It is luck or is it preparation or a little of both – to capture that perfect photograph?
You never know when or where the perfect photo opportunity will present itself.
Capturing a moment with the perfect photo can be an elusive task. Being in the right place at the right time is essential for taking that perfect shot, but the equipment you have can also make or break your photo opportunity. Remember that the “best camera to have” is the one you have with you. That may not always be your professional rig. Fortunately, today, most of us always have a camera at hand because our phone cameras are highly capable devices. A 12 Megapixel image that you have is better than the 24MP (or larger) image sitting at home (or back in the car).
As an example, the image above was from our trip last fall – right in front out our Holiday Inn Express near Newton Falls, Ohio. We were leaving to go to dinner – the light was perfect, the autumn foliage was spectacular and the sky was a beautiful blue. My Olympus gear was packed away back upstairs and it would have taken 15 minutes or so to come back with the “right” gear. After 440 miles of driving, we were tired and hungry, so I grabbed a few shots with my iPhone 12. I also thought (planning ahead, right?) that the morning sun would provide wonderful light for that same tree, albeit from a different angle. However, the next morning it was very windy and raining and nearly all the leaves were gone. Right place at “exactly” the right time, right?
When you’re out and about looking for a great photo opportunity, it helps to have the right tools. Having the best camera on hand can make all the difference in capturing a stunning shot. However, if you’re caught without your professional setup, don’t worry – you likely have a fully-capable camera in your pocket or purse.
Here’s another example that arose just last night (seriously, the night before I wrote this article) while walking along the dunes line at Myrtle Beach, SC. We come here to escape the cold for a few weeks (snowbirds?) and I was out planning where I might get some nice sunset views/shots while we are here. The sky and setting sun were nothing special so I just went for a “planning” walk to set up for future sunsets. As I was heading back to the condo I looed away from the setting sun and saw a cloud with amazing light and color.
I’m sure you can guess what “camera” I used for that image. Remember, 12MP in your hand trumps 24MP back in the condo.
Yes, photographs by Bill Swartwout are for sale as wall art and on a variety of home decor items.
Link to: Leaf Peeping in Newton Falls
Link to: Rainbow Panorama over Olivees Mountain
Link to the: Bill Swartwout Photography Gallery