Shooting from the Hip
Woah. This week was MUCH HARDER than I thought it would be – but in an effort to not miss any weeks, I’m trying my hardest.
But do you know why I love the Project 52 weekly challenge so much? Because it is such a challenge. Sure some of the themes are easier than others, and that’s okay, but them some weeks one slaps you in the face and you go “WHAT?” and have to work your butt off to be happy with it.
Street photographers often employ the technique of shooting ‘from the hip’ where they do not use the viewfinder, they use wide angle lenses and a smaller aperture. So so so so different to the way I like to photograph the pets that appear in front of me. I spent a couple of days trying different ways of photographing Django Lix and creating something I would feel comfortable in showing anyone else.
Let’s start with where I would have begun .. if I was doing the street photography I have only ever dabbled in a little.
FYI If you are into this type of thing there are two people that you HAVE to look up … BokehMonster AKA Sven and Michael Walker-Toye.
Django Lix from the ankle (he’s a bit short) 1/250th at f/8.0, ISO 6400
So obviously, later in the day is too dark. Praise cheeses for full frame cameras as 6400 ISO is a big stretch!
We tried again tonight – a wider aperture, a slower shutter speed and a more tired dog. Cue the yawns.
The YAWN Series – 1/125 sec at f/2.8, ISO 2000
Surely no lying on the floor, playing with your dog yet surreptitiously shooting your camera series is complete without your dog going “YAWN, what’s next Momma?” even when they have just been running around the park!?
And that’s when I realised that shooting from the hip when it comes to Pet Photography is what we do every day, basically every session.
I’m always lying on the floor, on the ground, in order to get the shot that looks the best. Its only occasionally that I am angled above the animal and looking down. Life is just better from their perspective – no?
I kept going – mainly practicing on nailing the focus without my little red dot to guide me (and still using back button).
First he’s totally not into this at all …
Then he hears the shutter that normally means treats to follow …
Goes around to check out my back pocket where the treats normally hang out …
And finally, comfortable again, takes his place on the mat for another night with me on the floor in front of them doing their thing …
Project 52 is a weekly circle project so from here, use the following link to hop over and visit Sharon Stokes Photography, Central Coast Pet Photographer to see what they have created, and then keep visiting the other blogs until you end up back here.
Happy Friday y’all X
