On long winter evenings, we almost inevitably turn to a game of some sort to keep us entertained. But whether you’re playing cards or computer games, there are plenty of picture opportunities. This snooker shot was taken with a compact camera hand- held over the balls at the break off – my timing had to be spot on and my hand steady as I was using a shutter speed of 1/10sec, but I like the colour and shape of the shot.
Spirograph
You can use almost any light source to create a spirograph like this, such as a torch or fairy lights – as long as it can be spun easily. Switch to manual focus, place your camera on the floor with the lens pointing up and set a shutter speed of 10 seconds and an aperture of f/22 at ISO 200. Start swinging the lights and then press the shutter!
OVERCAST IS GOOD
These two images were both taken on wet days. The leaf was first taped to a window and then I used a macro lens to get in close on the veiny structure which was perfectly backlit from the outside. The stained glass is a little harder to replicate in your own home – but most towns and villages have a church that you can gain access to. A tripod will help you get shake-free shots and you can rely on your Olympus’ built- in metering to deliver an accurate exposure.