Adapting

Adapting.

In photography you are forever adapting to many, many things and if you can't, well you need to learn.

Lighting is the biggest thing you need to be able to adapt to. Bright light, low light, no light, sunny skies, cloudy skies, shadows, reflections, surrounding colors and I could go on and on with light. You need to be able to figure out what to do in any given lighting situation to get the proper exposure. Do I need to limit the light? Do I need to manipulate the light? Do I need to create light? Do I need to add light? Again, adapting correctly to the lighting will get you the right exposure. There are many different ways to deal with light. Shutter speed, aperture, ISO settings, f stop, light modifiers, reflectors etc. Adapting the right technique for the right situation will result in a quality product.

Every photographer has a "style". When you look at some of my images you might say, "That's a Kappy's Keepers shot". Yes, I do have a certain style to my photography but one must learn how to adapt to the client's style.

Perfect example, I recently started shooting an extremely talented magician, Nick Blais. (who absolutely blows me away I might add) He has a certain "style" to his magic and his look. The key is to adapt to his style and not intrude with my own. Nick has a darker, down and dirty, up close style of magic and I wanted to bring that through with my photos. Here are a few examples from Nick's rehearsals;

For the shots of Nick, I chose to shoot from the side as it creates shadows on him and adapts to Nick.s style.

Adapting to your surroundings is another one. Are you in an area or situation that does not allow flash photography? Are you in a tight location that does not allow you to move much? Is the ceiling so high you cannot properly bounce your flash? Again, I could go on an on. 

Basically, photography is all about adapting. I feel I am fortunate enough to be able to adapt and work through any situations I come across. In order for you to get a good shot you need to get the shot. If you don't shoot A LOT, and practice A LOT, you won't know how adapt to get the shot when a different situation arises.

I found I also need to adapt in various art shows. I had some of my work in a Pop Up Shop in Springfield over the Christmas Holiday and after the fact learned that most of the items that sold were in a certain price range. Next time I am in that situation I will adapt my pieces to fit the shop.

There is just so much that one has to adapt to in photography, I can't mention it all here. If you are shooting just keep adapting to your specific situation and get the shot.

Again, thanks for reading,

E

Kappy's Keepers