Raymond Photography

Often, one image is enough to tell a story. Sometimes two images composed together can tell an even stronger story. These two love birds are an amazing couple and it totally shows in their images.

Here are a few of my tips the next time you want to shoot fireworks!

1. ISO should be set anywhere from 400 or 3200 depending on how much ambient details you would like to add to your composition. In the shot above I used ISO 3200 because I wanted to include some color in the sky and the detail in the trees. Be prepared to change the ISO on the fly.
2. Lens choice again depends on the amount of ambient detail you’d like to include as well as how close you are to the fireworks. For the shot above I had “front row seats” so I used my wide 28mm lens (a true 28mm) to capture the fireworks in the sky as well as the reflection in the water. If I shot with an even wider lens, I would have captured more of the reflection as I was literally a few feet away from the water.
3. Tripod tripod tripod! Enough to say it’s essential. Ball heads are nice or even a pan head.
4. Your camera should be in Bulb mode so you can alter the amount of time the shutter is open according to the “show”. I find that when I’m shooting fireworks, after the initial set up, I just enjoy the show with my finger on the shutter. I just keep clicking away to time the shots with the fireworks display. That way I can enjoy the show too! BTW, the memory above took 1 second to capture.
5. Aperture should be set anywhere from f/8 to f/11. The memory above was captured at f/9.
6. Look at the back LCD screen every few shots to make sure you’re getting what you want and adjust as necessary.

Hope that helps and keep safe when enjoying fireworks my friends!

Raymond Photography © 2010

This is simply an exercise in composition to create interest. Rule of thirds, leading lines, repetition, and a tonal range that would make Ansel Adams happy.

Raymond Photography © 2010

This is a shot I got at the Scarborough Bluffs when roaming the “beach” area, which has barely any sand and most small rocks, during sunset. It was actually one of the last frames I captured before calling it a night, and it turned out to be my favourite of the set as well. That often happens when you really start shooting more often and it makes you want to try harder during the shoot/photowalk because you can’t always count on the last few frames to save your butt!

It’s amazing how much great work comes out of pressure situations. Reminds me of my university days when I was being bombarded with deadlines and assignments that were somehow completed competently. Good thing I don’t drink.

© 2009 Raymond Siu - All Rights Reserved

Things aren’t always as they seem — especially when you get closer.

Many times when taking a photo, we always try to frame things in such a way to give context to the subject so there’s a story to tell. Sometimes the story can be summed up by the emotion it renders or evokes, and that can often be represented by an abstract perspective of the subject. Not every photo needs to be completely clear about what the subject is, and that’s the beauty of a photograph. Ambiguity can be implied and create even more interest in an image than if the subject was “well-defined” or documented.

Next time you are shooting a subject, see if you can describe the subject in an abstract approach. Often this means getting closer to the subject than normal, using depth of field to isolate parts of the subject, or even using motion blur to give a brush-stroke look to a photo.

© 2009 Raymond Siu - All Rights Reserved

“Happy Holidays and Seasons Greetings!”

The infamous words spoken every end of December. I can’t believe time has passed so quickly and that an entire year of photography has come and gone with thousands of images added to my library.

This is the time of the year where cameras of all sorts are going to be exercised more than any other time of the year. Millions of images will be taken, and some made, by photographers of all skill-levels.

Tip: If you receive a new camera this holiday, remember to read the manual. You can make yourself a better photographer by just reading that little booklet. And if you’re taking photos indoors under decent light, try taking off the flash to avoid the blown out faces and shiny blemishes and see if you’re happy with the results.

I just want to wish everyone the best this holiday season and to capture warm memories/moments with whatever camera you can get your hands on.