Conversations in my head

How do we take a photograph ?

No, not the physical act of focusing and pressing the button.

As we watch a scene get ready to unfold before us, as we lift our camera to take a photograph, what are we thinking  ?

In all probability, we would already be thinking of the shutter speed we would want to use, the aperture, whether we would want to start with a tight shot or a wider one. Our mind might be factoring in the light and hence the ISO and remembering the position of the sun. We have a composition in our mind by the time the camera reaches our eye and we are already composing that image as soon as we are looking through the eye-piece.

All this is in less than the second or two it takes to lift the camera.

Let’s go a little deeper.

Why did we decide on the settings we had ? Why that specific composition ?  What was our intent behind taking that photograph ? What were we wanting to say ? And…how were we planning to say it ?

In all probability, the answers to these questions are within us and that subconscious knowledge is dictating the choices that we were making as we lifted the camera.

The legendary Ansel Adams had famously said, “ You don't make a photograph just with a camera. You bring to the act of photography all the pictures you have seen, the books you have read, the music you have heard, the people you have loved. ”

As the scene continues to unfold in front of us, we are constantly making decisions, making specific choices, rejecting options.

Do I have enough safe images in the bank ? Do I change the way I have been composing the image ? Do I try something radically different ?

I have been trying to become a little more aware of my thought process while I am out photographing to see what part of my approach I should change to improve the quality my output. I thought it might be interesting to share an imaginary conversation that typically happens in my mind.

There are two active parts of the mind – one is the cold, rational, analytical part that is calmly assessing the options and making choices. The other is the creative part that is excitable, is constantly exploring options, making suggestions, which is drawing on all what I have seen, read and experienced in the past.

When these two parts work well together the process can be a joyous one. When they don’t…well, you can guess.

Here’s a typical scene.

I am in Amboseli. I am lying flat on the ground, in front of our vehicle and there is a small herd of elephants approaching from a distance. The elephants are not walking in a straight line as they often do. They are walking in a loose huddle, a shape shifting group almost parallel to us. I have three lenses to choose from.

The conversation in my head goes something like this :

Let’s take a long shot of the herd, keeping the herd in the bottom third of the image.

Hmmm…ok, lets do it. Will use the 70-200. I will go for a higher aperture to get all the elephants sharp.

There is a tree in the background that is popping up behind the elephants, doesn’t look great.

Its ok, keep clicking…maybe it won’t look very bad or it will get covered as the elephants come closer.

Hmmm…

Unable to focus !!!

Yeah…cos of the heat waves coming from the ground.

Ugh !! Take slow shutter shots…work the difficulty as Michael Caine had said.

Nope…they are too far, too close to each other, won’t work. Will need to keep trying.

They are on a lower plane, the hills are coming behind them...they are not standing out against the sky.

Hmmm...yeah, we will need to wait till they come closer.

Still can’t focus ! Go for the slow shutter option and an ICM too…they are closer and not in a tight group.

Yes, makes sense, let me try. Need to adjust for the over exposure that will result.

Hey there is one throwing dust on itself, go tight…remember that super close up shot of the elephant with dust all around it ? It’s there in your goals.

Yeah, great idea, let me use the 400 mm lens

Go wide…they are filing up in a single line !!

Nope, this guy is still throwing dust and I haven’t been able to get great shots so far.

They are moving past us…you are going to miss the opportunity…go wide !!

Yup...maybe the 24-70mm lens

There is a calf in between…try a slow shutter shot.

Good idea…would switch back to the 70-200 lens...remember, over exposure…

Yay ! Nailed it.

PS : The images below are, of course, not from the same day and of the same herd...the idea was more to give a picture :)

That tree in the background peeping above the elephants...ugh

Looks rather imposing...if only the background had been flat and not had those hills

Intentional Camera Movement ( ICM ) is super fun and as of now, pure luck for me !

A slow shutter speed when its tough to focus

Close to what I had wanted but not yet exactly there

Change of lens, going wider ...its such a good feeling to watch them silently march past

I love the feel of a slo mo shot !!!

Cheers !