue before the big day. Keep in mind that most churches don’t allow flash photography, so ask first.

For sports, always check the weather and location before the day of the event. If you’re shooting a protest, find out the path it will take. Walk it a day or two before and take note of potential places to shoot from like mail boxes and ledges.

From the Pulpit
by Danny Hammontree

I’m mildly embarrassed that I didn’t think of telling people to shoot in burst mode. I have a bit of an excuse though; I always shoot in burst mode. I can’t imagine taking my photos any other way. I would’ve missed most of my best photos if I hadn’t been shooting in burst mode. It’s one of the simplest ways to prepare for any eventuality.

Now this is going to sound pessimistic, but something will go wrong on one of your photoshoots. It’s only a matter of time. Just remember; it ain’t the end of the world. Like the athletes you’re taking photos of, you’ve gotta get back up and keep firing away. The mark of the consummate professional is not that they never make mistakes, but how well they recover from those mistakes.

Suddenly I have an inexplicable urge to go listen to “Under Pressure.” Hmm…

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