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Top five reasons not to take photographs today: 5.”It’s too hot outside.” Now, I will agree that when it is 108° outside is not a good time to be standing in the sun working over a tripod. But, there are plenty of good photos in museums, the capitol, some zoos (like Henry Doorly), indoor sporting events, etc. And, there’s always table-top, still-life photography that you can do right in your own home. Plus, don’t forget early morning (once you’re up it’s really quite nice; it’s the first step that is difficult), and late afternoon. Finally, there’s always night photography (just be careful of your surroundings, and take a friend to watch your back).
4. “It’s too cold outside.” Again, 0° is not a good time to be out fiddling with your camera dials without your gloves. But, you have some of the same opportunities as above: museums, the capitol, plus it’s easy to take pictures from your vehicle; just make a beanbag for your window sill (I used a bag of rice in mine) and you are in business. It’s also possible to shoot some pretty good pictures through windows, especially if you clean a small spot of the window and put the camera right up against it, using a wide-angle rubber lens shade.
3, “I don’t have time.” We all have time for what we want to do. Stop putting off the jobs that you “have” to do, and finish one of them; then, you don’t feel guilty about taking a couple of hours for your photography. Most of us waste time avoiding those hated jobs that we have to do; then, we feel guilty, followed by depression. Do one of the hated jobs so you feel good about yourself, and stop the pattern; then, give yourself a reward of some time for photography which we love to do.
Ernest Hemingway got up early every morning, worked on his writing until noon, then, went deep sea fishing in the afternoon, and drinking at night. He obviously was plagued with depression, but he forced himself to do some wonderful writing, simply by scheduling his day.
2. “I don’t have the right equipment.” There’s never going to be “the right equipment;” so, take the photographs that suit the equipment that you have. Great photographs are not due to equipment, but to imagination!
1. “There aren’t any good photo opportunities.” If you look at the winning photographs in any competition, you will notice that many of them were the simply the result of “seeing “ a photo opportunity in an unlikely situation. Some of the winning photographs in recent competitions were 1) taken at a grocery store with a point-and-shoot, 2) taken outside the front door of a lodge room, 3) set up right at home with a few common items. These photographers will all tell you that photographs are where you find them. The success of many outstanding photographs is due to their simplicity.
Top five reasons not to volunteer
About the same arguments as above.
5. “I don’t have time.” See number 3, above.
4. “It’s too hot outside.” See number 5, above.
3. “It’s too cold outside.” See number 4, above.
2. “I don’t know how.” See number 2, above.
1. “The good jobs are all taken.” See number 1, above.
Are you beginning to see a pattern here?
See you on the 15th!
Clark Springman
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President's Column 