Helpful rules of digital photography

Agence Maverick is a tongue in cheek group of photographers who keep each other

active with regular weekly get togethers and occasional charity photo

assignments. Cameras for hire - at no cost if you are a community group or charity.

 

Anyway these are some of our rules of thumb relating to digital photography.

 

 

Agence Maverick first rule of digital photography

(never delete a shot, never, not one ever.)

Just carry plenty of cards and backup to cd asap and hard drive.

 

Rule 2

 

Only format a card after you have checked the images are safely on cd and

hardrive and they open in photoshop.

 

Rule 3

 

If in doubt, press the shutter release.

If you think you may take a photo, then always take at least one photo.

 

Rule 4

 

After exhausting all the possibilities of a photo-opportunity, take a big

breath, think, then take some more photos.

 

Rule 5

 

It is easier to take a decent capture first rather than save it in photoshop

later, so pick up the litter from the landascape before pressing the shutter

release. (But see rule 3 - and take one before as well).

 

Rule 6

 

(with great respect to Mr Allen Hopkins)

 

F8 and be there. Still counts even in a digital world.

 

Now do you have any rules to share?

Spend at least one minute "chimping" after each and every shot!

Always carry at least 1 spare battery in your pocket. Otherwise you've got nothing more than

an expensive paperweight around your neck.

I thought of another one, although it is perhaps only relevant to people like me who are

shooting with "older" (>2 year old) models that don't quite have the dynamic range of newer

sensors: avoid over-exposure, and when in doubt expose for the highlights, otherwise you

could lose detail.<p>

Cool idea, BTW, "Agence Maverick"!

Rule 10 - Only use a long range zoom - Changing lenses gets in the way of taking more photos.

I can't think of anything to add!

Those are all rules I like to follow.

I'm happy to hear there are others who think like me...

 

Cheers,

 

Geoff S.

My comments are based upon the assumption that folks reading these rules, have a rudimentary mastery of basic exposure/compositional skills.

 

Post-Processing skills, filters, tripods, memory, carrying gear, support gear and check list.

 

Learn about: Histograms and issues surrounding PP skills: Levels, Curves, Hue, Saturation, Contrast and USM Sharpening.

 

Filters and lense hoods.

 

Always, without fail, buy the best filters you can afford, HOYA S-HMC being the minimum and B+W being the gold standard.

 

Always, without exception, indoors or out, use your lense hood.

 

Dynamic range and the sky.

 

Buy and learn to use 2/3/4 stop graduated ND filters and a Circular Polarizing filter.

 

Switch to ArcaSwiss and a RRS L-bracket as soon as possible, if not sooner.

 

Buy a high quality monopod like the new Gitzo GM2560T with RRS BH-25Pro cause it's small enough and light enough to always be on your side. If you don't use it, it's worthless.

 

Buy a quality, light weight tripod and decent ArcaSwiss capable tripod head (ballhead or 3-way) so you'll take it with you and use it.

 

Have at least, one fast, WA lense in your kit for cramped, indoor shots.

 

Always carry "several" spare memory cards. Always check to make sure you have a memory card of sufficient size in the body.

 

Learn about and buy a decent compliment of carrying gear like a backpack, sling bag or waistbelt system so as to keep your gear close at hand and make sure this buying includes a "decent" photo vest.

 

Make sure extra batteries are fully charged, before leaving on a shoot.

 

Learn about issues surrounding sensor cleaning.

 

Have at the ready, proper lense cleaning supplies.

 

Before you leave on a shoot, stop and make sure to do an equipment check for filters, batteries and what-nots.

I have one for digital: always check ISO/WB before shooting.

Expose for the highlights.

 

That's about it.

 

 

--

 

Don E

Zone system for digital - expose for the highlights, convert for the shadows. That is the opposite of film's - expose for the shadows, develop for the highlights.

Learn how to view a histogram after an important shot.

 

Learn what a histogram is.

I'll modify two of the rules --

 

Always carry a spare battery IN AN INSULATING CASE. A modern NiMH or lithium battery, shorted by car keys or pocket change, is quite capable of setting your pocket on fire.

 

Do not acquire an RRS or Kirl L bracket or even one of their "really rong" camera mounting plates. Get a Markins plate that puts the camera plate's dovetail fore and aft, like a lens plate.

 

And add a resounding vote to always use a lens hood.

<<That is the opposite of film's - expose for the shadows, develop for the highlights.>>

 

When was this the rule for slide film?