Basic Suggestions

Here are a few common-sense suggestions that can go a long way to making your photography more successful.

You must come to understand how to use you equipment efficiently and intuitively. Struggling with your gear will only frustrate you and get in the way of your artistic expression. Read your camera manual from cover to cover. Then, read it again after you have used your camera for several months. You are likely discover new features your camera has for accomplishing some of your most troubling tasks. I also highly recommend purchasing one of the manuals by Magic Lantern (newer equipment) or Hove Foto Books (older equipment) for the camera body and flash equipment you own. These manuals are much more complete than most camera manuals and explain and illustrate ways to use various camera features in interesting and effective ways. A definite worthwhile purchase.

You must learn and completely understand the basics of photography, including film speed, shutter speed, and aperture and how to use them to get the correct exposure, and to control image sharpness, motion, and depth of field. You also must come to understand the concept of "stops" and exposure equivalency (how several combinations of shutter speed and aperture can end up with the same equivalent exposure to the film). These are fundamentals that must be mastered to progress and to utilize any of the other tips on the pages that follow.

To learn these fundamentals, I recommend reading my web pages (starting with Exposure 100); studying books in basic photo technique; taking classes, seminars, and workshops; and getting in plenty of field practice and experimentation. Consider purchasing a good basic to intermediate photography technique book that you can refer to again and again over the years as you develop (see my Recommended Reading page). Check your local community colleges and arts clubs for classes and workshops. And, shoot lots of film.

Carry extra batteries. You will obviously not be happy when your batteries go dead and the nearest place you can buy them is a 5 mile hike and 15 mile drive away. Carry spare batteries for your camera body, flash, and any other battery operated accessories you carry.

Likewise, carry extra film. Running out of film can be really disheartening.  It can be difficult to judge how much film to carry. For a photography trip to Mount Rainier National Park for example, I might shoot up to 3 rolls in the morning, 3 rolls during the day (less if weather is sunny), and 3 rolls in the evening. That's up to 9 rolls per full day plus another roll if the forecast calls for clear night skies with possible star and moon photography. Since I am very unlikely to have absolutely perfect conditions and perfect subjects during all phases of the day and on every day of the trip, I would probably take 10 rolls for the first day and maybe 5 rolls for each additional day. This will usually provide me with more than enough film, which is what I want. By the way, I tend to bracket my exposures in high contrast lighting conditions. I might shoot 1, 3, or even up to 9 shots of the same scene. If I didn't bracket, I might use significantly less film.

How much film you need is something that you will have to figure out based on your shooting habits. Will you really get up every morning at 4am to get in position for the sunrise? Will you really get out and shoot in the rain? Do you bracket you exposures?

Extra film should be stored in a cooler, or in some way protected from heat and direct sun light.

See my Minimizing Costs page for information on reducing the costs of purchasing and developing film.