stillshunter
Super Moderator Emeritus
- Location
- Down Under
- Name
- Mark
First month of a new year and we're full of resolutions - let personal regret be the stuff of February, for together we have January my friends. Not sure about your own individual resolution, whether it's to get familiar with that new Christmas camera, to assuage the guilt and use the actual kit you have, to “talk less and shoot more”, or simply to get off the couch and interact with the world again. Whatever you need to achieve the opportunity is here to do it with friends. So our leather and metal is polished, saddle up and let's get on the trail.
Look here if you need a refresher on how we roll during Single in January (SiJ) and/or here if you're curious about who else is in our posse and what they're packing. Images are posted in this location, not here. This thread is to talk through the challenges and lessons of the first ten days of SiJ'15 – another thread will be opened for days 11-20 and 21-31.
I thought a little cut and paste from SiJ'12 is timely as I seemed wiser then...must have been the additional brain cells
During SiJ “more of us will fall or falter if we don't have support from each other. First and foremost it's about commenting on each others images - and extending that to C&C if it's welcome...I'd suggest putting it under you image if you are keen for C&C. But secondly, it's about sharing your experiences. This will prove tough and please be aware it is tough for us all, so share what you're finding hard and we will work through how to overcome it. Some folks will scoff and say "C'mon get over it it's one photo a day". But yes one photo everyday and with the one piece of kit....no flitting through kit, but focusing your eye and attention in that field of view. Subjects will get thinner as the days get longer...but we will work through it...promise!!!”
...and a little hint from experience:
"Shoot safeties!"*
First thing in the morning take the camera and lens out with you and shoot. Make some frames as early as you can. If you defer until after lunch, or when the kids are in bed or the cows fed, then you'll find that come 11pm and you can breath again after another chaotic day, you'll be tearing your hair out (for those unlike me who have much remaining) scanning the lounge room frantically for compositions. You'll get desperate enough that you'd think a still of what's on TV will do. But if you shoot the safety then there is always something waiting for you come post-processing time. OK it might not be your best shot, but you have it...it might get thrown away after all the other pearlers you shot today, or it might just have that something that only come with fresh eyes. Also getting that camera to your eye early reminds you of, and locks in, your field of view for the day. Also it means you start shooting and sometimes the hardest barrier is taking that first shot...after that you just want to shoot more!!! So shoot that safety...maybe before you even log excitedly into Serious Compacts first thing to see what's going on."
Ah nothing like the sight of smoke coming from the flared nostrils of horses, the sound of jiggling metal and the smell of anticipation and adrenalin in the air. Old hands give the new ones a leg up.
Let's ride!
Look here if you need a refresher on how we roll during Single in January (SiJ) and/or here if you're curious about who else is in our posse and what they're packing. Images are posted in this location, not here. This thread is to talk through the challenges and lessons of the first ten days of SiJ'15 – another thread will be opened for days 11-20 and 21-31.
I thought a little cut and paste from SiJ'12 is timely as I seemed wiser then...must have been the additional brain cells
During SiJ “more of us will fall or falter if we don't have support from each other. First and foremost it's about commenting on each others images - and extending that to C&C if it's welcome...I'd suggest putting it under you image if you are keen for C&C. But secondly, it's about sharing your experiences. This will prove tough and please be aware it is tough for us all, so share what you're finding hard and we will work through how to overcome it. Some folks will scoff and say "C'mon get over it it's one photo a day". But yes one photo everyday and with the one piece of kit....no flitting through kit, but focusing your eye and attention in that field of view. Subjects will get thinner as the days get longer...but we will work through it...promise!!!”
...and a little hint from experience:
"Shoot safeties!"*
First thing in the morning take the camera and lens out with you and shoot. Make some frames as early as you can. If you defer until after lunch, or when the kids are in bed or the cows fed, then you'll find that come 11pm and you can breath again after another chaotic day, you'll be tearing your hair out (for those unlike me who have much remaining) scanning the lounge room frantically for compositions. You'll get desperate enough that you'd think a still of what's on TV will do. But if you shoot the safety then there is always something waiting for you come post-processing time. OK it might not be your best shot, but you have it...it might get thrown away after all the other pearlers you shot today, or it might just have that something that only come with fresh eyes. Also getting that camera to your eye early reminds you of, and locks in, your field of view for the day. Also it means you start shooting and sometimes the hardest barrier is taking that first shot...after that you just want to shoot more!!! So shoot that safety...maybe before you even log excitedly into Serious Compacts first thing to see what's going on."
Ah nothing like the sight of smoke coming from the flared nostrils of horses, the sound of jiggling metal and the smell of anticipation and adrenalin in the air. Old hands give the new ones a leg up.
Let's ride!