Tag Archives: advice

A class visit from photo editor Rick Sforza

Rick Sforza shows what he carries on assignment

By the time we hit college age, the last thing we want is to listen to another lecture.

Why else do you think we want to go away for college? Freedom and escape from parental lectures!

In college, I was a glutton for punishment.

Actually I paid my own way, so I was hell-bent on getting my money’s worth. Continue reading A class visit from photo editor Rick Sforza

Riverside’s Family Village Festival 2011

The dramatic 10 am sunlight placed the stage into shade and that allowed me to isolate the wonderful face of a Japanese dancer against a backdrop of parasols.

Our sun which makes colors bright also creates situations that make it not less than ideal for photography.

Most events happen at midday when the sun is brightest.

Since pros work when the clients say so, they have to overcome these problems.

When shooting in bright sunlight, at midday, there can be such a thing as too much depth-of-field. Â Using a neutral density filter and panning may be the only way to 'clean up your backgrounds'. 1/20 sec f20 ISO 100 with a 80mm lens.
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Watching and learning from other photographers

At events like this fundraiser Arts, Crafts & Beers for Riverside Art Museum, it's useful to shoot tethered so that my subjects can see what I'm trying to capture. Mouse over to see picture I got.

I love watching other photographers work.

It’s fascinating because no 2 photographers see the same picture in any given situation.

Sure, they might size up the situation similarly especially if they have the identical lens.

But not every photographer will agree on how much of the scene is important.

Nor will they agree on which moment is important.

It’s precisely for that reason, without sounding judgmental, I would ask myself, “If I were behind the camera, would I shoot this the same way?”
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The stranger at White Park

He didn’t notice me.

He probably didn’t hear me because I was using a rangefinder, my Canon Powershot G11.

At one point when he looked up and opened his eyes, I did ask if I could take his picture.

When taking pictures in public, you shouldn’t act like a stalker. It’s a good way to have the cops called on you especially if you’re taking pictures of children.

The G11 has a variable aperture much like a kit lens on a digital SLR.

On the wide angle end, the aperture is f2.8 but on the longer focal length end, the aperture is f4.5.

Its smallest aperture is f8, so it doesn’t give you as much control as DSLR lenses.

I wanted to see if I could I could intentionally lower the sensitivity of the CMOS sensor so that I could shoot with a longer shutter speed.
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