Photography: Just Like Flying

I learned to fly when I was sixteen. (Pictured here at 20!)

True or false:

Anyone can learn to fly and anyone can take good pictures.

False.

Old film cameras were notorious for crummy pictures.

Oh, sure, with today’s cameras anyone can take a good picture – good being a relative term. Most of us have learned to “get in close” to our subject and to clear out clutter. We know enough to keep telephone poles and trees from growing out of people’s heads, and most of us can lighten and brighten a dark picture with the best of them. But we are not professional photographers – not even close.

My dad in his cheerleader pose.

Cell phones take some amazing pictures, and they are tons of fun…or not, depending what you are doing when the picture is snapped. But their sensors are the size of a tiny fingernail, and their technology just can’t compare to a quality camera like a Nikon or Canon. Even if they have the pixels, there is no comparison in a printed image. Remember, computers only need 70 dpi (dots per square inch) for a picture to look good. Photos need at least 300 dpi.

A typical cellphone shot.

Let’s say you have a good camera, like I do. I take great pictures, according to most of my friends. Even my critics admit that I “get lucky” more often than most. I’m happy with my pictures, and I love photography as a hobby. I can get myself off the automatic feature now, and use some of the more advanced features of my camera. My walls are covered with my photos, and I sell them in a few local stores.

My kitchen wall.

My pictures for sale in Ruth’s store in Wasco: The Gift Horse

My pictures for sale at a local bar.

I’ll compare my picture-taking ability to piloting a small plane: I’m not only safe, I’m checked out in lots of different models and I have Instrument and Commercial ratings. I’m working on my multi-engine. But I am not a professional pilot of photography.

All you have to do is look at some of the professional wedding photographers out there, like Kimberly Kay in Bend, Oregon http://www.kkayphoto.com/#or Ansel Adams http://www.anseladams.org/or National Geographic photographers like Galen Rowell http://www.mountainlight.com/. Real photographers are breath-taking, knock your socks off good. I upload my photos to Photographer’s Direct http://www.photographersdirect.com/for sale, but I have yet to get a “WOW” rating on their site.

We had a professional photographer at our wedding, but he was having trouble with his new light meter.

People scoff at the term professional, because they don’t realize what it takes to become one or what it really means. Does anyone really believe that Sully’s landing in the Hudson was just luck http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imDFSnklB0k  – something that anyone could have done?

Rookie pilot.

I don’t. I know the years and years of training and skill that it took to fly airliners, and I don’t even bother scoffing at idiots that call us “bus drivers”.

Years and years of situations that would be deadly in the hands of a private pilot can be handled by professional pilots with a cup of coffee in their hands and two days without sleep. I’m not bragging. It’s true. And it’s true in a multitude of fields, not just aviation. There is a reason that experts in a field make the big bucks – practice, practice, practice. Study, study, study.

Flying takes lots of practice.

I “shot” a wedding a few weeks ago, under duress. I love to take pictures, but weddings are too special to mess up. However, the bride and groom were insistent, saying they had seen my pictures and loved them. Besides, they only wanted “a few good ones”. And they didn’t have the money to hire a professional, as they were just starting out in life and paying for almost everything themselves.

My parents hired a professional photographer.

So, I bought a flash and a diffuser. I went to my cousin and he showed me the tricks and set it up for me. I practiced for a month and felt better about using it. I got online and looked at the pictures pros take, along with angles and setups. But when the big day came I was behind the proverbial eight ball.

We were running late. I had several good locations I wanted to take pictures at, but we only had time for one: Maryhill Winery in Washington.  We hurried to the cliff, and I thought I had everything I needed. Then the sun came out and I realized my sunshade was in the car. I set my camera on A for aperture, but when I got busy setting up ten people in a pose, I forgot to check my light meter. Grr.

I could have used a little more dual learning to use my flash.

The church setting was in mixed lighting: the setting sun through the window, overhead fluorescents and incandescents. The reception was in a shop with extremely high ceilings and it was nighttime. All in all, I am glad they turned out as well as they did. And I came away with increased respect for the pros and the certainty that, next time, I will say no.

Mixed lighting…always a challenge!

Sun flare from my inexperience.

High ceilings…huge room…the reception was in a farm shop.

Yes, anyone can take good pictures but it takes a pro to take magical ones.

As long as the bride is happy, I’m happy.

Thank goodness for Photoshop.

It was a faster shoot than the Okay Corral.

Despite my reservations, I did get some good pictures.

I’m just glad they’re married and happy with the pictures! Now I can retire for real.