Always take your camera!
I know I say this a lot. I take my camera everywhere. It is in my car when I go to the store. I carry it to work everyday. It is always by my side.
The case has been made that the best camera is the one that you have with you. In this day when there is an iPhone or Galaxy in almost every pocket, most of us always have a camera for those spontaneous shots. But if you have a good camera, a real camera, why settle for serviceable when you can have amazing. Your iPhone can’t stop a hummingbird in mid-flight or reveal the inverted image in a water drop. It can’t show you the structure of a snowflake. There are a few rare shutterbugs (like Allan) that squeeze every once of performance out of that phone, but the truth is that what most of us capture with our iPhones could best be classified as “snapshots”. You spent good money on that camera – why let it gather dust waiting for that next excursion. If you don’t shoot it often you are likely to miss the big shot because you are trying to remember how to use it.
Sometimes it’s not the rare creature or amazing sunset, sometimes the beauty in the mundane calls out to me. When you see something that clicks, you need to be ready to click.
I was ready to click earlier this week at the car wash…
As I sat in the carwash, I was frustrated that I had lost the connection to my satellite radio. I started to check my Facebook feed and looked up to see a sea of foam rubber orange and yellow sponges with soap engulfing me. I took a shot with my iPhone – it was in my hand after all, but the shot was noisy and couldn’t capture what I was seeing. I grabbed my fast 50 and started shooting. I did no color correction on these shots – you are seeing what I saw. The color of a sunset out my driver’s side window.
Shutterbug Notes:
For a split second I considered getting out the flash, but decided that the window would just bounce the light back at me. I shot in aperture mode and opened the shutter all the way. I had to turn off the focus assist to keep from getting a red reflection on the glass. I focused on the bubbles and hoped for the best. I only took 7 shots. All but one were keepers. Because I was very familiar with my camera I could make quick changes to capture something spontaneous without having to pay for a second run through the car wash.
the eff stop 
Pingback: Enough About Rules – Shoot What You Love | the eff stop
Pingback: The Third Rule of Photography | the eff stop
Reblogged this on Life at the First Floor and commented:
I love the colors
Thanks for the visit and the reblog!
No problem It was my pleasure
Pingback: The Second Rule of Photography | the eff stop
Hi! I just saw your post on Saradraws fanpage and I thought it was some sort of glaze. I couldn’t be more wrong haha. Amazing shots, so colorful! 🙂
Thanks so much and thanks for checking them out. I like the idea of taking things out of context.
I love seeing the ordinary become extraordinary in the hands of an artist. Beautiful.
Thanks so much Sara!
Reblogged this on Blog Saya and commented:
What a cool painting!
Guilty! This is a great post and a great reminder. I should really bring my camera out more often.
I’ve never been sorry to have it with me 🙂
I bought a Canon G12, essentially a point and shoot, just to keep in my car. Just can not get use to the phone as a camera. Love the colors, Sun+soap+water+fabric. Excellent!
That’s a great point and shoot. I find that the phone rarely takes a photo that I am really pleased with – no depth of field to speak of.
Totally amazed at the colors. I’d have guessed that you used filters. The colors might justify that second trip through. None of my trips through the car wash ever looked like that.
LOL – you know, apart from ND or polarizers I rarely use filters anymore. So much can be done in post processing. These colors were exactly what I saw, I was wondering if the carwash had installed new brushes.
This just proves that there’s art all around us. Just waiting to be seen.
I completely agree!
Thank you for the link to my blog. I love the colors and textures that you captured on the glass. Sometimes the best results happen when we don’t have time to think our way into our usual patterns of behavior (photographically speaking).
My pleasure Allan – your blog is a testament to what you can do with an iPhone. I completely agree with you – I know that when I push myself to get close I see things I never knew were there.
These are wonderful. The colors are amazing. I have to admit that I have not been taking my “good” camera out and about with me lately. I’m still learning to use it, and feel like I miss good shots when I use it (because I haven’t learned how to use it). Catch 22. lol! When the weather warms up, I promise to start following the first rule. 🙂
Thanks Robin. I can relate. I just changed camera bodies and I am often tempted to get out the old one – but I find that I take so many photos that there is really no risk in getting used to my newer and better camera. Even so, I miss knowing where every button is where without looking.
Amazing color… It auto-soaked my brain. Thanks for the tip and for sharing the color.
Thanks for stopping by – I appreciate it. I can never pass by color like that.
Reblogged this on CULTURA MUGELLANA E ALTOMUGELLANA.
