Archive for November, 2007

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I spent a few days in Warsaw (Poland) and Moscow (Russia) without taking a single picture. I just don’t understand myself. If you ask why I didn’t take pictures the answer is short and simple though the reasoning – or the list of excuses – can be lengthy:
Answer: I did not take my camera with me.
Reasoning: Many, many things, like:

• My gear is heavy and expensive. Didn’t want carry it all the way on the airports and worrying about it on the airplanes.
• I went to a business trip meaning all day long meetings in the office. So I expected that I would not be able to take any picture in daylight. Then how about the great long exposure night shots? Especially in case of nicely lit historical buildings. For that kind of fun I would have needed a tripod. Tripod, carry, check in, find it, repair it if needed…. Oh, no.
• I was advised to be careful with taxi drivers offering their services on the airport in Moscow because it can be dangerous. Probably a bit exaggerated fear, but definitely an other good excuse.
• I could have taken an old point’n’shoot camera with me but then how about the quality of the pictures that I’m so keen on achieving?

• Or just very very simply: I was – and still am – lazy.

Have you ever experienced such a thing about yourself?

I have just come across Bert Stephani’s (this is his English blog) lighting tutorials that he made available on YouTube. He is a Belgian professional photographer. In these tutorials he is using a single or even no speedlight and always considers the natural surroundings and light.
I found the videos on Strobist.

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