Merry Christmas from the Photography Blog!
If you are celebrating the day with a new camera I’m sure you’ve been very busy. You don’t have to be a snap happy parent to be experiencing finger fatigue right now. The holidays are a time when most people’s cameras work overtime and for good reason. Think of all the great shots (candid and otherwise) that are captured this time of the year: baby’s first visit to see Santa, your 5-year-old donning a headband with reindeer antlers, your entire family in front of the Christmas tree, your husband tipping over the tree in an attempt to get the star affixed to the top branch… the shot list is seemingly endless.
Of course, to document these Kodak moments there has to be someone behind the camera, which means dealing with the age-old problem of the missing photographer. How many photos do you have of your entire clan minus the family photographer? Whether it’s you, your spouse, or your trigger happy uncle, typically one mug is always absent from the family’s pictorial accounting. You could hire someone to take your pic or hand your precious camera to a friend while you jump in the shot, but then you take the chance of getting shots with decapitated loved ones or worse, fuzzy family members.
To avoid this holiday disaster grab your tripod, activate your camera’s self timer and get in the shot. (If you don’t know how to activate your self timer NOW is a good time to grab your owner’s manual and learn how—make it your New Year’s resolution.) When employing your camera’s self timer remember to turn on the flash to ensure even exposure, especially if you are taking a group shot. Also, remember that 10-foot flash range limit. I neglected to do so when I was taking a family photo at the holiday light show sponsored by our local botanical garden. The end result: a dark and grainy photo not worth printing. Another tip: Be sure the focusing sensor is aimed at the person(s) in the center of the shot and not the background, or you may end up with a great shot of a tree and fuzzy blobs the size of your 7-year-old twins.
Self timers are also helpful in situations when your hand is not as steady as you would like it to be. For example, if you are taking a series of shots of the sun setting, you might consider securing your camera on a tripod, and tripping the shutter using the self-timer. By doing so, you prevent unintentional camera shaking as you initiate the exposure.
Related Articles:
Last-Minute Holiday Picture Taking Advice
Who’s In Your Christmas Card Photo?
Giving the Gift of Photos this Holiday
More Tips on How To Fix Your Pics at Home—The Dreaded Group Shot
Thanksgiving–The Perfect Photo Op
Photography Lessons: The Rule of Thirds
Telling A Story With Your Shots
More Common Sense Tips To Capturing A Frame-Worthy Picture
Common Sense Tips To Capturing Frame-Worthy Pictures