Shooting Rules

ALOHA, YOU!

Click on the Clouds :)

"The one serious conviction
that a man should have

is that nothing is to be taken too seriously."

Nicholas Butler

(Women already know not to take any man too seriously :)

"Nature gives you the face you have at twenty;

it is up to you to merit the face you have at fifty."
Coco Chanel

"Writing stories permits me to talk to anybody.

In multicultural Hawaii, that's marvelously exciting

because each person is unique. It's a constant adventure.

My job puts me right in the middle of the evolving identity

of Honolulu."

Bob Krauss


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Shooting Rules

If you stop to look at the pictures you've already taken today,
you'll miss the next great shot!

So here are my rules for photo safari.

Never leave home without a camera.

Look up, look down, look at different angles.

It's digital, not film. Just shoot it!

Shoot a quick "insurance shot"

then take others.

Often the first shot is best!

Notice where the sun is

and have it behind you, unless you are trying to

shoot brightness around flat subjects.

Cloudia's Golden Rule of shooting:
Don't make anyone uncomfortable.

(Be discreet, be nice, don't be paparazzi-rude)

Now, back in the day, people really noticed a camera.
Today, every mobile phone has one.
We shoot and Tweet and post to the web
instantaneously.

Most of us realize that we are in public
and behave accordingly.

And here in Waikiki

EVERYONE is carrying a camera!

I just hide in plain sight :)

We've gotten used to security cameras in many public places too.
So expectations of privacy have definitely evolved.
(Eroded?)

I use misdirection sometimes,
setting the camera for the intended shot
while facing another direction,
then sweeping smoothly in an arc,
capturing my quarry "on the fly."

Or from a distance using zoom.

The interesting subject can then be cropped
into a better composition later.

Photography used to be about creating an image
largely on the camera in the moment.
Now we just capture the data we need,
then crop/Picasa/ Photo Shop it later!

For subjects with tattoos, faces, outfits, activities
that you want to really focus on?

Just ask politely,
then shut up and let them answer,
no cajoling or explaining (I'm a blogger)
or promising (I won't post you to Freaks.com).

If they say "yes" be quick!

(No multiple shots)

If they say "no" stay nice,
and simply walk on (nicely).


It's a good idea to ask before shooting
children or pets.
But, again, within the golden rule,
public is public!

I have lost GREAT shots by asking permission.

The person invariably STOPS doing the interesting thing

and then they pose boringly.

Sometimes art demands innocent subterfuge.

Fortunately, one nice thing about being a
middle aged woman
is that one is largely invisible.
I can wander anywhere in my harmless-ness.

So what are YOUR shooting rules?

Thanks! cloudia