People often ask me if photographers take pictures when we go on vacation, or if that would be like the mailman taking a walk on his day off. I’ll let you in on a secret, all photographers take their cameras with them and we take lots of photos. The difference, as we see it, is that on vacation we get to make pictures not take them. It’s fun to let our creative juices flow, but often something we tried for fun becomes a technique we wind up using at work. Let me show you what I mean.
I just returned from a few days skiing in Utah and, of course, I couldn’t resist making a few pictures. As an architectural photographer it’s tough to ski past an impressive building and keep on going, so when I saw the slope-side residences at Deer Valley I had to stop. I got thinking about how much effort the architect had likely put into placing that building in exactly the right spot which got me thinking about exactly how I’d photograph it. Out came the camera. I found the right perspective and then to give the architecture a human touch I cajoled one of my buddies into skiing through the picture.
Photographers never truly go on vacation so later on when I had a few spare minutes I decided to make the picture better. The boundary rope detracted from the composition so I removed it. More people add to the fun so I inserted another friend. Lastly, the sun was casting deep shadows on the building making it look a little foreboding. I lightened the shadows and it made a world of difference – it was now light and inviting. Take a Look at the second version below - a little tweaking can take a shot from good to great.
One of the amazing things about skiing is that you come for the snow but often remember the scenery. There are many ways to photograph it — one way is like this, from far back, giving an expansive vista.
Another way is to add people and suggest a story. The perspective in the image below literally infers movement through time and tells a great story. Who are the people on the lift - old friends getting together, a family on their first vacation out west, or college students playing hooky? Where are they from - what run will they take - are they blue, green, or triple diamond skiers?
It is fun to vary perspective - in this case being in the trees creates a sense of intimacy while the mellow cast of light on the trees gives a sense of relaxation and quiet. As we look a little closer we see people on a lift just peeking through the aspens but the setting adds a hint of mystery and tells a different story from the one above.
Vantage point is something I consistently work with in my business but it is fun to consider on vacation too. Most of us live our lives looking ahead, but how often do we stop and look up? I did just that and was struck by the contrast of this radiant white aspen against the cobalt blue sky. It is amazing that a simple shift of the eye can create an entirely new story.
So yes, as you can see, photographers take their cameras with them on vacation and we use them a lot. We are always trying to create a story, capture a mood, or make our viewer think. Yep, as I said earlier photographers on vacation don’t take pictures we make them.
If we can help your business by making pictures instead of just taking them please give me a call. From architecture - to people - to products we love nothing more than making a great picture.