Humbling Experience

[crfitchjr]

Just about the time you think, "Hey, I'm getting pretty good at this photography stuff." You have a day that snaps you back to reality and makes you glad you chose another career rather than professional photography!!!

On Saturday I decided to shoot the Chili Pepper bike ride which started in Cockrell Hill and wound its way through Cedar Hill and Ellis County. I got up early Saturday morning and drove to my first pre-selected spot just before the bikes arrived. Then took out my camera that had been in the cool house and air conditioned car. Well you can imagine what happened when it hit the warm, very moist, morning air. I don't know how long it took for the condensation to clear, seemed like an eternity!! I managed to get a couple of test shots before the bikes arrived. I then decided to switch to my 70-300mm zoom to isolate some of the riders. I looked through the lens and it appeared very hazy, the lens kept searching, would not auto focus. I figured that it had been in my insulated bag and its case, so the lens was still cool and condensation hit again. I quickly switched back to my 24-85mm. I didn't get the shots I had planned on!! A little later I moved to my second site and again got out my long zoom. Again, hazy, I didn't think to much about it because I wear glasses and after 2 shots my glasses are always smudged, everything looks hazy and I have to depend on the auto focus. The zoom again kept searching and would not focus. I again had to switch to my shorter lens to make some shots. I began to wonder what had happened to my zoom and why it would not focus. Of course I only thought of the worst!!! After a break, I got out my long zoom and looked it over. Low and behold there was a terrible smudge on the camera end of the lens. All this trouble and all I needed to do was clean the lens!!! I came home tired, hot, sweaty, thirsty, and did not get the shots I wanted, but you know what, it still beat mowing the yard!!!

Oh well it was my granddaughter's birthday party Saturday night, I can never take a bad photo of her!!! After her hugs and kisses, everything is ok!!!!

Thanks for letting me rant,
Bob

[brad]

Been there, done that... actually got a really cool shot of a sunflower once through that haze, but usually its just a PITA.

[LoungeLizard]

Been there...learned from it. Twice...once I didn't expect it. Houston Museum of Natural Science - butterfly place - makes Houston heat/humidity seem pleasant...20 minutes in there, no chance to get off a single shot.

Taiwan...walking around. Didn't think the camera was in SUCH a cold area of the room (I guess I was wrong). Lens was totally fogged up. Had to switch to the 50mm which limited me some.

Now, as soon as I get to where I'm going to shoot, I take everything out and let it sit out while I get all else ready. I'm also a lot more careful with where in the car I put the camera (i.e., away from AC).

Oh...by the way, I've had a lot more humbling experiences! Try forgetting to set your flash to hi speed synch (actually not knowing how to - thought it did so automatically) and COMPLETLY blowing out two beautiful series of photos in a bridal shoot!

[engstrom]

Originally Posted by LoungeLizard

[SNIP]

Oh...by the way, I've had a lot more humbling experiences! Try forgetting to set your flash to hi speed synch (actually not knowing how to - thought it did so automatically) and COMPLETLY blowing out two beautiful series of photos in a bridal shoot!

Oh oh oh!!! And try forgetting you've manually zoomed your flash resulting in a wonderful vignetting of your picture, and try forgetting you've put your flash in manual mode and have it on full power and blow out several pictures in a row. And let's not forget putting your camera away with mirror lock-up enabled so that when you rush and grab your camera just in time to capture the elusive image and press the shutter release you get a dark viewfinder and after a second or so you realize what you did!

[CaptainTom]

Ha! Been there, seen that, done that as well.... Not just the lens smear, but everything.
At least we now have an instant look at our results. Back in the old days (don't make fun, you'll all be there sooner or later), try shooting a whole sequence of important shots without putting any film in the camera. Try setting the camera ASA to 400 when you have ASA50 transperency film in it. These goofs occurred, and they usually weren't caught until the film (assuming you put some in the camera) came back from the lab marked "an error occurred resulting in unusable or unexposed film". Try explaining that one to the mother of the bride.

[steve817]

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

Ha! Been there, seen that, done that as well.... Not just the lens smear, but everything.
At least we now have an instant look at our results. Back in the old days (don't make fun, you'll all be there sooner or later), try shooting a whole sequence of important shots without putting any film in the camera. .

Once I had my camera set to fire without a card in it. Had an awsome sunset one evening and drove around the corner to Lake Arlington and fired away. When I got home and opened it up, you guessed it, no card.

[JLacy]

Yep, we all have been there. What's even worse is if you wear glasses like I do. Jump out of the car and your glasses fog over too. Now you can't see and your lens fogs. You have to shoot by sound and just point the camera in the general direction and hope you got it. Fogged pics are hard to correct in post and it doesn't help in camera meeting either. Ah, the joys....

[CaptainTom]

Well, probably just as well that this one got fogged. What is she doing to the groom here anyway ??????

[LoungeLizard]

Originally Posted by JLacy

Yep, we all have been there. What's even worse is if you wear glasses like I do. Jump out of the car and your glasses fog over too. Now you can't see and your lens fogs. You have to shoot by sound and just point the camera in the general direction and hope you got it. Fogged pics are hard to correct in post and it doesn't help in camera meeting either. Ah, the joys....

Well, you know, some people actually pay money for PS actions to do that effect!

[jeffkohn]

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

Well, probably just as well that this one got fogged. What is she doing to the groom here anyway ??????

ROTFLMAO

good one

[dcdttu]

In my general experience, no preperation can counteract the amount of fogging that comes from two newly married people.