Photography: Capture to Presentation, 2nd Edition Page 261 (261 of 672)

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Chapter 9 Action and Event Photography
Figure 9-34. A parade can be “covered” photographically in many different ways. A—This wide shot establishes the
small town setting and family-oriented nature of the event. Photos B–F are glimpses of participants and spectators.
A
B
D
F E
C

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261
Chapter 9 Action and Event Photography
Figure 9-34. A parade can be “covered” photographically in many different ways. A—This wide shot establishes the
small town setting and family-oriented nature of the event. Photos B–F are glimpses of participants and spectators.
A
B
D
F E
C

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Section II Shooting
262
ISO that will permit a shutter speed high enough
to avoid camera shake. An ISO of 800 can be used
in extreme circumstances, but using a setting of
400 or lower will help reduce disfiguring digital
noise or film grain.
When photographing a new mother and
her baby, move in to fill the frame with the
subjects, since hospital backgrounds are typically
cluttered and distracting. If possible, capture the
infant with his or her eyes open (the flash will
not cause any harm), Figure 9-37. Today’s more
sophisticated digital cameras use TTL (through-
the-lens) monitoring that adjusts the duration
of the flash. This results in a more natural and
correctly exposed subject.
For birthdays and similar celebrations, you
will obviously want to take the traditional shots,
such as blowing out the candles. But you should
also include as many photos as possible of friends
and relatives interacting with the person being
honored, Figure 9-38. You may want to “work the
room,” taking photos of families or other groups
Family milestones
Weddings, birthday and anniversary parties,
the birth of a child—all are events that are
usually photographed by one or more members
of a family “for the record.” If the photos are
taken indoors, flash is almost always necessary to
obtain proper exposure. If flash is not permitted,
shoot at the widest available aperture and lowest
Figure 9-35. A community sale or flea market allows
you to practice “street” photography, such as this candid
view of a seller looking on as potential customers
examine his merchandise.
Figure 9-36. The stage lighting at this concert was
sufficient to capture a close-up portrait of a violinist
deep in concentration on her music.
Figure 9-37. To avoid cluttered hospital backgrounds,
move in close to the mother and her new baby. Catching
the baby with open eyes adds to the quality of the photo.

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Section II Shooting
260
to a major competitive event, such as a balloon
rally or regatta or auto race. In rural areas, an
important event is the annual county fair, which
includes agricultural displays and competitions,
contests of various kinds, entertainment events,
and carnival rides, Figure 9-33.
These events provide opportunities to
perfect photographic skills under a variety of
conditions. Parades lend themselves to various
ways of recording the activity, from wide shots
of participants and spectators to close-ups of
costume or equipment details, Figure 9-34.
Flea markets or swap meets associated with a
festival are good places to practice candid street
photography of sellers and buyers interacting,
Figure 9-35. Competitive events from auto and
boat races to kite flying to cycling and rodeo
riding are colorful and allow you to perfect
action-shooting techniques. Indoor events under
stage lighting, such as dance performances and
concerts, Figure 9-36, require good timing, a
steady hand, and the ability to shoot using only
available light.
camera, you have the opportunity to make
many exposures without worrying about film
or processing costs. The yearbook or newspaper
editor will appreciate the extra shots you take.
Other Event Photography
Our lives are filled with events, from
community activities to family celebrations,
worth photographing. Shooting such events can
be considered a form of photojournalism, since
you are recording activities for future reference
or for the enjoyment of others who will view the
photographs.
Community events
Most communities have one or more public
celebrations or festivals each year. These may
be a commemoration of a historic event, such
as the anniversary of the town’s settlement,
or a promotional activity for the region’s most
important agricultural product, or activities related
Figure 9-33. A good time to photograph a carnival scene is between sunset and full darkness. The twilight period
provides enough light to help illuminate the scene, but a sufficiently dark sky to let the colorful lighting stand out.
Meter the sky near the horizon as a starting point, then bracket exposures. This photo was made at a 1 1/2 second
shutter speed at f/5.6 with a 28 mm wide angle lens. The slow shutter speed blurred moving rides and some of the
people on the midway.

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Page 11Section I The Basics click to expand contents

Page 151Section II Shooting click to expand contents

Page 375Section III Digital Postprocessing click to expand contents

Page 487Section IV Traditional Processing click to expand contents

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