Can I tap into someones experience and knowlege concering shooting workflows?

[landscaper]

Hi All,

I was out shooting today, it wasn't specificly just to take photos but I had went a run in the car with my wife so took the camera along "just in case"

I saw what i believed was a nice Landscape photo (something that I will post soon) but I found myself In a situation where I realized I dont really have a certain order in how i go about taking photos, and now I believe this is hampering me a bit.

I feel I need to develop some kind of order when im taking a photo, i find sometimes there is so much to remember I always seem to forget something, whether it be metering or where I decide to place to focus if im using autofocus, these are just examples.

I pretty much just shoot in manual mode (although I did use aperture priority today as i wanted a certain section to be a bit more dominant) so using the camera to its full potential is something im really looking to do, I just need a workflow.

I just was wondering on anyone advised on how I should approach, in this instance, Landscape photos?

Thanks

Davie

[FrankMi]

Hi All,

I was out shooting today, it wasn't specificly just to take photos but I had went a run in the car with my wife so took the camera along "just in case"

I saw what i believed was a nice Landscape photo (something that I will post soon) but I found myself In a situation where I realized I dont really have a certain order in how i go about taking photos, and now I believe this is hampering me a bit.

I feel I need to develop some kind of order when im taking a photo, i find sometimes there is so much to remember I always seem to forget something, whether it be metering or where I decide to place to focus if im using autofocus, these are just examples.

I pretty much just shoot in manual mode (although I did use aperture priority today as i wanted a certain section to be a bit more dominant) so using the camera to its full potential is something im really looking to do, I just need a workflow.

I just was wondering on anyone advised on how I should approach, in this instance, Landscape photos?

Thanks

Davie

You have likely taken enough landscape images to create your own checklist but if you want a 'starter' list, perhaps this would help?

Camera
• Sensor: Is the sensor free of dust? I usually try to check this the night before a shooting session
• Lens: Are the lens and filters clean?
• Battery: Is there enough power in the battery and are spare batteries easily accessible in a pocket as opposed to buried somewhere in the camera bag?
• Memory: Is there enough space on the memory card, and are spare memory cards easily accessible?
• Image Recording Quality: Is the image quality set properly?
• Image Settings: If not shooting raw, are the image settings set up correctly (e.g., picture style, contrast, saturation, sharpening, and color space)?
• ISO: Is the proper ISO for the shot selected?
• White Balance: Is the white balance set correctly?
• Metering Mode: Is the proper metering mode selected (e.g., is spot metering needed or should the camera meter off the entire scene)?
• Shooting Mode: Is the camera in the correct shooting mode (e.g., fully automatic, manual, aperture priority, or shutter priority)?
• Drive Mode: Is the drive mode set properly (e.g., single/continuous shooting)?
• Auto focus: Is the auto focus set up properly? Is the auto focus switch in the correct position? If auto focus is being used, is the correct auto focus point selected?
Tripod
• Camera Level: Is the camera level? This is best done with a bubble level.
• Tripod Levers/Knobs: Have all of the tripod levers/knobs been tightened?
• Tripod Weighted: If desired, has the tripod been weighted?
• Remote Switch: If desired, has a remote switch been connected to the camera?
• Mirror Lockup: If desired, has the mirror lockup been enabled?
Scene
• Image Periphery: Are any objects protruding into the image from the periphery?
• Objects in the Image: Are there any unwanted objects (e.g., an old beer can) in the image?

You will likely want to add your own favorite items and maybe remove a few of these.

Hope this helps!

[IzzieK]

Frank...this is a mouthful but it is a nice list. Good on ya! I will paste and copy this and add my own and put it in my bag to peruse until my little brain gets it.

OK..so after I get that shot, what is next? I bet that will be the next question...

[Stagecoach]

One thing I will add is that having taken the shot check the histogram and the blinkies carefully.

[Manfred M]

Much of Frank's workflow is something I do before packing up my camera and heading out. I also make sure I take the right accessoriries (lenses, filters, remotes, tripod), depending on the type of shooting I am planning to do.

On site:

1. Decide which lens / accessories to use.
2. Determine the appropriate ISO for the lighting. My preference is to use the lowest ISO I can get away with.
3. Determne what is important to me for the shot; if DoF, then I select aperture priority if it has to do with motion, I'll go shutter priority. I rarely shoot manual; generally only when using studio lights or in tricky shooting work (panos, for instance).
4. Take my shot an check the historgram for the first one only.
5. Shoot away.

[landscaper]

This is a very big list!!

There are a lot of this that I already do, Im already shooting in RAW, I always try and keep my ISO as low as I can, Ill adjust White Balance accordingly (although I know in Lightroom I can alter this if need be), and I always make sure Im on the correct drive mode.

I do feel i have a descent gasp of what Im doing although I am still a novice

Im just looking to get into a routine as I dont feel I have one and really need to start developing good habits otherwise i will always forget something, would the below be appropriate?

Composition -> ISO -> Shooting mode -> Drive Mode -> Focus mode -> Light Metering -> Take Photo -> Check Histogram

Within this workflow there are still some things I need to learn, in fact a lot, but I just want a good base to start from,

Cheers

Davie

[FrankMi]

Frank...this is a mouthful but it is a nice list. Good on ya! I will paste and copy this and add my own and put it in my bag to peruse until my little brain gets it.

OK..so after I get that shot, what is next? I bet that will be the next question...

Hi Izzie, for both before and after the shot, I look for as many viewpoints as make sense for the scene. I am always trying to find a way to improve the composition. Do I see a change that needs to be made in the image I just took? Other have posted some great 'after the shot' suggestions, so I'll only comment on one that I didn't see posted.

I make notes on what could improve the scene that is not there at the moment. Should I return under different lighting conditions, time of day or night, weather, season, with or without crowds, when there is a local 'event' happening, after someone has moved their automobile, etc. Sometimes returning under different conditions can dramatically improve the capture. Having a list of places to return to after a rain or when it is snowing or during a great sunset can really improve my chances of getting a great shot when those conditions are available. Hope this helps.