Comments on: 12 Ways To Never Miss A Photo Opportunity http://digital-photography-school.com/12-ways-to-never-miss-a-photo-opportunity Discover how to use your digital camera with our Digital Photography Tips. We are a community of photographers of all experience levels who come together to learn, share and grow in our understanding of photography. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:08:53 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Jesse http://digital-photography-school.com/12-ways-to-never-miss-a-photo-opportunity/comment-page-1#comment-52875 Jesse Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:58:46 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/12-ways-to-never-miss-a-photo-opportunity/#comment-52875 @Bev most cameras have an auto-off setting that doesn't actually turn your camera completely off, but puts it in a sort of "suspend" mode like a laptop. That way, it's much less drain on the battery, but it's also much faster from the point of tapping a button (to "wake up" the camera) to the point of being ready to shoot. Of course, that depends on your model of camera. I had a Panasonic DMC FZ-10 that had a lens that was mechanically extended by the camera when it turned on. When it went into the suspend mode, it would leave it out (until a certain amount of time went by, then it would retract). It was much faster to wake up the camera from that than to wait for the camera to become fully prepared from having the switch set to off. Now I have a Rebel XTi and I personally don't really notice any difference between turning the camera on/off vs the suspend mode. Speed wise, the camera is almost instantaneously ready to shoot. However, convenience-wise, the suspend is better, because all I have to do to tell the camera i want to shoot is press the shutter release halfway in instead of flipping the switch :) great article and very good things to remember. all obvious things, BUT also the most over-looked things! :P ... of course, I've NEVER done any of those ;) hahahaha ... @Bev most cameras have an auto-off setting that doesn’t actually turn your camera completely off, but puts it in a sort of “suspend” mode like a laptop. That way, it’s much less drain on the battery, but it’s also much faster from the point of tapping a button (to “wake up” the camera) to the point of being ready to shoot. Of course, that depends on your model of camera. I had a Panasonic DMC FZ-10 that had a lens that was mechanically extended by the camera when it turned on. When it went into the suspend mode, it would leave it out (until a certain amount of time went by, then it would retract). It was much faster to wake up the camera from that than to wait for the camera to become fully prepared from having the switch set to off. Now I have a Rebel XTi and I personally don’t really notice any difference between turning the camera on/off vs the suspend mode. Speed wise, the camera is almost instantaneously ready to shoot. However, convenience-wise, the suspend is better, because all I have to do to tell the camera i want to shoot is press the shutter release halfway in instead of flipping the switch :)

great article and very good things to remember. all obvious things, BUT also the most over-looked things! :P … of course, I’ve NEVER done any of those ;) hahahaha …

]]> By: Pilar Arvizu http://digital-photography-school.com/12-ways-to-never-miss-a-photo-opportunity/comment-page-1#comment-46645 Pilar Arvizu Fri, 03 Apr 2009 00:45:12 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/12-ways-to-never-miss-a-photo-opportunity/#comment-46645 Good points, now i have an excuse to buy a new camera (small) as Rob said - get a second camera you can carry “everywhere”, and also is very important to have updated the date in our camera. Good points, now i have an excuse to buy a new camera (small) as Rob said – get a second camera you can carry “everywhere”, and also is very important to have updated the date in our camera.

]]> By: Bill W. http://digital-photography-school.com/12-ways-to-never-miss-a-photo-opportunity/comment-page-1#comment-30352 Bill W. Sat, 07 Jun 2008 14:45:36 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/12-ways-to-never-miss-a-photo-opportunity/#comment-30352 Excellent points. The basics are always the most important things. When I miss shots because I didn't keep my camera on, take my lens cover off right away, or was trying to put on a filter instead of taking one off, it's not only discouraging, but it can negatively affect my positive energy. But when I'm ready, the satisfaction of being prepared is tremendously gratifying. Therefore, I try to keep my camera bag on the front seat of my car, so I can grab it when needed. Its being there reminds me to take more notice of my surroundings and the beauty of normal Excellent points. The basics are always the most important things. When I miss shots because I didn’t keep my camera on, take my lens cover off right away, or was trying to put on a filter instead of taking one off, it’s not only discouraging, but it can negatively affect my positive energy. But when I’m ready, the satisfaction of being prepared is tremendously gratifying. Therefore, I try to keep my camera bag on the front seat of my car, so I can grab it when needed. Its being there reminds me to take more notice of my surroundings and the beauty of normal

