Simple Photography Tips - when not to take photographs

Five simple photography tips on when not to take photographs

• Unless you're there specifically to take photographs, don't miss the moment or the atmosphere

• If you're a key player in a scene, let those who are not, take the photographs

• Let your brain do the remembering at special moments, the camera won't

• If you're on a date night, choose your camera moments carefully! Ask, or you may rue the moment

• Unless you're an expert, don't attempt the almost impossible

  
  

  
  

So this is possibly one of the strangest, but equally most important blogs. I want to share with you one of the most important things I've learnt in all the time I've been taking photographs - that there is a time to lay your camera aside and just see.

Supermarine Spitfire

Let me tell you three stories.

Story One

Some years ago I was commissioned to photograph a World War II day at a prep-school in Somerset. In addition to photographing the children dressed for the period, I was informed that they had received and accepted the offer of a plane from that period, doing a flypast.

Due at midday, there was that amazing growl of a Supermarine Spitfire Engine, as a Supermarine Seafire flew low over the Somerset Levels, out of sight behind a shelterbelt of trees, burst over the top and climbed into the sun, right over the awestruck children.

I did take photographs, not the ones here, but wish I hadn't. Why? Because I missed everything else, the atmosphere, the amazement on the children's faces, the 'beautiful aeroplane' in it's surroundings.

Supermarine Spitfire

The second story to illustrate my point.

I remember when US President Obama started his second term. There were of course, a whole bunch of dignitaries close to him. The scene as shown on the BBC was besmirched by a large number of these folk, each recording the scene on their i-pad cameras.

If you're invited to a major event, be a part of the event, and don't attempt to record it. This is a personal view, but it's a very simple photography tip, that there are times when you are part of the scenery and should let others do the recording.

Supermarine Spitfire

The Third Story.

A family group, at a firework display, that special time to laufgh together as you all ooooooh and aaaah at the rockets as they rise and burst. Not a bit of it, every member of the group was glued to their camera phones.

Literally all they saw was the display on whatever passed for a screen.

There are numerous occasions where I will adjust my maxim of Look until you see, normally with a view to finding a great photograph. There are occasions when I would encourage you to look until you see, and then absorb what you see through you eyes and the optic nerves in your bonce, rather than try to capture on film.

Spitfires make the most enthralling sound, are wonderful to watch, but honestly, leave it at that unless you're set up with the right kit, and are there for that purpose. Even the latest camera-phones probably don't get a good enough image to make it worth diluting the moment. Leave aeroplane photography until you've the right kit.

Fireworks are great, and better shared at the time with friends and family, and the crowd, than missing most of it for the sake of some often mediocre images.

And imagine you're out one evening, maybe Richmond Park in London, or as I was some years ago, high altitude Nordic Walking in the Alps. The light is not great, it's evenin in'it mate, and there are a couple of deer grazing gently, or in my case a female Ibex, about three metres away. It is so tempting to try to get that superb image, despite the light, or lack of it. Simple Photography Tip - don't, just relish the moment.

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