A Few Tips on Shooting Ruins on ePhotoZine

 
ePhotoZine has posted a brief piece on how to shoot ruins - abandoned buildings and obsolete facilities. Clearly, the author lives in the U.K. - speaking of shooting abbeys and the like.
 
(Click Here) to read the entry on ePhotoZine
 
In terms of equipment, the suggestion is to bring a wide angle lens, a longer zoom, a tripod (either full-size or tabletop), and a polarizer.
 
For technique, the author suggests walking the site carefully before jumping in to take pictures. Give context to the rubble piles that you find interesting, rather than just shooting closeups of them. Try shooting out through window openings, and down long corridors. Also, consider including signs as part of detail compositions.
 
If you're able, get a high perspective for overall shots of buildings, in order to reduce distortion caused by having to point the camera upward. Another way to achieve this is to shoot the building from further away, using a telephoto lens.
 
Finally, consider shooting a panorama, if the site warrants it.
 
Here are a couple of recent shots by my friend Rob Svirskas (flickr id: robsv), taken at an abandoned Bethlehem Steel factory.
 
 

On Deck, by Rob Svirskas (flickr id: robsv)

Nikon D300, 18-200mm Nikkor f3.5-5.6 at 70mm

iso 400, f6.3, 1/160 sec

 

Bus Stop, by Rob Svirskas (flickr id: robsv)

Nikon D300, 300mm Nikkor f4

iso 200, f6.3, 1/160 sec

 

 

These dilapidated facilities hold real opportunities for great photography. Typically, especially in industrial ruins, there are lots of details that make for interesting compositions. Many times, the function of the apparatus is not clear, adding a little question to each image. Usually, there are also echoes of a busy past, left bouncing around in now-empty buildings and parking lots.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

 

 
 
 
DMC-365.blogspot.com
 

Music Festival Photography - Timely Piece on ePhotoZine

 

"The Shakedown," by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3, Lumix 14mm f2.5

iso 200, f5.6, 1/60 sec

 
There's an entry on the ePhotoZine blog about festival photography. This is timely, as I'm heading out to Floyd Fest starting tomorrow (by the time you read this, I'll be at the festival).
 
(Click Here) to see the Floyd Fest webpage.
 
It's a five hour drive from home, and I'll be staying for three nights.
 
Okay - so what does ePhotoZine have to say about festival photography? Here are the main points:
 

1. Get a high vantage point if possible.
2. Arrive early - good advice for any event.
3. "Good Zoom" - this means to be ready to use a range of focal lengths to me, not necessarily a zoom. They also mention waterproof cameras or cases at this point. I'll be bringing my Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3 underwater camera to this show; I hope I don't need it.
4. Steady hands - some tips on minimizing vibration when shooting
5. Have a plan - this one is a must, especially at a large festival. There is no way that I'll cover all the bands at Floyd Fest. In fact, there's no way that I'll cover the whole day, every day, during a four day music festival. My goal is to see the bands that I know and like, and hopefully add a few new favorites.

(Click Here) to read the original piece on ePhotoZine.



My plan for this show is to take only Lumix gear, plus maybe one film camera. I will take two DMC-G3s, Lumix 12mm f2.5, Pana-Leica 25mm f1.4 and 45mm f2.8, Lumix 100-300mm f4-5.6 and Voigtlander 75mm f2.5 manual focus Leica Thread Mount (LTM) lenses, and Nissin flash. I am receiving my new Lumix 12-35mm f2.8 zoom today. If I'm comfortable with its operation, it may replace all the primes for this trip, but I doubt it. It's never a good idea to rely too much on a new lens on a trip.
 
In terms of a film camera, I'm planning to carry a Leica CL and adapted LTM 3.5cm Elmar f3.5. I hope to use that for candid shots of festival-goers.
 
DMC-365.blogspot.com