Zen and the art of photography
Scientists say what we see is “all in our head”. Our minds “resample” or fill in what isn’t really there and constantly adjust for what is. But a photograph is a two dimensional object, a distillation of reality, and an extraction from the chaos of distracting elements. To take a successful and intentional photograph we must see as the camera sees.
“If a day goes by without my doing something related to photography, its as though I’ve neglected something essential to my existence, as though I had forgotten to wake up.” Richard Avedon
“I never liked photography. Not for the sake of photography. I like the object. I like the photographs when I hold them in my hand” Robert Mapplethorpe
Find:
To gain control over your DSLR locate the following controls, settings, and preferences in your photographic system:
- Find and load your full camera menu, some menus are abridged out of the box.
- Manual mode (yes this is the big time, for photo 2 we will be shooting in manual!)
- Auto focus menus, off, and manual focus controls.
- Metering modes (matrix, center weighted, spot, ect.) and in viewfinder.
- Viewfinder exposure scale, metering, aperture and shutter speed indications.
- The maximum and minimum apertures of your lenses.
- The depth of field preview button (if your camera has one)
- The multiple exposure capabilities of your camera if applicable and controls.
- Bulb shutter speed if applicable.
- White balance settings and controls.
- Your computer monitor calibration preferences.
- your printer profile and preferences.
- And finally, manual “full stop” settings and controls of your camera and lens (look for f5.6, f8, f11, f16, ect. and 1/15th, 1/30th, 1/60th, 1/125th, ect.