Photography Tips : Switzerland as a Photography Tourist

Zermatt – Matterhorn October 2012

I decided to visit Switzerland as a tourist. For this trip I took a railpass for 15 days. It is not an optimal solution since one cannot make frequent stops to take pictures, The advantages were it was less tiring than driving and much cheaper than renting a car.   During this period I visited:

• Grindelwald / Lauterbrunnen
• Zermatt
• Luzern / Engelberg
• Lugano
• Ascona / Lugano
• Geneva
• Fully
• Thun
• Lavaux
• Evian (in France across from Lausanne)
• Chatel St. Denis

I had pictures of Zurich, Bern and Lausanne so I decided to skip them. In October weather is a factor and I lost a couple of days due to rainy weather.

Like in some other countries, taking pictures of people can get complicated. I have been asked to delete pictures on occasions for privacy reasons.

LAVAUX

For more pictures of Switzerland click here : http://photobyphm.smugmug.com/TravelVoyages/Switzerland/25982587_qv9DZC#!i=2156042714&k=CLTvZpX

Photography Tips: Fall Colors Part 2

What  a difference a day or 2 can make. I always recommend to take the time and go out and shoot pictures. TODAY. Do not procrastinate and push it off until tomorrow.

Check out the gallery. The difference between Friday morning and Sunday morning.  I even admit to leaving my Fall pictures alittle late.

For other pictures check out my gallery:  http://photobyphm.smugmug.com/galleries

Fall Colors Lausanne _

Fall Colors Lausanne _

Fall Colors Lausanne _

Fall Colors Lausanne

Fall Colors Lausanne

Fall Colors Lausanne

Photography Tips: Fall Colors

Fall Colors

We are arriving at the end of fall and it is a period of beautiful colors. This is just a reminder that this period comes only 1 time a year and one should take advantage of the seasonal colors to go out and take pictures.

Fall Colors

Fall Autumn Colors Sauveblein Lausanne Switzerland. The mountain goat is not a statue

Fall Autumn Colors Sauveblein Lausanne Switzerland.

Fall Autumn Colors Sauveblein Lausanne Switzerland.

Fall Autumn Colors Sauveblein Lausanne Switzerland.

For more Photos visit my gallery  http://photobyphm.smugmug.com/Nature/Seasons/26145461_J8nBB6#!i=2173490289&k=pdznfM8

Gymnaestrada 2011

Gymnaestrada 2011

Gymnaestrada is the official world event of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG).  Once every four years in a country of one of the affiliated federations, gymnasts of all ages and backgrounds meet to share their passion for gymnastics. It is considered the largest event of its kind with over 20’000 participants. Gymnaestrada 2011 was held in Lausanne, Switzerland. Gynaestrada 2015 will be held in Helsinki, Finland.

More Gymnaestrada photos are available at http://photobyphm.smugmug.com/EventsEvenements-1/Gymnaestrada-2011/25088733_jR5rs6#!i=2075685653&k=k2dM8Rj

Gymnaestrada is the official world event of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG). Once every four years in a country of one of the affiliated federations, gymnasts of all ages and backgrounds meet to share their passion for gymnastics. It is considered the largest event of its kind with over 20’000 participants. Gymnaestrada 2011 was held in Lausanne, Switzerland. Gynaestrada 2015 will be held in Helsinki, Finland.

Gymnaestrada 2011

Gymnaestrada 2011 Team South Africa

Gymnaestrada 2011

Gymnaestrada 2011

Gymnaestrada 2011 Macabi Dan Tel Aviv

Gymnaestrada 2011 ALVI-VERDE PALMEIRAS, Brazil

Gymnaestrada 2011. La Società Ginnastica La Trottola di Modena , Italia. FIG Gala 2011,

Gymnaestrada 2011

Photography Tips: High ISO

When teaching photography to beginners one of the hardest concepts to grasp is the relationship TV/AV/ISO and integrating the 3 into picture taking. What I try to convey is that photography is stopping the action and capturing the moment. If you do not capture that moment in focus, then you have a problem. There are other parameters such as exposure but that will be discussed at a later date. Enter ISO and pushing ISO sometimes to the max.

Gymnaestrada 2012, ISO 6400

Say ISO and the automatic knee jerk reaction is 200 or never above 800, 100,  or 1600. When I ask why,  the answer is “Because of noise”. Not anymore. Firstly cameras are now achieving higher usable ISO setting,  secondly, software is getting better reducing noise and lastly, noise is almost  imperceptible at the sizes most people are using to show their pictures.  So when faced with no chance of taking a sharp picture by keeping the ISO low or upping the ISO and knowing there may be some work afterwards, I never hesitate.

Cabaret Chiang Mai. ISO 6400

Get out and shoot. Practice and see how your camera handles ISO, so when the time comes you are comfortable with the situation.

Thaipusam Singapore 2012. ISO 5000

For more pictures, visit my gallery at: http://photobyphm.smugmug.com/galleries

Photography Tips: Thailand Photo Competition

If one has visited a photo exhibition in Thailand, it is evident that a large majortiy of the pictures will be either of Buddhism, Buddhist monks or Buddha.

Lanna Archetecture

I participated in a photo competition sponsored by Tourist Authority of Thailand (TAT) Chiang Mai and IPOT. Each day for 5 days a new subject was given. They were:

• February 3 : Thai Architecture
• February 4 : Flowers of Lanna
• February 5 : Landscape
• February 6 : Lifestyle
• February 7: Street Photography
  

  Fruits as Flowers. Chiang Mai Flower Festival 2012

Notice that none of the subjects are related to Buddhism, Buddhist monks or Buddha, or that is what I thought:

However the winner is>>>>>>>>>Monks praying at a Wat Suthep.

Yep folks, 4 of the 9 chosen winners were of Buddhism, Buddhist monks or Buddha.

Check out the winners.

ipot.thaiphoto.net/?p=499

Moral of the story. Know thy competition. In Thailand, no matter what the theme of the competition, submit a picture of buddhists monks or a temple.

Wan Pantao Asaha Bucha 2012

For more pictures, visit my gallery at: http://photobyphm.smugmug.com/galleries

Photography Tips: Get Out and Shoot – No Ego

Reflections. 1/125, F 5.6, ISO 1600

I had to go to the USA for a few days. I decided to take my Olympus E-PM1. Each morning at 6AM I went to a nature reserve to take sunrise/early morning pictures.

Deer staring down an Egret. 1/100s, f 5.6, ISO 1600

I admit the Olympus E-PM1 with a 14-42mm lens is not an ideal camera for nature photography, not to mention birding. It is still a better camera than what was available to photographers 60 years ago.

Since it was early or dark in the woods, I needed to up the ISO to 1600. I felt this was the highest possible usable setting for the Olympus. I held the camera against a tree for all the pictures except the geese flying. There I had set it down in a blind.

Geese 6:47 take-off. 1/80, F 5.6, ISO 800

Why no ego? When one is going out to shoot, there will probably be other photographers around with better cameras and longer lenses. One morning I saw photographers with 600mm, 400mm and other ultra zoom lenses. That will always be the case. What is important is that I was out with my camera, enjoying a beautiful morning and with the hope of catching “THE SHOT”.

 Moral of blog. There is never a better time, place, camera or light than the present. If the pictures do not turn out, learn from the experience. Then go out again. Get better, not an EGO.

Hey don’t shoot. 1/6s, F 5.6, ISO 1600

 Get out and shoot.

For more pictures, visit my gallery at: http://photobyphm.smugmug.com/galleries