Toronto Food Drink and Product Photography | Getting the Shot

Toronto Food Drink and Product Photography | Getting the Shot

Yes I know this is not the work that I normally post but it is a part of what I do and an example of being prepared to capture a vision no matter what I am shooting. Most photographers know that the best light can happen even before the sun pokes out over the horizon. Getting up early is only part of the equation. This spot on George Lake in Killarney Provincial Park is quite accessible and relatively close to the campground but I still made point to visit the day before and scout the location. With my dog accompanying me I knew there was a bit of a rock obstacle in our way and he would need help with a small climb, so I was prepared for that in advance. With the coming of fall light sunrise happens in a much shorter time frame than mid summer, so its important to pick a spot to shoot from as time may not allow a change of location, so again preparation is paramount. In my personal artwork I like to present it in large and non standard formats so in this photo shooting a panorama is much easier when you not only have the right gear, but knowing how to set it up and do it efficiently. Once that process happens I can let myself get immersed in the moment, create art and experience the vision I came with.

This shot was an added bonus and with a lack of a portfolio quality sunset on my first night, I looked for something else. In this case I found a shot of these fishermen in a canoe and I think it represents the romance and mood of Ontario's outdoors perfectly. But again I was prepared to shoot this both by having the right gear (in this case a 70-200 zoom) and the knowledge of how to use it, getting a sharp in focus shot in low light.

As a photographer I try to be prepared in anything I shoot and I take a lot of time to develop my skill to the point where I believe I can shoot in almost any situation both in nature and in the studio.

I do sell my fine art photography as a separate business from my commercial work and you can view this work at www.robertgreatrix.com or on our Instagram feed @robertgreatrix Our fine art sales are handled through our friends at Liss Gallery at 112 Cumberland in Toronto's historic and trendy Yorkville neighbourhood.

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5 Tips For Working Motion Into Still Photography

5 of My Tips For Capturing Motion in Still Photography

One thing I like to do more often now, is capture a sense of motion in my photographs. It makes an image much more interesting, can lead you in or out of the shot and lends itself to adding more to the story of the photograph. Here's a few tips:

1. If you are not entirely comfortable with all your camera settings shoot in shutter priority mode. It will let you focus on the shutter speed only. Set your camera to high speed burst mode too. 

A Lone Subject Surrounded by Motion Gives An Incredible effect. Timing Can Be Everything.

2. Practice practice practice. You will develop a feel for what shutter speed you need for a situation. Hand held I find 1/60 of a second plus or minus a stop works well. I still want to maintain a sharp image  with the subject blurred or a sharp subject and a blurred background if panning. 

Setting a Shutter Speed, Following the Action and Burst Mode Got This Panning Shot

3. Be prepared to fail. You may not get a great a image every time you try this but when you nail one the reward will be great. 

A Perfect Example Of Getting the Right Shutter Speed. The People are Visible but Just Enough Blur to Give a Sense of Motion. It Doesn't Happen Every Shot or Every Shoot. 

4. Like any photograph pay attention to what when and where you are shooting. All the effect in the world won't help bad light or a uninteresting scene. But like everything in photography there are no set rules, the subject may make the photo. Also be aware of your surroundings and don't get too caught up in the action and put yourself in harms way. 

Be Aware Around Traffic. Staring Through the Lens Can Throw off Your Sense of Balance and Location. 

5. If you find a great location look for something or someone coming into the scene. Previously I would wait and wait to get a shot with no people or distractions now I embrace "distractions". Use the burst mode to your advantage and fire off some successive shots and stay with it until the end. 

Night is Definitely One of my Favourite Times for Motion Blurring Effects. Find the Scene and Wait for Your Subject. 

Here the Motion Of the Skater and Dog Made the Scene But I Needed to Apply Some Nik Software Effects to Bring Some Life to the Overall Image. 

Go out and try this and get creative, motion in photography can make some great artistic expressions and some very unique abstracts. I hope my tips may help and inspire.
Robert Greatrix is the owner and photographer behind Fulcrum Imaging, for more of his work please visit www.fulcrumimaging.com.