Shooting black and white film. I used to think that I can always convert color photos into black and white, so what’s the point of shooting black and white film? But it turns out you need to sort of “see in black and white” to make good black and white photos, and the inherent limitation of black and white film lets me get into that mind set. Also darkroom is fun!
Direct flash photography, especially in digital photography! There's something about digital on-camera flash photography that really did not appeal to me until recent years. Maybe it's filmy colour grading and wider angles that have gotten trendy that brought me around to it.
Also product photography! I've always thought it was too structured and technical for me, but I have had a lot of fun with creating product photos at work in the last year. I've been able to introduce more play and testing into my every day workplace this way.
Film oddly enough - which is the reason why I ended up on this blog in the first place. My, then-girlfriend, now wife brought it up and I chided her for it being faddish/trendy, but bought an SLR and a few rolls anyway. The new way of thinking about photography got me out of the house more than I would have otherwise, and for that I am grateful.
I shoot a lot of film photos. Something I didn't want to learn was the Sunny 16 rule because I wanted to have experimental photos. But as I progressed my film photography skills, and wanted to get better shots, I learned how important Sunny 16 rule is especially when using a camera that doesn't have light meter or a broken light meter. Sunny 16 rule is the most important thing to know if you are doing film photography and want to take perfectly exposed photos.
Using filters especially a CPL filter. I never really understood the point of it. One day when I was still newish to photography, I was near a river and it was super bright. I wanted to take a photo of the bridge sitting on top of the bridge and I took a few shots but they looked super overexposed. There was another photographer near me. I was showing him my photos and he told me to use a CPL filter. He took his CPL filter from his lens and gave it to me. Luckily, our lenses were same thread size. And he showed me how to use the CPL filter. I was blown away. It made so much difference on my photos. Since then, I have been using CPL filters extensively.
I thought I needed cameras with advanced controls and interchangeable lenses. The more control the better. I ended up with rangefinders and SLRs, and two cases full of interchangeable lenses. I didn't think I would like cameras with no controls or would use program modes. I now mainly shoot my auto-everything compact point and shoot cameras - Olympus Infinity, Pentax Zoom 60-x and Olympus Stylus - until sadly I lost the Stylus in the bottom of the Bowron River in central British Columbia. One bad canoe ferry across the river. And if I do pick up my SLR, I'll use it in one of the P modes!
Using flash. I don't know why I didn't like but then my mind changed when I saw someone taking a macro shot of a fungi outside using a flash. It looked so much better using flash especially considering the fungi was located not in a well lit area. People generally think flash is only for indoors for portrait photos, but it's much more than that. After that, I started learning to use flash in detail and love it.
Using a flash while photographing was definitely an eye-opener to new possibilities within my photography journey. I waved it away before trying, telling myself it was not interesting for me to shoot during low light and use a flash. But after trying it, I was hooked. It opened up a whole new dimension of photography I had never tried before, and I love it!
Actually i cannot think of something, so i guess i'll need to explore more of those things i do not like... in particular portraits and flash photography are things i never liked so i guess i'll try doing more of them!
One of my first rolls of film was a super expired Fuji Superia and the results was disastrous. After that, I avoided expired film for years, until I got some packs of Kodak Gold expired in 2002 and tried to explore it further. This time, for my surprise, the results was amazing, it was just a matter of adjusting the ISO and getting no expectations for it.
As a young photographer, I dismissed the idea of shooting in RAW. "Why bother? The pictures aren't that much better! It takes up so much more room!" Halfway through photographing a basketball game, I switched formats (I don't remember why), so half was in RAW and the other half in jpg. The difference! I've never looked back.
For me shooting small events. I thought they'd be no way to add my creativity to it and would have to follow their textbook but I saw that I could do both and it also feels more relaxed because all you're doing is documenting everything going on with less directing, organising etc. So sometimes it's nice to have an event to shoot which feels less stressful than certain brand shoots
Shooting black and white film. I used to think that I can always convert color photos into black and white, so what’s the point of shooting black and white film? But it turns out you need to sort of “see in black and white” to make good black and white photos, and the inherent limitation of black and white film lets me get into that mind set. Also darkroom is fun!
oh my goodness yes this is so true, and I LOVE shooting natively black and white. Thanks for sharing, Eric.
Direct flash photography, especially in digital photography! There's something about digital on-camera flash photography that really did not appeal to me until recent years. Maybe it's filmy colour grading and wider angles that have gotten trendy that brought me around to it.
