Filling the Frame: Continuing Adventures in DSLR

Down by the Canal (well, River)

Last Thursday I wrote about my first real efforts to get out there and make real my New Year's Resolutions on photography. I'm pleased to say, nearly a week later, I've managed to keep hold my resolve, despite the inevitable dip that comes from re-joining the ranks of the so-called strivers in January.

So what have I been up to, I hear you ask? A couple of things, mainly. Firstly, I've brushed off the metaphorical dust from my Canon DSLR user manual and got re-acquainted with its many, many features. I now realise I've only using a fraction of what the camera has to offer. I now realise I definitely need to put away the flights of fancy I have every now and again about upgrading my camera until I can actually get the most from the equipment I've already got.

Importantly for me, I've also been making a conscious effort not to over-think my photography and instead put that time into practising taking shots. Hardly radical thinking but it's amazing how easy it is to get caught up in the detail and lose sight of why you actually wanted to take photographs in the first place.

Indoor Photography Master-class

It was with this thought in mind that I started taking some shots inside my flat last Friday afternoon, just as the sun was beginning to set.

The first few shots I took were simply of an assembled Ikea chair, with a reggae poster on the wall and, rested up against the wall, a still to be assembled chair in a box lurking in the background.

Shooting on Manual, I chose a very shallow depth of field (f1.8) and focused on the chair before re-composing so that the subject would not be slap-bang in the middle of the frame. After reading the manual, I had a clearer idea of how the controls worked and was to adjust the shutter speed in order to ensure the shot came out properly exposed.

Portrait of an Ikea chair

After getting a nice result with this shot I then had another play at re-arranging the scene to bring one of the frames on the wall into focus. Again, I chose to work at f1.8 and then re-compose. While I'm pleased with the shot I got I am not entirely clear whether 1.8 was a 'good' option. Over the coming year I hope to get a better idea of when to choose a very shallow depth of field and when I would be better off selecting a smaller aperture.

Roots of Reggae in fine focus? Possibly not

Down by the River*

As fascinating as the Ikea chair was, I knew that if I am to actually develop my photography this year I would have to step outside of my flat. This startling revelation led me to bring my camera to work on Tuesday and take some photographs down on the canal close to the convention centre.

As luck would have it, Tuesday wasn't the most photogenic of days. That didn't stop me getting a few nice of narrow boats while on my lunch break. After seeing the boats lined up in a row I saw an opportunity to test out different depths of field and shifting the focal point to get a different look.

f 2.8 with a focus on the purple narrow boat

f22 this time, again focusing on the purple boat

Back to f2.8 but with a focus on the furthest away boat

* technically a canal.

Next Steps

Overall, I'm pleased with the progress I've made so far in taking my photography more seriously. Through the shots I've taken over the past week I've proven to myself that I can take shots on Manual mode and, with a bit of perseverance, get them to come out looking quite respectable.

Next up, my challenge is to get more comfortable adjusting the camera settings and to start to get a better idea of how I decide which settings work best in particular scenarios. I hope to get the opportunity to take some photos this weekend as currently my calendar is looking less than crowded. I will let you know how I get on.

As ever, comments and suggestions are most welcome. A big thanks to Karen Strunks last week for the encouragement and tips. If you've not come across Karen's work in photography and social media you can check out her website at:: http://www.karenstrunks.com/