Lessons from nature

Photo Randy Vanderveen, Grande Prairie, Alberta A baby American coot swims in Crystal Lake.

It is hard to believe it has been almost a week since I posted already. I have to say people that post to blogs on a daily basis definitely have to be dedicated to the process.

While I was out looking for photos this past week a couple of reminders came up as a result of the subjects I shot over the course of the week. First don't go out with pre-conceived ideas. (I am talking about photos for journalism, landscape or nature shots or just to exercise your eye and shutter finger— if you are shooting portraits, a wedding or even a commercial shot for an annual report you better have some notion of what you are going to shoot — that is what your clients are paying you for.) I know this from when I worked at the newspaper. It rarely works out. Either you have this great plan of how photos from an event should look and event ends up a dud or you are skeptical of how things will work out and they turn out fantastic.

The shot of the baby coot is an example of this. I actually went out to shoot swans — but they must have slept in. While not as cute as cygnets, the young coots are definitely eye-catching in their own ugly way. This stage doesn't last very long. A week from now they will be all grey and will have lost that wigged-out look.

Be adaptable when you go out taking photos. It makes things a lot less stressful.

Photo Randy Vanderveen, Grande Prairie. Alberta A line of goslings head out with an adult to feed in Crystal Lake. A second adult was following the young birds to keep everyone in line and safe.

Second don't always follow the leader. This is something that was drilled into me when in school and the geese reminded me of this. While it is great to converse with other photographers and compare notes if you get away from the others when shooting you will have a different angle on things. It may not be better but it will provide a different look to your photos than everyone else has.

This works when travelling too. Don't take the same photo from the same location as the post cards. Try a different angle of view, a different time of day, a different season of the year and even a different lens. Who knows maybe your "different view" will become the iconic view that people begin to remember over the usual photo.

Finally look around. While deer do this to remain safe from predators it never hurts to get in the habit as a photographer. Sometimes the best angle is behind you — the reaction to what is going on in front of you. Take your viewer away from the usual and give them something to remember.

Photo Randy Vanderveen, Grande Prairie, Alberta A mule deer surveys it surroundings while grazing in a canola field in full bloom east of Grande Prairie.