I AM GUESSING ALMOST EVERY PHOTOGRAPHER, AT LEAST SOME POINT IN THEIR PHOTOGRAPHIC CAREER, IS KICKING THEMSELVES BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HAVE THEIR CAMERA READY WHEN SOME INCREDIBLE SHOT HAPPENED RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM, AND THEY MISSED IT ! AM I RIGHT? I THINK EVERY ONE DOES THAT AND THEY LEARN QUICKLY HOW TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE THEY DON’T MISS SO MANY OF THOSE AGAIN.
LET’S LEARN SOME STEPS SO THAT DOESN’T HAPPEN:
1- Have your camera bag ready to get the camera out quickly:
If you have your camera in a camera bag, then make sure it is ready for a quick grab. Have it ready with automatic exposure settings, and lens caps off, etc. If you are in a crowd, make sure you keep track of your camera by having the top lid closed. I would suggest to get out of the crowd for security reasons. Crowds are when you most likely will have your camera stolen.
2- Always have an extra battery on hand:
I have never seen a good photographer without an extra battery. You know your battery will go dead when you are taking a photo of something you want. It will be the million dollar photo if you miss it because of a dead battery. Just get one.
3- Avoid the dirty lens
One of the biggest challenges we all face when using our cameras is to make sure our lenses are perfectly clean. Every speck of dust or dirt will cause your photo to look blurry, distorted or even “down right nasty”. So, check your lenses often to make sure you have the best chance for a good photo..
4- Memory cards: Always have some on hand!
Whether you have a cell phone, or a regular camera, they all have their limitations. Granted, it is better than the old film days, when you 12, 24, or 36 exposures. But that camera kept track of it better than your digital system. You just never know when you run out of memory.
5- IS YOUR EXPOSURE SETTING READY TO TAKE A PHOTO?
If you want to capture a photo fast, the best thing to do is to have everything on automatic. If you want to be the one to take a photo in manual setting, make sure you have the time to get that right. Also, there is shutter speed priority, or aperture priority mode that will help you out if you are trying to get a special effect.
6- Watch out for lens caps, or filters that may be on your lens
How many seconds do you lose when you find out your lens cap is still on, or a filter you had on it from a previous shot? This has always been a killer for most photographers.
ONE LAST IDEA:
One last thing: I have a photographer friend who is a professional wildlife photographer. Wildlife photography is truly an art. And you have to be ready at the spur of the moment to be able to grab the right camera, with the right lens at the right time to get the right photo. I have a photo of him as he goes out to take photos in the wild. Look at him and his equipment, and notice how he has several cameras equipped with a different lens and how he has them all ready to grab at any time he wants to get the shot he wants. You want to become a professional wildlife photographer? Yeah, this is what you need to become:
I love to see a true professional photographer at work. It always reminds of what it will really take to be a great photographer.
To see some of the photos that Rob has taken as a wildlife photographer, go to: ROBS WILDLIFE .
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