]]> By: Julie http://digital-photography-school.com/12-ways-to-never-miss-a-photo-opportunity/comment-page-1#comment-28819 Julie Sun, 18 May 2008 22:36:10 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/12-ways-to-never-miss-a-photo-opportunity/#comment-28819 Concerning the tip in #1....I just bought this bag after going through several and I just love it. It has lots of room for my 4 lenses and my camera. I would recommend it to anyone with that amount of camera gear. I don't have a flash preferring to shoot with wider apertures but if I did the bag would handle that too. Overall great bag!!! Julie 1. Have a camera bag that enables you to easily and quickly access your camera lowepro-slingshot-100If you’re stuck with an overly complicated bag that takes too long to open or is organized in such a way that other gear is in the way of you getting to your camera quickly you’re guaranteed to miss that next great spontaneous photo. Look for bags that have quick access flaps and aren’t cumbersome to secure. note from the editor: lately we’ve been using a Lowepro SlingShot 100 (pictured left) which enables you to quickly get your DSLR off your back by flipping it around. Concerning the tip in #1….I just bought this bag after going through several and I just love it. It has lots of room for my 4 lenses and my camera. I would recommend it to anyone with that amount of camera gear. I don’t have a flash preferring to shoot with wider apertures but if I did the bag would handle that too. Overall great bag!!!
Julie

1. Have a camera bag that enables you to easily and quickly access your camera

lowepro-slingshot-100If you’re stuck with an overly complicated bag that takes too long to open or is organized in such a way that other gear is in the way of you getting to your camera quickly you’re guaranteed to miss that next great spontaneous photo. Look for bags that have quick access flaps and aren’t cumbersome to secure.

note from the editor: lately we’ve been using a Lowepro SlingShot 100 (pictured left) which enables you to quickly get your DSLR off your back by flipping it around.

]]> By: ROB http://digital-photography-school.com/12-ways-to-never-miss-a-photo-opportunity/comment-page-1#comment-28569 ROB Fri, 16 May 2008 13:43:09 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/12-ways-to-never-miss-a-photo-opportunity/#comment-28569 Another couple of suggestions: - get a second camera you can carry "everywhere" - and/ or carry a notebook to record the images you see but cannot capture due time, incorrect light, etc And I totally agree. Nothing like getting into a routine of cleaning, reset setting, charging, downloading and repacking. Another couple of suggestions:

- get a second camera you can carry “everywhere”
- and/ or carry a notebook to record the images you see but cannot capture due time, incorrect light, etc

And I totally agree. Nothing like getting into a routine of cleaning, reset setting, charging, downloading and repacking.

]]> By: Warren http://digital-photography-school.com/12-ways-to-never-miss-a-photo-opportunity/comment-page-1#comment-28549 Warren Fri, 16 May 2008 05:02:09 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/12-ways-to-never-miss-a-photo-opportunity/#comment-28549 #13 Place CF card back into camera after transferring to computer. DOH. Very embarrassing. Trust me!! #13 Place CF card back into camera after transferring to computer. DOH. Very embarrassing. Trust me!!

]]> By: Mathieu http://digital-photography-school.com/12-ways-to-never-miss-a-photo-opportunity/comment-page-1#comment-28508 Mathieu Thu, 15 May 2008 19:39:05 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/12-ways-to-never-miss-a-photo-opportunity/#comment-28508 #5 Good idea, once every so often I use a previous setting(Shooting in 5MP instead of 8MP, using burst shooting, etc.) A for #6, why would turning off the IS when using a tripod would make the image clearer? There are still some vibrations and or movements that are possible, when you press down the shutter button or if it's windy. I just don't understand how is turning off the IS going to make your image sharper. #10 So true, I've missed many opportunities because my camera is off. But, if you walk around with your camera on, isn't your lens going to collect dust particles? That's the impression I'm under. Great tips overall, thanks :) #5 Good idea, once every so often I use a previous setting(Shooting in 5MP instead of 8MP, using burst shooting, etc.)

A for #6, why would turning off the IS when using a tripod would make the image clearer? There are still some vibrations and or movements that are possible, when you press down the shutter button or if it’s windy. I just don’t understand how is turning off the IS going to make your image sharper.

#10 So true, I’ve missed many opportunities because my camera is off. But, if you walk around with your camera on, isn’t your lens going to collect dust particles? That’s the impression I’m under.

