Tips, Ideas, Suggestions Welome!

[casil403]

A friend is taking me to his old family's farm this weekend where he grew up as a child to do a photo shoot at my request. It's about 2+ hours north of the city and I want to totally do the farm justice in the images as he would like to be able to give them as gifts to his mother and sister this Christmas if possible/if they turn out (especially meaningful since his father passed away this past year). He is especailly interested in getting shots of his father's old '48 Ford.

Anybody have any tips/ideas on how to do this as best as possible for him?
I guess I feel especially nervous because it's for a friend who matters and it's meaningful! I just want to do a really good job!
HELP! :eek:

[hodaka]

I would say to just be prepared. Be prepared for bad weather, poor lighting, etc. Make sure everything is charged, cleaned, and ready to go. Shoot as many angles as you can of things, fill up your cards! Remember, some people like a honest, clean photo more than a photoshop beauty. Take your time on composition, focus, etc.

[casil403]

Thanks H.....I just so want to do this right! :fingerscr

[Iguanasan]

I would search Flickr for old farms, old cars, etc. and get some composition ideas too.

[casil403]

Thanks Iggy...actually now that you mention it, there's a cool Darwin Wigget shot I like of an old truck in a field on the prairie landscape. I might look for something similar if I can find it. :fingerscr
Just went out and bought more batteries, a bubble level and other things. :)
Anybody else with thoughts/suggestions, feel free to chime in!

[AcadieLibre]

TO be honest make sure you bring what lenses you have, lots of memory on hand and try and get there early or if your staying get up early and try and pre plan some of your shots. Look around view things at various angles, try out a lens or two to see what gets in the shot and what would be missing say if I chose the wrong lens. You need to scout and even do some test shots, but I would strongly recommend taking an hour or more to get a good look around and feel for the place. See where the truck is and what options you have to get the types of shot you want. Spend time alone absorbing the surroundings, get a feel for the history of the place, and if you drive up with your friend get him to tell you sentimental stories of his experiences there, it might inspire you. Just some ideas. Would be how I would deal with it, but thats me.

[Mad Aussie]

Great advice from everyone so far Lisa!

No point in me repeating what's been said.

I'll just add ... relax ... you'll do fine.

With every shot ... think to yourself

1. "What do I want in the shot?" ... and frame accordingly ... but before taking the photo ... think to yourself "What Don't I want in the shot?"
You may need to take the photo and look at it with the "What Don't I want?" thinking and re-take.

2. "What is the purpose of this photo? What must it say?

[casil403]

Wow....thanks AL that was just great! I might send him off for a bit to go and visit his mother in a nearby next town over for a few hours so I can be alone for a bit and ake it in! :)
And MA....thanks for the encouragement! I know too...just breathe right? LOL!

All great stuff...this is why this forum is just so damn special...:thankyou:

[Mad Aussie]

You aren't taking photos for photographers so I'm totally confident what you produce will wow them.
You are putting pressure on yourself because of yourself here. And that's fine because you will push yourself to wider limits with luck.

Yep ... breathe ... shoot ... chimp ... re-shoot better ;)

[Bambi]

You aren't taking photos for photographers so I'm totally confident what you produce will wow them.
You are putting pressure on yourself because of yourself here. And that's fine because you will push yourself to wider limits with luck.

Yep ... breathe ... shoot ... chimp ... re-shoot better ;)

Totally agree here! let us know how it goes and don't forget to show us your efforts :)

[casil403]

You aren't taking photos for photographers so I'm totally confident what you produce will wow them.
You are putting pressure on yourself because of yourself here. And that's fine because you will push yourself to wider limits with luck.

Yep ... breathe ... shoot ... chimp ... re-shoot better ;) :)
Yeah...to be honest. I also bought a Sigma 10-20mm wide angle for the weekend too today. It's freaking sweet! :highfive: :clap: :highfive:
I really can't afford it (It's the last lens I really need so that's it for me...completes the set) but I know it will take my photography to an entirely new direction and I think I can get alot of use out of it this weekend. :D

[EJC]

Congrats on the new lens Casil! There have been some very dramatic clouds over the mountains during the Chinook a supper wide lens would have been fun out there.

[Mad Aussie]

Oh cool. I love my 10 - 22mm. Just don't do what I do too often and only shoot at 10mm! The distortion is horrid. Sometimes it works ... and sometimes it doesn't. But if I didn't take any other shots (even if it meant moving) at longer lengths then I'm stuck with what I have. Watch for anything that has vertical lines near the edge of the shot.

[EJC]

Do you have a preference for distortion correcting software MA?

