Three Photographing Things I Learned Recently — 2017 Week 9

Posted on February 25, 2017 by Helen C

I will have two scheduled posts and this is the first one. A short break is always good. 😉

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You cannot put the same shoe on every foot. – Publilius Syrus

Here are some photos I took at the shoe repair shop.

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I recently watched a good video on back button focusing, and read an article on how to properly hold a camera (I know. I know…), and another on Capturing the Atmosphere in Night Photos.

Back button focus allows us to use a button on the back of camera to focus instead of using the shutter button. In this case, the shutter button doesn’t control the focus activation at all. I have heard about this a year ago, but I’d never bothered to figure it out how. Last week, I watched a YouTube video by CreativeLive, and tried it out. I love it! (Do you use back button focusing?)

Photography Life recently published an article titled How to Properly Hold a Camera. When I saw it in my inbox, my first reaction was deleting it. But it included a video and I like watching videos. I was surprised when one of the presenters suggested “Place your feet perpendicular to your subject”. Does everyone know this except me? Of course I had to try it. And it worked!

Taking night photos is not my favorite thing to do. My failure rate is 95%, and even for those I considered okay, I mean that 5%, I wasn’t thrilled about them. Otto recently posted an article titled Capturing the Atmosphere in Night Photos. In that article, Otto offered this tip: “The trick to get a more dynamic night sky, is not shooting during night time, but rather just before the night sets in.” Again, I tried. When I finally understood what “just before the night sets in” means, (Thanks, Otto ;-), I got my first decent night photo. Yeah!

I am excited for learning these 3 things; As usual, I am anxious to share them with you. Just like the same shoe does not fit every foot, the same photographing tip would not yield the same result for everyone. But I still like to share them with you. 😉

Thanks for visiting my blog.

About Helen C

A retired computer programmer who loves writing and photographing, and has managed to publish a YA novel "Jin-Ling’s Two Left".
This entry was posted in photo and thoughts, Weekly Little Thought, Writing. Bookmark the permalink.

33 Responses to Three Photographing Things I Learned Recently — 2017 Week 9

  1. Anabel Marsh says:
    February 25, 2017 at 4:03 am

    Great shots of an unlikely subject. It might seem mundane on first glance, but I think you’ve captured real dedication to and pride in their craft. Particularly like the close up of hands stitching.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Helen C says:
      March 17, 2017 at 4:59 pm

      Thanks, Anabel. I am a curious person. I enjoy watching/knowing how other professions do their job. I was grateful for the opportunity.
      After shooting these photos, I took another jacket there to fix the zipper slider. Pete didn’t charge me a thing. He said he wanted to thank me for those photos. Knowing he really like my photos made my day.
      Have a wonderful day.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  2. Miss Gentileschi says:
    February 25, 2017 at 6:23 am

    Wonderful shots of a great profession, Helen! I’m always so thankful when I bring a favourite pair of boots to repair and get them back better than before! 😄
    Didn’t know about the photo facts you’ve mentioned here but then I’m only beginning to venture this road 😉 Thank you, I’ll definitely research this more closely.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Helen C says:
      March 17, 2017 at 5:05 pm

      Thanks, Miss Gentileschi. I know what you meant. I worry that this kind of shop will disappear sooner than we like to see.
      I am a beginner too. I begin to realize that since “I don’t practice enough”, “I don’t take it serious enough”, and “I keep forgetting what I have learned”, I will always be a beginner. That’s ok though, as long as I have fun.
      Have a great day.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  3. Otto von Münchow says:
    February 25, 2017 at 7:20 am

    I am happy to have been able to help you some with one of these three things. And thank you for the lovely words, Helen.