I’ve never owned a good camera, but always did have an auto focus one. I totally understand my camerone isn’t a true camera, but for the convenience, size, options, etc. I work this thing silly! 😀
That’s awesome, and I don’t think an DSLR is for everyone. Carry a camera you are comfortable with, even if that is your phone 🙂
I love these shots, and all the more so because they are spontaneous.
Have you seen ‘The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty’?
There is a scene in that where the character played by Sean Penn did the opposite.
In case you have not seen the movie, i won’t tell you.
Go and see it. As a photographer, you will not be disappointed in its meaning.
I have been meaning to see it – I will check it out. I think I take my camera everywhere because I have found the opportunities abound when you are prepared for them. You can be spontaneous when you are prepared, if that makes sense. 🙂
Wow! I love these. What incredible vibrant artworks – um, clean, vibrant artworks! 😉 lovely start to the day!
LOL – thanks for checking them out. I try to keep things clean here on my blog 😉
So true — last week I glanced at my Rebel as I grabbed files and an overnight bag for work and hit the road. I thought, “no, why worry about it.” Sure enough, I was blessed by the Northern Lights as I drove to my destination that evening! Something the iPhone can’t capture (and not sure I could have even with my Rebel as I am still a newbie with learning how to really use it!). Your post reminds me to not second guess next time, and just pack the “real” camera, too.
Wow – I would have to read up on that, but you are so right – your iPhone would not have done them justice. My inclination is to think a tripod and a slow shutter speed for that classic shot where you see the lights and some of the landscape. I would love to see that!
These are just the type of captures I make when doing my normal daily chores… never thought to share them but I do love yours, much better than mine… brilliant…
Thanks Bulldog – I probably over-share. I think I have seen several shots from my friends on Facebook going through the car wash since I posted this – who knows, you could start a trend 🙂
I love the colour. Ok, don’t think me weird, but I love going to the car wash…some of my fave moments were going through it when Michaela was little. These days when I go, I take a picture with my phone and text it to Michaela!
That’s awesome! I knew you had the eye to see fun and beauty in everyday things 🙂
I love this, Lorri. The foam in the car wash makes me giggle like a little girl. It reminds me of Easter eggs. Terrific!!! And I too always see a photo worthy sunset when I don’t have my camera. GAAAHH!
Thanks Steph – I remember riding through the carwash with my mom – the ones where your car actually moved through the building – she and I hid on the floor until the car was inside. I don’t think we were supposed to be in there:) I hate missing the chance to shoot a sunset.
Such fun. But I am guilty of never having a camera with me. But even when I do, I neglect to download or develop. Or find them in the boxes. I am hopeless.
LOL – I see so many people trying to capture every moment with their phone, and that’s great. Downloading is just part of my routine. I guess years and years of saving photo files has be trained.
Excellent advice. Love the last 2 shots in particular.
I take my camera everywhere (including medical appointments – lol – but then I walk to most of my medical appointments through public parks and gardens). I don’t have a car.
Yes – I bet you see things on the way to appointments too. As a street photographer you know the value of being ready to capture the scene.
Reblogged this on Curiosidades na internet.
Good rules make for good photos. There’s probably something in there about looking around to see opportunities. Nicely done all around.
Thanks Lyle – I think it’s tru, the more you look – the more you see.
This is much more interesting than taking my car for a hand wash 😦
Love the ‘scrubbing bubbles’
Jude xx
LOL – yeah, the shots from inside the hand wash might not be so ethereal 🙂
I take my camera everywhere yes! But I never thought of trying it out in a car wash this is the apogee of creativity 🙂
Thanks 🙂 I have always liked the challenge of finding something to shoot in odd spaces like this – the color is what made me go for it.
A true artist you are, showing us the beauty in the seemingly mundane. So great! My favorite is the tri color I think. These look like gorgeous abstract paintings. I would love to transfer these to canvas. Stunning.
Thanks Bridgette – I appreciate that. The tricolor is that wax they spit out at the end of the wash. I do sell a lot of canvases at shows, I may try a couple of these.
Wow, one would never know these were taken at a car wash! I love the colors Lorri! I really need to save up for a decent camera……
Thanks Jackie. There is always a better camera out there, just carrying the one you have will help you see more opportunities to capture special things.
Great post!
Thank you!!
I agree. How many times I regretted because of my camera isn’t in my car!
I keep a spare in the glovebox, but my camera bag almost always goes where I go. Today I stepped out to grab lunch without it and missed the chance to capture a hawk in flight.
¡Guau! A hawk! In Spain there are many big birds, but it’s difficult to “shoot” them… and there’s the risk to be fined by the police if you stop beside some roads.