I AM CAMERA

PHOTO TIP- Remember, the camera is just a tool. You are the photographer. Whether you're using a DSLR, a point and shoot or even a pinhole camera, the real secret to making great photographs is your skills as a photographer. Years ago, I belonged to a camera club. There was this one member, a quite mediocre photographer, who didn't want to discuss photographic skills. He was, however, obsessed with cameras and equipment. He maintained that if he could only afford a Leica or a Hasselblad, he could be one of the world's greatest photographers. The truth is, if he had concentrated on learning skills as a photographer, he might have gotten somewhere. Instead, he chose to delude himself. Larry Elkins Elkinsphotos

WRITER'S BLOCK

LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, I SOMETIMES SUFFER WRITER'S BLOCK. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TIMES. I've been sitting here trying unsuccessfully to come up with something - anything - to write about. What finally came to me was this. Sometimes we suffer from photographer's block. Sometimes, we just don't feel inspired. We want to go out and make some pictures - but we just don't have the get up and go. And, worse yet, there doesn't seem like there's really anything out there worth photographing. So how do we get our groove back? Well, I can think of a few ways. The first is by taking on a photo self assignment. As an example, maybe go out and shoot interesting textures. Don't worry about whether you'll ever have a use for the resultant photos. The aim here is to get the creative juices flowing. Another possibility is to get in the car and drive somewhere you haven't been before that interests you. For instance, as I discussed recently, national parks are great places to shoot or (shameless plug) go to my website elkinsphotos.com and see if any of the images inspire you. ( Or pick out any other photo related web site). The thing is, sometimes viewing other people's work will give you inspiration. Remember though, the goal here isn't to copy. It's to use some aspect of what you're viewing to infuse your own work with a new vitality. Anyway, I hope this helps you. I know it helped me - to finish this blog post. Larry Elkins Elkinsphotos Fine Art Photography

LOCK IT UP - THE FOCUS THAT IS

QUICK PHOTO TIP - Compose with your main subject in the middle, lock your focus on the subject, then recompose with the subject off center. Larry Elkins Elkinsphotos.com

EDIT - EDIT - EDIT

Well, I'm busy editing the photos I took in Thailand as well as photos I shot of a birthday party since my return. This isn't the fun part, but it's an essential part of the process. My life is complicated by the fact that I'm still suffering effects of jet lag which I think has hung on this long due to the fact that I caught a cold from a fellow passenger on the flight from Taipei to L. A. I'm scheduled to do a presentation re: the Thailand trip at the local Kiwanis Club in a couple of days. So, right now I'm just concentrating on the grunt work. Larry Elkins Elkinsphotos

GO NATIONAL - PARKS THAT IS

PHOTO TIP - National parks are a great place for a photo excursion. Go to the National Park Service website (nps.gov) then go to FIND A PARK. You can then search state by state for a listing of national parks. In most cases, no permit is required for noncommercial or commercial still photography. Permits are required for commercial filming. To make certain that you are within the rules, consult the NPS website. also, be aware that entrance fees are required in order to visit national parks. And, as always, remember that safety needs to be your first concern. Now - have fun. LARRY ELKINS ELKINSPHOTOS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY

ADD INTEREST TO YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY WITH A STORYLINE

PHOTO TIP - Take photos that tell a story. The story the photo tells does not have to be elaborate. However, the story contained within the photograph should be apparent to the viewer. For instance, during my recent visit to Northern Thailand, I took numerous photograph of Buddhist monks. Many of them told a story. Perhaps the most interesting though was the photo I took of a young monk photographing tourists visiting the temple at Doi Suthep. The monk was in a semi reclined position, his point and shoot camera carefully poised as he prepares to press the shutter. The photo needs no caption. The story it tells is unambiguous. A storyline of this sort adds an additional level of interest to your image. Try it. You may find that it takes your photography to the next level. Larry Elkins Elkinsphotos

SMILE - YOU'RE ON CANDID CAMERA.

Here's a great idea for an interesting self assignment. Go out and shoot some candid shots of people. This type of photography entails your being able to catch your subject unawares. This does not necessarily mean that the subject will be unaware of your presence as a photographer. For instance, on my recent trip to Northern Thailand, I was attempting to photograph a Buddhist monk at a temple complex. I asked the monk, who was conversing with another member of our photo group, if I could photograph him. My initial shot was a throwaway. The monk was posing and there were distracting elements in the background. However, I then moved around the monk until I saw him positioned perfectly and unaware that I was about to photograph him. I shot quickly and obtained a much more impressive result than I had with my first shot. It's not easy to shoot in this manner. However, the results can be quite impressive. The secret is to literally stalk your subject. Try it. You might be surprised by your results. Larry Elkins elkinsphotos.com