7 Steps to get the shots you've been imagining - Make Your Own Luck in Your Local Area
Ever wonder how some photographers seem to have all the luck and always get great shots? They seem to be in the right place at the right time all the time? Well, I can assure you that there's a story and a lot of effort behind each one of those shots. I'll tell you what it takes to get your dream shots. It's not a step-by-step guide necessarily, but the concept is super solid.
No one knows for sure when the sun is going to break out in sunbeams through the clouds!
Make time for photography:
Adapt it to our busy lives
This is for the person who is passionate about photography but also has to live in the real world. Most of us don't have the time or resources to travel to different locations every week. We don't get extensive changes of scenery and days to explore it. So, what do you do? Follow the list below to your awesome shot.
(1) Be passionate about photography
(2) Carry your camera, a pertinent lens, and a tripod in your car
(3) Identify a location, or two, or three that offer some interest in what you are trying to shoot
(4) The location has to be readily accessible to you
(5) Stop by the location every day, or several times a week
(6) Stick with it - be patient
(7) Payoff Day!
Now let's look at these items a little closer with some details that have worked for me:
(1) Be passionate about photography
I'm a little crazy. I love my wife and our daughter very much. They are the world to me. But I also think about photography every day. There's always some facet of it running through my head whether thinking about a new location, a composition method, a YouTube video I saw the day before, watching the weather wondering what the conditions are like or even writing this blog. It's just how I see the world. It's my mental escape from being in the office. It's knowing that at any moment while I move through the world that a photographic opportunity might present itself, and I'm always looking. I love the potential.
(2) Carry your camera, a pertinent lens, and a tripod in your car
And because a photographic opportunity might present itself at any moment, I need to be ready. I carry my camera in the car most of the time. I don't carry all my lenses or all my gear. I attach the pertinent lens for the location that I'm stopping by. For example, if I'm birding, it's the 200-500mm. If it's anything scenic, it's the 24-70mm. And sometimes I'll be in a macro mood. And of course, the trusty tripod completes the list. Now there's no excuse for not being prepared.
(3) Identify a location, or two, or three that offer some interest in what you are trying to shoot
A location could be anything and will vary depending on what you are trying to shoot. I have an interest in birds so several of my locations are wooded areas, trails near fields and a shoreline park. But if I want something nautical, there's a bridge that overlooks a fishing pier and another public space along the shore where different types of boats go in and out. Other ideas could be a field with a barn, a safe overpass that crosses a scenic stream, a farm, a historic avenue, a church, a pond. You get the idea.
(4) The location has to be readily accessible to you
So here's the really, really important thing. Your location, or locations, must be accessible to you on a regular basis. For me, I visit my locations either on the commute to work or during my lunch from work. These are my mini photo outings and give me something to look forward to photographically. Maybe these same times work for you. Maybe the way home from work is better. Maybe you have Sunday mornings free. It doesn't have to be long. I usually spend about half a hour at my locations and I have some created some great images during these times. It really doesn't take much. What we're trying to do is build this passion for photography into your routine somewhere. Anywhere. Just get it in there.
(5) Stop by the location every day, or at least several times a week
Visit your location often. You want to see the location in various conditions. Even if you don't think it will be worth it. Do it. I got some of my best hawk images by going to one of my locations on a dreary rainy day when I was expecting to see nothing. Zilch. Then suddenly there it was! Literally flew down right down in front of me. You never know. Even if you are after a scene, you never know what the light may be up to at any moment. You want to be able to see the potential moods of your scene. Rain, clouds, and fog will amaze you. Be chill. Maybe have low expectations sometimes. But keep an open mind, you could be surprised.
(6) Stick with it
Keep checking out your location. Remember, this is part of your routine now. You have to commit. You are making your own luck. Professional photographers don't just show up at a location and have everything come together. They do what you're doing now. They scout out locations, they visit them frequently, they wait for the magic to happen. You have to be consistent. As photographers, we generally like to be outside and explore anyways, so you're just dialing in those natural curiosities.
(7) Payoff Day!
Then the magic happens. You arrive at the scene and the light is kicking off some spectacular color or shooting out rays through the clouds. The foggy mist is creating an ethereal atmosphere.
The dusting of snow adds interest beyond belief to the farm, the stream in the woods and the old oak tree on the side of the road. This is when it all comes together. Keep your wits about you, dial in your settings, and shoot away. This is the one image that the pros share and make it look easy. But I guarantee they went through a similar ‘stake out’ process to get there.
I drive by these woods almost every day, always looking for my owl friend, always prepared for when he visits.
A note on what this technique is not
Admittedly this is a little different than what I call the crazy research method. There are some that will argue that rather than leaving certain elements like weather up to chance, one should research weather conditions and forecasts extensively before heading out. And this method does make sense for landscapes and apps like PhotoPills and Clear Outside are very useful for this purpose. Extensive research is also great if you're traveling and only have a limited time at a location. Therefore, you will want to maximize your time by choosing the best conditions. I totally get that. But this method is not as sound for wildlife and birds. While wildlife behaviors are affected by conditions, you just never know when a particular animal will surprise you. I'm also trying to get you out to locations on a consistent basis and experience the same scene in many different conditions. This usually works best with local areas and it’s why local areas shouldn’t be underestimated. You get to see them in all kinds of conditions and seasons.
Grand Finale
So this is for us everyday folks that want a chance to improve our photography but may feel frustrated at times because it seems to get away from us. And it will get away if we don't nurture it. There are two things going on here. The first is that my best advice to stay active with photography in your everyday life is to find a way to incorporate it into your routine and least three or four times a week. Even if it's just for 30 minutes once you are on location. You can do it. The second is to visit your chosen locations often and in different conditions. Keep an open mind as to what you might find. I went to a coastal location one windy day looking for sea birds but there weren't any. What I found instead were two surfers braving the waves and I got some great shots of them instead. Keep in mind that your location may surprise you!
I hope this helps you to get out there and try things often. Do you have any 'go-to' locations that you like to revisit? What are some areas in your routine that you would consider?
Feel free to leave a comment in the box below.
Thanks for checking in.