[casil403]

Watch for anything that has vertical lines near the edge of the shot.

Is that because of curvature/distortion?

I would like to get a fish eye lens too someday but that can wait...I like the look they produce.

[Mad Aussie]

EJC ... I just use PS.

Casil ... I haven't looked into the exact type of distortion it is but yes I think it's to do with the lens curvature to attain the wide angle.

I looked at Fish Eye as well but at AU$1200 for a lens that will be a novelty more often than not and something I wouldn't use often enough I decided against it for now.

I'll be buying a decent set of ND Grads next I think.

[casil403]

Yeah...I was trying lenses and I tried out this one and it was damn...this is exactly what I was looking for!
I always go try to go to the sales guy who also was my instructor at my first and only camera course "intro to digital photography" at SAIT. :)

[zenon5940]

From all the photos I've seen you post here, Casil, I would not worry at all. I'm sure everything will come out just GREAT.
Congrats on your new lens. It is always exiting when you get a new "toy". You probably will want to use it a lot during the week end.
I would take lots of pictures from all angles and with different lenses. Your actual lenses have proven to be very good for the shooting you do so I would make sure to use them for this venue in addition to your new 10-20mm.

[casil403]

Z you are too kind...thanks too for your thoughts/suggestions. :)

[Mad Aussie]

I was thinking about this again Lisa and some of A.L's points triggered me ... I was thinking perhaps when you get to the farm start with a walkaround (pencil and pad in hand) and write down all the things that catch your eye and that your friend points out are important. Then maybe write a few techniques down for each shot.

For instance ... the '48 Ford. You might write down things like 'HDR wide angle' , 'HDR 50mm' , 'HDR wide angle interior' , 'low angle off front corner' , 'Close up of steering wheel' ... that sort of thing.

You might be able to ring your friend tonight and make a starter list of his/her suggestions to speed this up a bit. You'd be able to find out if the car is still running so it can be moved to a nice location or whether it has to be shot where it sits, and if so, where it sits. If it's in an old shed you might need to take or arrange some lighting even if it's just flouros or lamps on leads/extension cords.

In this way you will be less likely to kick yourself for missing anything.

It's a bit like going into a wedding and knowing you must get the family shots, the kiss, the cake etc.

[casil403]

Ohh those are also good MA! Thanks! :)
We have a bout a 2 hour drive aa well so i can pick his brain on the wqay up there and write it down. I just hope he doesn't hover around....too much as it might be a bit distracting...not sure how to handle that....I might send him to town for a coffee or 2...lol!



I was thinking about this again Lisa and some of A.L's points triggered me ... I was thinking perhaps when you get to the farm start with a walkaround (pencil and pad in hand) and write down all the things that catch your eye and that your friend points out are important. Then maybe write a few techniques down for each shot.

For instance ... the '48 Ford. You might write down things like 'HDR wide angle' , 'HDR 50mm' , 'HDR wide angle interior' , 'low angle off front corner' , 'Close up of steering wheel' ... that sort of thing.

You might be able to ring your friend tonight and make a starter list of his/her suggestions to speed this up a bit. You'd be able to find out if the car is still running so it can be moved to a nice location or whether it has to be shot where it sits, and if so, where it sits. If it's in an old shed you might need to take or arrange some lighting even if it's just flouros or lamps on leads/extension cords.

In this way you will be less likely to kick yourself for missing anything.

It's a bit like going into a wedding and knowing you must get the family shots, the kiss, the cake etc.

[Mad Aussie]

I just hope he doesn't hover around....too much as it might be a bit distracting...not sure how to handle that....I might send him to town for a coffee or 2...lol!
Just tell him you work best alone, it helps you to focus and remember your techniques.

[casil403]

HOLy Moly what a day! :clap::highfive: :1st:
The weather Gods, the light Gods, the sky Gods, the cloud Gods, the Scenery Gods cooperated better than ever anticipated...:D
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNND...........I LOVE MY NEW LENS!:highfive:
Pictures coming soon...i just walked in the door! :thankyou:

[Mad Aussie]

HOLy Moly what a day! :clap::highfive: :1st:
The weather Gods, the light Gods, the sky Gods, the cloud Gods, the Scenery Gods cooperated better than ever anticipated...:D
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNND...........I LOVE MY NEW LENS!:highfive:
Pictures coming soon...i just walked in the door! :thankyou:
So Lisa ... How'd it go :rolleyes: :p

[casil403]

Good MA...why do you ask? :D
I just hope the pictures turned out...there's 980 of them!

[Mad Aussie]

...there's 980 of them!
So you were cautious then :rolleyes: