Field Work with a 50mm
My intentions for this shoot were to practice photographing with my 50mm lens and prism, towards the end I switched to my zoom lens, a 28-300mm Canon white lens. Since I got my Canon EOS-R I have grown really comfortable with the auto track focusing. But I wanted even more sharpness, so this was also a mission to get more comfortable with spot focusing. To me, it is abundantly clear that the one-spot focus is much sharper.
Prisim and 50mm
This is my favorite image from this session. I love the color and how my eye is drawn into that highlight of red. I tried to capture a similar effect just seconds later - but as the sun was setting the time to capture it had passed. Just another sentiment to how every moment makes a difference.
I love that you can see the band here with the number 8 plate, working with a prism always brings its own set of magic. Then the distance in the foreground paired with aperture, it just feels so perfect. I also love the shape of the skyline, like a sideways V into the chains.
The settings on this are: ISO 200 - f/6.3 - 1/1000
Something that I think took me WAY TO LONG to understand, is that when your curating your own work you need to listen to your gut.
What is your very first impression of the image? Does it feel right? Is it pleasing to the eye? Is it hard to read? These are the things you need to trust. If it hurts your eye and is hard to read it is probably going to feel the same way to others that look at it.
Below are just a few more images from working with the prism and 50mm. I should also mention that I chose the 50mm because I really liked the way it looks with the prism. I have tried it with my 24mm and telephoto lens but it just doesn’t feel the same with them. The 50 has such a short focal length compared to the zoom that it is fun to work with, and who doesn’t love a prime lens?! They are amazing!
All of these are handheld without a tripod. I find it too hard to work with a tripod with the prism because you want to move all over the place and when the sun is dropping towards the horizon - forget about it!
After seeing this image in camera, it was the one that I was most excited to work with in post. But when I uploaded it to my computer it felt a little too overwhelming with the rainbow light reflecting off the basket. I think I like it in black and white more for that reason and it is easier to read in black and white.
The settings on this are: ISO 200 - f/6.3 - 1/1000 (same as the first photograph).
How fun! This is the prism paired with the spot focusing technique.
ISO 200 - f/4.0 - 1/1600 sec
That’s sharp! Going to have to remember this. A 50mm and one-spot focus, it doesn’t get better than this.
ISO 200 - f/4.0 - 1/1600 sec with 50mm
Another one, just incase I forgot how sharp the last one was and to try a different angle with a different lens. Changing perspective just a little bit changes everything, and this was taken about 20 minutes after the photograph above.
ISO 200 - f/5.6 1/1000 sec with 300mm
Obligatory parting shadow pic.
Please let me know what your thoughts are on this. I would love to hear your insights and thoughts on my work.
Also, if you are reading this and you are a new photographer or just getting started photographing the disc golf scene - the number one question people ask me is how do I get started? Or I’m not that familiar with photographing disc golf, what should I do?
The truth is, go out to a local park and practice. Play the game if you can so that you understand what the players go through and practice photographing them playing. Really get to know your camera.
With 17 years photographing this sport, I still go out to practice photography techniques. If there is a big event that I need to prepare for I’ll photograph a league or just people in the park. It gets me reacquainted with everything and it strengthens that creativity muscle that will help you get those money shots when they count.
