Take
on the subject. Or, zoom in close, filling Create artificial height by staggering your
the entire frame with happy faces and subjects on rock outcrops. By shooting
eliminating the background entirely. slightly below eye level, the resulting
A Few
2. Show People Doing Interesting image sometimes evokes a more
Things. Documenting a moment in time personal “feel.” Just as a concert maestro
More
is only part of the reason we take photos, wouldn’t permit an orchestra’s musicians
and it’s probably the least important to play from seats they choose, don’t be
reason. No one wants to look at a picture shy to move your subjects around to add
Seconds
of people standing shoulder-to-shoulder, impact.
hands straight at their side, peering at 4. Where Do the Shadows Fall?
the lens. It tells no story. It’s lifeless. If Have you ever seen patchy shadows cast
Before
you’re on a canoe trip, get everyone to by leaves on a person’s face and clothes?
hold a paddle above their heads while It looks like camouflage, and distracts,
even irritates
You
viewers. If you’re
taking pictures
Click
when mottled
shadows lie
everywhere, turn
on your flash.
Outdoor family
It can remove
or minimize
photos are worth
shadows on
another look
faces and
clothes. Also,
never face a
By Allen Macartney
subject into the
sun. Direct light
It was eight days between Ottawa and will flatten their
Kingston, peddling through some of the faces, and cause
most scenic landscape anywhere – the them to squint –
best thing this side of Paradise. I couldn’t though it’s fun if
wait to see the photos, but when they that’s the effect
returned from the processor, what a you want!
disappointment! It was Dullsville. What 5. Know
happened? When to Put
Shooting pictures outdoors presents Your Camera
challenges, most of them easily met. Away. A few
Five tips could handle some of the basic photos are fun
ones, and make your outdoor photos for everyone,
come alive. but at some
1. Watch the Background. Maybe point it’s time to
you’ve seen a photograph with a branch put the camera
sticking out of someone’s ear. Or a waiter, away, enjoy the
looking startled, passing behind your moment, and
table at the moment you went click. let others enjoy
That kind of distraction outweighs any it too. A few
other merit the picture may have. Before candid shots
clicking the shutter, take just a moment with a telephoto
to look for distracting elements. You jumping up in the air and cheering. Or lens might allow you to shoot a little bit
might have to move to the left a step or if you’re backpacking, shoot from an longer. Your family and friends will thank
two to angle out ugly power lines, or shift unusual angle (e.g. straight down on your you for this wisdom, especially children.
over to avoid distracting background. If companions from a cliff). The dramatic Great photographs take only a
the background is a natural clutter (like angle will increase impact and interest. moment longer, and a bit of thought. In
the dense branches of a forest), adjust 3. Position, Position, Position. the next issue we’ll explore ways to have
your F-stop to a low (e.g. f2.8, f3.5) You can add depth to a group shot by fun with your camera by distorting faces,
setting. This will blur out the background, asking subjects to lean subtly towards the and turning photography “rules” on their
forcing the viewer’s eye to concentrate lens, or by turning slighting off centre. ear. You’ll love it! ~OO
www.ottawaoutdoors.ca OTTAWA magazine summer/fall 2009 23
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50