Great tips overall, thanks :)

]]> By: Doc Holliday http://digital-photography-school.com/12-ways-to-never-miss-a-photo-opportunity/comment-page-1#comment-28425 Doc Holliday Wed, 14 May 2008 15:03:10 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/12-ways-to-never-miss-a-photo-opportunity/#comment-28425 Great tips. I regularly shoot in extremely cold weather - down to -50 at times, took a lot of images at -30 this year. My fully charged, stock Canon battery will last about 10-15 shots at this temp. I have a generic replacement battery that is supposed to last "twice as long as the stock" battery - it lasts about 8 shots at this temperature. To get around the cold, I fill my vest pockets, (my down vest, not my photo vest), with chemical hand warmers. Three or four seems to work the best. Then when a battery dies, I put it in the pocket with the hand warmers. Usually, within ten minutes, it is back to "charged" and I can use it again. Added bonus is you can put your hand in that pocket and warm it up, too.... Other added bonus is that the air is incredibly clear at these kind of temps. Very little particulate matter floating around. This makes for markedly clearer photos... As for the shooting without a CF card, man, can I relate. I came upon two juvenile bald eagles one time. I must have taken twenty pictures without realizing I didn't have a CF card in my camera. I learned the hard way to set my camera to not work without a CF... LOL Great tips.

I regularly shoot in extremely cold weather – down to -50 at times, took a lot of images at -30 this year. My fully charged, stock Canon battery will last about 10-15 shots at this temp. I have a generic replacement battery that is supposed to last “twice as long as the stock” battery – it lasts about 8 shots at this temperature.

To get around the cold, I fill my vest pockets, (my down vest, not my photo vest), with chemical hand warmers. Three or four seems to work the best. Then when a battery dies, I put it in the pocket with the hand warmers. Usually, within ten minutes, it is back to “charged” and I can use it again.

Added bonus is you can put your hand in that pocket and warm it up, too….

Other added bonus is that the air is incredibly clear at these kind of temps. Very little particulate matter floating around. This makes for markedly clearer photos…

As for the shooting without a CF card, man, can I relate. I came upon two juvenile bald eagles one time. I must have taken twenty pictures without realizing I didn’t have a CF card in my camera. I learned the hard way to set my camera to not work without a CF… LOL

]]> By: david http://digital-photography-school.com/12-ways-to-never-miss-a-photo-opportunity/comment-page-1#comment-28384 david Wed, 14 May 2008 04:59:27 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/12-ways-to-never-miss-a-photo-opportunity/#comment-28384 great list. i have the lowepro slingshot 200 ... and while i like it's convenience, i don't like it's storage capacity or the way it feels on my back. i find it to be somewhat uncomfortable, compared to a 2 strap camera bag. it also has no way to hold a tripod, which is rather inconvenient. i'll probably revert to a standard camera pack next year, with a tripod holder on it. that way, i'll get much more gear stored inside. it's not terribly inconvenient to take off the backpack when changing lenses ... especially when your camera is in your hand anyway. thanks for some good ideas in other areas though. your point about chimping is good ... it's not something i do often, but a lot of my friends do it! LOL cheers david www.davidsmeaton.com great list.

i have the lowepro slingshot 200 … and while i like it’s convenience, i don’t like it’s storage capacity or the way it feels on my back. i find it to be somewhat uncomfortable, compared to a 2 strap camera bag.

it also has no way to hold a tripod, which is rather inconvenient.

i’ll probably revert to a standard camera pack next year, with a tripod holder on it. that way, i’ll get much more gear stored inside.

it’s not terribly inconvenient to take off the backpack when changing lenses … especially when your camera is in your hand anyway.

thanks for some good ideas in other areas though. your point about chimping is good … it’s not something i do often, but a lot of my friends do it! LOL

cheers

david
http://www.davidsmeaton.com

]]> By: Furious Photographers http://digital-photography-school.com/12-ways-to-never-miss-a-photo-opportunity/comment-page-1#comment-28380 Furious Photographers Wed, 14 May 2008 03:49:36 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/12-ways-to-never-miss-a-photo-opportunity/#comment-28380 When I photograph a wedding, I use a Tamrac side bag with some lense holders on the side of my belt for easy access. It allows me to get to my camera gear really quickly. Check out my blog for more examples <a href="http://www.furiousphotographersblog.com" title="wedding photography" rel="nofollow">Furious Photographers</a> blog. When I photograph a wedding, I use a Tamrac side bag with some lense holders on the side of my belt for easy access. It allows me to get to my camera gear really quickly. Check out my blog for more examples Furious Photographers blog.

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