Gosnap Photography Forums Tutorials Reviews Photos: What to Shoot this July

What to Shoot this July
================================================================================
Christian on 01 July, 2008 03:25:00
 
July is usually one of the hottest months of the year, and coupled with the long
daylight hours I’m hoping that we’ll be able to enjoy the long evenings or
for the really dedicated among us, early mornings. Pick a favourite place –
photograph it with the first or last of the light….or even both if you’re
there for long enough!
I can’t count patience as one of my strong points and I admit I like to see
results from my photography no matter when I shoot. I’ve read many times, as
I’m sure other people have too, that early mornings and late afternoons/early
evenings present the most flattering light for photography.
Our favourite holiday destination is Canada, and for the area we like to go to
I’ve seen a guidebook that details all the main attractions for landscape
photography along with what specific times of day are best for photographing
each site.
To ensure you’re at each place at the best time takes planning and effort,
and maybe it’s that I’m not ‘purist’ enough with my photography, but
much of my photography so far has been done by just turning up and trying my
best with the conditions at the time. Occasionally we have aimed for a certain
time of day, but on the whole there’s no precise planning involved.
When I see one of those photographs that you look at and are in awe of, I
usually wonder how it was achieved and how come I’ve not in my opinion taken
any photos that have that immediate impact. But then when you understand the
processes that professional photographers who capture landscapes or wildlife for
a living go through, you see them at just one or two sites for an entire day,
and they sit and they wait, and they fiddle with their tripod and they (appear
to me just to) patiently watch for the perfect moment.
This is something that I’m trying to develop with my own photography-
patience, and that dedication to trying to achieve that defining image of a
scene. Of course, many great shots have been taken in a moment of luck when you
happen to be in just the right place at the right time, but perhaps if sometimes
I just sat, watched and waited, the luck might come to me more readily. Then I
might go home with one fantastic photo rather than a handful that are just
pretty good!
Also, while we’re watching, we’re probably able to appreciate more of the
scene, and appreciation of the subject matter we’re photographing is surely
one of the biggest reasons why we take photos.
Spending time in the garden?  Why not combine it with some photography?  Try
some macro shots of flowers and insects, or what about capturing some of the
man-made sights – a romantic image of a rusting lawnmower comes to mind, or an
old potting shed.
The (hopefully) good weather also means that all over the UK a variety of local
events will be taking place:  carnivals, country shows, sporting events,
festivals and parades.  Why not consider taking your camera along to an event
that you wouldn’t normally consider?  If you’re a rock music fan why not try
a folk festival?  If you wouldn’t normally be seen dead in a pair of wellies
why not try an agricultural fayre or gardening event?
Your unfamiliarity with the subject may well give you the type of unusual
perspective that could result in a truly different image, and who knows, you
might even discover a sneaking enjoyment of dreadlocks and jesters hats!
Browsing the web I’ve found festivals of falconry, the RHS Flower Show, the
Henley Royal Regatta as well as many other local events across the UK, so there
are a whole host of events to suit whatever style of photography you enjoy.
Maybe some of you have tickets to the Grand Prix at Silverstone?
In my very own Chesterfield I see there is an open day for the famous Crooked
Spire church.  It’s been years since I’ve been up the spire and a clear July
day should be perfect for shooting some panoramas, something I’ve been keen to
perfect for a while.   And the town’s mediaeval event might see me getting
(hopefully not too) close to a spot of jousting.  Plenty of colour, movement and
– fingers crossed – sunshine should give plenty of opportunity for crisp
action shots at fast shutter speeds.
As I was walking along a path under some trees the other day, I somehow found
myself wishing that it was strewn with the red and orange leaves of autumn, and
thinking of the photographs that autumnal colour provides. At that point, given
that I’m usually a fair-weather person, I quickly reminded myself that with
fallen leaves come cold temperatures and I reverted back to appreciating being
able to wear short sleeves. With that in mind, enjoy being outdoors and whatever
goes through your lens- have fun!