Crossing Bridges 5, Siem Reap, Cambodia, 11th - 16th November 2008
It took me a couple of days to decide what cameras I would be bringing for the Crossing Bridges 5 outing in Siem Reap. From my past experience, most participants would bring at least 2 cameras and some even 3….one with a wide angle zoom attached, one with a tele zoom attached and one a dedicated IR camera.
Choosing a point and shoot (digicam) was supposed to be a no no for serious photographers…in fact a taboo. I took some time to research on what were the most probable scenes that would be presented in Siem Reap. I came to the conclusion that there will be a lot of street or environmental shoots and very few landscape opportunities. So in goes the digicam (point and shoot camera) and a rangefinder with 2 lenses, no tripod.
As expected there were a lot of street and environmental situations that were great for the equipment I brought. The first few days were mostly the usual tourist stuff….temple, sunrise and sunset shoots. However, the last day was different; I wandered into a rice planting village with Yusuf and Noordin followed by a trip to Tong le Sap Lake. Those few hours spent shooting there alone were worth the trip.
I was glad that I brought the simple point and shoot camera along. During the journey, I learnt to appreciate the progressed made in the design of point and shoot cameras. The camera I brought along was a Fujifilm F40d, an idiot proof with no manual controls except for + / - exposures.
The advantages of shooting with a digicam are:-
1. It is light, can be kept in the pocket and ready to shoot anytime when the opportunity presents itself.
2. Most digicams have a built in zoom lens, so there is no need to buy additional lenses
3. As the lens is not interchangeable, there is no problem with dust entering the sensors.
4. Digicams are versatile, it can shoot all sort of situations like macro, wide and tele situations.
5. The main advantage I found was the good depth of field that I found very useful in environmental shoots that suits my style of photography.
6. Now the digicams come in very high pixel counts. Mine is a 8 MP sensor (good enough) for an A3 print.
7. It is cheap in comparison with their bigger cousins the DSLR, a camera that you do not mind abusing.
8. Without the worry of those numerous settings one have to make on a DSLR, not to mention changing lenses etc., one can concentrate on taking photos (that’s what cameras were designed to do anyway)
9. You can shoot a PnS with both eyes open. A plus point for street and environmental shoots.
Disadvantages? …Well no camera is perfect. We just need to work within its constraints.
Here are some of the photos taken with a point and shoot camera and my comments on how to achieve the effects.
1. Praying for a better tomorrow, sunset at a temple (-2 EV)
2. Dusty conditions in the city (great for a digicam, converted to BnW)
3. Some relief carvings in the Hindu temples (-1 EV)
4. A Canoe Rower - Tong Le Sap lake (-1 EV, for action shots, half press the shutter, compose and shoot)
5. Shooting with dtbh ala dtbh style (zoom in all the way)
6. Portrait of a Nun (maxby style, with side and reflected lighting)
7. Looking forward to changes (low angle shot, good depth of field)
8. Inside the ruins of the temple (-1EV, look out for blown highlights, converted to BnW)
Having used the digicam for the entire journey, I have come up with my own maxims:-
1. Use the light to get different perspective in the photos
2. Use a low angle, one that most DSLR users would not stoop down.
3. Look for defining shots and be patient to wait for the drama to appear.
4. Photoshop is your best friend
5. Delete button is also your best buddy, use it whenever possible, its the power of the photographer to delete lousy photos.
So don't feel inferior that you are using a cheapo point and shoot camera. Just work on how to take better photos. Every camera has it own limitations, even the best and the most expensive. It is the photographer's job to find out how to use the camera you own to the best of its ability. Cheers!
It took me a couple of days to decide what cameras I would be bringing for the Crossing Bridges 5 outing in Siem Reap. From my past experience, most participants would bring at least 2 cameras and some even 3….one with a wide angle zoom attached, one with a tele zoom attached and one a dedicated IR camera.
Choosing a point and shoot (digicam) was supposed to be a no no for serious photographers…in fact a taboo. I took some time to research on what were the most probable scenes that would be presented in Siem Reap. I came to the conclusion that there will be a lot of street or environmental shoots and very few landscape opportunities. So in goes the digicam (point and shoot camera) and a rangefinder with 2 lenses, no tripod.
As expected there were a lot of street and environmental situations that were great for the equipment I brought. The first few days were mostly the usual tourist stuff….temple, sunrise and sunset shoots. However, the last day was different; I wandered into a rice planting village with Yusuf and Noordin followed by a trip to Tong le Sap Lake. Those few hours spent shooting there alone were worth the trip.
I was glad that I brought the simple point and shoot camera along. During the journey, I learnt to appreciate the progressed made in the design of point and shoot cameras. The camera I brought along was a Fujifilm F40d, an idiot proof with no manual controls except for + / - exposures.
The advantages of shooting with a digicam are:-
1. It is light, can be kept in the pocket and ready to shoot anytime when the opportunity presents itself.
2. Most digicams have a built in zoom lens, so there is no need to buy additional lenses
3. As the lens is not interchangeable, there is no problem with dust entering the sensors.
4. Digicams are versatile, it can shoot all sort of situations like macro, wide and tele situations.
5. The main advantage I found was the good depth of field that I found very useful in environmental shoots that suits my style of photography.
6. Now the digicams come in very high pixel counts. Mine is a 8 MP sensor (good enough) for an A3 print.
7. It is cheap in comparison with their bigger cousins the DSLR, a camera that you do not mind abusing.
8. Without the worry of those numerous settings one have to make on a DSLR, not to mention changing lenses etc., one can concentrate on taking photos (that’s what cameras were designed to do anyway)
9. You can shoot a PnS with both eyes open. A plus point for street and environmental shoots.
Disadvantages? …Well no camera is perfect. We just need to work within its constraints.
Here are some of the photos taken with a point and shoot camera and my comments on how to achieve the effects.
1. Praying for a better tomorrow, sunset at a temple (-2 EV)
2. Dusty conditions in the city (great for a digicam, converted to BnW)
3. Some relief carvings in the Hindu temples (-1 EV)
4. A Canoe Rower - Tong Le Sap lake (-1 EV, for action shots, half press the shutter, compose and shoot)
5. Shooting with dtbh ala dtbh style (zoom in all the way)
6. Portrait of a Nun (maxby style, with side and reflected lighting)
7. Looking forward to changes (low angle shot, good depth of field)
8. Inside the ruins of the temple (-1EV, look out for blown highlights, converted to BnW)
Having used the digicam for the entire journey, I have come up with my own maxims:-
1. Use the light to get different perspective in the photos
2. Use a low angle, one that most DSLR users would not stoop down.
3. Look for defining shots and be patient to wait for the drama to appear.
4. Photoshop is your best friend
5. Delete button is also your best buddy, use it whenever possible, its the power of the photographer to delete lousy photos.
So don't feel inferior that you are using a cheapo point and shoot camera. Just work on how to take better photos. Every camera has it own limitations, even the best and the most expensive. It is the photographer's job to find out how to use the camera you own to the best of its ability. Cheers!
__________________
Maxby
Maxby
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