Sunday, April 05, 2009
Chihuly Exhibit Pictures- Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden
Stupid me, I thought because the Gardens sold a finite amount of tickets it would be a calm experience with people who could linger and enjoy the gorgeous art placed among the desert plants. I was wrong. I was SO wrong. The place was elbow-to-elbow and everyone was a photographer.
I'm not the greatest photographer, but I work really hard to learn my camera and to make smart choices to get the picture I want. I can't tell you how many of the pictures I took last night were thrown out because they either: a) had someone else's flash in them, or b) someone walked through my long exposure creating a fuzzy ghosty thing. Frustrating!
I just know I could have done better if I wasn't up against all the point-and-shoot photogs. My advice to someone who wants to be a better photographer? Here we go:
1) Don't be a slave to your camera. When you let the camera make choices for you, lots of times you'll be frustrated that your pictures didn't turn out how you wanted. In this case: turn off your flash already! When you use a flash with a lit-up object in the dark, you totally lose the effect of the object being lit up.
2) Get a tripod. Tripods are totally essential for night photography, landscapes, self-portraits, and any time you need to interact with your subject to get them to look at you.
3) Think of your digital camera as if it was a film camera. More does not equal better. Instead of taking 50 pictures of the same thing trying to get a good picture, try to figure out how to get it good in one shot.
Tips for people who want serious pictures of the exhibit here in Phoenix: don't go on a Saturday.
(side note: my hubby took the following picture! Look who's figured out effective use of depth of field! yay!)
posted by atpanda at 4:16 PM
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About Me
- Name: atpanda
- Location: Mesa, Arizona, United States
I'm Amanda. I'm an engineer in an industry full of men, a professional wedding and family portrait photographer, a firefighter's wife, a traveler, and a dogMa.
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4 Comments:
Beautiful shots! I should totally see this at night! Sorry you went as such a busy time though. Bummer.
gorgeous photos! You make it look as though you were the only one there :)
These really are great shots Panda!
I can't agree more about the flash. I see people with slrs using the flash... *puzzled*
Your shots are awesome !!! Managed to do well despite all the people!
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