Also product photography! I've always thought it was too structured and technical for me, but I have had a lot of fun with creating product photos at work in the last year. I've been able to introduce more play and testing into my every day workplace this way.
I went from anti-flash to nearly everything flash in the last year myself haha. Product is still too frustrating for me I must admit haha
Film oddly enough - which is the reason why I ended up on this blog in the first place. My, then-girlfriend, now wife brought it up and I chided her for it being faddish/trendy, but bought an SLR and a few rolls anyway. The new way of thinking about photography got me out of the house more than I would have otherwise, and for that I am grateful.
love that!
I shoot a lot of film photos. Something I didn't want to learn was the Sunny 16 rule because I wanted to have experimental photos. But as I progressed my film photography skills, and wanted to get better shots, I learned how important Sunny 16 rule is especially when using a camera that doesn't have light meter or a broken light meter. Sunny 16 rule is the most important thing to know if you are doing film photography and want to take perfectly exposed photos.
It took me YEARS to get this too!
Using filters especially a CPL filter. I never really understood the point of it. One day when I was still newish to photography, I was near a river and it was super bright. I wanted to take a photo of the bridge sitting on top of the bridge and I took a few shots but they looked super overexposed. There was another photographer near me. I was showing him my photos and he told me to use a CPL filter. He took his CPL filter from his lens and gave it to me. Luckily, our lenses were same thread size. And he showed me how to use the CPL filter. I was blown away. It made so much difference on my photos. Since then, I have been using CPL filters extensively.
huge, this took me years to learn too
I thought I needed cameras with advanced controls and interchangeable lenses. The more control the better. I ended up with rangefinders and SLRs, and two cases full of interchangeable lenses. I didn't think I would like cameras with no controls or would use program modes. I now mainly shoot my auto-everything compact point and shoot cameras - Olympus Infinity, Pentax Zoom 60-x and Olympus Stylus - until sadly I lost the Stylus in the bottom of the Bowron River in central British Columbia. One bad canoe ferry across the river. And if I do pick up my SLR, I'll use it in one of the P modes!
ooooof canoe bad luck!
Using flash. I don't know why I didn't like but then my mind changed when I saw someone taking a macro shot of a fungi outside using a flash. It looked so much better using flash especially considering the fungi was located not in a well lit area. People generally think flash is only for indoors for portrait photos, but it's much more than that. After that, I started learning to use flash in detail and love it.
I also avoided it forever and now I rarely not use it haha
Using a flash while photographing was definitely an eye-opener to new possibilities within my photography journey. I waved it away before trying, telling myself it was not interesting for me to shoot during low light and use a flash. But after trying it, I was hooked. It opened up a whole new dimension of photography I had never tried before, and I love it!
same experience for me!
Such dreamy pictures! I'd almost wish for a wedding of my own even though I have no real desire to marry haha!
well you can always just throw a party to celebrate love without it having to be a wedding :)
Actually i cannot think of something, so i guess i'll need to explore more of those things i do not like... in particular portraits and flash photography are things i never liked so i guess i'll try doing more of them!
yesssss explore explore :)
I primarily use natural lighting. I recently started to use flash after not really having interest in it. I am liking it, but need to learn more.
common route I also walked!
I loved your photos, especially the misty ones.
One of my first rolls of film was a super expired Fuji Superia and the results was disastrous. After that, I avoided expired film for years, until I got some packs of Kodak Gold expired in 2002 and tried to explore it further. This time, for my surprise, the results was amazing, it was just a matter of adjusting the ISO and getting no expectations for it.
Beautiful wedding photos, Wesley. I love the colors.
It’s Flash for me. It’s still intimidating, but I think I like the look and it’s fun experimenting and having it as another creative option.
thank you mary! yes yes try flash! I avoided it for years and now I love it
As a young photographer, I dismissed the idea of shooting in RAW. "Why bother? The pictures aren't that much better! It takes up so much more room!" Halfway through photographing a basketball game, I switched formats (I don't remember why), so half was in RAW and the other half in jpg. The difference! I've never looked back.
funny enough I recently switched back to JPGs since Fuji ones are so big and versatile and great
Seasons for each, I suppose!
For me shooting small events. I thought they'd be no way to add my creativity to it and would have to follow their textbook but I saw that I could do both and it also feels more relaxed because all you're doing is documenting everything going on with less directing, organising etc. So sometimes it's nice to have an event to shoot which feels less stressful than certain brand shoots
I've had the same experience!
Really nice photos Wesley, and an interesting article, must've really been a wonderful experience.
Thanks you Saša! It really was.