Travel Photography (Day 6)

In case you missed my first blog, I’m just your average amateur photographer on a two week journey through Asia. I’ve been given the chance to test the Nikon 1 V3 and after a slight learning curve, I can now say that it is my new best friend (sorry Fido). More on that later. Today is Thanksgiving back in the States, and although the holiday is not celebrated over in the far East, I would like to thank all my family, friends, and of course you, the AYP fans.

As I’ve mentioned, I’m not a professional photographer; in fact I would be flattered if you called me advanced or even intermediate. In hindsight, that was probably the reason I was given this opportunity– to show how anyone can use the tips from AYP and take steps to advance his or  her photography.

What I learned so far

1) The histogram on your camera works wonders

This week I discovered the histogram on the camera (my mind has officially been blown). It felt as if the gates to the Garden of Eden were opened for me, and now I no longer need to guess on the optimal f-stop and shutter speed combination for each photo. I’m sure there are times where a customized combination will be more optimal than what the suggested meter or histogram says, but if you’re just starting out like me, this thing is a godsend. I spent the first couple days taking photos over and over in an effort to get the lighting and exposure combination to work, so you can imagine how foolish I felt when I found out there was a meter on the side of the viewfinder that helps me get that perfect exposure.

It’s safe to assume that most cameras these days have this feature, so if you’re just starting out like me, make sure to use that meter to help you get a good exposure. With that discovery and the addition of the AYP tip on depth of field, I can finally take photos that I can proudly display on my Instagram.

2) Taking a time-lapse photo isn’t as hard as you think

You know those cool photos of motion blurring around a focused object. Those are actually a lot more simple than I had initially thought. Sure, a tripod could be helpful, but that’s where a simple pocket tripod comes in handy. For less than $20, I was able to set my shot up on the edge of a bridge and get great shots. The main thing is to find that exposure balance. While keeping the shutter speed as slow as possible, I was able to use the histogram to help me find best match for my f-stop. The hardest part was to find an object that I could focus on in order to put the photo together. With help from the AYP shutter speed video, I had a lot of fun trying to get creative.

3) Seriously, go out and just keep shooting

I’ve heard this one so many times from the pro video tips, but never truly understood. It shouldn’t be difficult especially if photography is your hobby or passion. But for me, the nicest camera I owned was a 3 megapixel point and shoot that was given to me for my 18th birthday so I had always enjoyed capturing moments, but getting creative with photography was never really my thing. However, with this fancy Nikon 1 V3, all I want to do is go outside and shoot photos. I can now see how this hobby can be so addicting (and fun). The best part is getting my photos critiqued. I know which photos I like and it’s always nice to get some feedback. Make sure you check out the images from my trip on the AYP photo critique page.

Final Thoughts

• I have now made my way to Bangkok, Thailand and the taxis here ask for your destination before you’re allowed to go in, and have the right to deny you a trip if it’s not in the direction they’re already headed.
• The humidity here is insane, but so far the camera is holding up nicely.
• Invest in a camera backpack if you plan on taking a trip. They’re much more convenient than a camera bag that keeps bumping your thigh and you can get a good one for under $40.
• If you want to take a picture of people, I suggest getting a zoom lens and standing further away so you won’t look like a creep.
• I realized that last advice sounded creepy all in itself.
• Good thing Black Friday is coming up, I might be addicted to photography.

All images by Nathaniel Chu

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