Tuesday, June 12, 2018

How to find great shots while on the road

Took part in a blogging competition at Dreamstime and got the first prize. The topic given was “How to find great shots while on the road” Reproducing the blog here.

Great shots happen when you least expect it. So whenever that inner instinct tells you “this can be a good shot”, just grab the camera and click.
Rule number one, never click when the vehicle is on the move and you are driving. It can instead be a good opportunity to take pan shots (videos) if you are the co driver and the road is smooth. If you are in the car and while taking photographs, make it a point to roll down the window. A piece of glass in between your object and the camera reduces the quality of your picture.

Recently I had been to Bhigwan (in western India) with my friends to click photos of the Flamingos.  On the way I saw an assortment of birds fishing in the shallow waters and it was perfect against the rising sun. I requested my friend to pull over for a few minutes and clicked these pictures  






On the way back I saw this truck being loaded with sugarcane. It occurred to me that this could be a good picture to show how things got transferred from the farm to the factory. The bullock cart added to the effect. I took the pictures from the car.  


Once while travelling in the Nilgiri hills, we turned a curve. It was a neat perfect curve and I got out of the car to take a picture. The white lines and the wet road added to the effect. 


On the road, does not mean being in a car. I was in a buggy in Bruges when I saw this lady opening up her flower shop. Buggies on cobblestones can be very shaky especially when you are trying to click. Luckily for me the buggy momentarily stopped and I could click this. 


Always be on the lookout for something unusual, like this car I saw in Mumbai, in front of the Taj Hotel. It looked like all the crows were waiting for the driver to take his seat and start the car so that they could go for a spin. A rare sight and worth a click. At times like this you don’t have the time to set up the camera and wait for the perfect light. You just click before the moment vanishes. 


While on long drives, do stop in between to stretch your legs. And while you relax just look for the smaller creatures that make this universe spin in a balanced way. They are beautiful and fascinating to watch and in the process one learns to respect and give space to every creature on this planet.



39 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well done Joe.....beautifully taken, keep going. Interesting. - Linda Marcedo

Augustine Xavier said...

Fantastic Joe - you definitely are the true recepient of the award. Heartiest Congratulations.

Anonymous said...

Simply superb. Enjoyed watching every picture Joe. - Vernon Barretto

vimala madon said...

I have watched you taking shots, sometimes disappearing for long minutes to find the perfect location and the perfect shot. You deserve the first prize, no doubt about it.

DUTA said...

Congratulations! Well deserved first prize! Your pictures on the road are fascinating! all of them, and your photography tips worth following!

Anvilcloud said...

One problem that I have is that I am both the driver and the photographer, so I have to let some things go because I do hae to concentrate on driving.

Another is that there isn't often a good space in which to pull off when you do see what would be a good photo.

Congrats on the win though -- well deserved.

Elephant's Child said...

Love those shots. And your tribute to the spinning architects.
Congratulations on the win.

Sandee said...

Wow, what great shots. I love the crows the best. They made me laugh out loud.

Have a fabulous day. ☺

Anonymous said...

Wow Joe! Congratulations!
It was really a good blog. Truly enjoyed reading it. How is that I never spot the good shots. A thing like the curve In the road was such a lovely idea. But have seen such things but never ever it crossed my mind that it will make a good pic!!!!
Anyway congratulations once again Well done. Aah ab to party banti hai !
- Aiman Wordsworth

Anita Sabat said...

Wonderful! Congrats for winning the contest! Also for ITB2018!
Agree with your tips. Especially Rule#1- "never click when you are driving". Better to focus on the road while driving.

Stop the car & don't think/delay as the right time is now,
When we encounter a click-worthy moment that's wow :)

Cathy Kennedy said...

Haddock,

First thanks for visiting me this morning. Second, congrats on taking 1st place in the blogging competition. What an honor! You're quite artistic behind the lens. I love your photo captures from wildlife to everyday life! Have a good day. :)

Anonymous said...

I always see your posts and enjoy the lovely photos you take. Congrats on getting first prize on this blog. All I can say is that you selected the wrong profession. You would have gone places if you would have done this from the start. Well enjoy, and waiting for more photos. - Kersy Mehta

Rike said...

Congrats on the win!
These photos of the flamingos are gorgeous! They look like chinese paintings for me!
I liked to shot snaps out of the car, but stopped, because it's too dangerous. And the best motifs are always there, where you can't stop the car.

Patsy Irene (Chillin' with Patsy) said...

This was a good post, congratulations on your win. :)
I, too, love those special opportunities for pictures on the road. Usually I am a passenger and have learned to roll the window down. When I'm driving I stop more often when I see something 'neat'. It is easy to delete pictures if they don't turn out as well as you'd hoped.
Love the birds on the car picture!
thank you for sharing your tips!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations Joe. I really enjoyed your photographs clicked on the spur of the moment. Very interesting, keep it up - Vilas Bhalerao

hrmit said...

Really beautiful shots. And such lucid narration ... Made reading and seeing this blog a real treat ... U 've got a sublime skill

Christine said...

Well done, and wonderful photos!

Unknown said...

Well done

Kelly said...

Great photos of the wading birds! I like the spider, too. :)

Thanks for visiting my blog.

padmaja said...

Congratulations on winning, which of these won the prize? All are spectacular moments caught on camera perfectly, very good post.

Chris Lally said...

Congratulations, Joe! I can understand why you won first prize.
Fabulous article - fabulous photographs! Well done.

Haddock said...

@Padmaja - It was a blog writing competition and the prize was for the complete blog (along with the pictures)

Anonymous said...

Congratulations Joe on getting the prize you deserve. Well written blog with of course, wonderful shots. Keep it up. - Sanjay Chandane

Anonymous said...

Hearty congratulations Joe. Your sincerity and passion got paid. Undoubtedly your blogs deserve to go thru. Photographs are fantastic. Keep going...

Anonymous said...

Wonderful. At last you got the reward. This is just the beginning, all the best. - Kalidas Addal

Ravikumar said...

Well done Joe,
Awesome pictures, perfectly timed, keep up the good work.

Anonymous said...

Joe - Wonderful pics accompanied by lovely text. Makes it worth reading.
Looking forward to more accolades for you. - Anand Torvi

Lowcarb team member said...

Love these photographs.
Many congratulations on the win.

All the best Jan

CAntony said...

Congrats, Chetta! Good to see you're being officially acknowledged for your talent and skill!

Anonymous said...

Hearty congratulations for the first prize in blogging competition. - Milind Bodas

denthe said...

Your pictures are beautiful and you give very good advice. No wonder you won! I especially like the car with all the crows. Fascinating ....

Irene Rafael said...

What beautiful photos. I love the flamingos! Congratulations!
~~ Irene

Anonymous said...

Hi Joe,
Just saw your blog,
Congrats,for winning the first prize.The pictures are beautiful and so is the commentary.
Thanks for sharing.
Regards
Lata Menon

A Cuban In London said...

Excellent. No wonder you won. :-)

Greetings from London.

Amy Purdy said...

Great photos! That last one with the spider is amazing.

Valerie said...

Congratulations, and thanks for visiting my blog. I look forward to popping in here again.

Unknown said...

Great job, Joe! Congrats on winning the first prize!

Sujatha Sathya said...

Loved the road pic. And the crows on the car ...haha

Congratulations on winning the first prize

Anonymous said...

Congratulations Joe. Excellent pics. You deserve the prize. Keep going. - Elaina Abreo