Digital Cameras Nikon D50

I wonder how many photographers, new to the craft, construct their images similar to the way a builder assembles a house? The only difference is, instead of bricks and mortar, you use visual elements ("constructs") if you like a technical description. In this article I invite you to put your camera aside and think "design and construct," like a professional image maker.

Consider these two statements:
1. I am going out to 'shoot' some images
2. I am going out to 'construct' some images
Now I ask you... the change of one word from 'shoot' to 'construct,' completely changes the dynamics of your visual thinking, your approach, your economy of effort and most importantly, your end result! It makes a lot of good practical sense.

Those of you who just wonder around shooting 'snaps' in a sort blank state, living in hope, or relying on the digital (who cares, it's costing me nothing) 'shotgun; approach will never reach great heights. It's costing you disappointment, satisfaction, admiration and hitting your ego right where it hurts.

I blame the camera manufacturers for this "shotgun" approach with all the huff and fluff, professionally shot glossy brochure images and the promise, 'buy this camera and we turn you into a visual virtuoso, for a major part of the problem. How many times have you read in a glossy camera brochure these words: 'To create stunning pictures you will have to think beyond the lens of this camera?'

You know, the one good thing about photography is you cannot hide behind your images. And I've had dedicated digital camera buffs heatedly argue every-which-way the virtues of their pride and joy. Simple question... show me the proof of the pudding!

Nothing not nothing is going to improve your image standard until you get your brain into gear and start thinking picture construction way, way beyond the lens. Then, when you get your visual ducks into line and you have utter and total control of yourself and your tools of trade, you can use all the camera 'frillies' available to you. Do you think a master craftsman or woman, is going to produce a masterpiece in furniture design because they have acquired a brand new computer driven lathe, come-on?

Picture construction is about applied observation, checking every visual piece available and assembling the jig saw thought processes and elements together to shape, hone, and assemble image detail. The assembly process helps you to eliminate every bit of unnecessary detail and focus on preselecting the strong visual elements in the scene.

This is not an ego trip for me, heaven forbid, but have a look at some of the images I have posted on my website and ask yourself what is unnecessary in the displayed images? Now reverse the process and ask yourself what is necessary in the images? I think this simple observation exercise will help you understand the construction point I'm making, rather than any fancy words I can conjure up.

Remember when you were a small child? Boy, the world was your oyster. Everything was new, refreshing, exciting, challenging. The colour, shapes, patterns, size, light, all capturing your imagination. Where has once-fresh enlightenment gone? It's been washed away by consumer pressure, emotion, and the vast array of repeated images that shape and blunt your awareness today. If you want to become a top notch photographer, get back to those early days of fresh enlightenment. That is a tough discipline calling on a lot of will power but it's vital to your visual success.

You have to be motivated by the observation need and you have to start small. The next time you are about to eat a slice of toast for breakfast observe it, observe its structure, colour, texture, the pattern of the spread you placed on it. Make that piece of toast a visual entity and start the observation for real. That's the way you construct images and that's the way you build images that reach out and touch people. Grab people by the throat. Soon you will instinctively shoot a constant stream pictures in you mind. More to come, but in the meantime every moment you have observe your subject resources and thinking as well. You don't need a camera to do that do you in fact you don't a camera at all.
Stay focused, Roger Jeakings(c)

Meet frontline cameraman, Roger Jeakings. He began his news career as a military photojournalist in Southeast Asia. An experienced infantry instructor, with rifle and light machinegun marksman credits to his name, Roger had little difficulty exchanging a rifle for a 35mm camera. His first combat news assignment covered the Commonwealth's counter insurgency operations against Communist guerrilla actions in Malaya and Borneo

Since then he has kept in close contact with his news media colleagues covering the conflict Iraq and Afghanistan. They have generously contributed some of their images and thoughts to his newly released e-Book, "The Camera on the Frontline." Visit http://www.wiseowlvision.com to view this fascinating insight.