If you’re expecting a technical solution from this blog, too bad…its not. Its just a simple revelation, for me. And I’ve heard so many people say….’i don’t have a good camera to take good photos’. Rubbish…well, almost. It doesn’t need to be technically perfect or that you have the subject staring at you. A moment is just when you ‘connected’…and you have a camera, any camera. Having a good camera, the skills to use it, the discipline to process it …its gravy. (although I do agree that sometimes, its the gravy that makes a difference between a good dish and an awesome dish!)
One hot day, I thought that day is the day that I will crack open my camera bag which has been laying dormant for a month. If it had a life, it would probably walk away and sent me a Dear John letter. Its been a long time since I squeezed that shutter button. For someone who is supposed to be in love with photography, I haven’t been spotted with my SLR anywhere since moving here in Perth. But you know, i like to think it as reverse snobbery, capturing moments doesn’t need a super duper expensive latest SLR, it just needs a camera and a keen eye and a happy heart <3.
So there you have it….the 3 secrets to capturing those unguarded moments:
1. a camera – that’s simple enough right? What matters about cameras is that you don’t mind losing it. Sure, you would do all you can not to lose it but if you’re constantly worried that you might scratch it or ‘spoil’ it, get it wet, get it too hot, get it dirty, drop it, etc …you will never enjoy taking photos because half of the time you’re worried what will happen to your camera. In other words, never buy a camera you cannot afford to lose! I use my DSLRs for commissioned shoots and portrait sessions and when I’m on trips for landscape photography. But one camera never leaves my side and that’s my cheapie canon powershot A495. I love this camera because Yes, this is one camera I can afford to lose so I bring it everywhere. And because its so compact, it goes in my pocket in the most crowded places, in rainy days, in kayaks, in sandy beaches etc. So if you’re thinking of buying a camera, think about what you want it for…to show off you’ve got the latest gadget money can buy or to show off the photos you managed to take with it. And you know, if you can afford the latest gadget…hey, go for it! Maybe you can get me one too! 
I’d love one of those Olympus Pen cameras..small and good …. (wish list! LOL)
2. A keen eye. Now this one, you either have or you don’t. I think you need to be somewhat a dreaming idiot to be a good photographer. Especially for kids and family. No, really. I see stories when I take photos and I see the stories other great photographers capture as well. Thats what I mean. I don’t mean that photographers are idiots in anyway. I respect them a lot because in this day and age, you really need more then just a camera to become one. For me, I imagine a fantasy like world of fairies and pixies. When children scrunch their noses, I see a fairy landing on their noses. When a child picks a leaf and puts it in his mouth, I see a bush full of lollies. I’m a hopeless dreamer. I love browsing through fellow photographers pages. It helps to browse through inspiring pages. This will train your eyes and mind to spot the moments…and click. And this will also give you an idea how to capture the moments, i.e. sometimes, you don’t need a full body photo, just what matters and clues of what’s going on so you inspire people seeing your photos to use their imagination as well. Hard huh? That’s why straight traditional studio sessions are limiting….I think. But it has its purpose. For me, its all about fantasy…
3. a happy heart
When I unzipped my camera bag for the first time, I wondered why I didn’t do it earlier. This is what prompted me to write this blog entry. You need a happy heart to take photos that matters. It wasn’t that I wasn’t happy, I was stressed. I couldn’t see the world of fantasy that would surround me, they sizzled in the hot sun. This is when I knew photography comes from the heart. If you don’t have the passion to learn it, if you don’t have the interest to seize the moment, if you can’t dream, if you don’t know by now, what makes you happy and the conversation you have about photography is ‘what megabyte pictures does it take?’…and that’s probably as far as photography will take you…i.e. a collection of megabytes. Take photos from the heart.
Here’s a small collection of photos I took that day that I unzipped my camera bag…hope you enjoy it! (I certainly enjoyed the session!!!)
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