Inspiration for photography competition?

Question

I really want to enter the countryfile photography competition and enter it in the section 'leisure and pleasure' I am going on my duke of Edinburgh expedition this weekend and would like to take it there, making my group the focus, do you think I should catch them unaware to make it natural, or ask them to do something for the camera, if so what?!

Answer 1

The trick is to ease things in. Don't be threatening with the camera, wait until the overnight stop, and people are settled down, and relaxing, and joking.



My best shots of people are shot with 50mm/90mm and 135mm (headshots) lenses while I was quite near to to them, and often chatting and interacting with them. Often the best documentary photos have been shot this way, using a normal lens (around 35mm/50mm/90mm/90mm for APS-C, 35mm, 6x6 and 6x7 respectively), from quite close up. You just have to look at Cartier-Bresson, Capa, Dorothea Lange and all the other legends, to see that the photographer usually does best when up close and personal.



This is one of my own images, it's shot with a RB67 (a 6x7) at 90mm http://www.flickr.com/photos/ciao_chao/5701096661/in/photostream we were at the pub chatting, and Richard was trying to figure out a use for that massive enlarger lens. It's a very nice natural shot.



Now you could be photographing as a photoshoot but still produce natual work, http://www.flickr.com/photos/ciao_chao/4952167185/in/photostream these two guys I've known all my life, so we like to have a joke and some banter between us. I was setting up my camera, and we were just chatting, and I just clicked this before they knew I was photographing them.



Your premise is right, you need to take photos of when they don't notice, but you need to do that by engaging them into conversation, to relax them and make them forget about the camera though having a joke and some banter.

Answer 2

:o i want to enter that too and i was just going to ask this question! If you want to enter that category then i would make sure that they are smiling but not looking at the camera or anything, just looking happy make sure that the photo is unique in some way. If you watched tonight's countryfile, it showed you some examples of some of the different pictures that have been entered into each category so far; this might've been helpful to you. If you missed it it should be on either catchup TV or youtube or something.



Hope I helped and good luck!:-)



ps. have fun at the d.o.e and please e-mail me after you have been if you can and tell me if you enjoyed it, as I really want to go when my class are offered it next year, if not no worries:-)

Answer 3

Lately, all people seem to do is take pictures of objects and people looking far away which sometimes gets dull and boring.



So, I think you should make a Statement and take pictures that are not the 'norm' for some photographers, for example, you could take pictures of people with maps, setting up camp, and when your all talking in the evening (maybe with a Fire)



then, I would take the pictures of your day and maybe stop just to have a laugh with everyone and maybe have all of them directly Looking into the camera, and take another photo with everyone with big smiles (yes i did say smile).



Also take a picture of someone if they are out of breath, and of course on the Higher rocks etc on your expedition.



I say you record nearly every moment with your Lense.

But at some points walk behind or not with the group, and take the pictures that they won't be expecting.



hope you do well

Answer 4

I think catching people unaware is the best, otherwise it just feels staged. Take multiple shots every so often, and do not linger on getting one right. In my opinion, it's the quick shots that are the most interesting!

Answer 5

in case you have a universal e book or tale, perhaps you would be able to wish for example it with pictures. although, you would be able to desire to arise with a short tale your self and illustrate it, perhaps offering it as a e book could make it stand pleased with different entries. stable luck