HMS Photography & Beyond

Be Alert. Have Patience. Shoot with Conviction.

2010-08-10T01:37:00.000-07:00

Mechanic © Hermes Singson

I was on my way to work when I took a photograph of this scene. I just couldn't resist taking a shot with my Canon G2. The light and contrast are just great! But, just as I was about ready to point the camera on my subject... the guy, the mechanic, was gone! "Duh? Where did he go?" I said myself.

So, what I did for the meantime while waiting for the mechanic to get back I took some of shots of the jeepney, and reviewed them from the LCD screen– it did not look as good from what I saw earlier, it looks like there was something missing in the photograph, another element that would make a good composition, and that is to have the mechanic in the frame.

The guy when he came back saw what I was doing, and he was a bit surprise and puzzled why I was taking a photograph of his jeepney. I showed him some of the photos I took to make him feel that it was alright. I was waiting for him to get on top, but then, he did not... I felt then that he was not to keen to have his photograph taken. So I decided to move away and point the camera to the other direction... I waited... and waited... and when I saw that he was about to get on top I rushed towards him and took my shots where I want him to be.

Patience is a virtue that it is good to have, and with a bit of luck you could capture moments like this.

Upgrade to 4.0

2009-02-19T04:33:00.000-08:00

After six months of using the Nikon Coolpix E3700, I had an upgrade from 3.2 to 4.0 mega pixel. I had to exchange the E3700 for a Canon G2. At first I was a bit hesitant, but then, I thought of the G2’s better features and better quality of image.

The Canon G2 is a 4.0 mega pixel point-and-shoot camera, that shoots RAW files, focal length of 34mm to 102mm, an aperture that opens up to f2.0, with 50 ISO setting for less noise, and a swiveled LCD screen that is very good for taking overhead and ground level shots. It is easy to use, especially when you work on your exposures in combination with the focusing, or vice versa.

The G2 in my opinion is a very good point-and-shoot camera that performs more than I expected. We have used it in some of our projects, and even made photographic blow-ups that the quality is absolutely acceptable. But I will let you be the judge on that...

Here are some of the shots I made with the Canon G2:

Manila Bay, © Hermes M. Singson

Manila Yacht Club, © Hermes M. Singson

Harbour Square, © Hermes M. Singson

Baywalk, © Hermes M. Singson

Pasig River, © Hermes M. Singson

Manila Bay, © Hermes M. Singson

Manila City Hall, © Hermes M. Singson

Please do not use any of my images on websites, blogs

or other media without my explicit permission.

How to Start Taking Good Photos

2009-02-15T17:50:00.000-08:00

(Learn the Basics and Know Your Equipment Well)

By Hermes M. Singson

So what if you only have a 3.2 mega pixel point-and-shoot camera? Why get intimidated in a group-shootout if all of them have DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras? What will you do? Will that stop you in taking a good photograph? I hope not!

If you are a beginner or novice, or has a 3.2 mega pixel point-and-shot camera, this is a photography tip for you. In every photographer there is always a first time, especially, if you are really new in this field. In photography you will be doing a lot of things for the first time, and you need to try them out, so that, if someday you were confronted with the same situation you would know how to deal and execute it. You also need to start somewhere, so I suggest, that you start from the beginning and do not skip the learning process. Just like when you watched a movie, you start from the beginning up to the end, ‘coz by doing so, it will be much easier to understand.

Learn the basics in photography, enroll in a class, or join group sessions, or even better get photography books so you can always go back to review what you have learned. Do not neglect the basics; it is one of the important foundations for your photography. Know what aperture, shutter speed and ISO (speed) are for, and really get to understand them very well. Because if you did, no matter what situation you are in, you would know what aperture, shutter speed or ISO to use in taking a photograph. From what you learn put it into practice and see if you really understood it, and also take down notes for reminders. Practice handling the camera; hold it in the most comfortable way that you can hold it steady, may it be in the horizontal or vertical position. Look at some illustrations for guidance. Like drawing a pistol, sometimes you need to shoot fast in order not to miss a shot. So keep practicing. Also, read and study the manual of your camera; know what every buttons and dial control is for. Why? Because they would have not put it there in the first place if there was no need for it. Learn it’s capabilities and limitations, use it where you know you can make the most with it. So check them out and know your equipment well.

As I have learned from the book “Photographic Composition” by Ben Clements & David Rosenfeld, “The camera is a sensitive tool that responds to the thinking of a person who operates it and no amount of technical knowledge, craftsmanship, and care can make the camera produce art when it is guided by a non artist.” And that says it all. So think again… it is illogical and nonsense to think that you cannot take a good photograph even though you only have a 3.2 mega pixel camera. But please be reminded, I am not saying that you stick with it, for starters this is fine. As time goes by, if you feel you need an upgrade, or if your shots are getting better and would make good prints, and if it permits that you have the budget to get a DSLR camera, then, please do so. Because it would be a shame, if you have good photographs and you cannot make big quality blow-ups with it.

Basically, to take good photographs does not depend so much on the camera you use; it depends more with you on how well you will use what you know and what you have learned. So have patience, practice and never stop learning. – HMS

How I Got Back into Taking Photos...

2009-02-06T05:09:00.000-08:00

By Hermes M. Singson

One gift to remember, and the best "Pasalubong" I ever had!
It's not a scooter silly! :-)

Scooter ©2005 Hermes Singson

In 2005, when our boss got back from his trip from Europe he gave each one of us in the office a digital camera for ‘pasalubong’ (coming-back-home gift). Yahoo! He brought 2 Nikon Coolpix E3700 and 1 Fuji digital camera (forgot the model), and I got the Nikon Coolpix. It is a nice small point-and-shoot camera that fits easily in the pocket, and the resolution is great for happy snaps and capturing moments with love ones! After taking some test shots of the camera and seeing the results, I had a good idea. I went to get an extra battery and one 256mb SD card. I’ll try to see up to where it will take me and how much I can do with it.

One afternoon I decided to go walk-about with the camera, and oh boy, I was really happy with that small point-and-shoot camera. Even though the pixel is not that high, the color are good, and the high jpg file are also good enough for some layouts; probably blowing it up to a maximum 7 inches from the lengths, or maybe a bit more. But, what I like most about it, I could take photos again for myself, shooting not thinking the cost of film, slide frames, slide jackets and folders. I think to shoot a roll of film at that time would cost around P350 to P450 pesos. What I also notice is that the learning process is much easier because you can immediately see the results.

It was in the year 2000 I totally stopped taking photos for myself because it was getting too expensive for me. I still continued taking photos, but, not for myself, but for the clients. I shot a lot, especially at the time when I used to work in a studio, from product shots to food set-ups, a bit of fashion, furniture and a lot more. But now, I enjoy shooting with just basic equipment, shoot with just what you have and use it to the max.

Thanks to Gunther Deichmann for giving us that great ‘pasalubong’, and to the inventors, engineers, camera companies, and to all the people who made those small apparatus available to people who loves to capture a piece of time, or just simply enjoys taking pictures. The learning continues... –HMS

More shots with the Nikon Coolpix E3700:

Cat Eyes ©2005 Hermes Singson

Guitar Man ©2005 Hermes Singson

Rain Cloud ©2005 Hermes Singson

Emergency ©2005 Hermes Singson

Yellow Box ©2005 Hermes Singson