Monthly Archives: August 2010

Lessons learned in photography

In dim lighting conditions, always use some form of AF assist. Be it a flash red AF assist light, our the camera’s flash AF assist, use it.

On the 40D, the focus confirmation will tell you the shot is in focus, however when examined afterwards on a computer, the short could have been sharper. This is especially true when shooting at wide apartures of under f2.0

I have ordered a laser pointer that continuously projects a pattern, and will strap it to the camera body to paint the subject with something that the AF sensor can track and focus reliably in low light, when the flash is not available.

Improv 201 class 5

Commit to your point of view. It not only helps you, but it helps the others.
Saying no in a scene; you can say no in a scene, as long as you commit to it.
Yes and… make sure you ‘yes and…’ the same character, even if he’s the guy that says no.

Before you tag someone out,  make sure you understand the existing interaction (the game), not just one character’s POV.
When tagging in, make the interaction obvious; put words in the other’s mouth with you first statement; it helps define the scene for both of you.
LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN. Listen to what you are saying and how it affects and adds to the scene, and really listen to what the other person is saying.
It’s not about adding more stuff to a scene. It’s about the interaction. That’s what needs heightening, not the where or what. It’s the who, and their relationship.

Improv 201 class 4

Make connections: how do the things connect?

Why is the other person saying what they are saying? What do they want from the interaction? Work with the answers to those questions to build on for the scene.

Don’t try to solve the problem (when a problem is presented). It’s more interesting to escalate the interaction then provide solutions.