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  4. Mabel Kwong says:
    February 25, 2017 at 7:26 am

    These shots are so crisp, Helen. You really took us through the process of shoe repairing very clearly. That shoe looks as good as new 🙂 Thank you so much for these camera tips. I’ll have to check them out especially the back button focusing one. Never heard of it. One of my favourite times to take photos is right before the sunsets, twilight and blue hour. Love doing long exposures at this hour along the river in my city 🙂

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  6. Robin S. Kent says:
    February 25, 2017 at 7:47 am

    Very nice series on a rarely seen process. As for the night photography, Otto’s advice is spot on. The period between the official time of the sunset and the end of civil twilight (usually about 30 minutes) is often called the Magic Hour or the Blue Hour. In an urban environment the combination of the gentle twilight and city lights usually allow a straight shot (no filters), but in a landscape setting it may be necessary to add a neutral density graduated filter to hold back the brighter sky from the darker foreground. The Magic hour is also possible in the morning with the downside of having to get up before sunrise.

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    • Helen C says:
      March 17, 2017 at 9:52 pm

      Thanks, Robin. Your description of the blue-hour is very clear for this math majored person 😉 THANK YOU! I remember many of your stunning photos – come to think of it, I am sure they were taken in the blue hour. I’m excited for getting this piece of info!
      Good night.

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  7. loisajay says:
    February 25, 2017 at 6:10 pm

    I love the close-up of the hands. I don’t think I have a back-button on my Nikon point & shoot, though. The other tips are good ones, Helen. Always happy to find new information. Thanks so much!

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    • Helen C says:
      March 17, 2017 at 9:55 pm

      Thanks, Lois. I don’t think point and shoot has those buttons in the back. But I don’t think you have missed a lot by not having those buttons. Your photos always have characteristics (right word?), which I truly admire.
      Good night.

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  8. Amy says:
    February 25, 2017 at 7:21 pm

    Thank you for sharing the tips! Happy travel, Helen. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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  9. Cee Neuner says:
    February 26, 2017 at 11:24 am

    These photos are remarkable Helen. Hope you are having a fun time. 😀

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Helen C says:
      March 17, 2017 at 10:00 pm

      Thanks, Cee. I had a great time. Other than the tour guide when I traveled with 3 of my high school friends… 😉 Do you believe he talked almost nonstop? And most of the talk was about himself! Oh well… next time I will request for a quiet person! 😉
      Have a nice evening.

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  10. katemccseattle says:
    February 28, 2017 at 2:40 pm

    Thanks for sharing the tips, I had no idea about the perpendicular stance.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Helen C says:
      March 17, 2017 at 10:03 pm

      You’re welcome. Perpendicular stance does help me to stabilize, I believe. But I often forgot to do that. I guess I need to practice more in order do it without thinking 😉
      Have a good evening.

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  11. rommel says:
    March 5, 2017 at 7:12 am

    WOW Helen. Thanks! I learned so much. I learned that I’ve been doing it all wrong esp. holding the camera. 😀

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    • Helen C says:
      March 17, 2017 at 10:07 pm

      Thanks, Rommel. For you, it doesn’t matter much because you take wonderful photos!!!
      Your Japan’s photos really makes me thinking of going there. I am emailing your blog URL to my friends in Taiwan, hoping I can meet them there next year. Now I have to figure out when is the best time by looking at your photos. Ha.

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  12. restlessjo says:
    March 11, 2017 at 1:19 pm

    Old skills like that are fascinating to watch, Helen. I have a little Canon digital, no buttons, but thank you for sharing 🙂 🙂

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  13. Lady Oscar says:
    March 14, 2017 at 8:22 am

    It is amazing that it fits what we learned from 廣論 class (and you wrote this before we went to the class!). When we learn something new and nice, we go ahead and try it out! ^^
    Great job!

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    • Helen C says:
      March 17, 2017 at 10:12 pm

      Thanks, 欣蓉. Remember what you told me in the phone after you came back? Well, it happened to me too! 我有一個多年打不開的結, 上週二駱師兄的課說的就是這個. Amazing! 😉
      Good night.

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  14. almeidadepaulo says:
    March 16, 2017 at 7:02 pm

    Thanks for sharing!!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  15. jet eliot says:
    March 25, 2017 at 11:19 am

    Your earnestness in life, Helen, your willingness to learn and explore, is an inspiration.

    Liked by 1 person

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