Wrestling Match

Bryan invited me to go with him to a wrestling match over at CSU-Pueblo.  I'll take any chance to learn more about my camera and how to take better pictures so I said SURE!

What Bryan taught me (or at least what I remember):
1. It's OK to use my flash.  I'm so afraid to use it, mostly because I haven't a clue what I'm doing.  When I have used it in the past the pictures always look horrible to me.  I'm learning how to better use it and the importance of someday getting a remote strobe.

2. How to turn my flash on and off.  Sounds silly but I never use it so I had to learn how to even turn the darn thing on!

3. It's important to consider and think about the backgrounds in my photos.  Perhaps if I take three steps to the left I'll eliminate the ugly white truck in the background.  Or if I kneel down I'll get rid of the cluttered kitchen counter top slicing right through the subject's head.  Make the backgrounds as simple as possible.

4. Use the right lens.  If I'm taking outdoor shots use the longer lens.  When I'm taking indoor shots I'll usually use the shorter lens.  The longer lens will enable me to have softer backgrounds especially outdoors.

5.  Try to capture interaction.  It's hard for me to do this on the fly.  So I'll try to set this up and get some practice at it.  For instance, a photo of the kids tackling Charlie is much more endearing than a photo of them just staring into the camera smiling.

6. Consider where the light is coming from.  In one of my pictures the light from the window was reflecting off the floor and casting an upward shadow onto Dallin's face.  Although it was subtle Bryan's trained eye noticed right away how unnatural it looked.  To look scary you put the flashlight under your chin and have the light shine up your face casting odd shadows on your face.  Natural light is always coming from above so try to create that or compensate for it if it's not given.

7.  Think about photo compositions all the time.  Have ideas in my head of what type of photos I'd like to take.  Look for ideas and inspiration all around me.  As I'm driving in my car look around at different locations and consider what type of picture would work there.  Think about different times of the day/season and how the light and colors change.  Instead of being 2 seconds too late on a great photo opportunity, start creating my own opportunities.