5 Ideas to Kick Start Your Photography Again

Please read the announcement carefully before submitting your RSVP

One of the drawbacks of digital cameras is that it has made photography too easy with sharp zoom lenses, taking an almost unlimited number of photos on large flash cards, using live preview and review functions, autofocus, program modes (though hopefully none of you are shooting in this mode), and a variety of other ways. The idea for this shoot is to get back to basics, to compose every shot carefully, to get away from short cuts and complacency and in essence to focus on seeing, which is the most important aspect of photography.

In order to help achieve this goal we thought that we would organize a photo shoot in which members apply some, or preferably all the following criteria when photographing:

1. Fixed focal length - Either use a prime lens (preferably 50mm) or use a zoom lens at one end of the zoom.

2. 1 Roll Rule - Compose each shot carefully, thinking out the composition, subject, focal point, perspective, framing, background, etc.

3. No Live Preview or Review - Everything should be composed through the viewfinder. Do not review your images until after the photo shoot.

4. Manual focus - Use manual focus.

5. One aperture - Use one aperture only. We have a tendency to shoot with lenses open too often. Try to limit yourself to f/5.6, f/8 or f/11.

Plus we have added this to the original five:

6. Tripod - In oder to put more emphasis on composing more carefully and mindfully, use a tripod.

You can read more about these limitations in this article:

5 Ideas to Kick Start Your Photography Again (http://www.digital-photography-school.com/5-ideas-to-kick-start-your-photography-again)

We will meet at the fountain in front of the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center at 8:45 AM. At 9:00AM we will walk through the park shooting using the limitations above. Several organizers will be there in case members have questions.

Those that want to can meet up again at 11:00AM at the Sculpture Court Cafe by Giueseppe for an early lunch. We can then discuss our shooting experiences and share photos, etc.

Sculpture Court Cafe by Giueseppe (http://www.sdmart.org/visit/sculpture-court-cafe)

Those that want to can shoot in the Park in the afternoon. It is the Open House for the International Houses in the park.

Please only attend this shoot if you are willing to shoot using some or all limitations above.