The Tiger | Stoke-Ness
Ahh September…
The pressure is off to make the most of summer. September seems to give you the room to do the things you wanted to do all year but haven’t yet. Maybe it’s the change of temperature, the leaving of the tourists or the slowing of plant growth outside that makes it feel that way. Everything else has stopped making the most of summer, so it’s ok if you do to. It’s time to lean into the things you are most curious about, even if you are curious about a video game or TV show.
In this month’s issue, I share gear I’ve been using under $60, a photographer I love, and how to make better photos on harsh environments.
Be stoked,
Isaac
Shooting with lights outside and with action sports has always fascinated me. It can create incredible, powerful photos if done well.
JB does it very well.
Give him a follow Here
Thanks to @levi.hoch for sharing JB’s work with me.
Photo/Video Technique
Photo by Andrew Neel on Unsplash
How to take better photos in harsh environments or sketchy terrain.
This month I asked you all on Instagram what topics you wanted to learn about and @lux.mon.luna asked about taking better photos in rough outdoor situations. Since most of my photos are outdoors and sometimes the outdoors doesn’t play nice, I have some experience with this topic. Here are a few tips:
Get comfortable with your gear before taking it anywhere. If you are fumbling to find a setting or trying to remember which way the lens screws on, you will have it even worse when you can’t feel your fingers, are hanging off the edge of a cliff or are bouncing through the night in the back of pickup. How your camera works and what settings you need for a good image should be second nature before increasing the difficulty level of your shoot conditions.
Forget about the gear. If you are worried about getting your camera a little wet, frosted, dirty, or scratched then maybe get a used camera you can care about less. This will let you move faster without protective cases, caps and straps slowing you down while decreasing your exposure time to harsh environments. Your fingers can only stay warm so long in -12 degree weather I’ve found. If you camera stays safe, but doesn’t get photos because it was too much of a pain to pull it out of the case then it is worthless. On the flip side, if your camera gets damaged but you took a once in a lifetime photo you can repair the camera.
Spend more time in harsh environments with people who are more experienced than you. Getting comfortable with being in sketchy situations will help you focus more on what you are shooting and less on surviving. Learn from other experienced outdoor folk what outdoor gear to use, how to avoid bad situations, and when to call it quits. Once you have more experience then shooting in the wild becomes second nature.
Good luck out there!
Gear
Photo gear you need under $60
Lens Hood $6.98
If you don’t have a lens hood for your lens, you need one. It basically blocks unwanted light from your lens (like sunflares) that will cause your image to be washed out. Strong light glares can make your image lose quality or add discoloration. An added benefit is lens protection. I run them on all my lenses and reverse them out of the way if I don’t need them. They are so cheap you have no excuse not to have one for each lens.
Get one Here
Polar Pro Traverse Strap Mount $59.99
I recently switched from a Peak Design Capture clip to this clip system. It works better for one handed releases than the Peak Design and the lock function is more intuitive. If you dont have a strap clip for your camera, this is the one to buy.
Get one Here
Waterproof Anti-Shock Memory card case $6.99
Keep your card organized and protected, not just rattling around in your bag or pocket. Protecting your memory cards is one of the easiest investments you can make and will give you peace of mind that you won’t lose the photos you just spent so much time making.
Get one Here
Finn Beales The Photography Story Telling Workshop $22
All the gear in the world doesn’t make a good photograph. We all know this, but what is the process to making better photographs? Learning how to tell better stories. Finn is the master and his book is incredible.
Get one Here
Music I'm Diggin'
Thirty Two by UTAH
If you’re in need of a song that matches the cool nights and warm days of September without reminding you that summer is ending, then this is the perfect tune. End summer on a high note.
Listen to it on Spotify here
Videos, Movies, and TV
Caravaggio Master Of Light by Nerdwriter
I love how this video shares how light, even in a painting, can shape a story.
Reads
The Tiger by John Valiant
I have recommended John Valiant’s book the Golden Spruce here in the news letter before. It was a worthy read, full of curiosity peaking details and twists. I can say with 100% belief that The Tiger, a story of survival and vengeance is 2x more page turning in every way.
I’ve had multiple people who have started reading or listening to this book after I told them about it ask me if it is a fiction. It’s so wild that it’s hard to believe that tiger attacks in the wilds of Russia’s far east are a thing that can happen to the scale it did in 1997.
The author read the audio book and adds to the intensity and feel of the story, so if you like audiobooks then don’t miss this one.
Get it Here
Be stoked and have a great month,
Isaac
