Mobile Photography Master
Be impulsive! Always be ready to act. When your head and heart scream ‘shoot!,’ you shouldn’t have any excuses, like, “Oh, my camera was in my purse, pocket…” or, gasp, your camera wasn’t around. It’s one of the main reasons I love mobile photography– my camera is always in hand.
Overwhelm yourself There’s no better way to get better at anything than by total and utter immersion. Eat, breathe and sleep mobile photography, even for a mere 24 hours. Try every film and lens combination, fill up that camera roll!
Silence the inner critic Stop listening to the voice in your head that says things like, “Don’t take a picture of that! How boring. You’re not close enough, the light isn’t good enough, the world doesn’t need another picture of a rainbow.” Answer back with a hearty, “Yes it does!” and snap away.
Challenge yourself to go one day or even one hour, and snap a picture EVERY time your inner voice says, “I’d like to take a picture of that.” This little trick does wonders to improve your photographic timing and instincts.
Photographing people in public and on the go can be nerve wracking, but Richard Koci Hernandez, one of the hottest Hipstamatic photographers around, gives his tips for snapping the perfect shot
The stakeout When you discover a place or situation you find photographically interesting, stop and work it. Technical proficiency is highly over rated. Don’t stress about light, focus or composition. Sharpen your powers of observation by making as many images as you can from as many different angles as possible. Embrace the situation and next time you swing by this special place you’ll know all the right places to be to make the best image possible.
Shoot from the hip In the words of Obi Wan Kenobi, “Let go and use the Force.” Forget looking at the back of the screen and trying to line up the perfect shot. The key to better candids is to hold the phone close to your chest or even waist level and tap away. (Hint: Hold down the Volume + button for continuous shooting) Your friends and family will not know what you’re doing and therefore will act natural. Be sneaky about it. The moment they know you’re shooting, the images become less candid. You’ll get a lot more bad shots, but when you get a good one, you’ll want to hang it on the wall!
Make A photographic shopping list You have to know what you want to see before you can see it. “Make a list of things you want to photograph today and find them! If you know my work, then you know the No. 1 thing on my list is a man in a fedora! Or any hat for that matter!
Sneak attack If you’re looking for better candid shots, take some advice and wear your headphones while shooting. Nobody pays attention to you if they think you’re on an important call or grooving out to your tunes. If you want a closer or higher perspective, try the Yawn-o-graph. With your phone in one hand, ready to snap, stretch out your arms to their widest position and do your best impression of a TV Sitcom yawn and stretch. You can get some great, slightly elevated angles and people just think you’re ready for a nap.
Find A photographic mentor Remember, there’s always someone smarter than you and usually they’re nice enough to teach you a thing or two. The more you know, the more you can create.
